Aaron Steburg has been named the new director of the Fort Dodge Public Areas Department.

Steburg has worked for the local government for about 20 years, according to City Manager David Fierke.

He started his career in the Public Works Department then transferred to the former Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. There he worked on the parks and forestry crew. He eventually became the city forester.

When the new Public Areas Department was created on July 1, 2024, he became part of that agency. He was the department’s supervisor and was the assistant to Director Kevin Lunn.

Lunn is retiring and Steburg will take his place on May 1.

His starting salary will be $106,641.

Fierke nominated Steburg for the position. The council approved his appointment Monday with no discussion.

The Public Areas Department maintains city parks, mows city-owned rights-of-way, cares for trees in the parks and on other city properties, and maintains the three city-owned cemeteries (Oakland, Fort Dodge Memorial Park and North Lawn).