A new face will emerge on the public radio scene in Iowa as stations from the three regent universities plan to consolidate, saving money in the process.

The proposed merger — a result of recommendations delivered to the Board of Regents from a private consulting agency — would not only consolidate regent stations but is likely to include other public radio stations in Iowa.

Bornstein and Associates, of Tucson, Ariz., was commissioned by regent radio stations — including Ames-based WOI — to recommend a course of action to better public radio.

The consulting firm was also behind a report that helped to decide whether a public television system in Idaho should be privatized.

“They decided to hire an external consultant to take a look at the stations in terms of structure, how many listeners they serve and the things they already collaborate on, which are fairly extensive,” said Barb Boose, communications specialist for the Board of Regents.

According to Bill McGinley, WOI Radio general manager, consulting fees totaled $75,000, which was split evenly among each regent radio station.

McGinley said each regent station is nearing its full potential for public service, partially due to budget cuts from the universities.

“We’re putting together three stations and all of their assets to do a better job,” McGinley said. “I think each station is poised to contribute a significant share to make this happen.”

The first of 10 recommendations to the regents, as outlined by Bornstein and Associates in their final report, is the creation of an executive council to oversee the facilities and operations of regent radio stations.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance and a member of the newly-created Iowa Public Radio Executive Council, said he and two others comprise a team charged with putting the recommendations into motion.

Madden said an individual from each of the regent universities was selected to bring a balance to the council.

The council is in the process of finding an executive director to oversee its operations, a process which should conclude in the next few months with the help of an outside search organization.

McGinley said he will likely seek the position. The executive director will evaluate the operation of each of the regent stations and decide which jobs might change or be eliminated.

“When you see your organization go through a revamping, you always kind of wonder what your place will be,” said Joan Kjaer, programming director for KSUI at the University of Iowa. “But I don’t think there’s any reason for people to be inordinately worried.”

Changes will most likely occur if the same job could be performed statewide by one person, Kjaer said.

“It’s not to say that there won’t be some changes in personnel or duty at each location,” Kjaer said. “But the idea is that each of the three regent stations will continue to have a full staff.”

After an executive director is found, the council will begin transforming the different stations into one identifiable public radio station that will gradually decrease its cumulative university funding by $300,000 during a five-year period. The final report’s timeline puts the birth of Iowa Public Radio in the fourth quarter of this year.