News

April 30, 2012

Ankeny city manager accepts early retirement offer

Contact: 
Deb Dyar
515.965.6414
ddyar@ankenyiowa.gov

ANKENY, Iowa (April 30, 2012) - At a special meeting tonight, the Ankeny City Council unanimously approved early retirement for longstanding City Manager Carl Metzger. The council recognized his 27 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Ankeny and his steady leadership on behalf of the city council. Metzger, who has served as Ankeny’s city manager since 1985, will be retiring effective June 30, 2012.

“Carl is one of the finest individuals I have had the opportunity to work with,” said Mayor Steve Van Oort. “He is a model of professional integrity and sets the standard as an outstanding city manager. We will miss his leadership and are grateful for the extraordinary service he has provided to our city.”

Since Metzger took on the city manager job in 1985, the city of Ankeny has grown in population from 18,000 to almost 50,000 today. During this period Ankeny has been nationally recognized as one of the 100 Best Places to Live by MONEY Magazine, Family Circle Magazine’s Best Town for Families, designated a Playful City USA by the KaBoom! Foundation six consecutive years and continues to attract attention for its family-friendly neighborhoods and quality of life amenities.

During his tenure, the City has been able to invest in infrastructure and other capital projects designed to improve the quality of life for residents and make Ankeny attractive to business. Recent examples of the value of that investment include the opening of the High Trestle Trail, Cascade Falls Aquatic Center, expansion of the John Deere Des Moines Works, a new 450,000 square foot Toro facility at the crossroads of I-80/35 and the soon to be completed 36th Street Interchange.

Metzger attributes his career accomplishments to the work of city departments at every level.

“Ankeny has an outstanding management team, both current and former, and I have been proud to have served with these professionals,” he said. “The City has dedicated employees in every department that I have been privileged to work with.”

Metzger’s public administration career began in 1975, having served as city manager in three Kansas communities before moving to Ankeny.

“Ankeny is more than my place of employment. It is my home and the place where my wife Janet and I raised our children,” Metzger said. “It is with sincere gratitude to the city council and the citizens of Ankeny for affording me the opportunity to be a part of this great community. The years have been personally rewarding, full of opportunities, accomplishments, challenges and celebrations. As city manager, you can’t ask for more than that and I am grateful to have been a part of Ankeny’s tremendous success.”

The city council will discuss an interim appointment and/or future steps at an upcoming meeting. 

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