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Baxter accepts administrator resignation and appoints deputy clerk as interim
Summary
The Baxter City Council accepted the resignation of City Administrator/Clerk Lucas Battani effective Jan. 29, 2026, and appointed Deputy City Clerk Jill Braye as interim administrator effective Jan. 30, 2026, while authorizing recruitment and a public posting for the permanent role.
The Baxter City Council on Jan. 12 accepted the resignation of City Administrator/Clerk Lucas Battani, effective Jan. 29, 2026, and immediately appointed Deputy City Clerk Jill Braye as interim City Administrator/Clerk effective Jan. 30, 2026.
Councilmember Smith moved to accept Battani’s resignation; the motion was seconded by Milligan and carried with ayes from Bethards, Churchill, Milligan, Schabilion and Smith. After a closed session under Iowa Code §21.5(1)(i), Milligan moved to appoint Jill Braye as interim administrator; Bethards seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Council also authorized recruitment for the Deputy City Clerk position and directed staff to post the City Administrator/Clerk vacancy at three public locations for 10 days. The council scheduled a follow-up meeting on Jan. 26 to consider a permanent appointment.
During public comment, resident Doug Bishop urged the council to advance an appointment of Jill Braye, and Nancy Foreman asked for clarification on 2024 staffing and the payables list in the Jasper County Tribune. The council recorded no additional formal action on those questions during the meeting.
The council’s motions were procedural and carried by unanimous roll call votes. The interim appointment and the recruitment/posting steps are administrative measures; no permanent hire was made at the Jan. 12 meeting.
