Mason City hires Garner city administrator as new Public Works Director

MASON CITY — The Mason City City Council this week approved the hiring of a new Public Works Director. Jim Collins currently serves as the city administrator for the city of Garner.

Mayor Bill Schickel says Collins is experienced and has strong ties to Mason City.   “He’s currently the city administrator in Garner. He was the city administrator in Hull Iowa for quite a period of time prior to that, but he’s a Mason City native. Did some great things in Garner including housing, street work, street improvement, economic development there. We’re very excited to have him on board.”

Schickel says hiring Collins isn’t the first time Mason City has hired someone who had been working for the Garner city government.  “I think it speaks very well — we’ve hired two city administrators now for department level positions that have opened up in Mason City. Brent Hinson is our finance director and deputy city administrator now. Jim Collins will be our public works director. These are outstanding people.”

Collins will replace Bill Stangler, who retired this summer after five decades on the job.

Schickel made his comments during the “Ask the Mayor” podcast which you can watch below