News Flash

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The list of candidates for Muscatine City Administrator has been reduced to three by the Muscatine City Council and the public will have a chance to meet each candidate at an Open Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Chosen as finalists were: Mark Jackson, current Story City, Iowa, City Administrator; Matt Mardesen, Nevada, Iowa, former Nevada and Monroe City Administrator and currently client manager for JEO Consulting Group; and Corey Rheinecker, current Sparta, Ill., City Manager.

Each candidate will attend a panel discussion with City Staff, be interviewed in person by the Muscatine City Council, attend a panel discussion with community leaders, and be given a tour of the community by City staff during their day in Muscatine on Oct. 29. The day will round out with the public having an opportunity to meet the candidates from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Muscatine Art Center.

Former Muscatine City Administrator Carol Webb resigned on July 11, 2024, to accept a similar position with the City of Marshalltown, Iowa. Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies was named the Interim City Administrator on August 8, 2024.

A nationwide search for a new City Administrator was conducted with over 30 applications received by the City of Muscatine Human Resources Department. That list was reduced to six for a video conference call with the Muscatine City Council on Sept. 25 and Sept. 27.

MARK JACKSON

Mark Jackson has been the City Administrator for Story City, Iowa, since October 1993 with Story City making considerable progress and significant economic growth during his time as City Administrator. He began his career as the Village Manager of Homer, Michigan, after earning his Masters in Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Western Michigan University.

Some of the accomplishments under his tenure include: coordinating economic development projects with a private investment totaling $139.4 million; planning and coordinating over $40.3 million in capital improvement projects with $9.6 million in grants and private funding (the City is currently constructing a new $22 million wastewater treatment facility); passage of a Capital Improvement Levy in 2005, renewed in 2015 and 2022; passage of a bond issue in 2014 for the construction of an aquatic center; privatizing the operations and maintenance of the municipal golf course; sale of the Story City Hospital; and, construction of a Recreation Center.

Jackson has served on 27 government related and community organization boards and committees including serving as president of the Iowa City/County Management Association. He is a member of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Leadership Iowa Program class of 2005-06, former adjunct faculty member at Iowa State University, and was a guest speaker in 2008 at a United Nations Conference in Kiev, Ukraine. 

Jackson believes that the variety of experiences from his city management background and volunteer involvement enables him to better understand and coordinate the many challenges facing municipal government.

MATT MARDESEN

A seasoned public administration and law enforcement professional, Matt Mardesen brings over two decades of leadership experience dedicated to enhancing community safety and fostering economic development. Currently serving as a Client Manager for a Midwest based engineering and architecture firm, Mardesen excels in building strong relationships with government agencies, guiding projects through compliance and funding challenges.

Mardesen has a passion for serving the community and serves as a part-time police officer with the City of Nevada, where he contributes to community policing efforts and participates in local events. Mardesen’s previous experience as Chief of Staff for the City of Council Bluffs involved strategic planning and oversight of city operations. As City Administrator for both the City of Nevada and City of Monroe, Mardesen effectively managed city departments, negotiated significant economic development projects, and enjoyed becoming involved within the community on a personal level.

Mardesen and his wife, Joni, have three adult children and have enjoyed watching them grow into their professional careers. The couple enjoys spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks and are excited about the opportunity to enjoy the Muscatine trail system with their dog, Oliver. Mardesen is an avid ice fisherman and enjoys playing golf in the warmer months. When Mardesen and Joni are not enjoying the outdoors, they have a history of refurbishing old homes and bringing new life to the structure. 

Mardesen holds a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University and is a Certified Public Manager. Mardesen is also an active member of several professional associations, having received the IaCMA City Manager of the Year award in 2019. 

Committed to continuous improvement and community engagement, Mardesen is passionate about making a positive impact in the community.

COREY RHEINECKER

Corey J. Rheinecker is the City Manager for the City of Sparta, Illinois, which operates under the commission form of government. The City Council sets policies and the City Manager runs the day-to-day operations of the city. The manager ensures the operations are administered effectively and efficiently and that they align with the City Council policy objectives. 

Rheinecker maintains financial stewardship over the City’s $13M budget in addition to operations of the City’s 12 departments that include public utilities, public safety, and community development.

Rheinecker is a respected leader in government affairs at the city, county, and regional level. He is integrated into the community developing and promoting relationships in the business, educational, recreational, and faith-based communities. He is the vice-president of the Southwestern Illinois City/County Managers Association, former president of the Sparta School District, former board member of the Sparta Athletic Association, former treasurer of the Sparta Fife Department, and a former trustee of the Presbyterian church.

Rheinecker’s energy and fiscal guidance have transformed the city and school district into financially stable, proactive, and visionary entities. He utilizes various methods to fund projects that improve public safety, infrastructure reinvestment, and public need. These projects have created job growth, economic development, increased real estate taxes, and increased sales taxes.

Rheinecker has approximately 20 years of public service experience at the city level. Prior experience includes water quality testing and laboratory testing development for American Water Works along with chemical analysis and water plant operations at a coal fired power plant.

Rheinecker earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a master’s in business administration from McKendree University.