Policy & Administration
City Administrator ~ Joe Helfenberger
Joe Helfenberger has served as Ottumwa's City Administrator since February 2008. He holds a Masters degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin and is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
The City Administrator is responsible for ensuring the direction set by the City Council is implemented and that City operations are conducted efficiently, economically effective and that concerns of citizens are addressed in a timely manner. The City Administrator oversees the operations of city departments.
Meet Joe Helfenberger ~ Joe originally hails from the Chicago area and holds a Masters degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin. With over twenty years of public administration experience, he previosly served as the Village Administrator in Hobart, Wisconsin and Pulaski, Wisconsin. Joe and his wife Jan have five children. Joe Helfenberger was appointed Ottumwa's City Administrator in January, 2008.
City Clerk ~ Amanda Valent 
The City Clerk's Office performs a wide variety of services, which include issuing various permits and licenses, preparing City Council agendas and maintaining official city records.
Amanda Valent is Ottumwa's City Clerk, serving since January, 2011.
City Attorney / Human Resources Manager ~ Joni Keith
Joni Keith bears the twin titles of Human Resources Manager and City Attorney. As Human Resource Manager, she develops job descriptions, compiles benefits packages, fulfills the staffing needs of the city and administers City employment practices/policies. She is responsible for labor relations and performs other functions that relate to the employee workforce of the City. Joni is also the City Attorney, responsible for representing the City of Ottumwa in legal matters and providing legal counsel to the elected offcials and departments.
Meet Joni Keith ~ Joni has served as Ottumwa's City Attorney & Human Resource Manager since January 2011. She is an Ottumwa High School graduate (Class of '74) and holds degrees in Law and Journalism from Drake University. Joni and her husband Lloyd have four daughters. In their spare time, they operate Keith Equestrian Center south of Ottumwa, where they run a boarding and training stable.
Public Information Officer - Tom Rodgers
The Public Information Office's function is to inform the citizens about the functions and activities of thier local goverment. The Public Information Officer issues news releases to all of the local media and manages the city's presence on the world wide web, with this website and a Facebook page with the latest news and updates. He also runs Ottumwa's Government Access Channel -Mediacom cable channel 6, GOTV.* GOTV airs news about City departments and broadcasts City Council Meetings. See the GOTV Guidelines.
Under the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the Public Information Officer is responsible for emergency operations communications with the public. Tom serves in this capacity for the City of Ottumwa, and as needed, for all of Wapello County. The goal is to have a fully operational Joint Information System in use on a daily basis to communicate timely, accurate, and accessible information to the community.
* Please note: GOTV is not a Public Access Channel. Unlike public channels, government channels are granted and maintain editorial rights to choose the content, format, and subject of information to be broadcast.
Meet Tom Rodgers ~ Tom has served as Ottumwa’s Public Information Officer since 2001. He's a lifelong Ottumwa resident and is keenly interested in Iowa’s native flora, fauna and pre-settlement history. Tom and his wife Moira have two school aged children.