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Arden Hills Service Directory 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. 651-792-7800 www.cityofardenhills.org Sheriff and Fire 911 Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor: David Grant 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org Councilmembers: Brenda Holden 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Fran Holmes 651-631-1866 fholmes@cityofardenhills.org Dave McClung 651-332-0352 davemcclung@comcast.net Jonathan Wicklund 651-278-8077 jwicklund@cityofardenhills.org Acting City Administrator: Sue Iverson 651-792-7816 siverson@cityofardenhills.org Communications Committee Editors/writers: Susan Cathey, Tina Kulzer Writer: Emma Theis Council Liaison: Jonathan Wicklund Staff Liaison: Amy Dietl Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of the Planning Commission are televised as well. Visit www.cityofardenhills.org for information about taped meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official news- letter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 Dave Winkel retires after 37 years of service by Tina KulzerFebruary 29, 2016 was a big day for Dave Winkel. After 37 years of service in public works for the City of Arden Hills, he clocked in for the last time. The workload was easier on this day than most: laughs, well-wishes, and reminiscing with co-workers past and present in the City public works “shop;” a recognition luncheon; and a service award presentation later in the evening at a City Council meeting. It was a well-deserved light last day for one of the City’s most loyal and dedicated employees. Dave’s retirement marks the end of a 41-year career in public service. A would-be police officer, Dave put his law enforcement schooling on hold to take a job in the Parks Depart- ment in Shoreview, and he never turned back. A few years later, he came to the Parks Department in Arden Hills, where he spent the rest of his career. “A parks person at heart” In his early years as a parks foreman, Dave performed tree planting, tree and weed inspec- tions, and park development and maintenance duties such as installing park equipment and maintaining the ice rinks. “Dave is a parks person at heart,” said Superintendent of Public Works, Joe Mooney. Dave approximated that half of the City parks were developed during his tenure. It was important to him to plant trees near the play structures to keep the metal equipment shaded from the hot sun and to give parents and kids a cool spot to rest. “It’s funny,” he said. “We recently had to take down a few trees that I had planted decades ago.” Frequently dealing directly with City residents in regard to forestry issues, Dave remarked that his lasting impression of Arden Hills residents is that they are concerned residents. “They are really involved in what is going on in the City,” Dave said. “They care.” In 2001, the Parks and Public Works departments merged. Dave’s duties expanded to include street, sewer, equipment, water, and lift station maintenance. He said that the most difficult part of his job was working to repair water main breaks, as those are emergency situations that involve careful work around underground utilities. Well-wishes and tributes Reflecting on the departure of his longtime co-worker, Mooney said, “Dave and I worked together for 29 years. He is one of the most caring, helping, and genuine people you could ever meet.” City Clerk Amy Dietl, who was in attendance at the February 29 meeting explained, “The coolest part about the whole thing was the ‘fan base’ that showed up in support of Dave. Spouse, kids, grandkids, friends, co-workers and their spouses filled the seats in the audi- ence. It’s a good testament to what a nice person Dave is.” Retirement plans “Retirement will be good. Busy.” Dave said. An avid hunter and fisherman, he plans to spend time outdoors and with his children and grandchildren, all of whom live in the area. However, he plans to kick things off with a vacation on a cruise ship with his wife, fol- lowed by an extensive spring remodeling project at his home in Shoreview, which is not far from the Rice Creek Commons development site. And after that? “I might just sit and watch them develop the arsenal,” he joked. Dave Winkel