Helgestad named new Spencer village administrator
By Valorie Brecht Chris Helgestad has taken on the role of administrator/clerk-treasurer for the village of Spencer and Deb Schafer has returned to being deputy clerktreasurer. Monday was Helgestad’s first day in his new role.
After previous village administrator/ clerk-treasurer Paul Hensch resigned in November, Schafer took his position and the village was looking for a deputy clerk/treasurer. Helgestad applied for the deputy position, but Schafer recommended Helgestad become the administrator and she return to being the deputy. There were a few reasons for Schafer’s recommendation, including Helgestad having 22 years of experience working for the village public works department in the wastewater plant, with most of that time as the wastewater operator.
“(He has an) extensive knowledge of the projects in the village, both current and past, and (an) understanding of budget and managing,” Schafer wrote in the village newsletter.
Schafer also plans to retire in two and a half years, while Helgestad plans to work beyond that length of time.
“I was really happy to find something that would give me an opportunity to stay in the community and use what I’ve learned over the years to help out,” said Helgestad.
He said he was happy enough with his wastewater job and could have seen himself doing that until retirement, but was also looking forward to taking on a new venture.
“I didn’t want to get old and stale. I still want to be able to learn new things and grow a bit,” said Helgestad.
“The things that I’m most interested in doing are the same things that I did on the wastewater side, just kind of bigger, you know? The past board and previous administrators allowed me to do a lot of budget and financing, and work with local industries on sewer use agreements, ordinances — all of those things that I really liked to do on the wastewater side… So I’m excited to do those same things village-wide. “We have a couple projects we’re working on that now I’ll get to see from the big perspective,” he added. Helgestad will oversee the Park Street replacement project this year, which will include a complete redo of the water system, wastewater system, storm sewer and street from Willow Street to State Highway 98/Clark Street. He will also oversee the well and water treatment plant project. The village is in the process of developing Well 7 on the west side of the village and building a water treatment plant to service it.
“We’ve been looking for water for a long time, so this will be a nice addition to our system,” said Helgestad.
With Helgestad stepping into the administrator role, assistant wastewater operator Ethan Perrine will become the wastewater operator. He’s been with the village six years and Helgestad said he has “good construction experience and wastewater experience.”
“He’ll do great taking over my job in the wastewater plant,” said Helgestad.
Public works employee Trevor Ackman, who’s worked with the street department but transitioned to the wastewater plant, will become the assistant wastewater operator. The village will hire a roving helper for the street department to fill the position being vacated by Ackman.
Chris Helgestad
