New Washington city clerk sees ‘perfect opportunity’

WASHINGTON - Sally Hart is the new Washington city clerk and development services director.

She'll start the position Dec. 1 with an annual salary of $61,000.

Hart has worked as news director at KCII radio in Washington since 2013 and has been the high school boys' soccer coach since 2014. She and her husband, Will, have a 2-year-old daughter Zara.

Hart is originally from Mt. Pleasant. After high school she attended Monmouth College for history and philosophy. She worked at the Mt. Pleasant News prior to joining KCII.

Washington is a really welcoming community, she said.

'You want to be involved, and you want to volunteer, and you want to see it grow,” she said.

She has attended City Council meetings since starting at KCII and has seen growth and progress. When the city clerk position became available, Hart thought it would be the perfect time to become part of the progress, not just report on it.

'I thought this was the perfect opportunity with my skill set to throw my hat in the ring,” she said.

Friends encouraged her to apply. She said it was nice to have people push her out of her comfort zone.

The five finalists had a three-part interview process. The first part was a driving tour of the city with City Administrator Brent Hinson and Chamber of Commerce Director Michelle Redlinger.

'It was fun to see it from someone else's perspective,” Hart said.

The second part was a panel of city officials including Mayor Jaron Rosien, City Council members Brendan DeLong and Millie Younquist and City Finance Officer Kelsey Brown. The third part was community focused with Police Chief Jim Lester, YMCA CEO Amy Schulte, Main Street Director Sarah Grunewaldt and Ike Glinsmann of Washington for Justice.

After the interview process Hart was offered the job, and the city council approved it on Nov. 3.

Hart said she is excited and is grateful for all the support she has received.

The one person she wished could see her now is her dad. Before he died in 2018, he worked in government as a child abuse investigator.

'I think he would be proud to see this change,” she said.

Hart will start Dec. 1 and job shadow current City Clerk Illa Earnest until she leaves at the end of the year.

Earnest has been in the position for 36 years. Hart said there are 'big shoes to fill” and plans to absorb as much knowledge as she can before Earnest leaves.

A few projects Hart is excited to see progress on include the Wellness Park and continued housing growth.

Looking back, Hart said she is thankful to all the community members who have shared their stories with her while at KCII.

'I've had laughs on air, and I've shared tears on air, but it's all part of the fabric of Washington,” she said.