Changes coming to Quincy administration

QUINCY — Quincy city officials will be revising city administration following the retirement of Clerk/Finance Officer Nancy Schanze, scheduled for later this year. 

Schanze announced in February that she would be retiring in June. City Administrator Pat Haley said after the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday that city officials are thinking about splitting apart the clerk and finance officer jobs. 

Council members voted to hire JMP Consultants to help city officials find a finance officer. Contract cost is about $20,500.

Haley said after the meeting that traditionally one person was both the clerk and finance officer.

“But the jobs are getting bigger,” he said after the meeting. “Quincy is getting bigger.”

With the city growing, the combined job is a lot of work for one person, Haley said.

City officials have worked with JMP Consultants previously on candidate searches, Haley told council members. The company will help advertise the job and look for suitable candidates, set up interview panels and help conduct background checks, Haley said. 

In answer to a question from council member Josey Ferguson, Haley said recruitment would be industry-wide, not just among existing city staff. Mayor Paul Worley said existing staff could apply. 

“It seems like a pretty substantial amount for a recruiting process,” said council member Dylan Kling, but Haley said it’s not.

“In fact we’re getting a price break, because we’ve done business with this company before,” Haley said. “More often companies charge a percentage of the salary.”

The clerk’s position will be filled once the finance officer search is finished.

“We’re taking one project at a time,” he said. 

Splitting the job doesn’t mean the city is adding new positions, he said.

“We’re not adding any new payroll right now,” Haley said.

In other business, council members voted to extend the existing fire services contract with Grant County Fire District 3 to mid-April.

The contract ended in December 2023, and GCFD 3 and city officials have been working on a new one throughout the winter. 

“The agreement (with GCFD 3) is being reviewed by the attorneys right now,” Haley said. “The amendment to the current contract ended March 1, and we’re wanting to extend it. By April 17 we could have this contract before the council for approval.”

Council members voted to waive the late fee for city utility bills for February.

“The utility bills did not go out on time this month, for a number of reasons, corrections not getting done on time,” Schanze said. 

City officials had two options, she said, extending the late fee to April 1, or waiving it altogether. 

“We thought that if council could just waive (the fee), that would be February’s bills waived in March, it would be the easiest for staff and the cleanest,” Schanze said. 

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.