‘The Beetle’ Bails: Sartell Public Works Director John Kothenbuetel Punches Out for the Last Time 30 Years to the Day After Punching in for the First

(KNSI) — Thursday is the passing of the torch for the Sartell Public Works Department.

Director John Kothenbeutel began work there on April 4, 1994. Exactly 30 years later, he will retire. Starting as a general employee, he quickly gravitated towards the wastewater treatment plant. He was promoted to assistant public works director in 2005 and became director in 2016.

Kothenbeutel has been commuting almost an hour to work since last year after he and his wife built a home on family hunting land near Onamia. He expects to stay busy in retirement and is already looking forward to fishing, gardening, and spending time with his grandkids.

Lisa Vollbrecht has been hired to replace Kothenbeutel. She worked for the City of St. Cloud for 24 years before being hired on on by Sartell. She is the first female in the department’s history to have that role.

Kothenbeutel’s stamp on the city will remain long after he has headed for the deer stand. The city council named a road after him in 2022. Beetle Boulevard runs between Scout Dr. and Roberts Rd., which cuts in front of Coborn’s.

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