Brett Daniel

A man who started his city government career as a water meter reader has been nominated to be the new Public Works director in Fort Dodge.

Brett Daniel, who is currently an operations manager in the department, has been selected for the job by City Manager David Fierke. The City Council will consider his appointment when it meets at 6 p.m. Monday in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S.

“He excels at project management,” Fierke said. “He excels at working with people.”

Fierke said Daniel led the effort to replace every water meter in Fort Dodge with new ones that send data to the Water Department via radio signals. He said Daniel “showed himself as a good leader” on that project.

If the council approves his appointment, Daniel will become the Public Works director on June 4. His starting salary will be $84,393.57.

He would replace Public Works Director Merle Porter, who will retire May 31 after a 25-year career with the city.

Daniel joined the city staff as a meter reader in 2006. In 2012, he was promoted to superintendent of meters and services.

In 2014, he became an operations manager in the Public Works Department.

He is a native of Fort Dodge. He graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High and earned an associate degree from Iowa Central Community College.

The Public Works Department has two operations managers, Daniel and Doug Barkema. If the council approves Daniel’s promotion, his operations manager position will be eliminated.