PLOVER, WI (WSAU) — New Plover Administrator Dan Ault has settled into his new role after shifting over from the Village’s Police Department to take over for Dan Mahoney, who retired in February.
The former Chief of Police says he’s found that the new role is a good fit for him and one that he was unknowingly preparing for during his time leading the department.
“As Police Chief, I was included [in the discussions] one some of the development agreements. When we would have new projects coming to the Village, Dan [Mahoney] would assemble all of the department heads [for discussions,” said Ault. He later admitted that he didn’t always know what he was looking at when it came to blueprints.
“Halfway through the meeting I’d realize I have to turn it around to look at it right side up,” said Ault. “After a couple of years I started to understand that stuff a little better. So when the opportunity to take on this role presented itself, it was pretty exciting.”
Ault has been running the day-t0-day operations of the Village since last August while Mahoney finished some projects before his official retirement in February.
Ault came to the Village as a Police Officer nearly 30 years ago and says he’s loved every minute of it as he worked his way up to Chief. “The Village has had some amazing employees. The employees and citizens of Plover are just phenomenal. I’ve worked for three other municipalities in my career- things just get done in Plover.”
It’s Ault’s intention to keep that tradition of cutting through the “red tape” to keep getting things done. He does that by keeping some actual red tape on his desk, in the form of a souvenir paperweight from the Dwight D Eisenhower Presidental Library.
“It’s to remind me and people I’m talking to that we need to cut through the red tape. Let’s just [not make anything] too bureaucratic- let’s just get things done. That’s what it’s about. Let’s get things done,” said Ault.
He points to major projects including the repurposing of the Shopko building, expansion at McCain Foods, and improvements for Lake Pakawa Park as recent examples of what can happen when things get done in the Village, and says more are on the way. Developers plan to remodel the Younkers building in the same way the Shopko property has become the new Artist and Fare complex.
Other topics Ault discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video: Recap of Ault’s first few months on the job
4:30- McCain Foods expansion
9:00- Lake Packawa Park improvements
12:00- Changes in Plover over the last 30 years
