Kross to retire as Queen Creek town manager

It has truly been a privilege to be part of shaping the vision for the community over the many years.”

John Kross, Town Manager, Queen Creek

After serving as Queen Creek’s town manager for 15 years, John Kross will be retiring effective Jan. 20.

The Queen Creek Town Council will be considering the appointment of a replacement at an upcoming council meeting, according to a press release. His retirement was announced Thursday, Oct. 27.

"Looking ahead, I am confident that as a council we will work together to identify next steps that are in the best interest of our community," said Queen Creek Vice Mayor Jeff Brown. "We anticipate discussing the go-forward steps at an upcoming council meeting."

Kross worked for the town of Queen Creek for more than 26 years. He has served as town manager since 2007. Prior to his unanimous appointment to town manager, he served as assistant town manager for two years and community development director for eight years.

He led the town under the direction of three mayors and 13 town councils at a time when Queen Creek has been experiencing explosive growth.

"It has truly been an honor and pleasure to work side by side with John Kross since 2008 in my role as council member, and even prior to that as I served on various working groups and committees going back to the early 2000s." Brown said. "So much good has been accomplished for our town under John’s leadership - the town itself was just seven years young when he started as the community development director. That means he literally had a hand in basically all that QC has seen since 1996!"

Some of the town’s notable milestones under Kross’ leadership include:

• Construction of the Ellsworth Loop Road, the state’s largest Improvement District
• Starting the Queen Creek Fire & Medical and Queen Creek Police departments
• Acquiring the Queen Creek Water Company, H2O Inc. and Diversified Water Company, in addition to working toward various other strategic water investments to ensure Queen Creek’s ample water supply
• Building hundreds of miles of roadway, water and wastewater infrastructure
• Increasing the town’s bond rating from its first rating of A in 2007 to AA+ in 2022
• Building award-winning parks and trails
• Becoming the first Arizona municipality to have a fully funded pension reserve
• Securing annexation of 4,200 acres of State Trust Lands for the community’s advanced manufacturing sector

"Hearing of John’s retirement was difficult and emotional to grapple with," Brown said. "If one were to attempt to compile a list of significant milestones and achievements under his management, it would be both extensive and considerable. For me however, that significant, 26-year-long list would represent a ton of fond and shared memories. He will be missed, both professionally and personally."

Kross stated in the release that he was "very grateful to have had the confidence of our current and many former town councils.”

“Through the tremendous challenges of managing geometric growth, navigating the implications of the Great Recession, and most recently the pandemic, the many town councils have always had the best interests of the community as a whole at heart,” he stated.

In addition to his work with the town, Kross has served as a leader in the industry. He received the 2018 John J. DeBolske Professional Excellence award from the Arizona City/County Management Association. He also has served as mentor through the Arizona State University School of Public Affairs Marvin Andrews Fellowship Program, served on a number of committees for the Arizona City/County Management Association, serves as the chair of the TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative, and completed the Harvard Senior Executives in State and Local Government program.

“It has truly been a privilege to be part of shaping the vision for the community over the many years,” Kross stated. “I will miss working with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of employees, many who have made significant career changes to become part of the Queen Creek experience. I have been fortunate to work for some other communities in the state, and I would stand up our team to any in the state. The opportunity has been the greatest professional privilege of my life.”