The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
DPW director abandons post
Bohlen second city employee to leave in two week span
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 17, 2008
Last week, Public Works Director Bill Bohlen announced he will be leaving the city to pursue private interests Feb. 1.
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Bohlen's announcement came Friday, a week after former Housing Director Charles Boulard spent his last day in Ypsilanti before moving to a similar position for the city of Novi Monday.
Bohlen said he plans to start his own consulting firm, which will advise governments and companies about privatizing public services. He said he had been working on the plan for six months and made his decision after securing a contract that will begin Feb. 4. Though his company doesn't yet have a name, he said one is in the works.
"I think he set the bar very high for the next person," said City Manager Ed Koryzno. "He brought a can-do attitude and positive enthusiasm."
Koryzno said he doesn't yet know who will fill Bohlen's vacancy next month, but his position will be posted and filled.
He said Bohlen was not only well experienced in his field, but was well liked by citizens and involved with the community.
"I'm going to miss this community," Bohlen said. "This is just a wonderful place."
There are three projects he had been working on at the DPW and in the community he said he would like to see his replacement see through. Bohlen said he would like to see solar panels on City Hall, a project started by Ypsilanti resident Dave Strenski that Bohlen had been heavily involved in.
The recycle 100 program, which will challenge Ypsilanti residents to recycle more of the waste they would normally throw away was started by Bohlen recently because the cost savings program is used less by Ypsilanti residents than residents of other cities. This is another program Bohlen said he would like to see his successor continue, as well as continuing to plant trees for urban forestry.
Koryzno said the loss of two department heads within a week is something that happens, and doesn't appear to be part of a pattern.
"Several years ago we had more than several department heads leave," he said. "We kind of know the drill and will continue to move forward."
Bohlen is working on a transition plan for his successor.
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