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St. Cloud City Manager Bill Sturgeon has announced he will retire this fall. PHOTO/CITY OF ST. CLOUD
The City of St. Cloud announced Friday that City Manager Bill Sturgeon will be retiring his post, effective Sept. 2.
In a release from the city, the longtime civil servant and first responder said he's doing it for his family.
“After serving in government for more than 40 years, culminating with service as the City Manager of one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, my family and I have decided that it is time for us to start a new chapter in our lives,” Sturgeon said in the release.
Sturgeon became the city manager, after serving as the city's fire chief, first on an interim basis, then full time, after predecesor Joe Helfenberger resigned the post in July 2017 after 20 months on the job.
He called his five years as St. Cloud City Manager “both gratifying and challenging."
"I am proud of the relationships we have built in pursuit of good government and the achievement of many projects that we have been able to complete that have made St. Cloud a better place to live, work and play," he said.
His staying on through the budget process for the 2022-23 fiscal year is what have called his commitment to, " submitting a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year and working with City Council and staff to ensure a seamless transition."
Sturgeon succeeded Bill Johnston as St. Cloud Fire Chief in August 2013 after just five months as an assistant chief. He came to the city after serving with Orange County Fire Rescue for nearly 25 years.
City Council will discuss the selection process or an appointment of a new city manager at a future meeting; the next one is scheduled for June 23, next Thursday.
