Iowa City Council approves longtime staffer as new city clerk

IOWA CITY — The Iowa City Council has chosen a 17-year veteran to fill the role of city clerk.

On Tuesday, the council unanimously approved, 6-0, the appointment of Kellie Fruehling as clerk. Fruehling has spent almost 17 years with the city and previously served as an administrative secretary in the clerk's office.

Council member Kingsley Botchway II was absent from the meeting and did not vote.

'I've always been in the clerk's department. It just seemed like the next step to do,' Fruehling said. 'The people here at the city are great to work with. So it's just continuing on working with staff.'

Fruehling succeeds Christopher Guidry, who didn't have a background in city government. He announced his resignation after roughly a month on the job.

Fruehling said she envisions a 'big part' of her new role to be about 'transparency with records and just being open and available to the public.' She added that she was excited about the opportunity.

The position first became available after longtime City Clerk Marian Karr retired in December. She served more than three decades.

'Kellie's going to do a great job. She's been in that office for a long time. (She's) very experienced, very knowledgeable, and I think will serve the city very very well...,' council member Susan Mims said during the meeting.

Fruehling is expected to begin her new position today. She'll earn a salary of $87,000. She has an associate's degree from Kirkwood Community College.

The City Clerk's Office is responsible for the city's records like ordinances, resolutions and minutes. It also issues various licenses and permits as well as help the public and staff with research, according to the office's webpage.

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