Situated 30 miles due west of Kansas City, the city of Tonganoxie, Kansas (pop. 5,195), ushered in the new year by becoming the 73rd municipality in the Sunflower State to adopt the council-manager form of government. Tonganoxie councilmembers adopted the new form by charter ordinance.

In October 2012, Tonganoxie embarked on a three-year process to determine whether council-manager government was the right fit for the community when then city administrator—and now current Tonganoxie city manager Nathan McCommon—raised the issue before Tonganoxie elected officials, who oversaw the collection of information, statistics, case studies, and public input on the topic.

Because two 2013 public forums focused on the change generated only a handful of attendees (some of whom did not even reside within the city), Tonganoxie officials understood that this important decision rested with them. The issue became a standing agenda discussion item in 2014. Elected officials continued to discuss the issue during public meetings and reviewed information about the council-manager form of government, including materials published by ICMA. Tonganoxie also considered the stories of Bel Aire and Edwardsville, Kansas – two communities that adopted council-manager government via ordinance.

Tonganoxie elected officials passed Charter Ordinance 26 in October 2015, essentially changing the city’s form from mayor-council to council-manager. A 60-day protest period, during which residents could gather petition signatures opposing the change, followed the council’s vote. The ordinance passed uncontested on January 4, 2016, and Tonganoxie officially adopted the council-manager form of government.

Need form-of-government assistance?

ICMA provides information, presentations, and other support to individuals and organizations interested in promoting professional management and the council-manager form of government. Contact Michele Frisby, director of communications & public information, at mfrisby@icma.org or 202-962-3658. To learn more about donating to ICMA’s Fund for Professional Management, contact Erin Carr, development manager, at ecarr@icma.org or 202-962-3697.