Pleasant Prairie Village Administrator Mike Pollocoff was hired in the mid-1980s with a directive to grow the tax base and diversify the economy.
Initially, Pollocoff wasn't so sure he could deliver. "At the end of my first year I thought 'Oh my goodness,'" he says. There'd been only one house built in the village during that whole time and that, he says, "came in on a truck."
Things took off soon thereafter. And now Pollocoff, on the cusp of retirement after nearly 32 years of service, is given major credit for guiding the transformation of Pleasant Prairie from an agriculturally-oriented community to a center of retail, residential and industrial activity. During his tenure, Pleasant Prairie incorporated as a village, and more than doubled its population.
Village President John Steinbrink, who's been a board member for as long as Pollocoff has been in his job, notes that such longevity for a municipal administrator is highly unusual. Steinbrink attributes that to Pollocoff's straight-shooting style. Pollocoff says it's because the village's direction hasn't changed much over the years, even though board members have come and gone.
As for a replacement, the search continues with no hard deadline.
Pollocoff says no internal candidates have applied for the job, although he quickly adds that several of his colleagues are qualified.
The 63 year-old Pollocoff's retirement target is the end of May. He says he has no retirement plans, other than to travel a bit and catch up on things he hasn't had time for.
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