Carol Chicoine has served as Primghar Clerk/Administrator for 5 years. She came after a series of clerks taking the job and quickly moving on. There is no person in that position who will win the hearts of every citizen. Chicoine’s tenure has resulted in mixed views.
Under her leadership the Primghar Community Building and the Daycare have found reliable funding. Both of those entities have experienced improvements and, in the case of the daycare, growth. The “Primghar Rec Center” has also been a beneficiary of her effort. The first year of sponsored monthly free skating resulted in excellent attendance and made the purchase of new skates possible.
The electric utility is in the midst of major upgrades, most cited on a Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) audit as well as anticipated future needs. While the city still does not employ its own head lineman MRES does offer a program to fill that gap. With council approval, that requirement to operate an electric utility is met.
Funds for roads and the development of the Industrial Park were identified and are managed by Chicoine, under the direction of the Mayor and with approval of council. That project brought more than $1.2 million of assessed property value and a dozen or so good paying jobs.
To assist existing industry with their Primghar growth hopes, expansion of the sewer lagoon became a must. That project has been studied and developed for more than 2 years. Grants and low-interest loans have been secured and the City Council signed the contract with a contractor. The costs are anticipated to increase significantly. Without additional capital the project is expected to force the city to either add as much as $80 per month per household to the water/sewer bill or for the city to issue a G.O. bond, payable by property tax levies or some combination.
On Wednesday, August 2 the council met in a workshop with Chicoine, Deputy City Clerk Sarah Rohwer and Assistant City Clerk/daytime ambulance driver Amanda Mulder (who also submitted her resignation). The workshop was to consider how the duties of these two fulltime employees will be met. Council members asked questions about Chicoine’s job duties and first going to Sarah if she knew how to perform certain tasks. On certain other duties such as acting as a go-between between finance personnel, bonding attorney, engineers for the ongoing utility and street projects the council members offered assistance.
Determining the street assessment will be on the shoulders of the council members or the next clerk/administrator.
Chicoine noted that when she came, Primghar had a negative general fund balance. It now has a comfortable $2 million balance.
Attempts to reach elected officials have failed by press time.
Applications for both the City Clerk/Administrator and the Assistant Clerk/Ambulance Driver are being accepted until filled.