Minutes: Regular Meeting 10/20/2026

` City of Tiffin, Iowa Meeting: Tiffin City Council Meeting [AMENDED] Place: Tiffin City Hall 300 Railroad St, Tiffin, Iowa, 52340 Date/Time: October 20, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. Web Page: www.tiffin-iowa.org Posted: October 15, 2026 (website & front entry of City Hall) Mayor: Tim Kasparek W/WW Superintendent: Brett Mehmen Council At Large: Tim Orris – Mayor Pro-Tem D. of Public Works: Brian Detert Council At Large: Tony Johnson Recreation Director: Grant Weber Council At Large: Skylar Limkemann Building Official: Brian Shay Council At Large: Chris Olney Library Director: Elizabeth Petersen Grier Council At Large: Eric Schnedler Interim Fire Chief: Tom Hartshorn City Administrator: Doug Boldt City Engineer: MSA Professional Services Asst. City Administrator: Ashley Platz City Clerk: Abigail Hora City Attorney: Crystal Raiber Work Session - Call to Order – 6:00 PM A. Roll Call The City of Tiffin City Council held a work session Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the Tiffin City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Kasparek called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM. Upon roll being called the following members were present: Tim Orris, Eric Schnedler, Tony Johnson, Chris Olney and Skylar Limkemann. Others present were Assistant City Administrator Ashley Platz and City Clerk Abigail Hora. B. Agenda Additions/Agenda Approval Motion to approve agenda by Schnedler. Second by Orris. All ayes, agenda approved. C. Discussion and Review of Updated Fire Chief Job Description Discussion: Discussion: Interim Fire Chief Tom Hartshorn reviewed his proposed changes to the Fire Chief job description. The revisions are intended to broaden the pool of qualified applicants while focusing on the qualifications Council considers most important as required qualifications and moving other desirable qualifications to the preferred category. The proposed changes include: Supervisory Experience: Change “and” to “and/or” in the requirement for experience supervising volunteer and/or career personnel. Education Requirement: Council removed the specific degree fields of Fire Science, Emergency Management, and Public Administration. The revised requirement would state: “Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education, professional experience, and progressively responsible leadership experience.” Years of Experience: Reduce the minimum required fire service experience from 10 years to 8 years, including reducing the required experience as a fire officer in a formal supervisory, management, or leadership position from 8 years to 5 years. Preferred Leadership Education: Retain the National Fire Academy Managing Chief Fire Officer, Executive Fire Officer, or comparable advanced leadership education as preferred qualifications. Remove the CPSE Chief Fire Officer designation. Knowledge of Service Area: Expand the requirement for knowledge of the City of Tiffin’s geography, infrastructure, water supply systems, response areas, and associated operational hazards to include the surrounding townships. D. Discussion of Timeline for Advertising for New Fire Chief Discussion: Discussion: Mayor Kasparek would like Council to take its time with the process and avoid rushing, as the work Tom was hired to do is not yet complete. Interim Fire Chief Hartshorn noted that he is still working through some internal challenges and that the Fire Station project needs to continue moving forward under his leadership, along with a focus on policies and procedures. Council Person Limkemann would like to see the position posted sooner rather than later to have someone in place by early 2027. He believes the department deserves to move forward with the hiring process. Item will be on another work session agenda. E. Questions from Council Members regarding items on the Regular City Council Agenda or Reports F. Other Business City Council Agenda Page 1 of 4