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Village hires Cook as building inspector/zoning administrator
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By Andrew Kuehl
akuehl@kewaskumstatesman.com
KEWASKUM- The village will welcome its newest employee on Monday, July 16. After weeding through eight applicants, the Village has hired Chad Cook of this village to be its first building inspector/zoning administrator. The village board heard of the hire at their meeting Monday, June 25.
Village Administrator Jay Shambeau made the announcement Thursday, June 21, that Cook, who is employed in the construction industry, accepted the full-time position.
“Chad is very professional. He has a solid building background. I’m confident in his ability to work with builders,” stated Shambeau.
Shambeau told the village trustees that Cook was not currently certified in the field, however he will attain the needed licenses within six months of his employment with the village. Later he stated that some of the eight who applied did hold proper certifications, but he felt Cook was the best fit for the village.
To become certified, Cook will need to hit the books and pass a number of state tests to become certified in the uniform dwelling code. That code has four parts the village is most interested in, construction, plumbing, electrical and HVAC. To attain the commercial certification would be a long-term goal for Cook according to Shambeau.
Shambeau also asked the board to look past a 2003 salary and benefit program that requires a village employee to work for a year before receiving any vacation time. He suggested Cook begin his employment with two weeks of vacation.
Trustee Kevin Scheunemann questioned why they were varying from the policy. Trustee Derek Peterson, who helped interview Cook, interjected, “Because it’s (the policy) unreasonable. I think in this day and age people need to have a life.”
Scheunemann stated he wanted to see an amendment to the policy. He didn’t like the idea of picking and choosing who would be exempt from the policy.
Shambeau reported that in his opinion, giving two weeks vacation time to an employee is not uncommon and he also wanted to see the entire policy rewritten to better reflect modern employment benefits and procedures. “I personally feel it’s important,” he concluded referring to the vacation time.
Shambeau and Fire Chief Mark Groeschel had a similar variance when they were hired. Groeschel went so far as to say he wouldn’t have taken the job if the variance had not been granted.
Scheunemann questioned who was handling things in the interim as far as inspections. Shambeau announced that outgoing building inspector Gordon Hoffmann would be involved in the transition.
“We will still need to rely on Gordie’s Hoffmann’s services,” Chambeau stated. This will occur until Cook gets his licenses. Hoffman will work alongside with Cook. This means that in addition to Cook’s salary, the village will continue to pay for Hoffmann’s services for the next six months while Cook attains his certifications.
Cook will be required to attend all plan commission meetings and advise the commission. He will work out of the village hall. He will also receive an annual $43,630 salary as well as benefits afforded to non-union employees of the village.
Cook’s salary was in the 2007 budget as a $51,767 line item under engineering liaison.
As a member of the village’s plan commission, Cook is expected to resign his seat. The village will be looking for a replacement for Cook; anyone interested in serving should contact the village hall at
626-8484.
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