Lee County hires new administrator

DIXON – Wendy Ryerson has worn many hats during her tenure with Lee County, and she’s excited to fill a new one as its administrator.

Ryerson began working for the county nearly 35 years ago as clerical support staff in the assessor’s office, and she became the chief county assessment officer 21 years ago.

She’s also stepped into various roles in the absence of an administrator and was part of the group that developed the position around 5 years ago.

“There are a lot of efficiencies the administrator can bring to the table, and there are so many great things this position can do,” she said.

The core of the position is to bring “innovation, collaboration and leadership” to support and implement board policies, manage the county’s 180 employees efficiently, and organize and direct department heads.

Ryerson looks forward to accomplishing goals ranging from simple to complex, from standardizing forms to identifying bigger-picture strategic planning initiatives in the county.

“I’m excited and energized; there’s so much to do and so little time,” Ryerson said.

She began her new position at the helm of the county Monday, and though it was bittersweet to leave the office she’s known for 35 years, she’s excited to lay new groundwork.

“It will be about finding the right balance playing a supportive and efficient role without interfering with day-to-day operations with departments,” she said.

As a service industry, the county’s greatest assets are its employees, and Ryerson said she’s always enjoyed working and interacting with people.

“I’m a people person,” she said. “I’m all about people; I enjoy people.”

One of the biggest challenges for the county, like so many local governments, is to provide needed services with limited finances - basically to do more with less, she said.

That’s especially true in Lee County, which is tax capped under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.

Ryerson hopes to set the stage for the administrator position so the baton can be handed off in a smooth fashion when she reaches retirement in the next 5 years or so.

“What I do today is going to matter down the road, and I want to put things together and efficiently help department heads and county board members,” she said.

Jennifer Boyd, who’s worked in the assessment office for many years, will be acting assessor. Ryerson has helped prepare her for the role during the last few years.

“I’m very excited to see the places she’s going to take the office, and I’m sure she will continue and improve upon it,” Ryerson said.

The county hired its first administrator, Theresa Wittenauer, in 2016 following three searches across a year. She resigned in November 2019 and became city manager in Princeton.

After more than a year and a half of retooling the position and weighing the cost, the county’s executive committee was tasked with filling the administrator position. Board Vice Chairman John Nicholson said Ryerson was chosen from around a dozen applicants, six of whom they interviewed.

“She’s a very good fit for the county. She’s extremely organized, and very articulate,” Nicholson said. “Wendy knows the departments probably better than anyone, and you rarely ask her a question she doesn’t have a complete answer for.

“We’ll love her as the administrator and miss her as the assessor.”