Sycamore Shake-Up: Ruth Kedzior Named DeKalb County’s $185K Government Boss

DeKalb County has officially picked its next top administrator, signing a contract with veteran public servant Ruth Kedzior that puts her in the county’s lead staff role starting March 9, 2026, at a base salary of $185,000. With more than 25 years in local government and recent senior posts in Colorado and at Metro Water Recovery, Kedzior is stepping in as the county board members publicly thanked Interim County Administrator Derek Hiland for roughly a year and a half of holding down the fort while they searched for a permanent hire.

According to WSPY, the DeKalb County Board signed off on the hire on Feb. 20, 2026. The outlet reports that Kedzior’s contract locks in her official start date of March 9, 2026, and confirms her first-year salary at $185,000. WSPY also notes that County Board Chair John Frieders used the meeting to thank Hiland for his “year and a half” overseeing county operations and said the board will move into a formal handoff period ahead of Kedzior’s arrival.

Kedzior’s background in local government and utilities

Kedzior comes in with a résumé that stretches across county government and public utilities. A member profile from CSD Pool lists her as Senior Administrative Manager at Metro Water Recovery and highlights her work guiding administrative efforts and employee programs there. Public meeting records from Adams County, Colorado, list Kedzior across county agendas and minutes, documenting multiple years spent in county government roles before her move to DeKalb County.

What the hire means for day-to-day operations

The appointment closes an extended search that followed the departure of the county’s previous administrator and a run of interim leadership that began in 2024, a sequence of moves that the Daily Chronicle previously documented. The county’s administration office says the county administrator role is responsible for overseeing day-to-day county operations, providing staff support to the county board, and maintaining an office at the Legislative Center in Sycamore, according to DeKalb County.

Kedzior’s contract details and the step-by-step schedule for a full transition to her leadership are expected to appear in upcoming board records and meeting agendas as the county finishes her onboarding. Residents who want to follow the changeover can keep an eye on DeKalb County’s public agenda and administration pages for new documents and calendar updates.