LACEY – The Township Committee’s meeting room was nearly filled to capacity, but the tone of the evening went beyond the routine business of municipal government. Instead of ordinances and public comment dominating the night, residents, employees and family members gathered to recognize nearly four decades of steady service, and to officially mark a leadership transition in the department that quietly keeps Lacey Township running every day of the year.
Early in the meeting, the governing body appointed Taylor Reilly as Lacey Township’s new Director of Public Works. The vote formalized a transition that had already begun during one of the most challenging stretches of winter weather in recent memory.
Reilly succeeds Robert Kraska, who officially retired after 39 years with the township.
And fittingly, Kraska’s career ended the same way much of it was spent, responding to public works emergencies.
“As if to ensure he would be remembered in true public works fashion,” Mayor Steven Kennis read from a proclamation honoring Kraska, “Rob’s final weeks on the job included not one but two snowstorms, one of which brought historic accumulation, proving that after 40 years, he would not quietly slip into retirement, but instead go out with a bang.”
A Career Built From The Ground Up
Kraska began his career on October 27, 1986, as a laborer. Over nearly four decades, he rose from mechanic helper to mechanic, supervising mechanic, supervisor of public works and ultimately Director in 2019. His progression through the department reflected not only longevity, but a deep familiarity with every layer of its operations.
“Rob Kraska probably has the best demeanor in the entire world,” Committeeman Tim McDonald said. “Something would happen and I would text him. Ten minutes later, he’d get back to me and tell me he’d take care of the problem.”
The proclamation echoed that sentiment, noting that “in a profession defined by early mornings, late nights, emergency calls and high-pressure decisions, Rob has consistently led with a calm, cool and collected presence.”
Mayor Kennis admitted that he generally takes a hands-off approach with department heads, trusting them to manage their responsibilities independently. The back-to-back storms changed that. He pointed to Kraska’s temperament as essential in a public-facing role.
“Your demeanor is absolutely perfect for the job dealing with the public,” Kennis told him. “You have to be very calm and mild mannered, and you just handle yourself excellently with the public.”
Kraska redirected the spotlight. “We have a great group of guys here,” he said. “And I think the department’s in great shape.”
He also expressed confidence in his successor. “Taylor’s a heck of a guy,” Kraska added. “He had a question at the end of the storm, and I turned to him and told him he had to decide what he wanted to do. He knocked that decision out of the ballpark.”
Looking around the meeting room, it was easy to see the depth of support behind those words. Rows of DPW employees filled the seats, joined by family members and former leaders, including Casey Parker, who retired as Director in 2017 and later returned to the township as a Project Coordinator.
Deputy Mayor Robert Laureigh noted that Kraska, Parker and Reilly all share deep roots in Lacey. “It’s a real honor to see that three of our most successful public works directors are all born, raised and worked in Lacey,” Laureigh said, adding that few towns can claim that level of continuity in leadership.
A Snowy Welcome
If Reilly expected a gradual transition into the role, the weather had other plans. Within days of stepping into leadership, Lacey was hit first by an ice storm and then by a blizzard that overwhelmed standard operations.
“I want to say thank you to the entire department,” Reilly said. “This last storm was insane. Normal plowing procedures were out the window. It was strictly, get the fire, get the EMS, get the police wherever they had to go.”
Crews plowed roads only to see them covered again within hours. Workers logged 30 straight hours before mandatory rest periods required them to step away.
Before opening public comment, Mayor Kennis addressed the complaints the township had received about snow removal. “There were a number of complaints about the quality of snow plowing,” he said, explaining that the township “does its best to maintain roadways during snowstorms.”
“It was a blizzard, which is an unusual event, so you should expect unusual circumstances,” he added. Once a state of emergency was declared, operations shifted from routine plowing routes to life-safety priorities. “In practice, that means snow plowing responsibility becomes maintaining access to EMS and public safety buildings and primary arteries throughout residential areas,” Kennis read from a prepared statement.
More than 300 calls for service were logged within a 48-hour period. Plows were diverted to escort first responders, clear access to emergency facilities and address hazards such as downed trees, wires and poles before returning to neighborhood streets.
“That’s why the plowing took a long time,” Kennis said, adding that he wanted residents to understand “the things that go into making the decisions of when to plow and where to plow, especially during a storm of that magnitude.”
Public comment reflected both frustration and perspective. Resident Richard Bidnik raised concerns about snow blocking sidewalks near Deer Head Lake, while committee members emphasized that life-safety routes must take priority during extreme events. Resident Carol Mittelsdorf reminded that homeowners are responsible for clearing fire hydrants to ensure emergency access.
Storms will come again. Roads will need clearing. Complaints will surface, and explanations will follow.
But on that day, Lacey Township was reminded that behind every cleared street is a department built on decades of experience, and a new director ready to carry that work forward.
