Herges takes temporary job with Todd County

Job is coordinator/human resources director

Lisa Herges may not be staying with Todd County for very long, but while she is here she hopes to be able to implement a review of the basic operations of the county and make some suggestions to the board about possible changes that could be made for a smoother government.

Herges will be working in a part-time temporary role with the county for about three months. After that time, she will be moving on to Renville County and taking on the role there as county administrator in November. She will start working part-time for Renville County in about a month.

While with Todd County she will work in the human resources department filling the role of human resources director/county coordinator.

“This role has been empty for almost four years,” said Herges speaking of the role of administrator specifically and more broadly as the role of directing human resources.

In addition to reviewing the day-to-day operations of the county, Herges also expects she will deal with any issues that arise.

“Having that office empty can create issues, too. My goal is to leave things in an improved state,” she said.

Herges believes in continuous improvement because “nothing is ever perfect and never will be perfect and can just keep improving.”

What is her immediate observation of the county?

“There is a great group of employees who care about the community. I can say the same thing about the board. That’s a huge thing for a county,” she said.

“There are a lot of long-term staff here who know the history of the county which is very important,” she added.

The county board has also been very vocal and encouraging of Herges to have her tell them her suggestions.

Herges is still working part-time at Mille Lacs County where she has served for the last 13 years.

“I started out there as a part-time support person and then I began taking on more duties,” she said.

In 2008 she took the role of personnel director/assistant county administrator.

“That was when Mille Lacs County first moved to an administrator structure,” she said.

Acting as a backup administrator was a part of her role.

“Last year I served as an interim administrator for six months. That experience made me realize how much I enjoyed the administrator role over the human resources role,” she said.

Her personal view is that the top leadership needs to go through occasional changes because it can benefit the entity as well as the individual.

She follows her own advice on constantly changing and improving, too.

“I started playing piano a couple of years ago. When I was a child, I always wanted to learn to play, but financially I was not able to. A couple of years ago I found a fabulous instructor at St. Cloud State,” she said.

Herges went out and found a used, old and extremely heavy piano which took two of her boys along with several others to get into her house.

“I enjoy playing. I’m not very good yet!” she said.

Herges has three boys, the youngest of which graduated high school this past spring and began college this fall.

Their mother’s public service attitude has apparently rubbed off on all three as they are all working or training to work with public entities.

 

Advertising Deadlines

Deadline for advertisements and copy is Friday, noon.

Staples World

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 100 Staples, MN 56479 Telephone: (218) 894-1112 - Fax: (218) 894-3570 Toll Free: 1-888-894-1112 E Mail: office@staplesworld.com; editor@staplesworld.com

Deadline: Friday, noon

 

Sign Up For Breaking News

Stay informed on our latest news!

Manage my subscriptions

Subscribe to Breaking News feed