Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Public Works Director Mike Hanson is heading for retirement — kind of.

During its meeting Monday morning — moved up because of the holiday — the Mower County Board of Commissioners recognized Hanson as he moves into a phased retirement.

Mitch Wenum, formerly the assistant city engineer for the City of Austin, will be the new director starting the first of the year.

“What Mike did was not only bring technical experience, but vision of what our infrastructure could be,” said County Administrator Trish Harren Gjersik Monday.

Hanson has been with the county for near 27 years. Harren Gjersik said Monday that Hanson was able to come in and meet the challenges facing him, which included a dire need to meet road infrastructure needs in the county.

Hanson was instrumental in helping establish a half-cent retail tax that generated revenue for proposed road projects.

The board passed the initiative in July of 2017.

“​​On behalf of the entire county, I want to thank you for your dedication,” Harren Gjersik said. “We were fortunate to have benefited from your passion.”

Look for more on Hanson’s story in coming issues.