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Wietecha juggles school, administrator positionWorks for Lafayette, Nicollet and CourtlandBy TONY ZIEBOL Journal Staff Writer NICOLLET -- Dan Wietecha is a man without an office. At least a stable one. This administrator has to balance work from three different cities -- Lafayette, Nicollet and Courtland. This situation would be a challenge for anyone, but at the same time, Wietecha is finishing up his master's degree in city planning from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota. Taking over the three-cities administrator position Nov. 1, it is also his first full-time government job. However, with his first month completed at his new job, Wietecha said he he can't complain about the position. "The days can be long, but it's going well," he said. "I'm enjoying it immensely. I think it was the right decision for me, and hopefully, it works out for the three cities as well." After growing up in East Grand Rapids, Mich., Wietecha enrolled at Notre Dame in Indiana. There, he received an undergraduate degree in American studies, which allowed him to study "a little bit of everything" including government, history and economics. Between his time at Notre Dame and the U of M, Wietecha spent 4-5 years as a crew leader for a lawn maintenance/landscaping company. "It's a far cry from what I'm doing now, but a lot of the skills were transferable," he said, such as leadership and decision-making. Wietecha then began work part-time for the city of Plymouth in the housing/re-development department. In that job, he worked with many people in emotional situations, where a lot was at stake. Dealing with those problems helped him in ways school couldn't. "A lot (of his present job) is working with and dealing with people and emotions -- things they might not teach much of in school," Wietecha said. With all of the classes finished for his master's degree (he has his thesis to finish and some exams still to be done), the three-city administration job came up and he was chosen for the position. Trying to balance spending time in three cities can be difficult, but Wietecha tries to spend one and a half to two days at each every week. "So at least I'm a little visible and available in all the cities," he said. "I think it's important for my job to be in all three cities and spend equal time and effort in each of them." Although his title is administrator, Wietecha said he doesn't spend much time with the day-to-day business of the cities. He takes more time to advise the city officials and work especially in long-term planning, making changes for today that will make the future smoothly, he said. Wietecha doesn't have a typical day, but it goes late. He takes home paper work. He lives a few miles north of Nicollet, conveniently centralized among his three employers. "This morning the phone was ringing constantly," he said. "So far, most of the stuff I've been working with is legal/technical stuff. I'm sort of a watch dog to make sure things are done legally." For example, this responsibility would include working with personnel policies to make sure everything is taken care of legally. In dealing with his new co-workers, Wietecha has been treated very well. "(They're) positive and supportive," he said. "In many ways they make my job easier." Wietecha has no problem dealing with city officials, who might disagree with him at times. "Sometimes differences of opinion are good," he said. "I don't pretend to know everything. The mayors or councils might end up with different opinions, but I definitely respect (them). "I'm sure I'm going to enjoy working with them." As far the public is concerned, Wietecha said going to a small-town atmosphere where everyone knows each other can be difficult, but dealing with the public is kind of a secondary part of his job. "I don't expect to get to know everyone well," he said. "But indirectly I'm working for these people. I need to get more comfortable with them and they more comfortable with me."
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