MONROE - The City of Monroe hired Phil Rath as the city administrator Dec. 6, but Rath said he and his family were drawn to Monroe for more than just a job.
"The Parks and Recreation Department is great. It and the school district are what drew us to the community," he said.
Rath said he and his wife, Greta, were looking for a community that offered plenty of activities for kids and adults.
"My wife and I like to be active - and would like to remain active," he said.
Rath coached YMCA youth soccer, while his oldest child, Rebekah, was on the team. Greta Rath is a licensed basketball referee, volunteers as a junior varsity coach in Clintonville, Wis. and was assistant coach for the newly formed Rock County Robins, a semi-pro women's basketball team that won the national championship its first year in the league.
The Raths also stay busy at home, with six children, between the ages of 1 and 8.
"They are beginning to test every activity to see which ones they like," Rath said.
Rath stepped into his position at the city with the 2011 budget set and a newly reconstructed Square that he said is being used well by the community and is drawing other activities downtown.
Rath has already taken on additional duties since his arrival, as Kelly Finkenbinder, director of public works, retires in February and Josse Allen, the city's safety director, resigned to take a job in the private sector.
Neither position is scheduled to be refilled, and Rath and other city supervisors will absorb the duties.
Rath said he has some organization charts and plenty of policies to review and update, at the request of the council, in an effort to streamline work and save money.
High on his list of concerns is the Tax Increment Districts.
"A couple are doing well; one is struggling. (TID No.) 6 is a donor for (TID No.) 4. And one has a potential to struggle - TID 7," he said.
The struggle of TID No. 7 - in downtown Monroe - is the reason Rath says he's advocating for the Silverstone senior housing development.
"The facade grants don't add enough value to the buildings to increase the TID," he said.
But maintaining businesses in the present economy, he said, is as important as attracting businesses.
"We don't want to lose anymore," he added.
Rath meets regularly with Mayor Bill Ross, Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation, and Pam Christopher, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to discuss area-wide economic development.
"Development in other areas of Green County is good for Monroe, where people will be living and shopping," he said.
After April 5 , Rath could be working for a substantially different Common Council, as five of the six council members up for re-election are being challenged.
"Elections are always an additional challenge - always," Rath said, smiling. "You have a new group of people to work for, and you have to bring them up to speed as soon as possible."
Yet after organizing activities for daughters Rebekah, 8; Anikah, 6; and Maryskah, 2; and sons Roderick, 5; Dominick (DJ), 4; and Maverick, 1, Rath should have no problem keeping city council members up to date.
"The Parks and Recreation Department is great. It and the school district are what drew us to the community," he said.
Rath said he and his wife, Greta, were looking for a community that offered plenty of activities for kids and adults.
"My wife and I like to be active - and would like to remain active," he said.
Rath coached YMCA youth soccer, while his oldest child, Rebekah, was on the team. Greta Rath is a licensed basketball referee, volunteers as a junior varsity coach in Clintonville, Wis. and was assistant coach for the newly formed Rock County Robins, a semi-pro women's basketball team that won the national championship its first year in the league.
The Raths also stay busy at home, with six children, between the ages of 1 and 8.
"They are beginning to test every activity to see which ones they like," Rath said.
Rath stepped into his position at the city with the 2011 budget set and a newly reconstructed Square that he said is being used well by the community and is drawing other activities downtown.
Rath has already taken on additional duties since his arrival, as Kelly Finkenbinder, director of public works, retires in February and Josse Allen, the city's safety director, resigned to take a job in the private sector.
Neither position is scheduled to be refilled, and Rath and other city supervisors will absorb the duties.
Rath said he has some organization charts and plenty of policies to review and update, at the request of the council, in an effort to streamline work and save money.
High on his list of concerns is the Tax Increment Districts.
"A couple are doing well; one is struggling. (TID No.) 6 is a donor for (TID No.) 4. And one has a potential to struggle - TID 7," he said.
The struggle of TID No. 7 - in downtown Monroe - is the reason Rath says he's advocating for the Silverstone senior housing development.
"The facade grants don't add enough value to the buildings to increase the TID," he said.
But maintaining businesses in the present economy, he said, is as important as attracting businesses.
"We don't want to lose anymore," he added.
Rath meets regularly with Mayor Bill Ross, Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation, and Pam Christopher, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to discuss area-wide economic development.
"Development in other areas of Green County is good for Monroe, where people will be living and shopping," he said.
After April 5 , Rath could be working for a substantially different Common Council, as five of the six council members up for re-election are being challenged.
"Elections are always an additional challenge - always," Rath said, smiling. "You have a new group of people to work for, and you have to bring them up to speed as soon as possible."
Yet after organizing activities for daughters Rebekah, 8; Anikah, 6; and Maryskah, 2; and sons Roderick, 5; Dominick (DJ), 4; and Maverick, 1, Rath should have no problem keeping city council members up to date.