Ramsey Resident - 2017 - March/April

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Employee Spotlight Name, Position and Department: Mike McDowall Senior Engineering Technician Engineering Department o '•r Aaron Madsen i Engineering Technician II Engineering Department Background: y Both Mike and Aaron began working for the City of Ramsey in 2002. As Engineering Technicians,their daily responsibilities include the surveying and staking of all City road construction projects,as well as the Left to right:Aaron Madsen and Mike McDowall inspection and testing of both City and private devel- picturedwith their surveying equipment. opment road construction projects in Ramsey. Prior to construction of City street projects,Mike and Aaron use surveying equipment to collect topogra- struction meetings for new subdivisions,requiring the phy with elevations for every detail along the road con- construction of new streets with water main,sanitary struction site,including trees,driveways,mailboxes,etc. sewer and storm sewer features. The equipment works off of satellites which give them You may see Mike and Aaron out on site with their exact retraceable locations.The information gathered surveying equipment if you have construction happen- by this equipment assists in the staking process. During ing in or around your neighborhood this spring. Be construction,Mike and Aaron stake out everything sure to say hello! that goes into building the road,such as sidewalks, Hobbies/Interests Outside of Work: curbs,storm sewers and water mains. Much of what they stake is actually underground. They also perform Mike: Spending time with and camping with my tests of the water mains and storm sewer systems and family,which consists of 19 grandchildren.I also teach make continuous inspections on all street construction youth firearm safety,enjoy hunting,fishing, and buy- ing and repairing antiques. projects in the City,including private developments, Aaron: I have a family that keeps me busy all year to make sure that they are completed according to the round. I know way too much about Dance,Gymnas- plans and specifications. tics and Cheerleading!When I'm not running my girls In the spring,the work of Ramsey's Engineering Technicians becomes especially apparent when the to activities,I enjoy watching football,fishing,deer snow starts to melt and the new construction season hunting,ATV(All Terrain Vehicle and Snowmobile begins. Mike and Aaron inspect erosion devices,such racing,and driving my UTV(Utility Terrain Vehicle) Wherever I can. as silt fences,at all active construction sites to ensure that they are working properly. Without these in place, Fun Facts: dirt from the construction sites can wash into the Mike: I have a little game farm which includes a storm sewers and pollute City waterways. In addition pet deer,7 peacocks,a few chickens,geese,and pheas- to monitoring erosion control,Mike and Aaron will ants. We collect and incubate our pheasant eggs and be focusing on new City road reconstruction projects hatch approximately 300 pheasants every year. which will involve surveying the land and collecting to- Aaron: I have a double role at the City;in the win- pography of all amenities within the road right-of-way. ter months I help plow snow with the Public Works They will also take part in the plan review and pre-con- Department.