New West Union city manager starts job, sets top priorities

WEST UNION - Longterm planning and implementing plans to make downtown West Union a model of environmental sustainability are among the goals of City Mager Robert Vagts Vagts began his duties Tuesday after the City Council voted Monday to hire him at a salary of $46,500. He replaces Martin Games, who resigned earlier this year.

Vagts is a 1984 graduate of South Winneshiek High School in Calmar.

He has a master's degree in business and resource management from Arizona State University.

He worked in the airline industry for more than 20 years, most recently for Frontier Airlines as its director of operations in Denver.

'I'm fortunate there are a lot of hard-working dedicated employees, whom I hope to provide with the tools they need for their jobs,' Vagts said.' The Fayette County city of about 2.550 is about 25 miles south of Decorah.

By Janell Bradley, correspondent