The Finance Director for the city of Ottumwa announced his resignation and blamed the City Council for a detrimental work environment.
In a letter to council and city officials, Cole O’Donnell says he will be the new Finance Director in Marshalltown and his last day of employment in Ottumwa will be June 19th.
O’Donnell says his “sole and only reason for leaving is the unhealthy work environment that the present City Council has fostered”. According to O’Donnell, morale among city employees is extremely low, and he has expressed this concern to the council on multiple occasions, but it has fallen on deaf ears.
O’Donnell added: “Through direct comments to employees, comments at meetings, social media posts, and comments to the general
public, it is clear that certain members [of the City Council] have and will actively work to undermine staff.”
O’Donnell was hired as the city’s Finance Director in 2024. He was previously the city administrator in Keokuk and took the position in 2018.
Ottumwa Radio News reached out to the five Ottumwa City Council members for comment and received no responses as of the time of publication.
Cest la vie. Cole’s excuse is a projection as there is only one new council member as of Jan. The council asks questions on issues as it should be…this is not a council that is going to give cart blanche. Inability to handle a city’s budget and answer accordingly at council meetings with honest explanation’s is more like it.