Kieft jumps into his new county role with both feet running

WILLMAR -- Jay Kieft will not miss a beat as he ends his job today as executive director with Heartland Community Action Agency and begins his new job Thursday as director of Kandiyohi County Family Services.

"I'm excited about this new position," said Kieft during a brief interview Tuesday on his cell phone as he was going from one appointment to the next.

With suicide prevention activities scheduled, Kieft has a full day of work planned today on behalf of Heartland, a nonprofit agency that addresses poverty and serves low-income families in four area counties. On Thursday morning Kieft will take over administrative duties for the county Family Services Dep-artment, which has 100 employees and a $13 million budget.

Kieft is going to "jump in with both feet and running," said Larry Kleindl, who has been the county family service director since 2001.

In order to be prepared for his new job with the county, Kieft even took vacation days during the last month to attend important county meetings.

"I'm excited about Jay's vision and energy," said Kleindl, adding that he'll help Kieft make the transition to the new job.

Kleindl, who gives up his post as family services director to take on the top job as county administrator, is still in the transition stage with his new job. Wayne Thompson, who has been county administrator since 1977, will remain the official county administrator until June 30. Kleindl, however, has taken on many of the day-to-day responsibilities in the office and will assume full responsibility on July 1.

A "bittersweet time" is how Kleindl describes his departure from the Family Services Department. In his new job, Kleindl will continue to work with family services as well as the other 21 departments in the county.

Kleindl will be attending a short farewell party Friday with the Family Services employees. "It'll be an opportunity for me to thank the hard-working staff there," he said. "They work so hard and we've accomplished so many things."

With more work yet to do, like pursuing state funding for family services programs, Kleindl said he's excited to have Kieft's positive energy and experience in the department.

Kieft said his goal is to help Kandiyohi County have "the best family service agency in the state of Minnesota" that will be a model for others to follow.

But in the meantime, he's still squeezing every minute into Heartland.

The agency recently purchased a downtown Willmar building -- 620 Lichfield Ave. S.W. -- that will receive a "major facelift" this summer before Heartland moves in this fall. Having an "attractive downtown presence" will be good for Heartland and the people who use its services, Kieft said.

The agency has named Joan Macik, its human resources director, as the interim director.

Because of common clients and complementary services, Kieft said Heartland has always had a good, open-door relationship with the county Family Services Department. That relationship will continue, he said, but starting Thursday he'll be on the other side of the door.