Eagan Says Farewell to Retiring Public Works Director

Tom Colbert remembers vividly the "superstorm" that hit Eagan in 2000.

Several of Colbert's friends had just left a Saturday night poker game at Colbert's house during the storm. When they all returned minutes later, reporting that all the roads around Colbert's home were too flooded to drive, Colbert knew he had his work cut out for him.

“Right then, I said to myself: 'I know what I’m going to be doing for the next two years,' knowing that it would take that long to respond and recover and mitigate with projects and improvements," Colbert said.

The storm, which dropped 12 inches of rain across parts of the city and left streets and stormwater ponds swamped with excess water, was just one of many tests Colbert faced during a 33-year career as the city's public works director. Colbert's retirement is effective on May 4.

In his time with the city, Colbert effectively built the city's public works department from the ground up. When he started, Eagan had no public works director, and was using consultants as a substitute. The city had roughly 12 public works employees and only 100 miles of roads.

Now, Colbert oversees 52 employees, and has added 137 miles to the city's road network. He's directed the construction of two major water treatment facilities, the multi-million construction of the city's ring road and a years-long initiative following 2000's superstorm to prevent the effects of flooding in Eagan.

"He has great civil enginenering skill sets, he is a man of integrity, with good vision and good communication skills," Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges said of Colbert.

Hedges, who worked with Colbert for much of his career, said the public works director was able to stay ahead of Eagan's growth wave and never cut corners in his work planning or installing the city's infrastructure.

City Engineer Russ Matthys will serve as the interim public works director while city officials search for a replacement for Colbert, Hedges said. The city will be conducting interviews for the position within several weeks, he added.

. Superintendent of Utilities Wayne Schwanz, IT Manager Kristi Peterson and Director of Administrative Services Gene Van Overbeke have already retired or announced their retirement this year. have also announced they will soon retire.

“He’s been a great team member, we have just incredible trust for each other and he will definitely be missed, but I think his mark on the community and organization will be a long-lasting legacy," Hedges said.

Colbert, who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering, said the city's biggest public works challenges in the future will be dealing with environmental issues, maintaing the existing infrastructure network and encouraging mass transit to reduce congestion.

Colbert compared his career and the growth of the city to raising a child.

"Just like your children, you have a vision for them, and you do everything you can to help them grow up and be successful," Colbert said. "I feel like Eagan has been very successful, but there have always been stumbling blocks and tears and laughs along the way."

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