Starke County Highway Superintendent submits resignation

[Stephen "Rik" Ritzler receiving the AIM Outstanding Highway Superintendent of the Year award in 2019]

After working eight years as the Starke County Highway Superintendent, Rik Ritzler announced Monday night that he will be resigning from his position to take on a new career opportunity. 

During his monthly report at the Starke County Commissioner's meeting, Ritzler informed officials that he will be stepping down from his current position but will still remain local. His new position will be at the Knox-based business Traffic Control Specialists. 

He expressed that it was a difficult decision to make since he has a passion for the work he does for the County. Ritzler explained, "I thought hard about it. I love being Highway Superintednet, I love doing things for Starke County, As you probably know, I work really hard at it and try to do the best I can." 

Ritzler said the driving factor was that it was a beneficial decision to make for him and his familiy. 

He went on to say, "I will always be available to answer questions, I will always care about the success of the Highway Department. Even when I leave, I won't be able to present that."

His impact on the community was expressed through the dismay of the officials who received his resignation but they thanked him for his contributions and ultimately wished him well on his new endeavor. 

The effective resignation date is Friday, March 12 and Ritzler will be working to implement his transition plan in the coming weeks. 

You can find more details about Ritzler's history as Highway Superintendent, including information about his many accolades and accomplishments over the years in this week's edition of the Starke County Leader. Pick up a copy on Thursday, March 4. 

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