UNION GROVE — Stephanie Kohlhagen has been hired as village clerk in Union Grove.
Kohlhagen, who worked previously as the Mount Pleasant village clerk, will earn $85,000 annually, an increase of $27,000 compared to her predecessor.
She started Feb. 28.
The move follows the hiring in January of Village Administrator Connor LaPointe, whose starting salary of $105,000 also is $20,000 more than his predecessor.
Village President Steve Wicklund said both LaPointe and Kohlhagen have credentials that warrant higher salaries. Wicklund also said the job market is tight, and competition for talented people is keen.
“We really needed to up the ante,” he said.
With the new hirings, Wicklund said, the current staff at Union Grove Village Hall is among the best in recent history.
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LaPointe moved into Union Grove’s top non-elected position with a master’s degree in urban planning and with administrative experience at cities in Minnesota.
Kohlhagen brings 10 years of experience as Mount Pleasant’s village clerk/treasurer, and another 11 years as a contract employee in the clerk’s office.
She also briefly worked as a temporary employee under former clerk Sara Spencer, who stepped down in February after a year-and-a-half on the job.
Union Grove advertised the clerk’s position with a top salary of $62,000, but LaPointe said he urged board members to boost the salary so that Kohlhagen would take the job.
“We’re not going to get anyone at that rate in this job market,” LaPointe said.
Kohlhagen was earning $111,000 annually when she resigned from her position in Mount Pleasant in November.
Kohlhagen said she looks forward to using her skills and experience to make a positive impact in Union Grove.
“The kindness shown by my colleagues and the welcoming environment in the village have already left a lasting impression,” she said. “And together I know we will serve the community well.”
LaPointe said three other people applied for the job, but Kohlhagen’s experience made her the leading candidate. With three elections this year, he said, it was vital to have a village clerk with know-how leading the process.
“We’re very happy to have her,” he said. “I’m really happy with our team right now.”