Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has an employment contract through March of 2017 after action last night by the county commissioners. They agreed to offer him a two-year, three-month contract to allow for a transition to the next administration.
Ritzler’s annual salary will be set by the county council. Per the terms of the contract it will not be less than what he is making now. He is the first county department head to be offered a multi-year contract. Commissioners Kathy Norem and Kent Danford were both quick to point out his is an exceptional circumstance due to the quality of the work he provides and the desire to follow through on long-range maintenance plans for county roads and bridges. Commissioner-elect Don Binkley was in the audience for the meeting and also expressed support for doing so.
