Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson informed the Perry City Council at its Monday night meeting about two new hires in the city’s adminstration department: Mike Fastenau of West Des Moines as the director of community and economic development and Scott Kopecky of Dallas Center as the city building official.
Fastenau will be responsible for fostering commercial growth in Perry, and Kopecky will discharge city compliance duties and enforce the inspections regime.
“We’re excited to get them all trained and part of the team,” Peterson said. “They should fit right in.” He provided the council with brief biographical thumbnails of “our new friends,” who will take up their duties Monday, April 8:
Community and Economic Development Director Mike Fastenau has been active in economic development-related issues for over 37 years. He has worked closely with large and small cities in a variety of business and community development-related activities.
Early in his career, Mike was recognized as an Outstanding Young American, an honorary member of the Kansas Cavalry and the Nebraska Navy as well as being recognized for exceptional service from Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack.
Mike has served as a staff member of the Vision Iowa Board and worked with legislators on issues related to economic development. He has served on many community boards, including chairman of the Newton Development Corporation’s Small Business IRP Loan Fund, the Winneshiek County Development Board, Granger Economic Development President, Mills County Economic Development Foundation Board, Advanced Southwest Iowa Board and currently serves as president of the Chamber and Development Corporation of Crawford County.
Mike has worked with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Black Hills Energy Corporation. He received his B.A. from the University of Nebraska and has taken economic development courses from the universities of Oklahoma, Illinois and Colorado.
Perry Building Official Scott Kopecky has 16 years of construction, inspection and material testing experience, 13 years in the field of education and 30 years of coaching.
Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Grand View University in 1988. Following graduation, he substitute taught and was a recreational assistant for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa.
In the fall of 1989, he accepted employment at the Waukee Community School District as a teacher associate and a coach for wresting, football, track and softball. From there Scott advanced to teach middle school geography and coach wrestling, track, softball and volleyball at Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District.
After leaving the classroom, he worked as a foundation footing supervisor and as a soil and concrete testing technician while continuing to coach in the varsity wrestling program at DC-G.
