Dubuque City Manager Mike Van Milligen has told the Dubuque City Council he has set his retirement date. In a letter written to the council, Van Milligen says he will retire in June 2027.
In the letter Van Milligen said he was planning to retire in the next five years, but said he decided to move up the date sooner rather than later in light of a close call with death when he was hit by a drunk driver earlier this year in downtown Dubuque.
Van Milligen has served in the roll of Dubuque City Manager since 1993.
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This is Van Milligen’s full message to the city council:
Dear Mayor Cavanagh and Esteemed Members of the Dubuque City Council:
Entering 2025 I was planning to retire within 5 years. Coming way too close to being killed by a hit and run drunk driver on March 27, 2025, has caused me to pick a time sooner rather than later.
In our life we have multiple defining moments. A few of mine were:
1. Being fortunate to have two loving parents who had grown up during the Great Depression and then both served in the Army in the Pacific Theater in World War II.
They taught me that, “Family is about Love and Respect.”
In their lives they modeled the secrets to success:
Hard Work.
Good Attitude.
Be Humble and Kind.
Make Good Choices, the most important one being your life partner.
These were special lessons to learn from members of, “The Greatest Generation.”
2. Coming out of college and getting my first full-time job as a Police Officer in Carbondale, Illinois.
The next 7 years instilled in me the importance and the gratification of public service and provided me the best supervisors, mentors, and lifelong friends anyone could ask for. They taught me that listening and problem solving are foundational to achieving results, and in the end, you must take action.
3. Meeting my wife, Nancy, in graduate school was a life changing event.
Nancy put into practice the concepts of Love and Respect building a healthy family. I also learned what Nancy meant by her saying, “If there is room in the heart, there is room in the home.” I have been able to experience the joy of having over 30 children live in our home, including our own 5 children. And, now to experience the joy of having 18 grandchildren, with the newest arrival coming August 4, 2025.
4. Being hired in Skokie, Illinois, then being promoted to Assistant Village Manager,
Having the opportunity to learn from one of the best Village Managers in our profession on how to run local government like a business to achieve meaningful outcomes that affect people’s quality of life.
5. Being hired as the City Manager in Dubuque beginning in January 1993.
This has been a great honor, as I have had the privilege of being a small part of an amazing team consisting of tremendously talented people, including city employees, elected officials, and members of organizations we have been proud to call partners. Our mantra has aways been, “Planning, Partnerships, and People.” My personal goal has been to empower others, as beautifully expressed by the Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Benjamin Zander, when he said, “The conductor of an orchestra doesn’t make a sound. He depends, for his power, on his ability to make other people powerful.”
Of course, the most important people are the residents of this great city, and they are the reason this is the “Masterpiece on the Mississippi.”
6. But, not every defining moment is positive. March 27, 2025 I was struck in downtown Dubuque by a hit and run drunk driver. Having experienced this, “brush with death,” it helped crystallize my thoughts on retirement.
Satchel Paige said, “How old would you be if you did not know how old you were?” Age is not just a chronological number. After almost 50 years in public service I still look forward to coming to work and being part of this great team. For the last 20 years I have gotten up early every morning spending over 2 hours exercising. Over the last 6 years I have walked over 18 million steps, walking 4 – 6 miles a day, having been on an 82-day streak without a miss when I was struck by the drunk driver. I also love to read books and do research, challenging myself to be in a state of continuous improvement and discovery.
The automobile accident reminded me that life can change in the blink of an eye and that if I hope to have a third career after first Policing and then City Management, and to have the time and flexibility to enjoy time with my beautiful wife and wonderful family, I need to retire from the 24/7 demands of being the City Manager of Dubuque. My children and grandchildren are spread out across the country, and I look forward to being able to spend more time with them.
I plan to retire as City Manager of Dubuque in June, 2027, a little over 20 months from now. I thought it important that once Nancy and I had made this decision that I share it with you. I hope this advance notice provides you as the Mayor and City Council time to plan for the selection of the next City Manager and the transition that will need to take place.
In my time in Dubuque I have had the honor to work with and work for people of great character. Thank you for the kindness you have shown me and thank you for your exceptional leadership.
Mike