Freeburg’s long-time clerk Allen Gradel at the Nov. 8 meeting offered a letter to the board announcing his upcoming retirement. 

Gradel’s resignation is effective on or before Monday, April 11, 2022.  He said this will allow adequate time for a new clerk to be hired and trained.  He plans to continue his duties and train the new clerk during that time.  Gradel will step down from the position before that date if trustees and the new clerk are comfortable with that.

After 29 years and a multitude of trustees and chairmen, Gradel sad he is “burned out on municipal government and is ready to step down.”  

Gradel added that his decision is not abrupt and that his family can attest to the fact that he has been talking about this for some time. “The last year or so has been the toughest,” he wrote.

He acknowledged there is never really a good time to bring on a new clerk since every month has existing and new challenges.  Choosing April 2022 will get Freeburg through the end of the year with payroll W-2s and 1099s, election signups for 2022, the swearing-in process, year-end financials, and new budget year processes.

“Since my start in March 1993 and continuing through these 29 years, I have seen a lot of changes, and worked with a multitude of trustees and chairmen,” Gradel wrote. “There were always challenges and changes that came up and with the help of everyone, we always worked through them.  I appreciate all the past trustees and chairmen as they have entrusted me with the duties, responsibilities, and day-to-day activities of the village. Thank you again for trusting in me in this position for so many years.”