The governing body of the city shall have the authority to appoint a city administrator for the city who shall be the administrative head of the municipal government under the direction and supervision of the governing body and mayor.

(Code 1977, 2.02.010)

The city administrator may or may not be a resident of the city when appointed, but within the first 6 months of his or her term of office shall reside within the city.

(Code 1977, 2.02.020; Code 2007)

The city administrator shall be appointed for an indefinite period and shall be subject to discharge at the will of the governing body.

(Code 1977, 2.02.030)

During the absence or disability of the city administrator, the governing body shall appoint an acting city administrator.

(Code 1977, 2.02.040)

The powers and duties of the city administrator shall be as follows:

(a)   To devote all necessary time and attention to the affairs of the city and be responsible to the governing body and mayor for the efficient administration of its affairs;

(b)   With the confirmation of the governing body of the city, to appoint and remove all heads of departments, except the city attorney, city clerk, city treasurer, municipal judge, chief of police, and fire chief; he or she shall have the power to appoint or remove all other employees. Any employee terminated by the city administrator shall have the right to appeal such termination to the city commission within 10 days of such termination, and the governing body, upon hearing such appeal, may sustain, reverse or modify the decision of the city administrator;

(c)   To supervise all non-elected city employees except city attorney, municipal judge, and city treasurer;

(d)   To attend all meetings of the governing body with the right to take part in the discussion, but having no vote;

(e)   To see that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the city are faithfully kept and performed and, upon knowledge of any violation thereto, to call the same to the attention of the governing body;

(f)   To act as budget officer and as such to prepare and recommend to the governing body, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a budget for the ensuing fiscal year, shown in as much detail as practicable the estimated amounts of revenues and expenditures for the efficient operation of the city government;

(g)   To recommend to the governing body the salaries to be paid each employee of the city that is under the city administrator’s supervision as specified in subsection (c) of this section;

(h)   To recommend to the governing body such measures as he or she may deem necessary or expedient;

(i)    To do and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution of the governing body.

(Code 1977, 2.02.050)

(a)   The city administrator shall act as purchasing agent for the city and purchase all merchandise, material, and supplies needed by the city and may establish, if needed, a suitable storehouse where such supplies shall be kept and from which the same shall be issued as needed.

(b)   It shall be the duty of the purchasing agent to give opportunity for competition on purchase and sales, except when the nature of the purchase or sale is such that competition is impossible or impracticable. All purchases in excess of five thousand dollars, except of real estate or rights or easements therein, shall be by contract to the lowest responsible bidder as approved by the governing body, and all sales in excess of one hundred dollars, except of real estate or rights or easements therein, shall be made to the highest bidder after public notice and the receipt of sealed bids, unless the governing body, by ordinance, determines that it is impossible or impracticable to purchase or sell in such manner. All sealed bids received shall be opened in public and thereafter shall be subject to public inspection. The governing body may reject all bids and re-advertise for new bids. The purchasing agent may require successful bidders to furnish security conditioned upon the faithful performance of their contract or conditioned upon the payment of the wages and compensation of all laborers employed on work for which a contract is made by the contractor, subcontractor, agent or any other person, or conditioned for both. The purchasing agent may approve purchases up to five thousand ($5,000) dollars within the bounds of the adopted budget without the express approval of the governing body.

(c)   In case of accident or other circumstances creating an emergency, the city administrator may, with the consent of the governing body, award contracts and make purchases for the purpose of repairing damages caused by the accident or avoiding the public emergency; but immediately afterwards, he or she shall file with the mayor a certificate showing such emergency and the necessity of such action together with an itemized account of all expenditures.

(d)   The City Administrator is authorized to approve early payment of claims against the City of Hiawatha where in such claim, if paid in advance, would give the City a discount or if said claim were not paid against the City before approval of the governing body there would be assessed a penalty for late payment. Said City Administrator in such events is hereby authorized to pay claims as above provided and shall keep an accurate record of all monies paid and the purpose for which expended and shall submit the record to the governing body at the next meeting for its approval. This authorization to pay said claims against the City is pursuant to K.S.A. 12-105b(e). Said claims paid by the City Administrator under this section are valid to same extent as if claims had been approved and ordered to be paid by the governing body.

(Code 1977, 2.02.060; Ord. 935; Ord. 1052; Ord. 2041; Code 2022)

The city administrator shall receive such compensation as the governing body shall fix from time to time by ordinance and shall furnish such surety bond as may be required by the governing body by ordinance, the premium to be paid by the city.

(Code 1977, 2.02.070)