January 23, 2020 – West Bend, WI – The City of West Bend has selected a new Director of Park, Recreation and Forestry and they didn’t have to go far from home.
According to the upcoming Jan. 30 Park & Rec Commission agenda, Mike Jentsch will take over the position. Jentsch had been filling the post in the interim along with City Administrator Jay Shambeau.
“We evaluated the structure within the department and had a conversation about joint ventures and decided against that,” said Shambeau. “I initially spoke with Mike and as more time passed his interest peaked.
“Mike’s excited for the position and he’s got some good ideas and I think it’s a great fit.”
Jentsch has a unique employment history; he started with the City of West Bend as a summer worker when he was a teenager.
“Mike has been with the City for 21 years,” said Shambeau. “After college he was in the Marines and most recently he was Parks Superintendent.”
Shambeau said although Jentsch is advancing internally, his old position won’t be posted but it will be filled by two current employees who will share responsibilities. “The Superintendent roll will be retitled to Parks Supervisor and that post will be filled by our lead arborist Dan Farvour and Kevin Lisko.
The language on the Jentsch appointment is below. It still needs to be approved by the Parks Commission and then it will be voted on by the Common Council at its February 3 meeting.
City Administrator, Jay Shambeau and Human Resources Director, Michelle Hoey ask for your assistance in approving the recommended appointment of Mike Jentsch to position of Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. Mike brings over 20 years of experience in the field of Parks and Forestry as well as over 15 years in management.
The position of Park, Recreation and Forestry director opened in mid-July 2019 after Craig Hoeppner resigned to take a similar job in Oconomowoc.
Photo courtesy City of West Bend.