Kronenwetter administrator resigns amid dispute with fire chief

Kronenwetter Administrator Peter Kampfer has resigned roughly nine months after assuming the role, village officials announced on Friday.

In an email to trustees, Kampfer said he is not the “right fit” for the municipality. He resigned immediately.

In his letter, first obtained by WAOW, Kampfer referred to a July 11 incident in which Kronenwetter Fire Chief Theresa O’Brien allegedly threatened to resign over ambulance and fire service issues, using “explicit demands/ultimatums” in an exchange with several trustees.

“From my observation, O’Brien seems to have no professional municipal boundaries,” Kampfer wrote. “Her intense focus on ambulance service is so extreme that she is willing to compromise the safety of our community by potentially diminishing our fire protection.”

Kampfer went on to say that the potential consequences of O’Brien “not getting her way are severe and could have significant implications for our community.” He also blasted the way trustees handled what he called “misbehavior” and openly asked whether the citizens of Kronenwetter “understand what kind of fire chief they have.”

Kampfer, a Wausau native who had since moved to Texas, was one of three finalists for the role. He began his tenure in October. Prior to his hire, Kronenwetter was without a full-time leader for more than a year.

Kronenwetter has struggled to secure an administrator since Richard Downey’s exit. Four interim administrators also departed. In June 2023, village officials offered the job to Bradley Hanson, only to rescind the offer after a background check for reasons that have not been made fully public. The search then continued with assistance from a recruitment specialist.

Village President Chris Voll, in a statement, said all board members and staff were alerted to Kampfer’s departure.

“We are a resilient community with people who genuinely care about our village,” Voll wrote. “In that spirit, we will continue to move Kronenwetter forward as planned, with the activities and projects that we have lined up.”

Voll pointed to the community’s diverse perspectives and opinions “which can sometimes be a challenge” and said Mr. Kampfer “has some personal issues that he is dealing with, and we wish him and his family all the best.”

Trustees will meet Monday to plan for the future. An agenda was released on Friday.

“We will continue working together to make our community better and stronger,” Voll said.

Attempts to reach O’Brien were not immediately successful.