Valley City (KFGO) – After nearly 23 years, the resource manager of Baldhill Dam northwest of Valley City has decided to retire. 

Rich Schueneman said it’s been a great run since he started in January of 2000. 

There have been many positives and negatives about the job. Sadly, he and his staff have had to respond to drowning deaths on Lake Ashtabula.

“Those things are real tough on the families and also on the people who have to respond to it,” Schueneman said.

On the positive side, construction of new lake homes has doubled over the last two decades during his tenure.

“Nice to have that piece of infrastructure here that creates that lake and provides opportunity for people to do a lot of different things out there,” Schueneman said. “There’s a lot of cabins out on the lake. Over the years, I’ve seen those cabin areas expand and develop – probably almost double the amount cabin dock permits than when I started.”

Schueneman and his wife Karen plan to do more traveling. His last day is Friday, Oct. 7.

Scott Tichy will become the new resource manager of Baldhill Dam. He has worked at the site for 29 years.