2013 Engineer of the Year: Bill Monk

Bill Monk accepting the CEAM 2013 Engineer of the Year Award at the CEAM 2014 Annual ConferencBill Monk, City of Chaska, received the 2013 CEAM Engineer of the Year Award

Bill Monk, Chaska city engineer, was selected as the City Engineer of the Year for 2013. The award was presented at the CEAM 2014 Annual Conference.

Bill received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. His professional career began in 1975 as an engineer-in-training with the City of Dayton, Ohio. In 1978, he began his career in Minnesota when he worked as civil engineer I with the City of Inver Grove Heights. After three years, he moved on to work as city engineer and public works director with the City of Chanhassen and then served in the same capacity with the City of Crystal.

Since 1994, Bill has been city engineer with the City of Chaska. His primary duties involve coordination of public and private construction/development projects and managing their impact on traffic, drainage, utility, park and street systems. Several work subjects of note involve infrastructure maintenance, street rehab program, capital improvement program, wetland preservation/management, storm water management,and development contracts.

His responsibilities require extensive interaction with other governmental agencies, consultants, developers/property owners, and the public. Bill's accomplishments have included the $42 million Army Corp of Engineers' Minnesota River Levy Project, establishment of a storm sewer utility pavement management plan, and a downtown street reconstruction plan. 

Bill maintains his professional engineer certification, and attends many engineering conferences and educational sessions on a local and state level throughout the year.

In addition to mentoring many young engineers along the way and serving as the City of Chaska's "go-to" person when employees are troubled with various professional and personal issues, Bill has been an active participant in the city's Christmas in May event since the program began in 1996. (The event is a non-profit entity that provides housing improvements to local families in need.)

Over the years, Bill has assisted numerous local Boy Scouts with Eagle projects and merit badge fulfillment. He has also coached boys baseball, basketball, soccer, and girls softball. Lastly, Bill has been a resource for Chaska High School students who are interested in pursuing engineering careers.

Bill is a member of CEAM, the MN Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Water Works Association. In addition, he is a member of several technical groups, including the Lower Minnesota Watershed District, Carver County Watershed Management Organization, and the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District.

His hard work has been recognized with several awards. In 2010, his work on the construction of Pioneer Trail received the Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineer Companies, as well as the Seven Wonders of Engineering Award from the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers. In 2013, he received the Carver County Conservationist of the Year award.

Congratulations Bill! 

Learn more: Download presentation (pdf)

CEAM Awards Program
The City Engineers Association of Minnesota each year presents the Engineer of the Year Award and the Project of the Year Award during the CEAM Annual Conference.