 Tom Mathisen accepting the CEAM 2012 Engineer of the Year Award at the CEAM 2013 Annual Conference |
 Tom Mathisen with his family and co-workers |
Tom Mathisen, City of Crystal, received the 2012 CEAM Engineer of the Year Award
Tom Mathisen, Crystal city engineer and director of Public Works, was selected as the City Engineer of the Year for 2012. The award was presented at the CEAM 2013 Annual Conference.
Tom received BS and MS Civil and Environmental Engineering degrees at UW Madison. His professional career began at the MDNR in 1974 as the Division of Waters lead hydrology/hydraulic computer modeler. From there he went on to the USGS, and then into heavy underground construction. After four years in the engineering consulting business, Tom landed at the City of Coon Rapids in 1984 as utilities/assistant engineer where he was in charge of the expansion of the city’s drinking water infrastructure and daily operations of the Utility Department.
Since January 1995, Tom has been responsible for the operations of Crystal’s Engineering, Public Works, Forestry, and Utilities Departments. During that time, Tom and his skilled staff have managed the Crystal Street Reconstruction Program, which has reconstructed 75 percent of the city's local and state aid streets. These projects also include sidewalk construction, sewer service replacement, and driveway replacement programs. The Engineering Department has also completed 60 percent of an 11-year alley reconstruction program, and initiated a sanitary sewer lining program that will line all of the city’s sanitary sewers over a 16-year period.
Under Tom’s direction, the Engineering and Public Works departments have become a “can do anything if we put our minds to it” operation. Working closely with the City Economic Development Authority, demolition and redevelopment projects are sometimes done entirely in house. Public Works routinely mills and repaves city streets and parking lots; builds small sanitary, water, and storm drain projects; and recently rebuilt all the Community Center gymnasium lighting in an assembly line process. In 2011, the City Forestry Department began an emerald ash bore management program.
With 29 years spent in municipal engineering and public works management, Tom believes that the municipal level is the place to be. “Crystal has offered me many opportunities in a field that is ever changing and challenging.”
Tom believes no one, especially himself, should take themselves too seriously. “Life is for having a good time while getting the job done.”
He looks forward to retiring some day and spending more time with his wife, Susan, three adult children, and four grandchildren.
Tom has been a member of CEAM since 1995 and has served on the Legislative and Conference Planning Committees, and acted as liaison for Water for People. He is also a member of AWWA, MSPE, and MPWA. Over the years he has also been a member of the Metropolitan Council Technical Advisory Committee for the Transportation Advisory Board; a member of the State Aid Municipal Screening Board; chair of the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission; and served on committees for LRRB projects.
Congratulations Tom!
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.