Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - 2017 will be remembered by Rochester-area residents as a year when there was a major changing of the guard.

The city and Olmsted County lost their longtime administrators when they finally decided to retire. For City Administrator Steve Kvenvold, it was nearly 40 years in the leadership position. County Administrator Richard Devlin served as the top non-elected official in county government for 45 years. That made him the longest-serving county administrator in Minnesota, and possibly the country.

Kvenvold’s longtime assistant Gary Neumann also decided it was time to retire. He will leave at the end of February, wrapping up a career with the city that ran more than 35 years.

Longtime Rochester Police Chief Roger Peterson has also decided it’s time to go fishing - permanently. He plans to step down in late April after serving as the city’s top cop for almost 20 years.

The longest-serving city attorney in Rochester history is also leaving. Terry Adkins became city attorney in 1991 and will leave in February.

The city will soon begin a search for a new fire chief as Greg Martin is planning to retire in June. He has been the city’s top firefighter since 2008.

The Olmsted County Board lost one of its longtime members as a result of the 2016 election when Paul Wilson was defeated in his re-election bid. He had been on the board since 1994.

There will likely be more changes during 2018. Longtime Rochester City Councilmember Ed Hruska has repeatedly said he will not run for another term this year. And, Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede has hinted strongly that he may not seek another term. He has been mayor since 2003.

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