Finalists In Charles City Friday (09.26), Saturday (09.27) for City Administrator Interviews

The two finalists vying to become next the city administrator for Charles City will be in town Friday (09.26) and Saturday (09.27) as the hiring process enters the in-person interview stage.

The City received 14 applications in their recruitment efforts to find a successor to former City Administrator Steve Diers, who announced in May he would depart after over 11 years to take the same position with the City of Clear Lake. After Diers finished in June, the City hired former Spencer city administrator Dan Gifford to work for the City on an interim basis. 

Gifford, who came out of retirement, was not interested in the position full-time.

The candidate pool is down to two, including Charles Adam Ledford, currently the city manager in Norris, Tennessee. He also previously served as city administrator in Sac City, Iowa, from 2008 to 2016.

The other finalist, Tyler Trout, is currently the city administrator in Avoca, Iowa, and has a north Iowa connection. He is a 2014 graduate of Mason City High School and his dad, Brent Trout, was city administrator for the City of Mason City from 2007 to 2017.

An invitation-only reception for the two finalists will be held at the Charles City Arts Center Friday evening from 5:30 to 7 pm.  Saturday morning, Trout and Ledford will be interviewed by three groups including city officials and staff, along with about 10 community members.

The City Council will then to go into closed session at noon Saturday to review the interview sessions.

The City hopes to have the new city administrator start in November.

***Notice of Gathering of Quorum of Council

The Charles City City Council will be hosting a ‘meet and greet’ event with the two finalists for the City Administrator Position.

Date: 9/26/2025

Time: 5:30-7:00pm

Location: Charles City Art Center, 301 N Jackson St

 The meet and greet is an informal opportunity for invited community members to meet the final candidates for the position.  The City Council will not be discussing or deliberating upon any policy matters.  No action will be taken and no business will be conducted at the gathering.  Accordingly, the gathering does not constitute a meeting as defined under Iowa’s Open Meetings Laws.  

 This notice is intended to inform the public of the gathering of a quorum of the Councilmembers.