Staff & city council Directory
City Council
- Brett BarkerMayorTerm ends Dec. 31, 2025
Family:
Mayor Barker lives in Nevada with his wife Tracy and daughters Ella, Lexi, Graceyn, and Hannah.
Previous Service:
Prior to being elected Mayor in 2017, Brett served on Nevada’s Planning and Zoning Commission and the Nevada City Council.
Community Involvement:
Mayor Barker is actively involved in the community and volunteers his time with groups such as Main Street Nevada, the Nevada Economic Development Council, and the Nevada Community Band. - Marlys BarkerDevelopment and Communications Specialist
Marlys Barker served as the community’s newspaper editor for 27 1/2 years, resigning in September of 2019. She was hired by the City in June of 2020 to work on a variety of communications projects and initiatives.
- Erin ClantonCity Attorney
Nevada’s City Attorney is Erin Clanton of Brick Gentry Law Firm of West Des Moines. The majority of Erin’s practice is focused on the representation of municipalities. In addition to Nevada, Erin provides assistance to a number of other Iowa public entities. Erin graduated from the University of Iowa in 2002 with degrees in English and Finance. In 2005, she graduated from Creighton University Law School and joined Brick Gentry as an associate. Erin became a shareholder of Brick Gentry in 2009.
- Jordan CookCity Administrator
Jordan Cook, 32, is originally from Omaha, Neb. He began his position with the City of Nevada in June of 2020. Prior to Nevada, Jordan served as city administrator at Clarion, Iowa. Jordan is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and did graduate work as the assistant to the city engineer of LaVista, Neb. He chose to work in city administration because he wanted to affect positive change to increase the quality of life for a community and its citizens.
- Sandy EhrigWard 3 Council Member
Term ends Dec. 31, 2023
Sandy and her husband, Bob (deceased), have resided in Nevada for 27 years. Sandy’s career in community and economic development has allowed her to work all over Iowa, but not daily in Nevada. Prior to filling a vacancy on the Nevada City Council Ehrig served for three terms on the Nevada Library Board of Trustees, several of those years as Chair. She continues to work as a private contractor for the Iowa Farm Bureau representing them as Immediate Past Chair of Iowa’s Rural Development Council and Co-Chair for the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa initiative. She is honored to share her experience in her community of residence as the newest council woman.
Family information:
Spouse: Bob; Daughter: Libby (Nevada grad), Bonus Daughter, Lisa and Son, Dana; 5 Grandchildren - Gene FritzCemetery Sexton
Gene Fritz has been the Nevada Cemetery Sexton since May of 2003. He enjoys the variety of work and being outside, and always appreciates helping the community of Nevada and residents with their planning when it comes to the cemetery.
- Brian HansonWard 2 Council Member
Term ends Dec. 31, 2025
I grew up in Nevada – it is home to me. I graduated with the class of 1987, attended DMACC, and then Iowa State. After being away for a few years, I decided to return to Nevada and work at our family ag construction company. After getting married, we lived in a surrounding community for a short time but decided to purchase our first home in Nevada. We wanted our kids to experience the same small-town, everyone-knows-everyone feeling and attend the school system that I experienced and thrived from. I have enjoyed many seasons as a volunteer coach in both boys’ and girls’ soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and softball. I was first appointed to the City council in 2006 and elected in 2010. I love our community and am proud to be a member of it. A few years ago, my wife Leslie and I bought that family ag construction company from my father because Nevada is our home.
Family
Family includes his wife, Leslie, and their three children: Sarah (and her fiancé AJ) live in western Iowa; Peyton and Samuel are both students at Nevada High School. And if anyone follows us on social media, we have the world’s best nap-taking dog named Tag.Civic Experience
Nevada City Council (2006-2007, 2010-2013, 2014-2017, and 2018-2021)
Planning & Zoning Committee
Nevada High School Booster Club Board Member
Baseball Field Committee
Finance Committee
City Hall Committee
Joint City/School Committee
Field House Committee
His feelings about serving
Every voice is important. We, as leaders, grow as we hear and learn from our community. I enjoy hearing from our community and trying to help find solutions, answer questions, explain the reasons and whys of how things work, and act as a sounding board when needed. I know by working together, we will continue to find solutions, protect our assets, grow our resources, and maintain this amazing community for generations. - Tim HansenDirector of Nevada Parks and Recreation
Tim Hansen has served as Director of Parks and Recreation in Nevada since June 15, 1993. A graduate of Iowa State University, Hansen served as Recreation Director at Eagle Grove before coming to Nevada.
- Shawn LudwigWater Supervisor
Shawn Ludwig has been with the City of Nevada staff since August of 2003. He holds a Grade III Water Treatment and Grade II Water Distribution license with the State of Iowa. He previously worked for 16 years as a crew foreman for Ames Trenching installing water and sewer mains.
- Ricardo Martinez IIPublic Safety Director/Chief of Police
Ricardo Martinez II became a Police Officer in February 1985 with the Clinton Police Department serving in a variety of assignments until leaving in August 2004. He then started with the Nevada Police Department as Police Sergeant and was appointed Chief of Police in October 2011. In October 2013, he was appointed the Public Safety Director and retained the Chief of Police duties.
As a believer in community-oriented policing, Martinez has been involved with issues dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault, child welfare. This includes duties as a School Resource Officer, Domestic Assault Response Team, Sexual Assault Response Team, and a former foster parent.
Martinez joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school. He later graduated from Mt. St. Clare College with a degree in General Social Science.
- Barb MittmanWard 1 Council Member
Term ends Dec. 31, 2023
Barb, and her husband Bob, have lived in Nevada since 1985. She has BA and MA degrees in education and has provided leadership in area churches, as an AmeriCorps member, on staff at YSS, and as a school and community volunteer. Barb now supervises the AmeriCorps member at Central Elementary and serves as the Community Meal Coordinator for Nevada Food at First.
Family:
Husband, Bob; one daughter and two granddaughters
Civic Experience:- Leadership Nevada
- Nevada Community Resource Center (NCRC) Board
- Food for Thought (United Way) Summer Program
- City Council: Ward 1 (First Term: 2016-2019)
Significance of Serving on City Council:
Each meeting, contact, and conversation gives me the opportunity to listen, expand my thinking, identify needs, collaborate, and work creatively to benefit the well-being of our residents. - Dane NealsonWard 4 Council Member
Term ends Dec. 31, 2025
Dane was elected to represent Nevada’s Fourth Ward in 2017 and serves on development committee. Dane grew up in West Liberty, Iowa, earning his Associate’s Degree from Muscatine Community College in 2007 and his Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University in 2010. Dane is a Certified Pharmacy Technician at NuCara Pharmacy, and owns a wedding DJ business, U Can’t Beetus Entertainment. He lives in Nevada and is a proud father of his son, Clay, and his daughter, Linnea. He loves singing, bowling, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, St. Louis Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers.
Civic Experience:
Board of Directors, Main Street Nevada
President, Runners United Nevada
Technician Member, Iowa Board of Pharmacy
Counselor, Camp Hertko Hollow
Nevada Community Band - Joe MouselStreet Supervisor
Joe Mousel has been with the City of Nevada since Aug. 24, 1995. He worked as Recreation Building and Grounds Coordinator with the Parks and Recreation Department for many years. In June of 2021, he began his position in the City’s Streets Department.
- Casey PattonCity EngineerCasey PattonCity Engineer
Casey Patton is a Senior Project Manager with HR. He has more than 20 years of experience working with small and large municipalities on infrastructure issues in Missouri and Iowa.
- Nancy PritchardCommunity Service Officer
Nancy Pritchard has been the City’s Community Service Officer since Sept. 4, 2018.
- Fred MalvenAssistant ChiefFred MalvenAssistant Chief
Fred Malven joined the department in March of 1982. He brought firefighter, fire instructor, technical rescue, and emergency medical technician certifications transferred to Iowa from his prior experience with fire departments in Connecticut and Maryland.
- Ray ReynoldsDirector of Fire and EMS
Ray Reynolds oversees the Nevada Fire Department and serves as a sworn peace officer within the Nevada Public Safety Department. He began his career in public service in 1987. He formerly served with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, is a 22-year veteran with the Iowa Army National Guard and has been with the City of Nevada since 2014.
- Jason SampsonAt Large Council Member
Term ends Dec. 31, 2023
I grew up in the Chicagoland area and moved to Iowa in 2011, landing in Nevada in 2014. I am the Director of Transportation and Mechanic for the Nevada CSD and Colo-NESCO CSD. I was first appointed to the Nevada City Council in January of 2018. I took over the seat vacated by our current mayor when he transitioned from councilperson to mayor. I was then elected to my seat in 2019.
Family:
Spouse, Marcia; 4 daughters, 2 sons, and 4 granddaughtersCampaign Pledge:
I want to see controlled growth while keeping our infrastructure in good shape.
Civic Experience:
- Development Committee
- LHD Committee
- Wage Study Committee
- Design Committee Main Street Nevada
- Steve SkaggsAt-Large Council Member
Term ends Dec. 31, 2025
Steve Skaggs was elected in 2021 as an “at-large” representative.
Steve lives in Nevada with his wife Christa (NHS grad) and his three children, ages 14, 16, and 18. Steve is a college graduate, having attended Iowa State University and Bellevue University. He has been the Purchasing Manager at ALMACO for 10 years. He grew up in southeast Nebraska and was active in the community as President of the local economic development group and a member of the Chamber of Commerce board. Steve enjoys attending school activities, camping, reading, listening to good music, and maintaining his 1968 Chevrolet pickup.
Community Involvement:
President of Main Street Nevada for 2 years
Past President of Nevada Evening Rotary
Past President Nevada Chamber of Commerce
Member of the Nevada 2040 Strategic Planning committee
Member of Main Street Nevada Economic Vitality committee
Member of Lincoln Highway Days planning committee
Member of Camelot Theater Foundation board
- Larry StevensCity Engineer
Larry has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in Municipal Engineering. He came to Iowa in 1976 and served as the Assistant to the City Engineer in Grinnell for 5 years. He then became City Engineer for the City of Oskaloosa, IA, served in that role for 22 years, and was also the Public Works Director for the last 10 years. Larry then served from 2003 to 2009 as Director of the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) Program at Iowa State University. At HR Green’s Des Moines, IA office since 2009, Larry provides municipal engineering services to some of the firm’s key clients.
Larry’s professional career has largely been devoted to planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining urban infrastructure. His experience also includes extensive research on subjects relevant to the infrastructure needs of municipalities, including roadway subgrades and subbases, utility cut repair techniques, trenchless technology, pavements and paving materials, roadway lighting, and design of rural and urban subdivisions, to name a few.
Larry is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Public Works Association (APWA) and served as President of the Association in 2014-15. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure from 2011 to 2014, representing APWA as a founding member of the organization, whose mission is to develop and implement a rating system for sustainable infrastructure projects, Envision. Larry is a 45-year member of APWA and served as the Iowa Chapter President in 1992 and 1993. In recognition of his career achievements and leadership, Larry was awarded the APWA National Top Ten Leader of the Year Award in 2017.
Larry graduated from South Dakota State University with a B.S. in civil engineering.
- Kerin WrightCity Clerk
Kerin Wright has more than 23 years of experience in city service. She served the community of Villisca prior to her position in Nevada. She started her position in Nevada in 2012.
- Jayson KingsburyBuilding and Grounds CoordinatorJayson KingsburyBuilding and Grounds Coordinator
Jayson Kingsbury started out in the City’s Wastewater Department as an operator from July 2019 to July 2021 when he was promoted to his current position as Building and Grounds Coordinator for Parks and Recreation. Kingsbury is a 1994 graduate of Nevada High School and has a bachelor’s degree in Conservation Management from the University of Upper Iowa. He and his wife, Stacey, have two children.
- Ryan HuttonBuilding and Zoning Official
Ryan Hutton began his duties with the Planning and Zoning Department in July 2021. Ryan has been a police officer in the City since 2015, and will still do some weekend patrols. He is also a member of the Nevada Fire Department. Ryan worked with his family’s construction business while he was in high school and after he graduated from college. He and his wife, Ashley, have four sons.
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