(KNZA)--Hiawatha City Commissioner David Middendorf concluded his interim term on the commission Monday evening.   

Middendorf was appointed as interim finance commissioner last July after Bill Collins took over as mayor following the resignation of Dr. Steffen Shamburg.

Middendorf ran as a write-in candidate in the November General Election.  He lost to John Merchant Jr., who will be sworn in Monday.  Merchant will take his seat on the Commssion at their next meeting, which was moved to January 22 due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Middendorf thanked Mayor Collins and the other commissioners for his time on the Commission, saying he found it very interesting and learned a lot.

A reception was held following the meeting in appreciation of his service.

In other business, the Commission approved a one-year contract with Schedule Anywhere for a web-based shift scheduling program for the police department at a cost of $600.

Police Chief John Defore they probably spend 10 to 15 hours a month on scheduling and believes the program could save the department more than  $2,500 a year.

The Commission also approved a request by Defore to decommission three side arms, 500 rounds of duty ammunition and five magazines that will be sold.

The Commission gave Wastewater Superintendent Dave Grimm approval to seek bids for a new ½-ton pickup truck for his department.  Grimm said the truck would replace the oldest vehicle in their fleet.

In addition, the Commission approved seeking bids for janitorial services.