MONROE - Some community leaders are expecting a smooth transition when mayor-elect Bill Ross returns to Monroe City Hall.
Ross, mayor for 12 years, beat out Mayor Ron Marsh in the election Tuesday. Ross left office in 2006.
Marsh served two terms, first as a write-in candidate in 2006 against Paul Hannes and again after running unopposed in 2008.
Hannes said, in his assessment, refilling the city administrator's position is Ross' most important first step. Hannes is beginning his eighth year as alderman for Ward 2.
Mark Vahlsing became the administrator in March 2006. He left the position in May 2008.
"The administrator is very important to get in place as quickly as we can," Hannes said.
Hannes said Ross was very involved in setting up the new administrator's position.
"He's still strong for it," Hannes said.
Hannes said he expects to see "quite a change in committee members" with Ross as mayor. Committees are filled by mayoral appointment and are comprised mostly of aldermen.
He also believes Ross will take advantage of Tyler Schultz, who took nearly 30 percent of the mayoral vote Tuesday.
"Schultz could be an upcoming, aspiring person on council. Bill might be looking to him for a citizen committee," Hannes said.
Hannes said he is ready for the council to "get down to basics again" and "a lot smoother running government."
Jerry Ellefson, the past superintendent of the city's Wastewater Treatment Plant Utility, worked under Ross' previous tenure.
He said he expects Ross to resume his working relationship with department heads and city employees.
"One thing about Bill, he maintained a good relationship with department heads and allowed them to put in their input," he said. "Bill let department managers come in, weigh the facts out and let them do their jobs."
Ellefson believes Ross' position in industry, as manager of the Saputo Cheese USA whey plant in Monroe, is a benefit.
"But he does have some challenges ahead of him, with the 9th Street (project), the (wastewater) treatment plant expansion, the fire station and city administrator," Ellefson added.
Anna Schramke, director of the Green County Development Corporation, doesn't see huge changes coming for economic development, an issue in all three mayoral candidates' campaigns.
"We've really got a good base, because when Ron Marsh came in, we were in a sort of change. Nate Klassy retired and the city administrator came in, so some changes were occurring already. Bill will utilize that base and grow from there," she said.
Schramke believes Ross will easily integrate himself into and build up the current economic development partnership between the county and the city.
"What Bill does bring to the table is that he works for an existing employer in Green County and he can speak at the table about the prospects of bringing employment to Green County," she said. Ross will officially assume his duties as mayor following a swearing-in ceremony April 20 at the Common Council meeting scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. City Clerk Carol Stamm will swear in Ross, re-elected aldermen Neal Hunter, Charles Koch and Thurston Hanson, and newly elected aldermen Michael Boyce and Mike Rivers.
Ross, mayor for 12 years, beat out Mayor Ron Marsh in the election Tuesday. Ross left office in 2006.
Marsh served two terms, first as a write-in candidate in 2006 against Paul Hannes and again after running unopposed in 2008.
Hannes said, in his assessment, refilling the city administrator's position is Ross' most important first step. Hannes is beginning his eighth year as alderman for Ward 2.
Mark Vahlsing became the administrator in March 2006. He left the position in May 2008.
"The administrator is very important to get in place as quickly as we can," Hannes said.
Hannes said Ross was very involved in setting up the new administrator's position.
"He's still strong for it," Hannes said.
Hannes said he expects to see "quite a change in committee members" with Ross as mayor. Committees are filled by mayoral appointment and are comprised mostly of aldermen.
He also believes Ross will take advantage of Tyler Schultz, who took nearly 30 percent of the mayoral vote Tuesday.
"Schultz could be an upcoming, aspiring person on council. Bill might be looking to him for a citizen committee," Hannes said.
Hannes said he is ready for the council to "get down to basics again" and "a lot smoother running government."
Jerry Ellefson, the past superintendent of the city's Wastewater Treatment Plant Utility, worked under Ross' previous tenure.
He said he expects Ross to resume his working relationship with department heads and city employees.
"One thing about Bill, he maintained a good relationship with department heads and allowed them to put in their input," he said. "Bill let department managers come in, weigh the facts out and let them do their jobs."
Ellefson believes Ross' position in industry, as manager of the Saputo Cheese USA whey plant in Monroe, is a benefit.
"But he does have some challenges ahead of him, with the 9th Street (project), the (wastewater) treatment plant expansion, the fire station and city administrator," Ellefson added.
Anna Schramke, director of the Green County Development Corporation, doesn't see huge changes coming for economic development, an issue in all three mayoral candidates' campaigns.
"We've really got a good base, because when Ron Marsh came in, we were in a sort of change. Nate Klassy retired and the city administrator came in, so some changes were occurring already. Bill will utilize that base and grow from there," she said.
Schramke believes Ross will easily integrate himself into and build up the current economic development partnership between the county and the city.
"What Bill does bring to the table is that he works for an existing employer in Green County and he can speak at the table about the prospects of bringing employment to Green County," she said. Ross will officially assume his duties as mayor following a swearing-in ceremony April 20 at the Common Council meeting scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. City Clerk Carol Stamm will swear in Ross, re-elected aldermen Neal Hunter, Charles Koch and Thurston Hanson, and newly elected aldermen Michael Boyce and Mike Rivers.