Retirement lost: My career in town politics

Fred C. Teitgen, recalls how a man named Rudy, who was active in town politics, made him file a nomination for Dekorra town assembly chairperson, after his retirement as a structural engineer. He won the election and started completing the town's comprehensive plan. The town had sought and received a grant with two other adjoining municipalities and was several years along in the process of initiating new development in untouched areas. Fred was assigned to both the Planning and Zoning Committee and Land Information and Records Committee at the county board. Fred made a difference in land-use planning, in public safety through appropriate waste treatment, in potential for economic development in the interchange area, in good government through the rewriting of outdated ordinances, and in maintenance of the town roads. He emphasizes that engineers are needed, not just in the elected positions, but also in appointed commissions and committees such as plan commissions, parks commissions, safety committees, and architectural review committees, because they have the skill for problem solving.