KENOSHA, Wis. — A 56-year-old Kenosha man who started working for the City of Kenosha in 2020 and worked his way through several positions, including street sweeper and heavy equipment operator, has been promoted to superintendent of the city’s Streets Division. Marco Seymour, 56, officially assumed his new leadership position on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, replacing longtime superintendent Rick Desotell, who retired.
The promotion puts Seymour in charge of one of the city’s most visible and essential operations, responsible for maintaining Kenosha’s streets, clearing snow, responding to severe storms and handling a variety of infrastructure-related challenges. City officials announced the promotion Friday, recognizing Seymour’s dedication, leadership and commitment to public service.
Seymour’s rise through the ranks gives him a unique perspective on the employees he now supervises. Since joining the city six years ago, he has worked as a street sweeper, heavy equipment operator and Streets Division supervisor. Those positions provided firsthand experience with the daily responsibilities, physical demands and unexpected challenges faced by the workers who keep Kenosha’s streets operational. “I try to bring the team together, make it one united front to do what we can to get everything done,” Seymour said.
A Job That Goes Far Beyond Fixing Streets
While many residents associate the Streets Division with snowplowing and road maintenance, Seymour explained that the department’s responsibilities extend much further. Employees are frequently called upon to respond to severe weather, clean up storm damage and assist with other city operations when emergencies arise.
“Everything that Mother Nature can throw at us, that’s what we have to deal with,” Seymour said. The division’s employees must be prepared to respond quickly when dangerous weather conditions threaten public safety or disrupt normal city operations. Whether clearing streets following a winter storm or removing debris after severe weather, Seymour said his employees understand the importance of their work.
“We have our hands in everything,” Seymour said. Seymour acknowledged that unusual weather events and severe storms have presented additional challenges for the division throughout 2026. Those conditions have created extra work and contributed to outstanding projects that still need attention. Nevertheless, Seymour said he intends to keep the division focused on addressing those responsibilities while maintaining the quality of service residents expect. “We treat anything that we do just like that. We take it all seriously,” Seymour said. “We’re always going to do our best.”
Putting Employees First
Although Seymour’s promotion represents a significant personal achievement, he said his greatest source of pride is not his new title but the employees who make up the Streets Division. He described a workplace where employees are dedicated to their responsibilities and take pride in serving the community.
“They’re very committed. They love their job. They want to be here,” Seymour said. “It’s a big family here. We like that atmosphere, and we will keep it like that.”
That emphasis on teamwork has been a central part of Seymour’s leadership approach. He believes bringing employees together and maintaining a collaborative workplace helps the division accomplish its goals, particularly when unexpected emergencies require workers to respond under difficult conditions.
As someone who has performed many of the same jobs as the employees he now leads, Seymour brings practical experience to his new position. His background provides an understanding of the equipment, responsibilities and challenges involved in maintaining the city’s infrastructure.
Serving The Community He Calls Home
For Seymour, the promotion carries additional meaning because Kenosha is also his home. The 56-year-old city resident has a personal connection to the community that depends on the services his division provides every day.
His appointment follows the retirement of Rick Desotell and begins a new chapter for the Streets Division as it continues handling routine maintenance, seasonal responsibilities and unexpected weather emergencies.
“I just hope to do the best that I can for the citizens of Kenosha,” Seymour said. “That’s what the job role is, and that’s what I intend to do.”
4 Responses
Congratulations Marco. Wishing you the best of luck!
Congratulations on the many accomplishments! Keep the focus, Kenosha desperately needs competent people like yourself!
Congratulations! We know you’ll do your best. I’m hopeful that some blue collar leadership will improve our streets. Don’t take any crap from the suits 😆
The best kind of success story!
Congratulations on your promotion!