Warrenton City Administrator Terri Thorn is retiring, effective next April, after 18 years working for the city government. Brandie Walters, the city’s director of operations, has been named as her successor.

“This decision is the culmination of three years of succession planning by the board of aldermen and the mayor to continue the implementation of the vision and goals of the city,” Warrenton officials said in a press release announcing the retirement.

Thorn started work with the city as finance officer in 2003, later becoming the director of personnel and then director of operations. She was named as Warrenton’s first official city administrator when the board of aldermen created the position in 2018.

City officials said during her time in office, Thorn has improved city finances, while heading numerous projects to better the quality of life of city employees and citizens.

“We will miss Terri and are grateful to her for the growth that she helped foster in our city,” Mayor Eric Schleuter said in the press release.

The city said Thorn will continue to assist in a consulting role once her retirement takes effect on April 1, 2021. Brandie Walters, Thorn’s successor, is an 11-year employee and has worked closely with Thorn in preparation for taking on the top job, the city said.

“We are very fortunate to have Brandie’s operational experience and executive leadership skills to help navigate the city through this exciting time of rapid growth and change,” said Schleuter.

Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch, the only current elected official who was serving when Thorn was first hired, said he has been consistently impressed by Thorn’s ability to take on a project she had little initial experience in, and learn anything she needed to know to make the project happen.

“I’ve always said that if I was starting up a company and needed someone who can figure out anything, I would hire her,” Auch told The Record. “The city owes her a lot for what she’s accomplished in the time she’s been here.”

Thorn told The Record that she’s been looking for a good time to retire for several years, and is confident she leaves the city government in a positive position.

She said one of her proudest accomplishments as an administrator is the development of the city’s management team.

“We’ve developed a really strong department head management team. They all know what their jobs are within their department, and they operate their finances within their budget,” Thorn said. “They’ll go on like they always have. They’ll continue to do very well.”

“I’m also very proud of the financial position the city is in,” Thorn continued.

Thorn said she’s thankful to the department heads, aldermen and mayors she’s worked with over the years to see positive improvements in Warrenton.

“They have all been very supportive, they’ve been a great group to work with. We’ve developed a team approach, and it’s been a pleasure to work with all of them,” Thorn commented. “I’ve learned a great deal.”