The Hutchinson Utilities Commission meets at 3:00 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month at the Hutchinson Utilities Office. The commission shall consist of five (5) persons, registered voters of Hutchinson, who shall be appointed by the council. One of the members may be a member of the city council appointed annually by the mayor with the consent of the city council, at the first meeting of the city council in January of each year. After initial appointments for such terms as are set by the council, a member shall be appointed every year for a term of 5 years, to fill the place of the member whose term has expired, except for any city council member appointed to serve on the Utilities Commission, and in such case, that person shall serve a one year term subject to reappointment. No member shall serve more than two consecutive five-year terms, exclusive of the fulfillment of an unexpired term, but shall be again eligible for such service following a break in service of not less than one year.
Commission Members:
Dwight Bordson, PRESIDENT
December, 2010 First Full Term
Dwight Bordson is currently the Director of Corporate Materials and Facilities for Hutchinson Technology. Hutchinson Technology is a global technology leader committed to creating value by developing solutions to critical customer problems. The company's Disk Drive Components Division is the leading worldwide supplier of suspension assemblies for disk drives. The company's Biomeasurment Division is focused on bringing to the market new technologies and products that provide information clinicians can use to improve the quality of health care.
In his role he is responsible for all corporate purchases and contracts which includes almost 1000 suppliers. As the Director of Facilities he is responsible for the development and operations of the facilities which include Environmental Control, Safety Services and Plant Engineering. He has been with the company for 25 years. Previous areas of responsibility have included: Industrial Engineering, Equipment and Tooling Build and Process Development, Plant Manager of the Equipment Strategic Business Unit and other Operations Management positions.
Dwight also serves on the Supply Chain Advisory Board for the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. His qualifications include Master's level studies in Human Factor Engineering at the University of Idaho, plus a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology: Minnesota State University; Moorhead . He is married (wife Donna of 25 years) and has 5 children ranging in ages from 9 to 20 years of age. Hobbies include hunting, fishing and coaching various sports.
Robert Hantge, VICE PRESIDENT
December, 2011 First Full Term
Robert grew up in Hutchinson and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1984. Graduate of the University of Minnesota in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science. He held employment with Morris Nielsen Funeral Chapel in Richfield and Washburn McReavy Funeral Chapels in Minneapolis. Moved back to Hutchinson in the early 90's to work with father and brother at Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Purchased business with brother in 1996, as well as acquiring funeral chapels in Fairfax and Winthrop. Built a funeral chapel in Darwin in 2000 and acquired funeral chapel in Gaylord in 2004. Built a new funeral chapel in Hutchinson in 2003, which is one of the largest outstate funeral chapels in Minnesota.
Active in community organizations including the Hutchinson Jaycees as past President and Commodore of the 1997 Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival. Served on the City of Hutchinson's Parks and Recreation Community Education Board, the Airport Commission, the Planning Commission and presently the Utilities Commission. Also served on the Minnesota Funeral Director's Association's Professional Practices Committee as Chairman for 13 years. Other organizations include the McLeod County Agricultural Association (McLeod County Fair Board), the McLeod County Veteran's Memorial Park Committee, the Hutchinson Hockey Association as past President, Treasurer and Coach for nearly 20 years, the Hutchinson Theater Company as treasurer and actor, the Citizens Bank Community Fountain Project and Library Band shell Reconstruction Project.
In his spare time, he enjoys following three of his children (Nick, Andrew and Michael) in sports and their life events and caring for new Baby Jack. He and wife, Christie, enjoy family vacations and any activity near a lake. Robert also holds a private pilot license and currently owns a float plane and can be found terrorizing the area fishermen from the sky.
Paul Nordin
December, 2014 First Full Term
Paul was born in and spent his childhood in south Minneapolis with his parents and two siblings. After graduating from South High School and moving to and commencing his college coursework in Portland Oregon, Paul returned to Minneapolis where his finished his studies, graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology.
In 1994 Paul went to work for Impressions Incorporated in St. Paul as Environmental and Safety Manager. In 1997 Impressions opened its Hutchinson facility to serve the printing and packaging needs of the 3M Hutchinson plant; in the spring of 1998 Paul was transferred to the new facility where he has served since as Operations Manager.
Paul joined the Utilities Commission in 2010 and serves as a Board member of the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as the 2010 Chair. In their spare time Paul and his wife Susan enjoy traveling, gardening and renovating their historic Hutchinson home where they are raising their daughter Taylor.
Donald Walser
December, 2011 Second Full Term
From a farm background in southern Minnesota, Don graduated from St. Thomas University and from the University of Minnesota Law School.
He has been a practicing attorney since 1972 with the firm of Kraft, Walser, Hettig, Honsey & Kleiman, PLLP. The firm has offices in Hutchinson, Olivia, Renville, and Cokato.
Don was on the Board of Directors of the Hutchinson Economic Development Authority for 12 years and now serves on the Finance Team. A U.S. Army Veteran, he is an active member of the American Legion, holding State and National positions. He was appointed to the Utilities Commission in August, 2000.
Craig Lenz
December, 2013 Second Full Term
Born in Mason City Iowa, Craig is the oldest of 5 children. Moved to Hutchinson in 1966 where he has resided since that time. He graduated in 1976 from Hutchinson High School and attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter MN where he graduated in 1980 with a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Geography. In 1981 Craig went to work for his father at AG Systems. He purchased that business from his family in 1992 after the passing of his father. Craig is currently the President and owner of AG Systems, Inc., a Hutchinson based firm with outlets in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
In 1999 Craig acquired Heartland Agri Supply in Ames Iowa where he currently is the President and owner with an additional outlet in Marshall, MO. Craig also is the President and owner of Lenco Leasing and Lenco Rentals, both located in Hutchinson, MN and also a part owner in Heartland Rentals out of Ames, Iowa.
Craig was elected to the Hutchinson City Council in 1989 were he served a four year term. Craig also served on the Hutchinson Library Board and was appointed to and served 8 years on the Hutchinson Planning Commission. Craig was appointed to the Hutchinson Utilities Commission in 1999. Craig also has served on a Distributor Advisory Board for Case IH for the past 10 years.
Craig has been married to his lovely wife Claire for 22 years. Together they have 2 children, Catherine 15, and Jake 10. In Craig's spare time you can find him fishing, hunting or spending time at the hockey arena, the football field, or baseball field coaching little league sports.
