A reorganization of city administration has taken place despite some objections from 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan.

The city of DeKalb created an economic development division and a property maintenance division after the council recommended strengthening both areas.

“We’re reorganizing existing personnel,” DeKalb City Manager Mark Biernacki said. “We’re really just shuffling people around to different places.”

Director of Administrative Services Linda Wiggins is one person who was promoted. Wiggins takes the new position of assistant city manager.

Wiggins was doing the work of an assistant city manager without the title or pay of one, Biernacki said.

Other DeKalb city employees will have different titles and responsibilities.

Community Development Director Paul Rasmussen and Special Projects Coordinator Jennifer Diedrich will be reassigned under the economic development division, Biernacki said.

The reorganization will create a Property Maintenance Division within the Community Development Department.

Chief Building Inspector Ernie Pinne will now be known as chief property maintenance inspector/plans examiner. Pinne and his two employees will be responsible for property maintenance enforcement and inspections programs, Biernacki said.

Dan Rapp, deputy chief building inspector, will become the chief building inspector/plans examiner.

The city’s principle planner, Russ Farnum, will fill the void left by Rasmussen in community development.

The salary increases totaling $7,600 will come from a vacant but budgeted city position of accounting services manager, Biernacki stated.

The salary increases have spawned opposition in the city council.

“They kind of presented it as if there would be no increased costs,” Kapitan said. “I think it’s going to have an impact on salary.”

The requirements for certain positions also worry him.

“When we used to have an assistant city manager position, a master’s degree was required,” Kapitan said.

“We modified the position and downgraded it to administrative services director. We re-established the position, but not the requirements,” he said.

Biernacki said a master’s degree is preferred for the position, but under the city’s policy, it is not required.

Other than upgrading the qualifications, Kapitan said he was pleased with the reorganization.

“As I said at the meeting, I was in favor of all the other changes.”