The Indianola City Council recently changed the terms of several boards and commissions used by the city to advise the council, and line them up so they all begin and end at the same time. City Manager Ryan Waller tells KNIA News not only will this help staff have to do less administrative work keeping track of all the terms, it will help the council come budget time.

“The council gave us direction to bring the appointments all in line with the end of the fiscal year. There is a benefit of that. One being that city council members start in January, and it allows them six months to become more familiar with the city, the process, and what the boards and commissions do. A lot of these boards and commissions do make policy recommendations that have an impact on the budget. The budget is a planning document, so it establishes work plans for departments, who work with the boards and commissions, so it does make sense to have those appointments line up with the fiscal year.”

Waller also said this does not affect any current term of those serving on a city-appointed board or commission, only future appointments.