The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Board of Trustees recently selected Jeff Theerman, an employee of 19 years and current director of operations, to serve as the active interim executive director.

Theerman will assume the executive director role at the end of September when the current acting executive director Chuck Etwert retires from the district.

“I guess I’d just like to thank the board for the opportunity to serve the district in this way and I look forward to leading the organization until the position of executive director is filled,” Theerman said.

Theerman only will serve in the role until the board finds a permanent replacement, board Chairman Robert J. Baer said.

“Mr. Theerman’s term as acting director will continue until we name a permanent director and, in that regard, we are going to start in the immediate future a search for a new permanent executive director,” Baer said.

However, Theerman could apply for the permanent position. He told the Call he may or may not apply for the permanent position. He said that it would be up to board members to decide if they want him apply.

Theerman said his goal as executive director is to not let the district fall into a holding pattern under his leadership. He said he understands the district has to move forward and is working on things and he must keep them moving.

Theerman currently makes $137,754 annually. He will not receive a raise when he takes over the executive director position.