The City of Mount Vernon approved the job description for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group director position on April 15.
Current Mount Vernon development group director Joe Jennison announced his plans to retire from the position in March. Jennison’s last day will be June 30.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said he had worked alongside MVLCDG president Lisa White and Brenda Langenberg on the language for the position so the city can move forward with the hiring of Jennison’s replacement.
One of the things that the trio worked to spell out was the ways that Jennison’s job is tailored to the communities of Mount Vernon and Lisbon, and not just on the responsibilities of the Main Street Iowa program.
Councilor Paul Tuerler noted the description clearly spelled out what the director’s job is expected to be in Mount Vernon.
Councilor Scott Rose asked with Mount Vernon being a Main Street community and a lot of the job description not reflecting all of Main Street responsibilities, if there were any anticipated issues with that.
“We are not anticipating any changes,” Langenberg said. “We’re updating the language from the previous CDG director position and what it currently is now. When we were accepted as a Main Street community, they knew that the director not only represented Mount Vernon, but also the Business 30 District and the City of Lisbon all as one joint community.”
Tuerler said that having a director who represents two communities as on is what sets Mount Vernon apart.
The position is now being advertised, with hopes of finding Jennison’s replacement in late spring.
Mayor Tom Wieseler said one of his concerns is the transition period from Jennison and this new person, especially with festival seasons happening in Mount Vernon.
“Joe has acquired such a strong base of volunteers,” Wieseler said. “I want to make sure we recognize and address that so the possible attrition is not something that damages the organization.”
Langenberg said that has been on the CDG’s radar and something they hope to continue to maintain is that volunteer force moving forward.