Twenty-two apply for City Hall flood-recovery post that comes with a job description worthy of Superman

The job description for City Hall's new flood-recovery manager sounded worthy of Superman when it was released a few weeks ago.

However, the job description hasn't intimidated applicants. Twenty-two people applied for the position before Monday's “preferred” application deadline, reports Conni Huber, the city's human resources director.

Others still can submit applications, but those who met the Monday date will be reviewed and considered first.

Huber says some of the applicants are from Cedar Rapids. Like in any pool of applicants, not every applicant meets every qualification, she says. For instance, she says not all have a college graduate degree preferred in an applicant.

A review will select the best applicants and a City Hall selection team will interview those. The plan is to have a flood-recovery manager in place by the first anniversary of the flood in June.

The flood-recovery manager position inside City Hall is an unusual one in that the idea for the position emanated from the private sector and because most of the position's cost will be paid by the private sector.

The creation of the position provoked a dispute within the City Council when council members Justin Shields, Monica Vernon and Jerry McGrane pushed to have the flood-recovery manager sidestep City Manager Jim Prosser and report directly to the council. The six others on the council said Prosser was the city government's CEO and the boss of city employees, including any flood-recovery manager.