Washington City Clerk resigns

WASHINGTON — City Clerk Sally Hart will spend her last day in the office Sept. 14, after city council members voted to “regretfully” accept her resignation at a meeting Tuesday night.

Hart entered the position in 2020, coming from a background in journalism at the Mt. Pleasant News and KCII. Her new gig will be the director of communications and outreach for CapCO2 Solutions LLC, a clean energy company focused on "green methanol“ production, which is expanding into the Midwest.

“Communications skills are something that speak to the skills I have, in both local government and journalism,” Hart said. “As somebody who’s native to the Midwest, I see the importance of this work … with the agriculture sector to move forward and be profitable, while helping with the carbon emissions.”

Hart started her job with the city after a decade of experience in local newsrooms. She said that background engaging with local governments helped her find her bearings, as did the help of her predecessor, Illa Earnest, now a Washington City Council member.

Despite the helpful context, Hart said the municipal position brought a new perspective.

“It made me realize, even more so, how much background work is done before the final decisions are made,” she said. “As far as researching a specific topic, or what are the requirements, or state requirements or the city code, and making sure everything lines up so things get done.”

Although Washington’s city politics are somewhat tumultuous at the moment given a mayor on unpaid leave and mayor pro tem up for re-election this November, Hart said the career change was unrelated to any city drama, calling it “a step forward, not a step away.”

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She said she enjoyed her time with the city, highlighting fond memories of maintaining local historical records, writing grants and cutting ribbons to celebrate progress of all kinds.

Hart says she intends to stay involved in the community under her new work-from-home position.

“Washington’s become home,” she said. “The community was welcoming for us, and we want to continue to have that environment for others … it’s a great environment to raise a child.”

That’s good news to local soccer players: the outgoing city clerk is also the longtime coach of Washington’s high school team, as well as the Washington Area Soccer Program, (WASP) where this year’s group of seniors is made up of her first-ever players.

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“Coach Sarah and I like to say, ‘Coaching soccer fills our cup,’” she said. “Soccer has been part of my life since kindergarten. I’ve played, I’ve reffed, I’ve coached, I enjoy it. Having that outlet, even if it’s only for part of the year, is rewarding, and seeing the progress, as a coach, that the students make, it’s incredible.”

City officials said they hoped to have a new clerk hired before this winter.

Mayor Pro Tem Millie Youngquist said the position’s job description would change before the seeking out candidates, removing some language about the title of “Development Coordinator” which was rolled in with the clerk’s duties for Hart’s hire.

City Administrator Deanna McCusker said the local government probably wouldn’t hire a consultant to find a new clerk, since the position requires considerably less experience than city manager and administrator jobs.

“I’m hoping that by the end of October, first of November, we have someone in place, but it all depends,” she said. “We’re going to put a committee together … to work on this, and then go ahead and hire somebody.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com