The City Manager in Avoca is getting some heat over potential conflicts of interest involving his work for other cities, and his outside business interests. The Omaha World-Herald reports 37-year old Clint Fichter who became Avoca’s first city manager in 2007, is chief executive officer of a company he founded that advises and provides administrative services for area communities, including Adair, Shelby and Neola. He also is executive director of the nonprofit Avoca Betterment Association, which develops affordable housing in that city of 1,600, and is one of three partners in A-Town Capital Group, which has purchased two commercial buildings on the town’s main street.

Mayor Jennie Maassen said she questions whether his work for other cities represents a conflict of interest. She also doesn’t think Avoca gets enough work out of Fichter because of his outside commitments. Both State Ombudsman Ruth Cooperrider and the president of the Iowa City/County Managers Association said Friday that when it comes to conflict of interest issues, appearances matter. Nonetheless, neither had enough information to say if Fichter’s actions were contrary to professional ethics or state law.

Councilwoman Sandy Petersen said for every dollar spent on Fichter’s salary, he has returned $11 to the city as a result of his grant writing. Fichter is paid $81,000 per year by the City of Avoca. He said he works about 45 hours at his job as city manager and about 15 more hours per week on other projects. He and his consulting business received about $49,000 for the outside work last year.

Fichter claims his opponents are trying to make his life unpleasant to get him to leave Avoca. He noted that his five-year contract, approved by the City Council in 2013, allows him to do work for other cities. Fichter advises other cities through a consulting company he founded called Polychronic. Polychronic provides a variety of services, including financial accounting, record-keeping and strategic planning for both Adair and Neola. He also serves as the city attorney in Shelby. He represented the city in its recent dispute with its volunteer firefighters.