Jim Altenburg leaves after 2 years

BY KEVIN BONESKE

REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER

After meeting in closed session Thursday, the Oneida-Vilas Transit Commission accepted the resignation of Transit Commission manager Jim Altenburg, effective immediately, said Transit Commission chairman Erv Teichmiller.

“He offered his resignation and we accepted it,” said Teichmiller, who declined further comment about the circumstances leading up to Altenburg’s resignation.

According to Thursday’s Transit Commission agenda, the topics for closed session included performance evaluations and personnel wages and benefits. Altenburg had been present for Thursday’s meeting.

Teichmiller declined comment when asked about Altenburg’s job performance as well as whether the Transit Commission wanted Altenburg to resign and would have terminated his employment had he not done so.

When asked about any severance pay or benefits Altenburg might receive, Teichmiller said that was still being negotiated.

Altenburg, who was with the Transit Commission for two years as its second manager since its formation to operate the Northwoods Transit Connections buses, declined comment as to why he decided to resign.

“I wish the Transit Commission all the best,” said Altenburg, who also noted he didn’t have another position lined up upon leaving, but would be looking into some possible job opportunities.

Following Altenburg’s resignation, Teichmiller said the Northwoods Transit Connections buses would continue operating as they have with the Transit Commission office manager, Barb Newman, taking on some additional duties and the aging departments in Oneida and Vilas counties providing additional assistance to the Transit Commission until a new manager is hired, which Teichmiller hopes could take places in the next 2-3 months.

Last year marked the first full year the two-county commission operated the Northwoods Transit Connections buses, which run in the Rhinelander, Lakeland and Eagle River areas. The commission took over busing transportation services in Oneida County that prior to 2016 had been handled by the county’s department on aging. Since then, the passenger base has expanded from the elderly and disabled to now include individuals who are not in those two categories.