Chief deputy decision not final

The Waseca County Sheriff's Dept. is in the process of filling the chief deputy position left open by the departure of Trevor Kanewischer, who held the post for the past 10 years. Recently elected and installed Sheriff Jay Dulas reached out to New Richland City Administrator and former chief of police Anthony Martens in December to fill the post and offered him the job. The two parties are still in talks and nothing has been finalized. 

Waseca County Commissioner Doug Christopherson confirmed that the hiring process has several steps before the appointment can be finalized. “A background check for one thing,” he said. “There are details that need to be stepped through. 

“I know Jay is a good man and I respect his decision making.”

Ultimately, according to Christopherson, the commissioners have the ability to approve the position, but not the person appointed to fill it. If county leadership is unhappy with the sheriff’s choice of chief deputy, their only option is to terminate the position. Ultimately, the decision regarding who will serve as the next chief deputy lies with Dulas. 

As of Jan. 11, nothing was finalized, according to Dulas, Martens, and a number of county officials. 

Martens tendered his resignation to the city of New Richland during an emergency city council meeting on Jan 3. He is contractually obligated to give a 30-day notice and if installed as chief deputy, said he would be willing and able to help train his potential replacement. 

On Dec. 31, Dulas named Martens as his next chief deputy in an email to all Waseca County staff reading: “The time has come to announce that Anthony Martens has been offered the Chief Deputy position. A start date has not yet been set.”

Martens was hired as New Richland City Administrator in March 2022 and previously served for five years as the city’s chief of police. 

“The path has been a little strange to get where I’m at,” said Martens during a June interview with the Star Eagle. Martens had worked toward becoming qualified for the role of an administrator for the previous four years, having earned his degree in administration in 2019. 

Martens, a 20-year resident of New Richland, came to know the area when he began working at The Creamery restaurant in Otisco in the early 2000s. In 2005, he purchased his New Richland home. He married his wife Kelly (Nelson) in 2016 and the pair have two children, 16-year-old Carter and 14-year-old Corbin.

Former New Richland Mayor Gail Schmidt praised Martens service, but commented that his decision to resign would put the city in a difficult position. Martens is the third administrator in New Richland since the retirement of longtime clerk Wayne Billing in Dec. 2020.

When Martens was asked this past June whether he envisioned himself as New Richland’s administrator for the foreseeable future, he said his only likely career change would be moving into a parallel position in a larger city. 

According to many, Martens’ education and experience in administration would compliment Dulas’ skills.. 

Both Martens and Dulas have been contacted and a more in-depth article detailing the decision, if finalized, is planned for a future edition of the Pioneer.