Sycamore public works director retires after 36 years of service

Search for new city public works director to begin soon

SYCAMORE – After more than three decades, Sycamore public works director Fred Busse retired and city officials soon will start the interviewing process to fill the position.

Maggie Peck, human and administrative resources director for the city of Sycamore, said during the Monday remote City Council meeting the city is looking to start interviewing candidates for the public works director job next week.

“So we’re hoping to have some news in the near future on that,” Peck said.

As of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the job was not yet posted on the city’s website.

Peck’s comments come after Sycamore Public Works Director Fred Busse was recognized for his retirement during the Dec. 21 City Council meeting. City officials confirmed that City Council meeting would be Busse’s last, with his official retirement date being Dec. 23.

Sycamore City Manager Brian Gregory said Busse is the type to find straightforward and cost effective solutions to problems as public works director. He said he has appreciated working with Busse over the years and his honest assessments and practical approach to the job.

“And really, I can tell you through the years he is never worried about getting credit,” Gregory said. “He’s quick to credit the public works team, and deservedly so, but tonight we recognize the leader of this great group and the work he has done over his career.”

Busse said over the virtual Zoom call that he honestly couldn’t remember his first City Council meeting when he was first employed with the city 36 years ago.

“But I definitely will not forget the last one, that’s for sure,” Busse said.

Busse said there were only about a dozen people working in the city’s public works department when he started in 1984. Currently, that number is up to 27, and it’s hard to believe the department moved to a new building 18 years ago, he said.

“It’s really incredible to think that Sycamore has doubled in population and more than doubled geographically, as far as what Sycamore is or what we see, and to be able to still keep the welcoming hometown feeling that everybody has come to love here in Sycamore,” Busse said.

Though Busse wasn’t born and raised in the city, he said, he raised his family in the city and will always consider Sycamore his home.

“I am proud to have been involved with what Sycamore is today,” Busse said.

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