Milton administrator resigns
Podcast Episode
A change is leadership is coming at Milton's City Hall. City Administrator Todd Schmidt is resigning to become the administrator and economic development director for the village of Waunakee. Kyle Geissler reports. You can read more in Wednesday's Janesville Gazette.
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Todd J. Schmidt
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Jerry Schuetz
MILTON — Milton City Administrator Todd Schmidt on Tuesday announced his resignation.
Schmidt, who has been the city’s administrator for seven years, on Tuesday afternoon accepted an oral offer to become administrator/economic development director for the village of Waunakee.
Schmidt formally announced his resignation at a city council meeting Tuesday night.
Waunakee village board President John Laubmeier said the village had offered a contract to a candidate, but he wouldn’t comment further, pending negotiations with the candidate.
Schmidt said he’d been told late Tuesday that his contract would be finalized by midweek.
Schmidt will remain at work in Milton through Sept. 21.
The village of Waunakee is a community of 12,000 people located about 10 miles north of Madison. Schmidt, who was an assistant administrator in Brown Deer for five years before coming to Milton in March 2003, said the move to Waunakee will allow him professional growth and fit his family’s needs.
The pay range for the position Schmidt was offered is between $105,000 and $125,000. Schmidt’s annual salary in Milton is $78,416, according to city records.
The Waunakee village board had been interviewing candidates for the position since the first week of August, Village Clerk Julee Helt said. Helt said the position has been vacant since October 2009, after former village administrator Bill Barlow resigned.
Two village employees had filled the position in the interim.
Schmidt said the village had been considering him for the position since early June. He had previously told Milton officials he was a finalist for the position.
Four other candidates from communities including Sun Prairie, Lake Mills and Mount Horeb also were considered for the position, officials said.
Schmidt said he’d applied for an earlier village administrator vacancy in Waunakee in 2009, but that he hadn’t gotten the job. He said he found the position attractive because the community is growing despite the lackluster economy statewide.
“They contacted me about the opening and asked if I’d be interested in applying again. I got a second kick at the cat, and my feelings towards the community hadn’t changed,” Schmidt said.
Milton Mayor Tom Chesmore said he’ll miss Schmidt’s friendship and collaboration on city business.
He called Schmidt a talented administrator and said he wasn’t surprised to see him moving on.
“If they’re (the village of Waunakee) looking for economic development and somebody who’ll truly, really listen to and respect city officials, they’ve got the right person,” Chesmore said.
Schmidt’s departure comes as the city is starting work on its 2011 budget and as officials are discussing several tentative city projects including a proposed redevelopment at the city’s eastside business district and proposed projects for public works and police and fire department facilities.
The Milton city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint Milton Police Chief Jerry Schuetz as interim administrator. In addition to his work as police chief, Schuetz will take on the responsibilities of carrying out city council policy, supervising city department heads and overseeing the city’s day-to-day activities, officials said.
The council did not discuss how the city would compensate Schuetz for the additional work.
The council also unanimously approved an offer by Schmidt to recruit the city’s next administrator. Schmidt said he’ll continue the recruiting process after he leaves the city, but that he would charge a maximum fee of $2,500 for the work.
Schmidt said the average recruiting firm would charge the city about $8,000 for the same service. Schmidt said he’d start recruitment immediately.
The council also unanimously approved Herb Stinski as an independent budget consultant during planning for the city’s 2011 budget.
Aug 26, 2010 at 8:02 a.m.
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Well OLDVET it sounds like YOU should be the one leaving since nothing about Milton is ever good enough for you. Please don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. What a sorry person you must be to live with. Whine and complain but do nothing to help the situation.
Aug 26, 2010 at 5:34 a.m.
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my my facts101 You are really upset. Did someone hit a nerve? or are you upset that you said something earlier that was removed? Relax ! If Schmidt is as good as you think he is, maybe you could join him? Remember the lights and the door.
Aug 26, 2010 at 1:36 a.m.
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setinmyways you like most of the mindless that post here should follow old advice. If you have nothing good to say you should say nothing at all. Or better yet better to keep your mouth shut and be thought an idiot than to open it and prove it. I have known this man for many years and lie is something he does not do. Also Milton should be thankful that someone with insight sees the need to do something on the east side Goodrich park. With the bypass coming sooner than later the city needs things like this so the current businesses still thrive. And the park design is great insight. Unlike someone like you who would think of something after the fact. As for the police chief being called a ladder climber. Who do you think should be in charge of taking care of city business during the change over? Things have to be put in place NOW not as an after thought. Again Milton should be thankful that they have someone who has the education(masters degree in public administration) to step up. A lot of cities would be left in a lurch during this time. To all you nay sayers and complainers the process is open till September 17th go for it. Of course you don't have the education but according to your rules you won't need it. Of course it is always easier to sit and complain than to do anything. Such as come to council meetings or come to and take part in the designing of a park with ideas. And this process was open for the public to come and discuss ideas with the designers. They sought public input and ideas with round table groups. Were you there? Were you at any of these meetings or groups? I would guess no its so much easier to sit at home in front of your computer and complain. People like you are a waste of space and air.
Aug 20, 2010 at 6:44 p.m.
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I am constantly amazed by the silly and ignorant people who think they could do half as well.
Running a city is not like running a gas station or running your mouth. It takes a special person, highly trained, patient professional with a particularly thick skin. None of you morons who vilify Mr. Schmidt could hold a candle to him. I wish him well. I'll bet he's glad to be rid of you.
Aug 20, 2010 at 10:18 a.m.
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I never was a fan of his. Now we give his job to a power hungry ladder climber. Where did that come from? Hopefully good will come out of this and we can get rid of the police chief also. His Goodrich park plan includes many yards of concrete, less actual park area, and no true justification as to how much it will bring to the city. Lets ask other cities that have spent millions to do the same what the return has been.
Aug 20, 2010 at 6:23 a.m.
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I hope he won't find another person who will lie to the people that are paying him. Good riddance !
Aug 19, 2010 at 11:14 a.m.
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oldvet its time for your medication. Okiefed all you have to do is go to Milton's industrial park to see the growth. Now I will grant you that United Ethanol was not done well. But Milton has Penn Color getting ready to break ground which will create well paying jobs. We have Goodrich Park development that needs to be started before the by-pass. There are many other business's in the industrial park that came in under Todd's watch.
Aug 19, 2010 at 6:44 a.m.
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I wonder if Schmidt will now beging lying and distorting the truth to the people of Waunakee as he has to the people of Milton. Don't forget to close the door when you leave Schmidt
Aug 19, 2010 at 5:30 a.m.
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Well since the "staff" removed my other comment lets get right down to brass tacks here. OkieFed if the comment fits you wear it. There is never a gain when you loose someone with the skill levels and knowledge that Todd has. People make really stupid comments when they really know nothing of the person or what he or she has done. Just because you read it somewhere does not make it fact. And you may have talked to someone who lives in Milton who is not happy. I have never known anyone who could keep a city of 5700 people happy. Waunakee will not need luck all you have to do is sit back and watch them prosper and grow under his leadership. And MooShoo $2,500 is very cheap professional recruiting would cost the city over $8,000 and the outcome would be the same. So by your logic the city should spend $8,000 to have the same work done they can get for $2,500. Thats a very wise use of taxpayer funds don't you think? And worker stand by the phone I am sure NASA will be calling any day.And if you need gas money to get there let me know.
Aug 18, 2010 at 11:54 p.m.
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Gee whiz Todd, you mean you will only charge us $2,500 to help us find your replacement! Don't let the door hit you on the rear on the way out.
Aug 18, 2010 at 11:28 p.m.
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specifics?
Aug 18, 2010 at 10:23 p.m.
Aug 18, 2010 at 9:10 p.m.
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does he need gas money to get out of town, we can't get rid of him fast enough.
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