Mike Hays

Mike Hays has developed a broad background in local government operations through a lifetime of associations. The son of a city manager and League of Cities Executive, Mr. Hays has professionally served local governments for twenty-eight years, twenty-five in a management capacity. Mr. Hays has served as both City Manager and City Administrator as well as an Assistant in both governmental structures.

He comes to PAR Group from his most recent position as City Administrator of Macomb, Illinois, the home of Western Illinois University . Personnel, labor relations, organizational development, and capital improvement planning and programming in addition to code enforcement and university/community relations were high priorities in Macomb .

Prior to Macomb , Hays spent ten years as City Manager of Iowa Falls Iowa and four years as City Manager in Kewanee Illinois . These two independent, full service cities completed a number of facility projects including a new water park, wastewater plant improvements, and new library and transportation improvements during his tenure. Hays also implemented reorganizations to enhance staff strengths and minimize weaknesses.

Mr. Hays has experience directing the operations of most municipal services including:  police; fire (both career and volunteer); water production and distribution; wastewater collection and treatment; streets, transit and airport operations; city planning and community development (including zoning, code enforcement, housing programs, strategic planning and economic development); parks and recreation (including zoo, golf course, theaters, museums, and art galleries); library systems; solid waste collection, recycling, and landfills; and finance and administration including personnel/labor relations, organizational development, legal functions, and risk management.

Before becoming a Manager, Hays served as an Assistant twice, a Community Development Director, and as a City Planner with a regional planning agency. He served as a consultant to over 400 Iowa municipalities with his father’s firm, R. E. Hays and Associates. He has a Masters of Public Administration degree from Drake University and received his B.S. in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University .