The City of Davenport continues to face changing times and changing personnel at city hall.
The most recent departure came last week when Sarah Ott resigned from her job as the city’s chief strategy officer. Ms. Ott’s final day with the city was Friday, Dec. 1. She had worked for the city for 11 years, beginning in economic development and moving to city administration before becoming the chief strategy officer.
Starting in January 2024, she will become the new director of communications and community relations for the Davenport Community School District.
“Whether it be in economic development, working on the Kraft Heinz and Sterilite deals or in city administration, working on pressing community issues, such as gun violence and juvenile crime, I have appreciated being part of the good, hard work of creating opportunities to better the community,” Ms. Ott told the QCBJ in an email this week.
She is starting a new chapter in her professional life because she was intrigued by the opportunity to work with the school district.
“The Davenport Community School District provides wonderful opportunities for the children in our community, and I am excited to partner with them in this mission because when our children succeed, our community succeeds,” she added.
In her new job, Ms. Ott will help with the promotion of the school district as well as building relationships between the district and community partners.
“I have loved my time with the city and am grateful for the opportunities I had to work on large transformative projects that made a significant impact on moving our community forward,” she added.
Her job change comes on the heels of Corrie Spiegel stepping down as Davenport’s city administrator, which the city announced in a news release in mid-November. On Wednesday, Nov. 22, city officials announced it would pay Ms. Spiegel $1.6 million for lost wages and “emotional pain and suffering” as part of a separation agreement.
Davenport Mayor Mike Matson announced that Mallory Merritt has been named as the interim administrator. She had served as the city’s assistant city administrator and chief financial officer since June 2020.
In addition, the city recently announced the impending retirement of longtime City Attorney Tom Warner. He will retire effective Jan. 2, 2024, from a city career that began as a part-time attorney in 1995.
