Wheaton city manager retiring after 35 years

Don Rose thought about it for a while.

It wasn't an overnight decision, picking the right date to retire after serving as Wheaton city manager for 35 years.

He'd been mentioning to those closest to him that 2016 might be the year.

But he wasn't sure. So he kept tackling the challenges that have come the city's way in the same manner he has for a record 3½ decades, with "levelheadedness and stability," said DuPage Mayors & Managers Conference Executive Director Mark Baloga.

"He is consistently able to look at a variety of perspectives with an unbiased view, put those ideas together and help derive resolutions that ultimately are to the best benefit of all the stakeholders involved," Baloga said.

This week, the 69-year-old Rose announced his last day on the job will be April 30. To finally have it out in the open, he said, is a relief.

"It just felt like the right time," he said. "Things are going well here. We're in, I think, a generally good position, depending on what the state legislature ultimately does to local government. But things are good. While there's still a lot of things to be accomplished and done, I think the foundation is laid for all that work."

Rose started working for the city in May 1974 as assistant to the city manager. For six years, he performed the duties of assistant city manager and deputy city manager.

In November 1980, Rose was appointed to the position of city manager, replacing William Kirchoff. Since then, he has steered the city through tough situations such as layoffs and program cuts, as well as positive developments, including downtown improvements and Danada's residential and retail growth.

"It's been a wonderful place to work: a lot of good challenges, a lot of successes as an organization, a community," Rose said.

On Monday, the city council will consider appointing Assistant City Manager Michael Dzugan to fill Rose's post beginning May 1. Dzugan worked as assistant city manager in Crystal Lake before joining the Wheaton staff as assistant city manager, a role he has held for 24 years.

Mayor Michael Gresk described the impact Rose has had on the growth and development of Wheaton as "incredible."

"He has provided a continuum of leadership," he said, adding that such consistency has allowed a total of 33 city council members and six mayors to come and go, but "you stay focused on the real goal here, which is maintaining and improving on city services."

Receiving a retirement notice five months in advance, Gresk added, was done "in true Don Rose fashion."

"It's all measured and it's just so good," he said.

Baloga, like Gresk, said he wasn't surprised by Rose's retirement announcement, but it still resulted in a bittersweet feeling.

"I had wondered when it was going to happen, but I have to say I'm sad that the day finally came because he will be very much missed," he said. "He'll be missed throughout the region."

While Rose didn't expect to stay in the position as long as he did, he said he is pleased with the work that has been done and happy he was able to work with "a good group of people."

"Certainly a city manager can't accomplish what needs to be accomplished unless he has good staff, and we've been very fortunate over the years to have very dedicated, loyal, hardworking department heads that do an awful good job and make my life a lot easier," Rose said.

Employees and the greater community, he said, have also assisted in pulling the city in the same positive direction.

"I will miss them and I'm certainly thankful for them," he said.