County to offer candidate deputy administrator position

Kaitlyn Szczypka

County to offer candidate deputy administrator position

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Board of Commissioners interviewed four candidates for county administrator today during a day long meeting. After several hours of interviews, the commission chose to offer a deputy administrator position to one of the candidates, with the hope that she will replace retiring administrator Fabian Knizacky in the future.

Knizacky was the first Mason County administrator hired and has been in the role for 30 years. He was scheduled to retire in February 2024.

Kaitlyn Szczypka, who is currently the clerk of the Village of Elk Rapids, was the unanimous choice of the commission. Most of the commissioners agreed that all four candidates were impressive but they each commented that they appreciated Szczypka’s youth and willingness to learn.

During discussion, commissioners said they believed Szczypka would be able to be mentored by Knizacky more than the other candidates. Knizacky was the first administrator hired by the county.

Following conversation by the entire board, Commissioner Lew Squires made a motion to offer Szczypka the role of deputy administrator, effective Jan. 2, 2024, with the understanding that Knizacky would stay on as administrator. Szczypka would be paid at the low end of the administrator pay scale, which is about $101,000 annually while Knizacky would continue with his current salary.

Knizacky said, following the meeting, that the transition from Szczypka going from deputy administrator to administrator may be rather quick, perhaps a month. It may be longer, however. Knizacky agreed to delay his retirement up to Feb. 1, 2025. The board also agreed, in consideration of Knizacky delaying his retirement, that it would commit $5 million toward future workforce housing projects in Mason County, which Knizacky would help oversee.

Szczypka is a 2017 graduate of Michigan State University where she earned a bachelor’s degrees in public policy and history.

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