May 18, 2021 – Village of Kewaskum, WI – The Village of Kewaskum has posted a job opening for its Village Administrator as Matt Heiser is leaving to take a job in Harrison, WI.
According to the Village of Harrison website: “Harrison is located on the scenic northeast shores of Lake Winnebago. It was chartered in 1853 as the Town of Lima and became the Town of Harrison in 1858. In 2013, the residents in the northwest portion of the town voted to incorporate a portion of the town into the Village of Harrison. This referendum passed by a vote of 984 For a Village and 114 Against a Village. Secretary of State, Douglas LaFollette, certified the incorporation on March 8, 2013.
The Village of Harrison encompasses approximately 32 sq. miles and has a population of 13,185.”
The Village of Harrison Board held a special meeting May 7, 2021 to discuss the hiring of a new Village Manager.
The job application for Village of Kewaskum is posted below. Heiser was first hired in June 2008. His last day is in mid-June.
“I was only a little bit surprised by his resignation,” said Village President Kevin Scheunemann. “Matt has always been looking for a step up in terms of career path. I spoke with Matt earlier this week and he feels this is the best move.
“I did do my best to try and keep him in Kewaskum but the issues are more external than internal; he is looking at this as a bigger, bolder career move and as Village President I wasn’t going to stand in the way of that.”
Scheunemann said Heiser did serve the Village well. “He helped me preside over the ‘golden age’ of the Village. We got the 9-11 Memorial in, the 30-acres of Reigle Family Park and substantially 90-percent fixed the TIF district. But the biggest blow to the Village will be missing his civic involvement.”
Heiser was part of the 9-11 Memorial Committee, the Kewaskum Chamber of Commerce, and the Kewaskum Historical Society.
Position: Village Administrator
Department: Administration
Date Posted: May 18, 2021
Application Deadline: June 4, 2021, 4:00 PM
Opportunity: The Village of Kewaskum (pop. 4,004) in Washington County, Wisconsin, is seeking highly qualified applicants to serve as the Village Administrator. Kewaskum has twenty full time employees and an approximate annual general fund budget of $2,400,000. The Village also has water and sanitary sewer utilities and two open Tax Incremental Districts.
The Job: Successful candidates will have a strong knowledge of Wisconsin open meetings and public records administration requirements, municipal finances, zoning administration, Tax Incremental Financing, Human Resources, and capital/strategic planning. Successful candidates will also have some familiarity with negotiations (e.g. with developers and unions) and some experience with information technologies. For additional details on the position duties please see the job description on the Village web site.
The Person: It is important these skills are accompanied by a positive attitude and a style of communication/interaction that is cooperative and team oriented. This is a critical role for Kewaskum because the individual will work closely with a wide variety of customers: department heads, other Village staff, other governmental units, contractors, consultants, elected officials, business owners, community stakeholders, and the residents of the Village. It is vital all these relationships remain strong. Strong candidates will want to be an important contributor in a team environment and be good stewards of Village resources.
Minimum requirements: The Village is seeking a candidate with some progressively responsible experience in municipal operations, a Bachelor’s Degree in public administration or related field and a valid driver’s license. A Master’s Degree in public administration is preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and/or progressively responsible experience will also be considered.
Compensation & Benefits: The Village Administrator is an exempt, non-represented position. The pay range upon hire is $83,723 to $98,153 depending on qualifications. The Village of Kewaskum also offers a comprehensive benefits package including a robust health insurance plan, employer FSA contributions, Wisconsin Retirement, paid holidays and vacation.
To Apply: A job description and employment application can be obtained from the Village of Kewaskum’s website at www.village.kewaskum.wi.us (click on the menu option “Government” and from the resulting drop down menu click on “Employment”) or by contacting the Village Clerk at tbutz@village.kewaskum.wi.us or 262-626-8484. Along with a submitted employment application and resume, candidates must also submit a cover letter describing how they fit the position.
Deadline: Applications will be accepted until 4:00 P.M. on Friday, June 4, 2021. Submissions may be sent via e-mail to Village Clerk Tammy Butz at tbutz@village.kewaskum.wi.us or the mailing address below:
Village Clerk Tammy Butz
Village of Kewaskum
204 First Street
PO Box 38
Kewaskum, WI 53040
As a condition of employment, the intended candidate will be subject to a background investigation and a drug screen. Pre-employment evaluations will be conducted at the expense of the Village of Kewaskum.