Humboldt County Magistrate Neven Conrad, who is a former City Council member, administered the oath of office to four members who were reelected. They are:

• Megan Secor, who was reelected for a full four-year term as an at-large member. She had won a February 2023 special election to complete Conrad’s unexpired term.

• Cameron Nelson, reelected to a second term in Ward 2, which is the city’s south side.

• Dave Flattery, reelected to a seventh term in Ward 3, which is the city’s northeast side.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
The color guard of the 133rd Test Squadron, the Iowa Air National Guard unit based in Fort Dodge, marches into the Fort Dodge City Council meeting room in the Municipal Building Tuesday morning to start the inauguration ceremony.

• Kim Alstott, reelected to a seventh term in Ward 4, which is the north central part of the city.

The newest member of the council, Jen Crimmins, was not at the ceremony. She was elected to represent Ward 1, replacing Terry Moehinke. Moehnke had represented the ward for 10 years before retiring. Crimmins, who knew in advance she would not be present Tuesday, was previously sworn into office by City Clerk Dawn Siebken.

Ward 1 includes western and northwestern Fort Dodge, Pleasant Valley and part of downtown.

Council members elected to represent wards serve two-year terms.

During a short council business meeting after the swearing-in ceremony, Flattery was reelected as mayor pro tem. He will preside over meetings and handle other mayoral duties when Mayor Matt Bemrich is not available.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich, center, opens the Tuesday morning inauguration ceremony for the Fort Dodge City Council. Listening on the left are councilmembers Kim Alstott and Lydia Schuur; Councilwoman Megan Secor is on the right.

Alstott was named dean of the council. The dean is traditionally the member with the most seniority who is not the mayor pro tem. The dean steps in when neither the mayor or the mayor pro tem are available.

Tuesday morning’s ceremony began with the color guard of the 133rd Test Squadron, the Iowa Air National Guard unit based in Fort Dodge, bringing the American and Iowa flags into the council meeting room.

Vickie Reeck, the city’s community and economic development manager, and Astra Ferris, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, sang the national anthem.

The Rev. Kyle Dana, of Prairie Lakes Church, provided the invocation.