Art Hill to Leave Lewis Central

Reprinted from the July 15, 2008 Non-Pareil
Art Hill attended one of his last board meetings as the business and finance director for the Lewis Central School District on Monday, and said the decision to resign was a tough one.

"Ultimately, it was a fiscal decision. The city gave me a good offer, and my daughter's going to Creighton University," he said. "I had planned to stay here, and I can't stress enough how great the people at Lewis Central are."

Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan announced last Wednesday that Hill will become the city's next finance department director and the Council Bluffs City Council voted Monday to approve the choice.

Hill has been the head of the Lewis Central business and finance department since July 2006. He said he formally applied for the city position, which had been vacant since Scott Sanders resigned last summer to take a job in West Des Moines in May after months of deliberation. Hill found out last Wednesday that he had been chosen for the post.

"I woke up a couple of times over the weekend wondering if I did the right thing," he admitted, "but everyone here has been decent and supportive."

He will be present for the Aug. 4 school board meeting, but his last day will be either Friday, Aug. 15, or Monday, Aug 18.

"We're very sorry to see him go," school Superintendent Mark Schweer said. "He's done an exceptional job. His accounting and CPA background has brought an added dimension and a great deal of expertise to the position."