Kewanee council rejects removing residency rule, approves City Clerk appointment with two-year probation

The Kewanee City Council voted 1–4 on June 10 against Ordinance No. 3966, which would have removed a residency requirement for employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements, and then approved Resolution No. 5167 appointing a new City Clerk with a two-year probationary residency clause.

The failed ordinance drew objections from Council Member Michael Yaklich, who said "the change in the code was wrong" and argued department heads should live in Kewanee and be available on-call. Mayor Gary Moore said eliminating the requirement could attract a broader pool of applicants and noted an applicant’s family circumstances were a factor. City Attorney Raver advised the council that any change should be made uniformly rather than through a one-off variance.

After the residency ordinance failed, the council voted to appoint Rabecka Jones as City Clerk with language referencing a two-year probationary period. Jones told the council she "does live in Woodhull, 36 miles away" and said a two-year move requirement would not get her children through high school; she said she had already left a prior position that had a four-year term and could not guarantee an earlier move. The appointment passed on a motion by Council Member Steve Faber, seconded by Council Member Michael Komnick; roll call showed five ayes and no nays.

Why it matters: the debate put local accountability and staffing flexibility at odds. Council members who opposed removing residency requirements said living in the city fosters responsiveness and a vested interest; proponents said modern hiring needs may require broader geographic recruitment. The council’s compromise — appointment with a two-year residency condition to be revisited — preserves a hiring outcome while flagging the policy question for future council consideration.

Votes at a glance: the meeting recorded multiple formal actions, including the residency vote and the clerk appointment. Notable outcomes included: Ordinance No. 3966 (residency requirement) — motion failed 1–4; Resolution No. 5167 (appoint City Clerk) — approved 5–0. Other measures approved at the meeting are summarized in the council’s meeting record.

What’s next: the council established the probationary residency language in the appointment documents; the council did not adopt an across-the-board change to the City Administrative Code. Any future ordinance amendments would require further formal action by the council.