Meet Ryan Waller, Marion’s new city manager

MARION — City Manager Ryan Waller is in his first month on the job, overseeing a city staff of more than 250 employees and an annual operating budget of $121. 7 million.

Waller, 42., was hired by the Marion City Council to succeed Lon Pluckhahn, who had been the city’s chief executive since 2007 and left to become deputy city manager in Vancouver, Wash. Waller is paid $188,613 a year.

Waller served as city manager in Indianola since 2016 and before that was the assistant county administrator for Lake County, Ill.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa and his master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University.

The Gazette sat down with Waller to talk about how he plans to approach his new job overseeing the daily operations of a fast-growing city in the Cedar Rapids metro area.

Q: Where are you originally from, and tell me about your family?

A: I’m originally from Edison Park, a neighborhood in Chicago. I have a wife, Elizabeth, who is a funeral director (I have had to fill in for her sometimes) and two children, Hayden and Emma, and we have a dog named Fuzz.

Q: How’s working in Marion so far? How is it been meeting the staff and City Council?

A: It’s been great. I did quite a bit of pre-start date meetings with everybody. I will tell you that everyone has been very welcoming, accommodating and kind. That’s from the elected officials, staff and residents. The number of cards and phone calls I’ve received has been really humbling and overwhelming.

Q: Have you found any Marion spots you like yet?

A: My wife and I spent a lot of time doing reconnaissance before the interview process. We spent a lot of time walking through Lowe Park. It’s beautiful and peaceful. We’ve eaten at Goldfinch (Tap and Eatery) quite a few times. The day we closed on our house, we went and had Zoey’s (Pizzeria). We watched a Hawkeye game at Uptown Snug.

Q: What do you think you can bring to the table as the new leader of the team? What did you learn from your Indianola experience?

A: That was my first manager job but my background, my communities in Illinois, were high- performing communities. Michael Jordan and B.J. Armstrong were residents in Highland Park while I was there. … These communities I came from were just fast-paced, demanded excellence, the focus of what we did was for the citizens and there was no rest. If you rested, the citizens weren't receiving the services they expected. When I came to Indianola, I was eager to prove myself. This line of work is so sacred. We have a direct line to peoples’ pocketbook. When I was starting as a city manager, I was eager to prove myself and go above and beyond. … I came in a little too hot but I was coming from a place that was pure. I wanted to do right by the community. We accomplished a ton of great things, took care of a lot of longstanding issues and updated policies and plans.

Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges Marion faces?

A: We’re growing and making sure that the infrastructure, not just roads and sewers, the staff infrastructure, that we are able to support that growth. The service delivery isn’t sacrificed. When you look at the economic development, we have an amazing investment in the Uptown and businesses are investing, but where is the workforce? That’s a challenge. The supply chain issue is a significant challenge. It’s not just unique to here.

Q: How important is regional collaboration to you?

A: We’re in this line of business for our customers, the people we serve. We can partner and not lose our identity but still maximize what we do through partnerships. I had lunch with (Hiawatha City Manager) Kim Downs last week and have coffee set up with (Cedar Rapids City Manager) Jeff Pomeranz. It’s about getting to know people in the community and our regional partners. I pride myself in making sure to do that.

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