Kletscher to resign from Redwood County Board
By Deb GauBrian Kletscher won't be a Redwood County District 1 Commissioner after Jan. 1.
Kletscher will resign to take the job of general manager and chief executive officer of Highwater Ethanol, LLC in Lamberton.
"I couldn't do both. The workload is way too much," Kletscher said Thursday. "It was a tough decision. I've definitely enjoyed serving as a commissioner over the last 12 years."
Kletscher submitted a letter of resignation at the Redwood County Board regular meeting on Tuesday.
Kletscher is now in the Highwater CEO position on an interim basis. He starts work full time on Jan. 5.
A special election will be held to find a replacement for Kletscher, said Redwood County Auditor/Treasurer Jean Price. District 1 includes the cities of Lucan, Milroy, Revere, Vesta and Walnut Grove, and Gales, Granite Rock, Johnsonville, North Hero, Springdale, Underwood, Vesta and Westline townships.
Kletscher, of Vesta, has been a member of the Redwood County Board since 1997.
He has also served as president of Highwater Ethanol. Kletscher said he saw the job offer from Highwater as an opportunity to continue working in a field he enjoys.
"I've been involved since its (Highwater's) inception," he said. "Working with the day-to-day operations of something that big will be fun."
Kletscher said he was offered the CEO position at the end of October, and accepted it on Oct. 30. By that time, it was too late to withdraw from the District 1 commissioner's race, where he was running unopposed.
"That made it difficult, knowing my name was on the ballot," he said. "But I looked at it as, this opportunity comes around once in a lifetime. After 12 years, I think I've served the county well. Maybe it is time for someone new."
Kletscher believes he had accomplished a lot of things as part of the county board. He cited projects such as the new county government center that's under construction, new shops in the cities of Lucan and Walnut Grove and campground expansions at Plum Creek County Park.
Kletscher said the commissioner elected to replace him will face some challenges in the year ahead.
"The budget, of course, is a balancing act," Kletscher said, but it's not impossible for a new commissioner to learn. "You take the time to learn it well, and don't make any rash decisions."
Kletscher credited his time as a commissioner with helping to develop his leadership skills and said the experience had been a positive one.
"That part will never be forgotten," he said.
The filing period for District 1 candidates opens at 8 a.m. on Dec. 22 and closes at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, Price said. Candidates should file at the auditor/treasurer's office.
If there are enough candidates for a primary election, Price said, it will be on Jan. 27. The special election will be on Feb. 17.
