MANLY, Iowa- A North Iowa town is without a city clerk after a citizen petition helps sway government leaders not to make a reappointment.
City council members in Manly made the decision at Monday night's regular meeting.
People living in what's known as a "bedroom community" decided to send one of its public employees a wakeup call.
"Somebody had to take action or nothing gets done," said Joe Yezek.
Yezek helped gather signatures on a petition calling for city council members not to reappoint Anne-Marie Kinnin for her third one-year term.
He didn't want to go into detail, but says the now former clerk didn't have a good relationship with the public.
"Very unprofessional, and you know we're a small town, we'd like to keep, friendly small town atmosphere," he said.
We heard similar concerns from Manly City Council Member Scott Heagel who says Kinnin had been spoken to about her demeanor.
Yezek says it wasn't difficult to find people to sign the petition.
"Over a hundred signatures, it was a four day campaign, and it wasn't a real busy campaign so we thought we did good for the time we'd put it."
With no city clerk the doors to the Manly City Hall were locked Tuesday, an agenda for a Special Council Meeting was taped to the door, the only Item on it, finding a temporary replacement to fill the position.
Yezek is confident the city will find a quality candidate.
"There were several people who applied at the time Anne-Marie was hired, and several people who have applied since then, so I think we'll find somebody soon," he said.
He's not surprised by all the attention on his community.
"The spotlight's on Manly now, let's see what Manly does, let's move forward."
The special Manly City Council Meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm Wednesday.
Anne-Marie Kinnin could not be reached for comment. City Council Member Scott Heagel tells us the city will continue paying the city's bills and moving forward until a new clerk is hired.
