PORTAGE TOWNSHIP – In 2010, Bruce Petersen thought his experience in federal government would be useful in local government, so he applied to be appointed Portage Township supervisor and was chosen by the board of trustees to fill the empty position.

Petersen, who is running for re-election on the Aug. 2 primary ballot, said he worked 32 years with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and retired just before getting the supervisor position.

“I was retired for five days,” he said.

He thought his experience working with a bureaucracy and all its required paperwork might translate well to township government.

“I thought I could be a benefit to the township,” he said.

Petersen said he was elected as supervisor in 2012.

The township board has done several projects related to recreation in the township, which he thinks have been important, including resurfacing the Dodgeville ice rink, and building restrooms at the Hurontown ball fields, where paving the parking lots still needs to be done.

“That’s in the works,” he said.

There have been challenges the township board has faced during his tenure, Petersen said. There was a dispute over whether Valley View Quarry was operating in an area not zoned for industry. Eventually, an agreement between the quarry owners and the township was reached.

The township’s zoning manual was rewritten after two years of work, Petersen said.

“That was a challenge,” he said.

The rewritten zoning manual included many changes to definitions, which have changed over the years, such as what constitutes a family, Petersen said.

An important upcoming project is the installation of a sanitary sewer system on Green Acres Road and a portion of M-26, Petersen said.

Petersen said he decided he wanted to come back because there still is work to do, and he appreciates the work the board has done.

“I’ve invested a fair amount of time,” he said.