The York city government follows the council-manager system. The main players in this system are the city administrator, the mayor, the city council, the city clerk, the city attorney and the public works director.

The city administrator is a full-time city employee who takes policy from the council and directs the department heads of public works, parks and recreation, police and fire. The administrator is appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council. The current administrator is Jack Vavra. The mayor heads the city council and is the public representative for the city. Mayors serve a four-year term. The mayor is Chuck Harris.

The city council approves the budget, approves new programs and development, determines the city limits, and defines the goals of the city. The city council is an elected body of citizens headed by the city mayor. Council members serve four-year terms. Each council member serves on one or more boards such as the finance committee.

The city clerk is the right arm of the city manager and is appointed by the city council. The clerk coordinates the meeting schedules, keeps the public records, and handles the paperwork for the boards and commissions. C. Jean Thiele has been the city clerk since 1972.

The city attorney handles all the legal questions for the city, writes all the ordinances and resolutions, and represents the city on all legal matters, including all criminal activities and civil actions filed under city statutes. It is an appointed position. Charlie Campbell is city attorney.

The public works director is the nuts and bolts man for the city. He is responsible for keeping the streets clean and in good repair, water and sewer treatment, street operation and construction, engineering construction observation, issues dealing with hauling trash, landfill supervision, building and zoning code administration, and airport maintenance. Orville Davidson has served as public works director since 1971.

City council meetings take place the first and third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the city office building on 110 E. Fourth St. The meeting agenda can be picked up Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the city clerk. A draft of the agenda will be available at any time. The final draft will be available the Wednesday or Thursday before the meeting.  If you have something you want the city to consider or you wish to address the council on a certain topic, call the city clerk or city administrator by the first Friday of the month.

City Administrator
Jack Vavra
Work: 363-2600
Home: 362-1802
Appointed July 1997

Mayor
Chuck Harris
Metz Mortuary
Work: 362-3351
Home: 362-6739
Appointed November, 2006.

City Clerk-Treasurer
C. Jean Thiele
Work: 363-2600
Home: 362-5723
Appointed June 1972

City Attorney
Charlie Campbell
Work: 363-2600
Private Practice, Angle, Murphy, Valentino, Campbell PC: 362-7725
Appointed 2001

Public Works Director
Orville Davidson
Work: 363-2600
Home: 362-4600
Appointed Jan. 1971

Director of Parks and Recreation
Paula Christensen
Work: 363-2630

Fire Department
Chief: Kevin Stuhr
Work: 363-2610
Home: 362-6729

Kilgore Memorial Library
Director Stan Schulz
Work: 363-2620
Home: 362-7686
Appointed Dec. 1983.

City Physician
Dr. Darroll J. Loschen M.D.
Work: 362-5555
Home: 362-3870

Airport
Randy Hall, Manager
1112 Highway 34
363-2660

Council members
- Barry Redfern, President
Business: Midwest Bank, 362-4411
Home: 362-4411
Term: appointed Dec., 1996, elected Nov. 1998, reelected in 2002, reelected in 2006.

- Margaret Brink
Business: teacher, York High School, 362-6655.
Home: 629 E. Seventh St., 362-4298
Term: elected Nov. 1992, reelected Nov. 1996, 2000, 2004

- Brian Leggett
Business: Leggett Co., P.O. Box 607, 362-2038
Home: 1225 Florida Ave., 362-2038
Term: elected Nov. 1990, reelected Nov. 1994 and Nov. 1998. Appointed in 2002, reelected 2006

- Paul Toms
Retired
Home: 1515 Meadow Ln, 362-3646
Appointed in 2003, reelected 2006.

- Cy North
Business:York Printing, North Office Supply
Home: 362-4322
Term: elected in November 2002, appointed in 2006

- Ron Mogul Jr.
Business: Mogul’s.
Home: 1735 York Ave., 362-2983
Term: elected Nov. 2004

- Diane Wolfe
Business: York Insurance
Home: 362-2742.
Term: Elected in 2006.

- Randy Obermier
Business: York Boot and Repair
Home: 362-5063
Term: Elected Nov., 2004

Council Committees
The various council committees meet on a need basis.
- Finance Committee: Chairman Redfern, Obermier, Leggett, Wolfe. Meets the first Monday following the first council meeting of the month.
- Ordinance and Judiciary Committee: Chairman Brink, Toms, Mogul Jr., North
- Buildings Committee: Chairman Obermier, Brink, Wolfe.
- Public Safety Committee: Chairman Mogul Jr., Redfern, North
- Utilities Committee: Chairman Leggett, Obermier, Mogul Jr.
- Streets, Alleys and Paving Committee: Chairman Leggett, Toms, Wolfe.
- Insurance and Pension Committee: Chairman Toms, Brink, North.

Commissions and Boards
- Planning Commission:
The York Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday after the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall at 100 E. Fourth St. To encourage participation on issues of broad community interest, the commission may reschedule the meeting at 7:30 p.m. The commission reviews applications to ensure they comply with city code and make a recommendation to the city council.
Chairman Matt Leif, Steve Ermer, Ross Ronne, Lisa Riley, Jan Buhman, Gary McDaniel, Allen Pieper, Sharon Hansen.

- Board of Adjustment:
The Board of Adjustment meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. at city hall when there is an agenda item. If a property owner requests a building permit for a project that does not comply with city building code, the property owner may request a hearing with the board to ask for a variance. The board acts independently of the city council. Jane Brogan, Jack Garner, Merlyn Hansen, Craig Vincent, Ross Ronne, Jim Peterson (alternate)

- Board of Public Works:
The Board of Public Works meets on the Monday before the first Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at city hall. Discuss issues related to the water and wastewater in the city.
Chairman Randy Sheldon, Bob Hose, Mark Stevens.

- Board of Health:
Mayor, chief of police, city physician, city attorney, council president, council vice-president.

- Advisory Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners:
The board is scheduled to meet every third Tuesday at the community center. If there are no issues to discuss, the board may not meet. Meets to discuss and make recommendations to the city council on issues concerning the park and recreation department.
George Brugh, Margaret Brink, Daryl Wilton, Darcy McBride, Pat Eichinger, Harold Nordlund, Tom McBride.

- Housing Authority:
The Authority meets the second Monday of the month at noon in a conference room at the Leisure Home. The authority reviews the budget and management of the Leisure Home.
Cindy Naber, Sherri Beins, Joe McCluskey, Bill Sutter, Merlyn Minderman, Harold Nordlund, Alan Trupp (resident commissioner).

- Civil Service Commission:
Meets as needed. Commission interviews applicants for police department and police department.
William Scheve, Jon Brouillette, Paulette “Pete” Cordes.

- Library Board:
Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. at Kilgore Memorial Library. The board sets policy, recommends budget to the council, oversees the operation of the library.
Susan Cox, Carol Withee, Mike Teetor, Leonard Hoskins, Jerine Brugh.

- Aviation Board:
Meets as necessary to conduct business. Oversees the budget and expenditures of the airport.
Chairman John P. Kohl, Ken Jensen, Kendall Holthus, Charles Harris, Barry Redfern.

- Examining Board:
Meets on call at city hall when applications are submitted for plumbing and mechanical license. Reviews applications.
Ron Skaden, Larry L. Lind and ex-officio Director of Public Works Orville Davidson.

- Community Redevelopment Authority Advisory Board:
The board meets in Kilgore Memorial Library at noon when tax increment financing applications are filed with the city. Makes recommendations to the city council on TIF financing.
Perry Rosenau, Joe McCluskey, Barb Koester, Carolyn Hoffman, Bob Woodruff, Karla Ott, Brian Leggett.

- Airport Zoning Board:
Ken Jensen, Betty Kaslon, Roy Berner, Duane Friesen.