Building inspector back at work after being injured in fall

    Rick Fellenz, the building inspector for the towns of Port Washington and Grafton who was seriously injured in an accident last month, attended last week’s Town of Port meeting.
    “Even though there’s not much to report I feel fortunate I can report,” Fellenz told the board during the “building inspector’s report” portion of the Dec. 4 meeting agenda.
    “You look pretty contained in there,” Town Chairman Jim Melichar said, noting the body and neck braces the building inspector wore and the cane he carried.
    “But it’s good to see you up and about.”
    Fellenz told officials he’s “OK.”
    “Hopefully in a couple weeks I can get rid of the brace — at least the neck thing,” he said.
    Fellenz was seriously injured in a fall from a ladder at his Town of Port home Oct. 27, suffering a torn aorta and several fractured vertebrate.
    In other action, the Town Board agreed to renew its contract with Clerk Heather Krueger, who took the job as an interim clerk on Jan. 21 and was appointed clerk in March.
    The board is expected to approve a salary increase for Krueger when it meets in a special meeting before the Plan Commission on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
    Melichar said the board is expected to bring Krueger’s salary up to the maximum $42,000 earned by former clerk Jennifer Schlenvogt — a base pay of $39,000 plus $50 per diem for as many as 60 meetings annually.