BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — After a decade at the city’s helm, Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury has announced her decision to retire from her position by the end of the year.
Fleury formally notified City of Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke and the city commission of her resignation today. While her contract requires only 30 days’ notice, Fleury gave the commission a departure window of Nov. 30 – Dec. 31 to allow time to plan and implement a search process.
“I look around and see a different Battle Creek than when I started — something I’m proud to have been part of,” Fleury said. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve with our current city commission, as well as previous commissions, in Battle Creek for the past ten years. Reaching my goals would not have been possible without supportive city commissions and an amazing city staff. There is much value in longevity and consistency in the city manager’s role, and I hope that the next city manager serves longer than me.”
Fleury, who became Battle Creek’s first female city manager in October 2014, is the city’s longest serving city manager to date.
"I appreciate the work of the city manager over the past decade. Her efforts have placed our community in a position to continue to improve and grow,” Behnke said. “We thank her and her family for their hard work and dedication, and we wish her the best as she embarks on the next phase in her life.”
Over the coming weeks, the city commission will discuss the city’s search process to recruit a new city manager.