DeKalb County administrator to resign later this summer

SYCAMORE – DeKalb County Administrator Brian Gregory told DeKalb County Board members recently that he intends to resign from his position and take a job in the private sector in August.

Gregory, 44, confirmed the news with the Shaw Local News Network on July 12. He said he wasn’t ready to share where he’s going but plans to continue to be a DeKalb County resident.

“I had an opportunity that was one of those opportunities that comes up that was something that was too good to pass on at this point in my career, and so it wasn’t something that I was necessarily seeking,” Gregory said. “[It was] a difficult decision to leave the county given ... it’s a great county.

“DeKalb County is a great place to work. Obviously, I’ve worked in local government in DeKalb County for over 20 years, and it’s a great community, and so it made the decision very difficult, but ultimately it was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.”

Gregory earned a graduate degree from Northern Illinois University in public administration and began working in government in 2001 in Sycamore as a finance intern. When the late Ken Mundy became Sycamore’s mayor, Gregory became the city’s treasurer. Later, Gregory was named assistant to the city manager before assuming assistant city manager duties.

Through all of that, Gregory worked under Bill Nicklas, who was Sycamore’s city manager until 2011. Nicklas now works as the city manager of DeKalb.

“I’ve had the esteemed pleasure of working with him for almost 25 years,” said Nicklas, who recalled when Gregory applied to be his intern as a first-year graduate student at NIU. “I was looking for an intern, and I reviewed a number of candidates and chose him, and [I’ve] been happy with our relationship ever since.”

He’s a great guy and a very, very, very fine administrator, and I’m frankly going to miss him dearly.”

—  DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas

When that internship ended, Nicklas said he didn’t want to let go of Gregory, so he gave Gregory a position in the finance department. By the time Nicklas left Sycamore almost a decade later, Gregory was the assistant city manager. After the Sycamore City Council conducted a search for Nicklas’ replacement, Gregory was selected as the successor.

Gregory stayed in that position until February 2021, when he was tapped to replace retiring Gary Hanson as DeKalb County administrator.

In his three-year stint, Gregory has sought to lessen the burden on DeKalb County property taxpayers and worked with the DeKalb County Board to chart a course for the DeKalb County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, among other things. He said he’s most proud of his efforts to unite DeKalb County under the “one county” mantra.

“That philosophy – countywide, all of our departments, we came together, we worked together, shared resources and really to the benefit of those that we serve. And I think sometimes philosophy and culture is a little harder to change, but our departments have really embraced that, as [has] our board,” Gregory said.

Weeks into Gregory’s role as DeKalb County administrator, he was informed that the county-owned nursing center was in need of additional funds to stay open.

He said the nursing center has been the biggest financial issue that DeKalb County has faced while he’s worked for the county. Still, Gregory said he feels “good about where the facility is at” as he plans to leave his job in late August.

“I think that, obviously, there were some challenges, but it was a great reflection of local government coming together, looking at the issue, making some tough decisions, at times having to move one direction and then a different [direction]. It was always the goal to create some sort of sustainability, regardless of what direction, ultimately, that it went and where,” Gregory said, adding that there’s still work to do.

He also said those working inside the building every day should be given any accolades brought on by a potentially rejuvenated rehab facility.

“The staff deserves a lot of credit at the nursing home,” Gregory said. “The administration does as well. There’s been, where they can, quite a reduction in expenses. They’ve really looked hard and worked as a team to reduce the costs and are continuing to focus on growing the census. ... I think it’ll take a little bit of time, but I think the direction is very positive.”

DeKalb County Board Chair Ellingsworth Webb said he learned of Gregory’s plans in conversation with the administrator.

Webb said he initially joked with Gregory, telling him that he couldn’t leave his job. He said he considers Gregory a well-liked colleague.

“Change happens, specifically in careers. Currently, no one sits in a certain position 30 years anymore. So I think we wish Brian well, and I think no matter what, he’s going to give everything he’s got to make the transition very clear. He’s going to assist with the budget process, the tax levy, things that he’s been working on,” Webb said.

The DeKalb County Board has been on hiatus for most of July. Over the course of the next six weeks, county officials will need to decide on an interim county administrator while also beginning a search for a long-term successor.

Webb said he’s not sure if County Board members will convene on the matter before the end of the month but a discussion will happen soon.

“[DeKalb County officials] will get together and put together recommendations for our interim, and also look at – talking about Brian’s assistance in that transition for the interim, and if he would be willing to assist if we had a new person coming on board,” Webb said.

Gregory said his goal is to have a robust draft budget and property tax levy proposals ready for the county to consider this fall, once he’s stepped into the private sector.

Webb said that’s model behavior that should be commended.

“[Gregory is] also willing to lend a hand to the transition, whoever that interim [county administrator] may be, and making sure that they’re comfortable in that transition. That’s all you can ask for in one individual that’s going from one job into a new job – that they leave a blueprint for you to follow and help you get through where you left off.”

Nicklas said the next DeKalb County administrator will need to be a quick study in order to fill the hole that Gregory’s departure will leave.

“He’s a great guy and a very, very, very fine administrator, and I’m frankly going to miss him dearly,” Nicklas said. “What he brings to the collaboration, which is very good between the city of DeKalb and the county at all levels, but he brings another element, which is very important at the top of the pyramid at the county, and we’re the better for having had that relationship.”

This story was updated at 2 p.m. July 17, 2024, with comments from DeKalb County Board Chair Ellingsworth Webb.