WILLMAR -- The tread on the stairs that go between the Kandiyohi County Family Services office and the County Administrator's office is getting worn thin these days.
Larry Kleindl goes up and down the stairs an untold number of times each day as he makes the transition from one job to another.
Kleindl is currently the director of the Family Services Department, managing 100 employees and a $13 million budget. He has also been hired to take over from longtime County Administrator Wayne Thompson.
Kleindl will be working both positions until the end of February or early March, when a new family services director is expected to be hired. The county began advertising for that position on Nov. 13. Kleindl is maintaining his first-floor office as he oversees the Family Services Department, but he makes frequent treks upstairs to learn aspects of his new job from Thompson and continue the transition process that officially began Nov. 1.
"I'm kind of being Wayne's shadow," Kleindl said. "I listen and watch and take notes."
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Kleindl said he's been doing some of the day-to-day administrative activities and learning about bills, budgets and labor negotiations from Thompson.
"Wayne's been great," said Kleindl, who will be moving into Thompson's second-floor office in January and will start taking over more of the administrative duties.
"It's going well," Thompson said of the transition.
According to the current timeline, Thompson will continue working as county administrator until June 30.
The County Board of Commissioners wanted Thompson to remain on staff to finalize complicated details with the state Department of Human Services regarding reimbursements and lease payments for county buildings on the Willmar Regional Treatment Center campus.
At this point, Thompson is still taking the lead in county administrative business and Kleindl is the assistant. Toward the end of the transition, the roles will switch.
"I'm excited," said Kleindl. He said it will be a challenge to take over the job that Thompson has held since 1977. He said he is "not afraid of that challenge."
Applications for the new family services director are due Dec. 15. Kleindl said interviews will be conducted the second and third week of January.
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Kleindl said he will miss working directly with the family services staff when he finally takes over the county administrator job.
Thompson also said he will miss working with "a lot of good people" when he retires from the job this summer.
He'll also miss his office that features scenic views of Willmar Lake. "There's no better view in Willmar," Thompson said.
