McGregor city administrator is stepping down

By Audrey Posten | Times-Register

At a special meeting on Dec. 8, the McGregor City Council accepted the resignation of city administrator/clerk Denise Schneider. 

Schneider was hired part-time by the city in fall 2023, as former city administrator Lynette McManus phased into retirement, then began full-time in the position in January 2024.

In a letter to the council, Schneider stated her intent to retire. Her final day of work for the city of McGregor will be Jan. 5. 

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve your community. McGregor is a beautiful city with great potential, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors,” the letter read.

Per her contract and city policy, Schneider requested a vacation time and expense payout—an item the council will consider at its regular meeting on Dec. 17. Also on this week’s agenda were approval of a job posting for a city clerk and approval of an interim independent contractor to fulfill the city clerk duties.

At the special meeting, McGregor Economic Development Director Brandi Crozier advised the council not to immediately post for Schneider’s position before reviewing the job description.

“In lieu of some of the feedback we got from the Iowa League of Cities a year ago, I would hope that we wouldn’t approve a job description yet, that we would hold off and go through a process to make sure that the city is positioned to hire the position that best fits the needs that need to be filled,” she said.

Incoming mayor Anne Kruse said she has spoken with a clerk in a nearby community who is willing to meet with Schneider prior to her departure and serve as a fill-in on an interim basis, per approval from the council in the city where she works. 

“In particular, we want to make sure there’s no gap in payroll. Also to do the preliminary things we need to do to get going on budget season,” Kruse said. 

This step, noted Kruse, “will give us some chance to work on the job description.”