By Maureen Vander Sanden
Correspondent
The Village of Union Grove appointed a new Recreation Director at Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Troy Anderson was recommended by the Recreation and Welfare Commission among four other applicants and approved anonymously by the Board for immediate hire.
He replaces Kim Terpstra who resigned in recent months.
The village has budgeted $14,000 for the part-time position, according to Liz Schwertfeger, village deputy clerk-treasurer.
Trustee Tim Mallach, who serves on the recreation commission, said Anderson stood out from other candidates due to his knowledge and experience necessary for the leadership role.
“I believe he will move the recreation department in the right direction,” he said.
Anderson, who carries a bachelor’s degree in arts and leisure services from University of Northern Iowa, has nearly two decades of experience leading local programs.
He is currently the Regional Director of Sports for Special Olympics Wisconsin, a position he has held since 2008.
Among his duties, Anderson organizes tournaments and recruits volunteers throughout Racine, Kenosha, Jefferson and Rock counties.
Prior to that, he worked as an athletics supervisor at the Coralville Parks & Recreation Department in his home state.
It was his desire to get back into directing municipality-run sporting programs that attracted Anderson to the Union Grove position.
“Union Grove has some awesome facilities,” he said at the meeting. “I thought I could help the community move forward with my experience and leadership.”
Among other duties, his role at the village will include planning, organizing, budgeting and supervising all recreation programs.
Village President Michael Aimone commended Anderson’s professional background and said he would like occasional reports and updates on programs from the director at select Village Board meetings.
With any new gig, Anderson said it takes time to learn the “ins and outs.”
“With my past experience, I know what to expect and will hit the ground running,” he wrote in an email.
Additional duties the new director will be assuming include leading the basketball, baseball and soccer programs as commissioner, which had previously not been assigned to the recreation director.
He also intends on keeping office hours at Village Hall, however those hours have not yet been set.
Anderson resides in Kansasville with his wife Jackie, and children Addison, 8, and Braeden, 5.
His kids have participated in Union Grove’s programs, which has also been a driving force in seeking the job.
“I look forward to providing many recreational opportunities for families in the village and surrounding areas,” he said.
Anderson can be reached at [email protected].
In other business, the Village Board proclaimed October 2015 as Domestic Violence Awareness.
Aimone also updated trustees on the Village Board on the seat vacated by former Trustee Teresa Holm, who resigned last month due to a family move out of state.
Three applications were received by the Sept. 15 deadline, according to Aimone.
The three candidates will be present at the Monday, Oct. 12 meeting for the Board to meet and interview. An appointment may be made that evening for the vacancy. The term expires in April 2017.
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