Team

The Deputy City Administrator is responsible for the oversight of the city’s internal service departments such as Finance, Budget, Human Resources , Municipal Court and Information Technology. Additionally, the Deputy City Administrator also assists the City Administrator in various finanical and administrative issues and serves as acting City Administrator when designated.

Christine Cates joined the City in July 2002 as the Director of Finance and was promoted to Assistant City Administrator – Finance and Administrative Services in June 2011. In October 2022, Christine was promoted to Deputy City Administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Missouri – Columbia and a Masters in Business Administration from Ottawa University. Christine is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Public Finance Officer.

Karen Van Winkle joined the City in March 1990. She spent several years working in the License and Tax Departments before being promoted to Revenue Collections Manager in 1996.

In 2006 she was promoted to Assistant Director of Finance and in 2011 was promoted to Director of Finance. She holds a Bachelor of Science in both Management and Accounting from Park University.