By Brandi Makuski

The city welcomed its new director of public works last week.

Scott Beduhn, a native of West Bend, was appointed by Mayor Mike Wiza in early May. He reported for his first day on the job early last week.

Beduhn replaces Scott Schatschneider, who resigned from the department in January after four years with the city.

Beduhn is a Michigan Tech graduate, having moved to Stevens Point in 1995 to take a job with AECOM, then other engineering firms to include SEH out of Appleton, and the Madison-based Ruekert & Mielke Inc.

Beduhn starts his new job in the midst of several major city projects, to include a total rebuild of Prentice St. and new overpass on Country Club Dr./Hoover Road, as well as the pending Bus. 51 overhaul.

That he’s starting in the deep end of the pool isn’t lost on Beduhn, who also said he’s not letting himself become overwhelmed.

“I’ve got a high-level view of everything — with the staff we have, I’m not too concerned,” Beduhn said. “But so far, so good.”

Beduhn said his previous worked involved consulting with municipalities for private companies

“You think you know how busy [municipal workers] are, but until you sit on this side of the desk, you don’t realize all the things that are going on,” he said. “There’s a lot going on, but I’m getting up to speed.”