Wolff promoted to new village position

The Village of Grafton Director of Planning and Development Jessica Wolff has been promoted to a newly created community development director position.

The Village Board on Tuesday approved the job promotion and new position, which goes into effect when longtime building inspector Tom Johnson retires this week.

The development director will perform a variety of supervisory, administrative and technical tasks, which will include land use planning, economic development, building inspections, zoning enforcement and property value assessment.

Village Administrator Jesse Thyes said the position was created to improve efficiencies between planning and zoning with building inspection duties “under one roof.”

He said there shouldn’t be any foreseeable administrative costs associated with combining the positions.

Wolff, whose salary is listed in pay grade 20, will be promoted to pay grade 21, which has a range of $75,843 to 102,552. Johnson’s ending salary was $83,725.

The village has two part-time village building inspectors, and Thyes said an offer has been made to a full-time inspection candidate.

Wolff’s new position was approved by the Village Board on a 5-1 vote. Trustee Tom Krueger cast the dissenting vote, citing he felt the added responsibilities may be too much to handle.

“I have a problem with consolidating department heads under one individual,” he said. “There’s already enough going on and people are already busy.”

Village President Jim Brunnquell said Wolff has a proven track record and excellent communication skills that will bode well for the job.

Wolff will start her new position Monday, Sept. 10.

“I’m really excited for a smoother development review process and to facilitate ongoing responsible growth in the village,” Wolff said. “I see this as an opportunity to streamline a process from concept to closure.”