Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone’s desire to shake up leadership at city hall will have to wait.
The mayor and board spent over an hour in executive session during this week’s Monday meeting, with department heads as one of the topics being discussed.
However, the board voted unanimously when it came out of the session to place all department heads on probation for 90 days.
Featherstone had announced during his first press conference earlier this month his intention to change leadership at Public Works and to completely reshape the inspection department.
That may still happen, but it will be after this 90-day period if it does.
The board also discussed each department head’s authority to appoint staff.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi made the motion that department heads appoint their second in command.
“We will vote on it, and they get to recommend who they want,” Fratesi further explained.
A motion to eliminate the field supervisor position at Public Works was passed on a 3-2 vote with Alderman Fratesi and Ward 2 Alderman Darrell Simpson voting no.
