Sheriff Doherty announces retirement
The Le Sueur County Board accepted a retirement request from Sheriff Tom Doherty effective January 31, 2014, as part of the human resources agenda during the commissioners’ meeting held Tuesday, Nov. 19. The board also approved Doherty’s recommendation to appoint Chief Deputy Sheriff Dave Tietz to interim county sheriff effective February 1, 2014, through January 6, 2015.
Sheriff Doherty has been an employee with Le Sueur County since January 1977, serving as sheriff since February 2010. He thanked the board for the cooperation he has received during his term in office, and went on to recommend Deputy Tietz as his successor.
Tietz has been an employee with Le Sueur County since August 1986, and was appointed chief deputy sheriff in February 2010. “It will be a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Le Sueur County as their sheriff,” said Tietz. “Sheriff Doherty will be leaving a great staff to work with.” He also recommended the appointment of Deputy Brett Mason to fill his position of chief deputy effective February 1, 2014. Mason has been an employee with Le Sueur County since September 2004.
The agenda of Human Resources Director Cindy Westerhouse also included:
—Recognition of Victor Atherton’s service to the county. Atherton, who has been a full time agency social worker child protection specialist in human services, will be leaving on December 2. He has been an employee with the Le Sueur County since May 1992;
—Hire Jessica Kimpton as a full time agency social worker in human services;
—Accept the resignation request from Juli Hartwig, part time registered nurse in public health;
—Post for a full time jail administrator and a full time 911 supervisor in the sheriff’s office;
—Promote Robbie Kopet to a full time highway maintenance supervisor, and post and advertise for a full time highway maintenance worker.
The county board also:
• Received a progress report from the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) on completed historic site maintenance and repair projects. The county board approved using $5,905 from the Ottawa Area Historical Project Fund for a restoration project at the Ottawa Stone Church, involving replacement of the front entry step. They also received an update on Geldner Saw Mill Restoration Project, and board approved Claybaugh/LSEngineers proposal, retaining their services for the mill project at a cost of $16,000, acceptance of a grant of $25,800 from the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation, and authorization to apply to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, seeking $5,000 in funding to assist with architect costs required on the project.
The historical society is sponsoring a fundraiser started on “Give to the Max Day,” November 14, and running through December 31. The goal is to raise a match to the Geldner Family donation, for a total of $5,400 toward the project. The 1870 Geldner Saw Mill is the only remaining stationary steam-powered mill in the state, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
