KRONENWETTER, Wis. (WSAU) – Kronenwetter’s choice for village administrator has accepted their offer.
Richard Downey’s first day with the village will be on Monday. He enters the position with over 11 years of experience as a municipal administrator. He spent 8 years as Administrator for the City of Rock Falls, Illinois.
Downey said at a meeting last month that he'll be working to improve the village as best he can, but that starts with looking at what the residents want. “What type of businesses do you want, do you want to live with a big box store, do you want small businesses?” He says that any economic growth for the village is going to take time, but that the village will need to work not only with itself but with the surrounding communities in order to properly foster growth.
The board had searched for months to find a replacement for Blaine Oborn, who left in July to become the city administrator in Rhinelander. Board members repeatedly postponed a decision on whether to hire three other finalists because the village did not have a complete background check on the candidates.
Downey’s starting salary will be $82,500.
