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Kaitlyn Szczypka
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — Kaitlyn Szczypka is adapting to her new role as Mason County administrator, a position she began on Feb. 1, following the retirement of Fabian Knizacky, who held the position for 31 years. Szczypka was hired in January 2024. She was one of four candidates the commissioners had chosen to interview for the administrator position; Knizacky had intended to retire in February 2024. Following the interviews, the commission chose to offer Szczypka a newly-created deputy administrator position instead, so she could spend a year learning from Knizacky.
Szczypka said the year as deputy has paid off.
“I believe the year as deputy really prepared me to fill Fabian’s shoes,” Szczypka said.
While Szczypka plans to continue many of the fiscal procedures led by Knizacky she will also be making some changes as well. One of the most visible changes will be moving the administrator’s office back to the Mason County Courthouse.
The administrator position was created by the Mason County Board of Commissioners in 1993. For most of that time, the administrator was located in the courthouse. In 2021, the office was moved to the Mason County Airport terminal on US 10 in Pere Marquette Township.
“I am still getting to know people and I believe being in the courthouse is the better place for me to be,” Szczypka said. “Plus, that is where most of the other departments are located. I need to be more accessible to the clerk and treasurer and I want to be more accessible to them.”
Szczypka was previously the clerk of the Village of Elk Rapids. Previous to that she served in the register of deeds office and emergency operations at Antrim County. Szczypka grew up on a farm in rural VanBuren County. She is a 2017 graduate of Michigan State University where she earned a bachelor’s degrees in public policy and history.
“Mason County is very similar to where I grew up,” she said. “There’s a small town atmosphere. The community members are so kind. I have met so many great people so far who are just interested in moving the communities forward.”
Szczypka has been working on several projects alongside the elected commissioners. One of the top issues has been the Mason County Housing Program Community Block Development Grant, which includes approximately $800,000 available to low- to moderate-income households. Szczypka said 129 homeowners have applied to participate in the various programs involved in the grant and about 75 applications have been considered to be complete.
The county board is also considering acquiring land from the state of Michigan along South Lakeshore Drive in Pere Marquette Township. The area is locally known as “Peter Pan Land.” Szczypka said the state has confirmed receipt of the county’s application and is arranging an appraisal of the property.
Another major project Szczypka is overseeing is the redesign of the county’s website, www.masoncounty.net. She said the new site will include an increase in transparency and easier access to citizens.
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