City needs new development director
By Angie Landsverk
Brennan Kane is resigning as Waupaca’s director of community and economic development.
“Some opportunities have come up, and it’s time to move on,” he said.
He submitted his letter of resignation on April 2.
Mayor Brian Smith announced Kane’s resignation at the end of the April 3 common council meeting.
Kane’s last day working for the city is April 19.
“He did offer to stay a couple days the following week if we need him to,” said City Administrator Henry Veleker.
The city plans to fill the position in the interim, he said.
“I talked to the mayor, and we think the budget would be OK to bring in someone on an interim basis,” Veleker said. “There is a firm that places local government officials in interim positions.”
The firm already identified a couple people, and Kane also shared a few names to follow up with, he said.
Veleker said this person would probably work two or three days a week.
The last time the position was vacant, other department heads took on some of its duties in addition to their own.
“The normal process takes three to four months to get through, not including any transition time,” Veleker said of the hiring process.
He expects the position to be posted by the end of the month.
That department is in the midst of rewriting the city’s zoning code and also involved in planning the 2021 reconstruction of Main Street.
“His efforts with the downtown project have brought a lot to the table,” Veleker said of Kane.
Kane has held the position since June 2013.
“It’s been a fun, exciting almost six years with the city of Waupaca,” he said.
Kane enjoyed collaborating with the city’s other department heads and believes the city took steps forward the past few years with a number of project developments.
“I think I’m leaving the city in a good situation,” he said.
Kane hopes the person hired for the position continues the momentum.
Much of his work the past few years involved working on the Main Street plan.
“Main Street is what drew me here six years ago,” he said.
It was an opportunity to work with business owners, the mayor and common council to develop a vision for Waupaca’s downtown, Kane said.
He has family in the state and plans to visit after the project is completed.
“I will definitely want to see the final product,” Kane said.
The city also made strides in trying to streamline things in the department, including the addition of an internal design team, he said.
Veleker agreed.
“There’s been some nice process placements put in place since he’s been here,” he said.
Veleker said Kane will be missed.
Kane hopes the city finds a champion to continue moving projects forward.
The position is an appointment of the mayor, and then goes before the council for approval.
Kane said he is looking at career options both in and out of state.
“I’ll see where the world takes me,” he said.