Longtime Cary Administrator Steps Down

CARY, IL — The longtime village administrator in Cary, Jacob Rife, has announced he will be leaving the village after 15 years of service.

Rife will be relocating out of state to be closer to his family, according to village officials. During a Jan. 17 meeting, Mayor Mark Kownick and the village board thanked Rife for his years of service to the village.

“Administrator Rife’s outstanding leadership skills have helped position the Village where it is today through ongoing financial planning, capital planning, and succession planning. He has been an excellent advisor to the board, as well as a mentor to members of the Village staff," Kownick said. "Cary is a better place because of Administrator Rife. He will be severely missed, but we understand and respect his desire to be closer to his family.”

Rife began as a management analyst with the village of Cary and moved up the ranks over the years. Rife was appointed interim village administrator in December 2016 before being appointed as village administrator in May 2017.

Under Rife’s tenure, the village completed several high-profile projects, which included constructing the Metra train station and the Cary Municipal Center, opening of Cary Lake at Rotary Park, and the development of the downtown strategic plan.

Rife also helped the village to secure numerous grant awards.

“I’m so proud of what we have collectively achieved over the past several years. Our team has been able to complete several once-in-a-career projects. This would not have happened without the Village Board’s vision and our talented team of employees," Rife said. "I have been honored and humbled to be able to serve as Village Administrator in such a great community. It was an incredibly difficult decision to decide to leave the Village, but my wife and I are looking forward to being closer to our family.”

Village officials in Cary are expected to appoint an interim village administrator at a future village board meeting.