New CFO and Director of Public Works

Published on July 23, 2025

Chief Financial Officer Stacey Peterson and Director of Public Works/City Engineer Jason Bauer.

AURORA CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

The Aurora City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Stacey Peterson to serve as the City's new Chief Financial Officer and City Treasurer and Jason Bauer to serve as the City's new Director of Public Works and City Engineer.

Peterson, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the departure of former CFO Chris Minick, is a 26-year veteran of City Hall, initially beginning her tenure with the City in 1999 as a Staff Accountant. She would go on to serve for 11 years as an Accounting Supervisor in the Finance Department, before being named the Assistant Director of Finance for Budgeting in 2013. Following a brief stint as the Interim CFO and City Treasurer from 2017 through 2018, Peterson was serving as the City’s Director of Financial Operations before this current appointment.

“I’m honored to be selected as the new CFO for the City of Aurora,” Peterson said. “I look forward to working with the City Council, Mayor John Laesch, and this administration to continue to secure fiscal responsibility and ethical governance.”

Bauer, who had been serving as the Interim Director of Public Works and Interim City Engineer since March, was appointed to permanently fill the role following the departure of former Director of Public Works, Ken Schroth. Bauer is an 11-year veteran of City Hall, initially beginning his tenure in Aurora in 2014 as a Professional Engineer. After less than one year in the role, Bauer was promoted, becoming an Engineering Coordinator with the City from 2015-2018. From 2018 through March of 2025, Bauer had served as the Assistant Director of Public Works and Assistant City Engineer, aiding in the execution of daily operations, leading the implementation of the City’s annual capital improvement plan, while also developing and executing the City’s lead service line replacement program.

“It is truly an honor to have been selected for this position by Mayor John Laesch and the City Council,” Bauer said. “Their confidence and support are not simply a reflection on me, but on the entire Department of Public Works. The dedicated men and women in this Department come to work each and every day with one goal: to enhance quality of life in the community. I am proud to be part of such a hardworking and committed team, and I look forward to doing everything I can to support their efforts as they continue delivering exceptional service to our residents and advancing the vision set forth by the Mayor and City Council.”

Please join us in congratulating both Stacey Peterson and Jason Bauer on their new positions with the City of Aurora!