Darin J. DeHaan
City Manager (Chief Administrative Officer)
Oregon City Hall
115 N. 3rd Street
Oregon, IL 61061
Phone: 815-732-6321 Email: Contact
Initial Hire Oregon Police Officer: 10/14/1996
Promoted to Corporal 1998
Promoted to Sergeant 1999
Promoted to Lieutenant-Detective 2001
Appointed as Chief of Police: 10/2005
Hired as City Administrator (Internal Transfer): 03/31/2020
Hired as City Manager: 05/09/2023
On the November 8th, 2022 mid-term election Oregon voters chose to change Oregon’s form of government to Council-Manager form of government. The unofficial results of the referendum were 675 “yes” votes or 56.39% a total of 522 people – or 42.61% of voters – voted against the change.
I was hired on 05/09/2023 as the first City Manager for the City of Oregon under the new Council-Manager form of Government.
History of the position
Previously: On 03/31/20 the Oregon City Council voted to create the position of City Administrator for Oregon. The council then hired Current Police Chief Darin DeHaan for that position as an internal transfer. Darin served the Oregon Police Department from 1996-2020, serving as its Chief of Police from 2005-2020. Darin has a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Northwestern University in 2008.
Community Engagement
Darin sits on the Ogle County Economic Development Corporation Board of directors as Vice-President.
Darin sits on the board of directors for CASA – 15th Judicial Circuit representing Carroll, Lee and Ogle Counties.
Darin sits on the board for the Northern Council of Governments NorthCOG.
Darin also served on the board of directors for Project OPEN a multi-disciple group tackling the local Opioid epidemic in Lee, Ogle and Whiteside County.
Darin is a member of Oregon Rotary.
Message from the City Manager: “As the first City Administrator (and now first City Manager) I know I have my work cut out for me to develop the daily duties and responsibilities of this position. Having spent the last 27 years working for the City of Oregon I know that I have a good overall sense of the operation and needs of the city. I look forward to working more closely with all of our great employees within each City Department as well as Mayor Williams and the Council Members. I am excited to help facilitate all City services to provide the best community for our citizens, business owners and visitors. ” – Darin DeHaan
According to the International City/County Management Association, more than 73 percent of cities, towns, and counties across America with populations of 2,500 or more have professional managers. Professional managers are trained in the business of managing government and its resources, and they bring a community-wide perspective to City decision-making.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Carries out the policies adopted by the elected officials
• Manages city services, which may include water, sewer, streets, public safety, planning and economic development, recycling and utilities.
• Prepares a comprehensive annual budget and capital improvement program in coordination with the commissioner of finance.
• Ensures fiscal responsibility and modern accounting practices
• Develops performance measurement systems for city services
• Applies for and administers federal, state, and private foundation grant funding
• Recruits, hires and supervises the workforce of the city, including key department heads
• Prepares council or board meeting agenda materials
• Develops long-range plans with guidance from elected officials and assists in the achievement of common goals and objectives
• Facilitates the flow and understanding of ideas and information between and among elected officials, employees and citizens
Ethical Conduct: Honoring the Public Trust
City and town managers or administrators who are members of the International
City/County Management Association (ICMA) agree to abide by a strict Code of Ethics.
The ICMA Code of Ethics specifies 12 ethical principles of personal and professional
conduct, including complete dedication to democracy and the fair and equitable delivery
of services to all residents. These standards go well beyond those required by law and
include the provision that members shall refrain from participating in the election of the
members of the employing legislative body as well as refraining from all political
activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators. The
professional administrator must demonstrate ethical and legal awareness in personal
and professional relationships and be dedicated to the highest principals of honesty,
integrity, and excellence in management.