CLINTON — A new city administrator began work in Clinton recently as long-time administrator Tim Followell prepares to retire at the end of this year.

City commissioner Tom Edmunds introduced Darin Girdler during Monday’s regular city council meeting.  Girdler most recently served as interim director of operations for the City of Beloit, Wis.  He joins the City of Clinton government with extensive experience in city management throughout central and northern Illinois.

“I grew up in Danvers and lived in Minier for quite a while,” Girdler told the Journal.

Girdler graduated from Olympia High School and from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Before serving Beloit, Girdler was interim roadways engineer for the City of Joliet, a city of 150,000 residents.

“I went through a whole winter with Joliet,” he said.  “Six hundred miles of roads, 50 plow truck drivers.  We had several snow events.”

Previously, Girdler was city administrator for East Moline and also served a stint as administrator for Farmer City.

“I spent seven years in commercial real estate and development,” Girdler said.  “I kept close to the municipal tract.”

Girdler is familiar with the DeWitt County and Clinton area.

“I’ve put many miles on skis on the lake,” he said.  “When I was young, my dad would take us every weekend.”

Girdler has been married to his wife Karen for 30 years.  They have three grown sons.