What's your heartwarming story? Please share an anecdote in the comments that has made you proud, made you smile, made you and others feel good about the work that cities do or the community you serve.
Curt Boganey
City manager, Brooklyn Center
As city manager, I attended an event last year where one of my employees along with several others was being recognized for their great work supervising summer Brooklynk interns. Brooklynk interns are young residents living in or attending school in Brooklyn Center or Brooklyn Park. Many of the youth come from households facing social and economic difficulties. When this “non-supervisory” employee came forth to receive his award for providing his interns with outstanding leadership, direction, and coaching throughout the summer he was allowed to say few words about the experience. During his response he shared his personal story of growing up in very difficult circumstances as a child and how he felt privileged to mentor the interns during the past several summers. It was apparent to all present that his work as an intern supervisor was nothing less than a labor of love. I was never so proud of an employee than when I heard his story. I am so pleased he is an employee for the city of Brooklyn Center!
Tina RennemoClerk/treasurer, Baudette
One of the biggest impacts that I recall from my 25 years in city government work was a trip to Washington DC in 2016 lobbying as a member of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities Board of Directors. We had an agenda as a board, but I had a bit of a personal agenda as well. I had a very dear friend—a veteran and retired police officer—who was battling bladder cancer and continued to receive very disappointing news from the Department of Veterans Affairs offices that were reviewing his case. This had been going on for months. He and his wife were exhausted from the battle and had basically given up on our elected officials and lost faith in “government.” I suggested they contact their legislators, but both had a sharp reply to the tune of "it isn’t worth it—they don’t give a s***.” I really take these failures personally—it pains me to hear that constituents think they do not matter. Long story short, at the end of each meeting that day with our federal legislators I took the liberty of sharing his story. By the close of business the next day Amy Klobuchar’s office and Rick Nolan’s office had reached out to my friend and the Veterans Affairs office and the wheels were in motion to help him with his situation. ❤ I am thankful for the opportunities that my position allows me—to help people, to be a voice, to make people believe that they are being heard.
Mike Mornson
City manager, Hopkins
Hopkins Police Officer Rob Rebai responded to a burglary where suspects had stolen fishing equipment from the garage. The fishing equipment belonged to children who loved to fish. Officer Rebai took it upon himself to provide the family with new rods and additional fishing equipment the same day the equipment was stolen. Rebai never told the chief or me. He just did it. The resident sent us a letter telling us about it. The resident was very touched.
City councilmember, Ely
"I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” (Andy from the last episode of The Office). I was elected for the first time in 2006 and served with Gordon Sheddy and Warren Nikkola for eight years. At first, I was terrified of them both, then as the years passed—and as councils do—we started going through stuffs together. And I realized they were my friends. Our last project together on the council was construction of our new library and remodeling city hall. The Ely Public Library has become an even better place for gathering, learning, and getting books. It truly is one of my happy places with warm memories of how it was built. Gordon and Warren are now my mentors, and without them I would have not made it past my first term.
City manager, St. Anthony Village
Last week I received a $50 gift card for pizza along with a note that said: “Mark Casey & Staff, Thank you for all of your hard work over the past year and a half. You have hard jobs. We want you to know that you are supported by many in the community. You don’t hear it enough. Thank you!” The photo is some of the staff enjoying the pizza.
