By Berit Ollestad
After battling Mother Nature these last few years, Morristown town Engineer Jeff Hartke is pretty happy to be calling it a career.
“It’s been close to 30 years that I’ve been in the shape that I’d like to be in. I’d like to see what kind of shape a 63-year-old can get into,” said Hartke, who retired last week to Myrtle Beach, S.C., with his wife, Laurie.
Laurie, who retired after 29 years as an art teacher in Little Falls, told him last year was the last winter she was willing to spend in New Jersey.
And after working as an engineer for 40 years–the last 13 in Morristown–Hartke said he is ready for a leisurely life of reading, running and cycling.
There hasn’t been too much time for any of that in recent years, thanks to Tropical Storm Irene, Superstorm Sandy, a freak October 2012 snowstorm, and so much snow last winter that the town ran out of places to put it.
Hartke said these last few years have served up the most extreme weather of his career.
But he credits his 50 or so employees in the department of public works–which includes the engineering, recreation and recycling divisions and the sewage treatment plant–with rising to every occasion.
“When you have good people working for you, like I do, you stay out of their way and allow them to do their job and you’re there if they need you. My team has always done a great job of making me look good,” Hartke said.
Municipal engineer Ralph Panei praised his former boss as an analytical, methodical problem-solver.
“In my 30 years here, he is one of the most conscientious individuals I’ve ever worked for. He listens, delegates out to the proper channels and then allows us to get the job done because he has confidence in us,” said Panei.
“He brings a tremendous work ethic with him in whatever he does and has instilled that in all of us. The town is going to have some really big shoes to fill when they hire his replacement.”
“If you were to look up in the dictionary the definition of ‘exemplary municipal engineer,’ you’d see a picture of Jeff Hartke next to it,” said Mayor Tim Dougherty.
“He’s what every town municipality looks for. He’ll be sorely missed by the town and myself included. His number one priority was always making sure the town’s needs were met.
“He’s leaving us in great shape and very capable hands until we identify his replacement. The town is in far better shape as a result of his hard work and dedication over the years as opposed to what he faced when he was hired.”
The Mayor said he has vacationed near Myrtle Beach, and he looks forward to visiting Hartke someday to “see how retired life is going.”
So do the Hartkes’ three kids, who initially weren’t thrilled about the sale of their childhood home in Verona. Once they checked out Mom and Dad’s new address, they came around, Hartke said.
“We want to be the destination vacation spot for all our friends and family. It also makes it easier to move since we don’t have any grandchildren yet,” he said.
They’ve moved to a 50-and-older community that has a lot of northern expatriates. Hartke leaves behind one project in particular that stands out: He gushed about the implementation of solar panels at the town’s sewage treatment plant like a first-time dad talking about his firstborn child.
As for Morristown’s future, the DPW is ready for any storms heading its way, Hartke said.
“Morristown’s Department of Public Works is second to none,” he said. “We have strong leadership and skills in every division. I know … I’ve left the department in very good hands. We already have individuals working here that are qualified to fill my position. I’ve given my input and I’m confident that they’ll find the most qualified applicant.”
