DPW Commissioner Jeff Polenske retires from city after 31 years

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A bittersweet day Wednesday, Dec. 1 for the head of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works.

Wednesday was Commissioner Jeff Polenske's last hearing of the Public Works Commission.

Polenske has worked for DPW for nearly 31 years, but announced last month that he planned to retire from the city.

He now heads to a position in the private sector, working for Michael Baker International.

No word yet on who will replace him at DPW, but he says he has a good leadership team in place.

"This team here will keep the services going just as they are today and were in the past months or year," Polenske said. "So all the confidence in the world."

Common Council members wished him well.