Jerry Tvedt retires

ISANTI COUNTY – Isanti County bid farewell to coordinator Jerry Tvedt on Jan. 9.
He led the county for 18 years.
Tvedt’s leadership was characterized by an open-door policy. He was available to all – whether citizens or employees.
“I strongly believe that’s important. If a citizen has issues, they can come in here and feel comfortable talking about it,” Tvedt observed a few days before retiring.
Tom Pagel, who served as commissioner for 22 years, praised Tvedt’s accessibility to the public and county staff members.
“The public never had trouble getting in to talk to him,” observed Pagel. And he never heard from any employee that they couldn’t get right in to talk to Tvedt about an issue.
There were many people Tvedt got used to seeing over the years. If the visit regarded a complaint about an employee, Tvedt dealt with it. His focus was on the employee doing his/her job and treating the citizen right.
With any issue, Tvedt’s first response was to work through it. He didn’t make a big issue out of things, but instead tried to minimize strife. He was firm, but fair.
This was the same way he approached the board of commissioners.
“I think he’s always given both sides of every issue in a non-biased way,” noted Pagel.
‘I’ve loved it here’
Overall, Tvedt has been pleased with the quality of employees he’s overseen. “They’ve been very good to work with.” He also doesn’t accept the common attitude that “kids these days aren’t good employees” because he’s seen many who are wonderful.
He’s also been pleased with the commissioners he’s worked with.
“If you work with a good board, and you have good employees it’s very gratifying,” Tvedt observed.
“Frankly, I’ve loved it here.”
During his last board meeting on Jan. 6, Tvedt choked up as he said, “This has been the best job. It’s hard for me to leave.”
‘I love a challenge’
Raised on a farm, Tvedt’s first job was milking cows by hand. “I think it gave me a good work ethic,” he noted.
He remembers when they switched to milking machines. “We got kicked a lot until we got them trained.”
Tvedt has received a paycheck from six employers in his life. He started out as a bus boy at Bridgeman’s while attending the Minneapolis Business College. The ice cream shop at 38th and Central is now a Chinese restaurant.
Then he spent a year throwing cases of pop at the Coca Cola plant. He next tried his hand as a clerical staff member in the sales department at Peavey Company, a flour milling company.
Then he got a job closer to his roots. He kept the books at Gillespie Auto Company on Main Street in Cambridge for eight years.
Tvedt’s next career move was into the public sector. He head there was a job opening in the Kanabec County Auditor’s office and decided to apply. He was hired as the Kanabec County Auditor.
Working as a public servant wasn’t a life Tvedt daydreamed about as a child. But once he began working in the auditor’s office he discovered how much he enjoyed county government.
As an auditor, he dealt with the tax system, was responsible for the county’s books, handled payroll, organized elections, and made sure various policies were being followed.
In 1995, Tvedt applied for the open Isanti County Coordinator position and was hired.
Current commissioner George Larson was chair of the board at the time. “I have never regretted the decision to hire Jerry,” said Larson. “He’s done a good job.”
“I love a challenge, and this has been a challenge,” Tvedt said.
Times, they are a changin’
In the past 18 years, Tvedt has helped lead the county through many changes. Most of them have been sparked by growth.
The county’s population growth has put pressure on all its departments, from zoning to the treasurer. “We have to provide staff to deal with the growth,” Tvedt noted. That includes ensuring there is enough space for business to take place. During Tvedt’s watch, the county expanded its jail and added another building to house family services. The county is just beginning a year and one-half-long project to enlarge offices at the government center to take advantage of the space family services vacated.
Moving into the Oakview facility saved the county money, Tvedt pointed out. The cost of adding a third floor to the government center building would have been double the amount. “I think we did the right thing,” he said.
“When we do things, we do things right, but we haven’t gone overboard and provided a Taj Mahal.”
His own office has added staff to deal with the rising population and its needs. When he started in 1995, Tvedt handled everything. On his advice, the board of commissioners promoted Barb Baar to handle personnel issues. This gave Tvedt more time to deal with citizen requests and employee issues.
At the same time, Tvedt worked to make operations more efficient.
“He’s streamlined our personnel policies,” praised Pagel.
He’s not going away
Tvedt knows he’ll miss the job and the people he came in contact with.
“Anytime you go through change it’s difficult,” Tvedt noted, “but it will be good.”
His wife Joyce is retiring at the same time, and the two plan to focus on their nine grandkids.
“Just because I’m retiring doesn’t mean I’m going away,” he said.
Tvedt plans to continue meeting with a group of eight past and present Isanti County staff members for Thursday burgers at the Cambridge Bar and Grill. And he’s sure he’ll come down for lunch with commissioners after their meetings on Tuesdays.
He’s also going to continue pushing the Minnesota State Legislature to live up to promises it has made to counties. In particular, Tvedt will continue to lobby for the full 50 percent reimbursement for probation officer salaries that the state is supposed to provide. This year the figure is at 36 percent.
Humbled to have had position
Tvedt is humbled that he was given the opportunity to work for Isanti County’s citizens.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the people,” said Tvedt. “I’ve tried to do the best I can.”
He is confident that he’s leaving the county in good hands. “I strongly believe Kevin Van Hooser will continue to serve the people with respect. He’ll do a good job.”