UG Asst. County Administrator Melissa Sieben to Join City of Lawrence
Published on April 01, 2022
On Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the Unified Government Full Commission Meeting Interim County Administrator, Cheryl Harrison-Lee announced the resignation of Assistant County Administrator, Melissa Sieben.
She will be joining the City of Lawrence, KS as the Director of Municipal Services and Operations. Ms. Sieben has provided oversight and leadership to over fifteen City and County departments; led the development of several major strategic initiatives; and has been a champion of data-driven change within City and County operations.
"I appreciate Melissa Sieben for her commitment to the Unified Government and Wyandotte County,” said CEO/Mayor Tyrone Garner. “We wish her the best in all of her future endeavors.”
Since 2015, Ms. Sieben has been instrumental in convening a multi-department initiative to address blight, litter and code enforcement issues through better internal communication and coordination. She developed and launched data dashboards to track the progress of these initiatives and has been an advocate for change and collaboration throughout her tenure. Additionally, Ms. Sieben has been a long-time steward and champion of the KC Levees Project, a multi-billion dollar infrastructure project with the City of Kansas City, Missouri and US Army Corps of Engineers to bring much-needed flood protection to neighborhoods along the Kansas and Missouri Rivers.
“Ms. Sieben’s public sector experience started long before her tenure with the Unified Government and we extend our sincerest appreciation for the time and commitment she has brought to our community,” said Unified Government Interim County Administrator, Cheryl Harrison-Lee.
Prior to joining the Unified Government, Ms. Sieben served local governments in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. She is currently the President of MOARC, the Missouri and Associated Rivers Coalition and President of the Kansas University City Managers and Trainees Alumni Organization.
“It has been an honor to serve Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS for the past seven years,” expressed Ms. Sieben. “I have been blessed to work with staff and elected officials that have such a beautiful passion for this community and a positive vision for our future! Working to address community concerns around blight and abandoned properties will be my favorite memory and has invigorated a revitalization of the eastern half of this city. Additionally, securing full federal funding for the raising of the levees along the Kansas River will continue to be one of my proudest moments in public service!”
Ms. Sieben’s last day with the Unified Government will be April 20, 2022.