Herzet resigns
Sixth department head to leave county in 16 months
Staff reporter
And, just like that, Marion County Commission is searching to fill the top two positions in the county road and bridge department.
In a little more than a week's time, road foreman Steve Hudson and public works director Jim Herzet have resigned.
Hudson applied for and was chosen to take over the lake superintendent's job. At Monday's Marion County Commission meeting, Herzet resigned.
Reading from a written statement, an emotional Herzet said he spent nearly 35 years with the county road and bridge department, and worked his way to the top job in the department.
"We have worked hard to change the public perception of the department," Herzet said, "and the commissioners need to realize we are here for public safety, not their personal agenda.
"You must remember that your employees are your most valuable asset," Herzet continued, "and without them jobs go unfinished and (work is) done without a sense of pride."
He said the commission needed to realize that employees are not expendable and are the ones who make it "all come together."
Herzet said events of the past two weeks caused him to make the difficult decision. He did not elaborate during the meeting what those events were.
Herzet was 19 years old when he began March 12, 1973 as an equipment operator and rural patrolman. During that time, he worked in various positions and eventually was appointed road foreman March 5, 2001.
When road and bridge superintendent Gerald Kelsey was forced to retire in April 2005, due to his health, the commission appointed Herzet to his position July 18, 2005. Since that time, the position title has changed to public works director.
Steve Hudson was hired April 21, 2004, as an equipment operator II in the special bridge department and quickly worked his way up the ranks to road foreman Oct. 3, 2005.
When Dale Snelling retired in April, after more than 40 years as the superintendent of Marion County Park and Lake, Hudson applied for and was offered the position of lake superintendent. He accepted the position June 11, and gave his two weeks' notice June 12 as road supervisor.
At the completion of Herzet's resignation, a stunned commission responded.
Commissioner Bob Hein thanked Herzet for his service. Commission chairman Randy Dallke said the commission needed to decide the direction it should take.
"You did a hell of a job, Jim," said commissioner Dan Holub. "We'll miss you."
With that, Herzet stood up, shook hands with the commission and exited the commission room.
The commission then called for a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel. After that time, the commission then called in Hudson for a 15-minute executive session. That session was extended for another 15 minutes and Hudson exited the commission room.
Dallke made the announcement that no other decisions had been made and Hudson still had resigned as road supervisor and would serve as lake superintendent. Hudson would be available as a consultant to the road and bridge department after Herzet's last day, June 29.
The county will advertise both positions.
County lake
Prior to Herzet announcing his resignation, Hudson was at the meeting to finalize his position as lake superintendent.
Hudson and his family plan to move to the house at the lake. The commission agreed to pay for some updating of the house that included floor covering and a contractor to install sheetrock over paneling.
The commission instructed Hudson to obtain bids from companies within the county for floor covering.
Some repairs had been completed that included the replacement of a water heater.
Cindy Ragland will continue to operate concessions from the lake office for the remainder of the summer.
The commission approved a request by Hudson for a county cell phone.
"I plan to evaluate daily operations at the lake before I make any changes," Hudson said. His first day on the job will be Tuesday. His starting salary is $32,000 per year.
Hudson requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The county will advertise for the assistant lake superintendent position.
Holub reported trash from some lake residents was being dumped in a county trash container instead of the residents paying for trash removal service. It was clarified that the containers are for lake visitors only.
Sixth to leave
This board of commissioners has gone through weeks of interviews and hours of deliberation in hiring replacements of department heads.
Noxious weed director Bill Smithhart was the first to go Oct. 31, 2005. David Brazil resigned in May 2006, as sanitarian, zoning administrator, and transfer station director.
Darryl Thiesen, emergency medical services director, was the next go in December 2006.
Dale Snelling, lake superintendent, retired in April, followed by the retirement of department for elderly director Noreen Weems in May.
