Krizek resigns as county head

By Doug Stohlberg

St. Croix County Administrative Coordinator John Krizek resigned his post Thursday, amid allegations of personal misuse of his county computer. The resignation was immediate.

Krizek has been the center of a growing controversy since an incident allegedly occurred Sept. 2, just before the Labor Day weekend. Exact details of the incident have not been released, and Krizek declined to comment on it.

The letter of resignation was delivered to County Board Chair Tom Dorsey and Finance Committee Chair Don Brown.

Various sources at the Government Center said the incident involved the use of pornographic material on Krizek's computer. Discussion surrounds whether Krizek was aware of the contents of a disk opened on his machine. The material was discovered by the county's own Computer Services Department.

The Computer Services Department was apparently copying data from computers onto a new system when the material in question was discovered on a monitor. The incident was reported to Kathryn Beutel, who informed Personnel Director Debra Kathan, all proper procedures in those circumstances.

In fact, Personnel Director Debra Kathan wrote a memo exonerating everyone in the computer department after the incident. She said the staff members were doing their normal jobs when the discovery took place.

When questioned about his resignation, Krizek said it was "for very personal reasons."

When questioned about the computer incident, Krizek said, "No comment.

"I had 10 very good years in St. Croix County and we've come so far," Krizek said. "I'm proud of my service. We've lowered taxes, moved to the new Government Center - conditions are far better than when I came."

As far as his future is concerned, Krizek said he is keeping his options open.

"I will be looking for a job," Krizek said. "Possibilities include other counties, other institutions - maybe a college - and private business. I have been in this business (government) for a total of 23 years and that is a long time to be on a tightrope. It does wear on you; this was the right time to resign."

Krizek, 52, began working on Aug. 1, 1989, for St. Croix County. He was the county's first administrative coordinator. Until then, the county operated under the direction of the part-time county board chair. Krizek has a reputation of strong administrative and leadership skills. Under his fiscal watch, St. Croix County has become one of the state's shining examples of holding the line on, and reducing, taxes. The County Board has not had a mill rate increase for many years. For the past several years county government has operated on the same levy, causing taxes to be lower throughout the county.

St. Croix County Board Chairman Tom Dorsey said he was not surprised by Krizek's resignation.

"Some things came up, and he had to deal with the situation," Dorsey said. "The easiest way to solve it was for him to resign."

Dorsey said that since he resigned, there would be no further investigation into the incident.

Dorsey called Krizek's work "excellent," but said he had to make a "personal decision" and decided to resign.

Praises Krizek

Finance Chair Don Brown praised Krizek's work.

"I was disappointed by his resignation. I wish he hadn't," Brown said. "He was the most outstanding administrator I could have ever worked with. I think he will go far and beyond what he was doing here in St. Croix County."

Brown said the county would have a difficult time replacing someone of Krizek's caliber.

He said it was Krizek's leadership that took St. Croix County from the 36th lowest taxes (out of 72 counties) in the state to number five.

"We're fifth best in the state and after this coming budget, we'll probably be two or three," Brown said. "That's impressive and it all happened after John showed up on the scene. And, it wasn't done by cutting programs. It was done with efficiencies.

"People don't realize how efficient government can be until someone like John leads the way. It's impressive."

Action pending?

County Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman said that at the time of Krizek's resignation, he was not aware of any action in place regarding the allegations, but said there was talk of an investigation. Krizek's resignation came before any official action was announced. .

Timmerman said, however, as standard procedure the county has a "zero tolerance" policy regarding any pornographic material in the government center, whether it be magazines, computer use or Internet access.

When questioned about the consequences of such action, Timmerman said he wasn't sure, but at least two cases in the past suggest the penalty is dismissal.

"I know of two cases in the old courthouse," Timmerman said. "They involved employees in the clerk of court office and computer services department. In both cases they were dismissed."

In September 1998, a memo, signed by Krizek, was sent to all county employees warning them about the dissemination of pictures and/or words that are degrading and disrespectful." In the memo Krizek said, "our network is equipped with a sophisticated tracking system on which the Computer Services Department can trace individual Internet site usage."

Timmerman said the general reaction to Krizek's resignation from Government Center employees was "shock."

"Nobody expected it," Timmerman said. "Most people have a sincere concern for John and his family."

Before coming to St. Croix County, Krizek was administrative coordinator in Dunn County for 12 years. When he came to St. Croix County he had a reputation as a tough labor negotiator - a skill he also demonstrated here, but a trait that sometimes created hard feelings among county employees. He also served as Chippewa County's personnel director for one year. Before entering county government work, Krizek worked for UniRoyal. He graduated from No. Michigan University in 1969. He was born in Chicago and grew up in La Grange, Ill.

Krizek's position as administrative coordinator is appointed. His current salary was $85,608, per year, plus benefits.

Krizek has been active in the community. Among other things he has been involved with productions at the Phipps Center for the Arts, is active in the Hudson High School Bandbackers and is president of the congregation at Bethel Lutheran Church.