I have had the opportunity to learn and gain significant experience in city operations over the last 40 years both as a Mendota Heights Firefighter (39 years, 32 as Fire Chief) and a Civil Engineer (37 years, 33 with the city of Saint Paul. To learn more about my experience keep reading. It is important for me to state that all of the successes I have had the opportunity to be involved in It was through the work of a great team of men and women that allowed them to become reality. I firmly believe that success is not the result of one person but a result of the action of a team that is all pulling in the same direction with the same vision.
Mendota Heights Fire Department
Beginning my service in March of 1978, I rose through the ranks of the fire department from firefighter to Assistant Training Officer, Captain and in July of 1984 I was appointed Assistant Fire Chief. In December 1985, I was appointed acting Fire Chief and eventually made permanent Fire Chief several months later, a position I held until I retired on February 28, 2017. When I was appointed Fire Chief at the age of 26 I was one of the youngest Fire Chiefs ever in the state of Minnesota.
I had already experienced lots of change growing up but now was in charge of a fire department that was also experiencing lots of change. We went from I believe 78 fire calls per year when I joined the department to 250-270 calls per year when I retired. The department went from operating on a paper system to a computerized system. We had moved into a new station in 1984 that was a significant improvement over where we were.
Since I have always tried to look toward the future and innovation, I placed significant of emphasis on Fire prevention and inspection activities. Preventing a tragedy is far better than dealing with one – and fire cheaper both in cost and lives saved .
One of my first major code initiatives was convincing the City Council to adopt a voluntary fire code requiring automatic fire sprinkler systems in all new commercial buildings. The “instant firefighter” as I called it was the most efficient way to assure property would be protected and lives would not be lost. It was also a great firefighter safety tool. Thanks to the forward thinking and courage of the City Council at the time, and significant pushback from developers, the City Council passed the ordinance. One of the first in the State of Minnesota.
Though-out my tenure, the department was recognized as a forward thinking, innovate department that did everything possible to maximize the “tax dollars” that we were allocated in the most efficient and productive way possible. We created a “40 year capital replacement plan – a plan for the future” that became a model for other city departments to follow. The plan included all major expenditures from heating plant replacements, to roofs, breathing apparatus, radios and firetrucks and spread the funding out so that budgets could be planned for including funding. Our department was recognized several times in publications for our wise use of resources and innovations.
My dedication and leadership to the fire service was shown by my involvement at county and state levels as well. I served as President of:
Dakota County Chiefs Association Minnesota Fire Department Association (MSFDA), Region 1 (Dakota, Ramsey and Washington Counties) and as the MSFDA Region 1 State Director for 8 years.
The Mendota Heights Fire Department was recognized twice during my tenure as the Minnesota State Fire Department of the Year. Once by the Minnesota Fire Center and the second time by the Minnesota State Fire Department Association.
Civil Engineering Experience
I began my service to the citizens of Saint Paul in May of 1985 working as a traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. I rose through the ranks of public works serving as a traffic signal design and timing engineer and then 15 years as the traffic operations engineer responsible for all on-street maintenance and operations of traffic signals, streetlights, signing, striping and parking meters. We entered into joint powers agreements for signal maintenance with Washington County, Woodbury and Cottage Grove as a cooperative effort to save financial resources for all. We converted all traffic signals to LED lighting (the first in the upper mid-west). I wrote a bid document for procurement of LED signal indications that allowed other agencies in Minnesota to purchase off the contract which resulted in one the best pricing and warranty contracts in the country. (or so I was told). I also began a focus on pedestrian safety and education and started and chaired the North Central section of ITE (International Association of Transportation Professionals) Pedestrian committee and citywide we began innovative programs to raise awareness and design for all modes of transportation.
I was promoted to City Traffic Engineer and then in 2003 I was appointed City Engineer overseeing all Public Works engineering functions, and maintenance divisions associated with them, within the city. This included transportation planning, traffic engineering, sewer and stormwater and street design and construction. During this time I had the opportunity to oversee and participate in some of the largest events in the City of Saint Paul Including:
Mendota Heights Fire Department
Beginning my service in March of 1978, I rose through the ranks of the fire department from firefighter to Assistant Training Officer, Captain and in July of 1984 I was appointed Assistant Fire Chief. In December 1985, I was appointed acting Fire Chief and eventually made permanent Fire Chief several months later, a position I held until I retired on February 28, 2017. When I was appointed Fire Chief at the age of 26 I was one of the youngest Fire Chiefs ever in the state of Minnesota.
I had already experienced lots of change growing up but now was in charge of a fire department that was also experiencing lots of change. We went from I believe 78 fire calls per year when I joined the department to 250-270 calls per year when I retired. The department went from operating on a paper system to a computerized system. We had moved into a new station in 1984 that was a significant improvement over where we were.
Since I have always tried to look toward the future and innovation, I placed significant of emphasis on Fire prevention and inspection activities. Preventing a tragedy is far better than dealing with one – and fire cheaper both in cost and lives saved .
One of my first major code initiatives was convincing the City Council to adopt a voluntary fire code requiring automatic fire sprinkler systems in all new commercial buildings. The “instant firefighter” as I called it was the most efficient way to assure property would be protected and lives would not be lost. It was also a great firefighter safety tool. Thanks to the forward thinking and courage of the City Council at the time, and significant pushback from developers, the City Council passed the ordinance. One of the first in the State of Minnesota.
Though-out my tenure, the department was recognized as a forward thinking, innovate department that did everything possible to maximize the “tax dollars” that we were allocated in the most efficient and productive way possible. We created a “40 year capital replacement plan – a plan for the future” that became a model for other city departments to follow. The plan included all major expenditures from heating plant replacements, to roofs, breathing apparatus, radios and firetrucks and spread the funding out so that budgets could be planned for including funding. Our department was recognized several times in publications for our wise use of resources and innovations.
My dedication and leadership to the fire service was shown by my involvement at county and state levels as well. I served as President of:
Dakota County Chiefs Association Minnesota Fire Department Association (MSFDA), Region 1 (Dakota, Ramsey and Washington Counties) and as the MSFDA Region 1 State Director for 8 years.
The Mendota Heights Fire Department was recognized twice during my tenure as the Minnesota State Fire Department of the Year. Once by the Minnesota Fire Center and the second time by the Minnesota State Fire Department Association.
Civil Engineering Experience
I began my service to the citizens of Saint Paul in May of 1985 working as a traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. I rose through the ranks of public works serving as a traffic signal design and timing engineer and then 15 years as the traffic operations engineer responsible for all on-street maintenance and operations of traffic signals, streetlights, signing, striping and parking meters. We entered into joint powers agreements for signal maintenance with Washington County, Woodbury and Cottage Grove as a cooperative effort to save financial resources for all. We converted all traffic signals to LED lighting (the first in the upper mid-west). I wrote a bid document for procurement of LED signal indications that allowed other agencies in Minnesota to purchase off the contract which resulted in one the best pricing and warranty contracts in the country. (or so I was told). I also began a focus on pedestrian safety and education and started and chaired the North Central section of ITE (International Association of Transportation Professionals) Pedestrian committee and citywide we began innovative programs to raise awareness and design for all modes of transportation.
I was promoted to City Traffic Engineer and then in 2003 I was appointed City Engineer overseeing all Public Works engineering functions, and maintenance divisions associated with them, within the city. This included transportation planning, traffic engineering, sewer and stormwater and street design and construction. During this time I had the opportunity to oversee and participate in some of the largest events in the City of Saint Paul Including:
- 2004 Hockey All-Star game and Winter carnival Ice palace that was estimated to have drawn 100,000 people per night over 10 days.
- Republican National Convention
- Saint Paul Technical Lead representative for the construction of the Green Line LRT
- Construction of CHS field (home of the Saint’s)
- Employee of the month by Mayor George Latimer
- North Central Section of ITE – Transportation Professional of the Year
- City Engineer Association of Minnesota – Engineer of the Year