Dohrwardt ends 50 years of service

Last Thursday marked the end of an era in Fredonia government.

Longtime Village Trustee Don Dohrwardt retired to recover from cancer treatment.

“Rather than damage the board, I’m going to pull the plug,” he said.

Dohrwardt has served on the Village Board for three decades and had been on the Ozaukee County Board for 20 years.

“I’m getting kind of sick of it,” he joked.

Dohrwardt said he timed his resignation so candidates could run for his position in the April election without the board having to hold a special election. He said he prefers trustees get elected rather than appointed.

“I had a wonderful time working with you people,” Dohrwardt said.

He remembers he mentioned at a dinner meeting the village hosted that “the group I was working with was the best group I ever worked with, and I still believe that,” he said.

Dohrwardt said he is happy to be part of the joint municipal group that worked together to create the 24/7 paramedic-level emergency medical service and that Fire Chief Brian Weyker has “done a damn good job.”

Trustee Richard Abegglen told Dohrwardt “it has been an honor and a pleasure” to work with him.

Village President Peter Lenz thanked Dohrwardt for his many years of service.

“We are going to miss your wisdom and your advisement as we move forward,” he said.

The board will decide how to fill Dohrwardt’s seat at a later date. It may be leaning toward putting the seat on the April ballot, which is what Dohrwardt wants.