Introducing Fairfield City Administrator Doug Reinert

I am pleased to introduce myself as your new City Administrator, Doug Reinert. I joined the team in June and am deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve you.

Prior to joining Fairfield, I served the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and have dedicated 30 years of my career to public service in various capacities. I find great satisfaction in problem-solving and enhancing the quality of life within the communities I serve.

Fairfield closely resembles my hometown of Ellsworth, Kansas — a small farming community. The community has warmly welcomed my family and me. I am more than honored to be here for you.

I am deeply involved in addressing community issues, often seen in the field wearing blue jeans and boots to understand the challenges we face daily. Fairfield excels in many areas; it is friendly, inclusive, and committed to preserving its quality of life. However, our aging infrastructure requires attention. We need to unite, set priorities to address these issues and work collectively to uphold the values that make Fairfield a desirable place to visit, live, work, and play.

The diligent men and women in our service and maintenance teams work tirelessly to keep our streets clear of snow, extinguish fires, protect the community, maintain our parks, and repair water leaks, among other tasks. Like all public organizations, these services are funded through fees and property levies. Our current levies are calculated at 56.4919% residential rollback. The City levy is at $16.90040 for the City’s portion.

Prospectively, if you own a 100k house, you only pay property taxes on $56,942 based on a rollback program the State implemented some time ago. Therefore, your taxable valuation of $56,942 divided by $1,000 and then multiplied by $16.90040 equals $962.31 in taxes; this means that for a $100,000 home, you would pay $79.56 per month in property tax. The Capitol Improvements Levy which is $0.67500 is included in the total that supplies firetrucks, police cars, playground equipment, repairs to buildings and much more.

We strive to maximize the use of every dollar in our municipality. We understand that no one enjoys taxes and that times are challenging for everyone. Regardless of your location, fees and property levies ensure the provision of essential services such as water supply, street repairs, and community safety.

Many have requested the implementation of policies to maintain the city’s appeal for both residents and visitors. We have proposed a property maintenance code that allows for all buildings, not just rentals which has been part of our code for many years. The City often receives complaints from neighbors about hazardous living conditions, trash, debris, and other concerns.

The codes are not intended to be intrusive or for mistreatment but rather serve as a tool to facilitate communication with citizens and provide guidance on maintaining safe living conditions. These codes help remind property owners their living conditions can potentially harm or affect the well-being of their neighbors or emergency personnel should they need to enter the home.

The City works collaboratively with property owners to address these concerns and uses its codes to encourage them to achieve a positive resolution. Our team works diligently with residents, offering advice with empathy and respect. We do not specifically target low-income households, the elderly, or any particular properties; rather, our focus is to ensure the well-being of the entire city. It is rare when the City would request to enter inside your home. An occasion may be, a report of an odor and sewage coming from a crawl space, a report of a collapsed roof, or an incident that may cause alarm for safety.

Our aim is to uphold fairness and consistency so all can be proud of our city. We kindly request your support and assistance in creating an improved city for future generations.

Doug Reinert

Fairfield City Administrator

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