Posted: 7/3/02

Weck fills Wyoming Township post

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Just minutes after the Wyoming Town Board of Supervisors accepted the requested resignation of Zoning Administrator G. Alan Wilcutt, a new man got the job.

Fred Weck, building official for Wyoming Township since June, 1998, was promoted to fill the vacant position during the regular meeting of the board Tuesday, June 25.

His employment effective immediately, Weck will be paid an annual salary of $48,000. This is an increase from his building official salary of about $42,000.

Willcutt, who was hired this spring, was at a salary of $45,000 annually. Previous Zoning Administrator Lisa Hughes, who was on the job five years when she resigned last fall, made $40,000 annually. These numbers leave about $34,000 in the budget for a building inspector.

Willcutt reportedly made a verbal resignation at a closed session of the town board on Tuesday, June 11.

Since Supervisor Jeff Eiffler made the motion to request the resignation in the closed session, he made the motion to accept that resignation during the regular meeting Tuesday, June 25.

Weck wanted to be zoning administrator. Before the meeting the official put a letter into each supervisors mailbox outlining his wishes and proposing he continue on as building official. He suggested the township could save money with the hiring of a seasonal or part time building inspector.

Supervisor Mike Peterson said hiring Weck was a good use of township money. He added going through the hiring process now would be difficult, considering the township is in the midst of a busy building season.

ìI feel very confident with Fred taking the position for the summer or a six month trial,î Peterson said.

However, Weck was hired with a one-year trial period.

There were two other applicants in the hopper. From the last hiring period.

Elizabeth A. Knoblauch from Plymouth and Ronald R. Peterson from Royalton were contacted by the township and both indicated they still were interested in the job, Clerk/Treasurer Norma Olson said.

Supervisor Ron Swenson questioned Weckís credentials. Weck does not have a college degree and admits his only planning and zoning experience came while on the job as a building inspector in the township.

ìWe requested past applicants to have credentials,î Swenson said. ìIs that a fair scenarioóbased on what weíve done in the past?î

ìWe have two other candidates that supposedly are qualified. They have some credentials that make them better qualified,î Swenson said. ìI just thought that maybe we should give them a chance.î

Weck, saying if the township thought the other candidates were better they should be hired instead, said the one year cycle will demonstrate his worth to the township.

ìIf it doesnít work out I can go back to being building official,î Weck said.

Peterson said the timing was bad to seek out someone unfamiliar with the community.

ìWith the summer building season it is very important to have someone on board,î Peterson said. ìGetting someone here and getting him or her on boardóthe timing is bad.î

Peterson said Weck has earned a chance to prove himself.

ìHe has picked up the ball and ran with it,î Peterson said. ìHe has been very good for the township.î

Chairman Don Waller endorsed Weck for the job.

ìIn my mind, Fred has been doing the job for the past year,î Waller said.

He added Weck and Nancy Blomberg, who works in the office, have shown ìexemplary performance.î

ìBoth he and Nancy, they donít like to see anything go out of this office that isnít right,î Waller said. ìI donít think weíd have a better choice than someone from within.î

The motion to hire Weck, made by Waller, passed 4-1 with Swenson in opposition.

Meetings

The Wyoming Town Board of Supervisors regularly meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9.

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