The powers of persuasion that convinced Webster City’s City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez to return to a job he left behind a few years back apparently are not enough to keep him here.
Mayor John Hawkins, who played a role in the former city manager’s return in July of 2021, said Wednesday he learned a few days ago that Ortiz-Hernandez was leaving Webster City again.
Ortiz-Hernandez confirmed on Wednesday that he has accepted a position as the assistant city manager for the City of Ennis, Texas.
He sent this notice to his city colleagues on Monday:
“I am writing to you this morning to let you all know that on Friday I submitted to the City Council my 90-day notice of resignation as the City Manager here in Webster City. This decision doesn’t come easy but I have chosen to pursue a new opportunity. My family and I have always enjoyed Webster City and will cherish the wonderful memories and friendships from here.
“I want to thank everyone for your hard work and dedication serving the community. I will miss seeing you all and being out in the departments or in the field seeing firsthand your passion and hard work you do to serve our residents. I want to thank the Mayor and City Council for their trust and confidence when they asked me to come back.
“My final day will be sometime around or after the holidays. I want to wish everyone the best as the community moves forward.”
Previously, Ortiz-Hernandez served as the city manager in Webster City from 2016 to 2018.
When he returned to Webster City in 2021 from Wasco, California, where he served as city manager, he requested that a colleague, Biridiana Bishop, also be hired as Webster City’s assistant city manager.
Hawkins said Wednesday there is no indication Bishop is leaving her position with the city.
Before coming to Webster City, she was public works director for the City of Wasco, California.
At the time he was rehired, Ortiz-Hernandez said the city faced some significant questions regarding succession planning and organizational development for the future. For many small communities in Iowa and the Midwest determining an appropriate succession plan while continuing to move the city organization and community forward is a considerable challenge given today’s employment trends. He said the addition of Bishop to serve as the assistant city manager will ensure continuity of services and projects in addition to pursuing opportunities for organizational development and succession planning.
Bishop has a broad range of responsibilities and works closely with a number of departments and directors on executing long-range goals, complex projects, and succession planning initiatives, Ortiz-Hernandez said when she was hired.
Jeffrey Sheridan, the city manager who replaced Ortiz-Hernandez in July of 2019, was released from his position in December 2020, online records show. He was hired following a long search to find Ortiz-Hernandez’s replacement. Sheridan was serving as the town manager for the town of Lowell, Indiana, when he was hired for the Webster City position.
View this article as it originally appeared in the Daily Freeman-Journal.
Last modified: October 26, 2023