By Karen Neinstadt, Research Services and Library

Todd Charles Marty, Office of Research Services and Library, died unexpectedly Jan. 31.  He was 55.

“Research Services and Library has lost a dear friend and valued colleague,” said Shannon Fiecke, marketing and communications manager. “Todd was not only a great worker who could be entrusted with any task, but a generous, caring person you looked forward to working with. We will really miss him.”

Marty began his state employment in 1982.  He previously worked at the Department of Health and came to MnDOT in 2012. 

Marty worked as an administrative assistant and financial services specialist. He was active with the unions, serving as an AFSCME steward with MnDOT and as a former local president while working at the Department of Health.

Growing up in St. Paul, Marty had many stories of the city, Metro Transit, and his dad’s store on University Avenue. Following his father’s death in 2015, he worked hard to take care of his dad’s house and store until the building was sold.

He loved fishing and spending time outdoors with family and friends. 

Marty is survived by his wife, LaVerne; children, Dr. Aja Holmes, Aaron (Kelly) Holmes; grandchildren, Anarra Sadiki, Aaron Jr., Zoe and Piper Holmes; mother, Janice (nee Rudeen) Capeder; sister, Gwendolyn Marty; niece and nephew, Olivia and Truman Wojski; aunts, uncles; dear friend Tom Kallas and many other friends. Preceded in death by father, Gilbert Charles Marty. 

Visitation will be held at the Holcomb Henry Boom Purcell Funeral Home in St. Paul at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m.

Emmett Trudeau, transportation generalist in the Metro District, and Michael Peterson, transportation generalist in District 3 out of the Motley Truck Station, are now eligible for the state vacation donation program.

Both men have life-threatening illnesses that require extensive medical intervention.

Trudeau and Peterson have exhausted all of their sick and vacation leave. Employees may donate up to 40 hours of vacation. However, donations in any amount will be helpful.

William Loher, geotechnical engineering section crew supervisor in the Office of Materials and Road Research, and Curt Pape, transportation program supervisor senior in the Office of Maintenance, are also eligible for the vacation donation program. Check out the articles for Loher and Pape in previous Newsline articles.

To donate vacation hours, go to the Employee Self Service Web site and click “Other Payroll” and then “Leave Donations.” The site also allows employees to view a list of all state employees eligible for the program and to enroll as a recipient.

By Judy Jacobs

Sherry Sanchez Tibbetts was named as the new director of the Office of Equity and Diversity. She started with MnDOT Jan. 25 after a career with the Minnesota State College and Universities system, where she held a dual appointment serving as both the chief diversity officer and director of external and strategic initiatives at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet.

Sanchez Tibbetts has over 20 years of public policy experience, both at a state and federal level, and has been a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice where she assisted grantees in building cultural competency. She has been actively involved on public and nonprofit boards and is the former chair of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. 

In addition, Sanchez Tibbetts currently serves on the Civic Engagement Committee of the Governor’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, where she co-chaired the Interagency Effectiveness Subcommittee.

“Sherry brings an excellent background to the position, in the areas of diversity, inclusion, policy and public service,” said Eric Davis, chief of staff.  “I’m excited to work with Sherry and I’m confident she will advance the Office of Equity and Diversity in this leadership role.”

Sanchez Tibbetts was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. She experienced her first Minnesota winter when she moved to northern Minnesota during the winter of 2002-2003. She remembers that it was so cold that water and sewer lines were freezing underground.  

“I didn’t go outside for days,” she said. “I love winter now and have learned to downhill ski, but it took some getting used to.”    

Sanchez Tibbetts also enjoys photography, NBA basketball and long-distance running. 

“Everyone has been so welcoming,” she said. “I look forward to meeting more MnDOT employees and working across the state in my new role.”

“Please join me in welcoming Sherry to MnDOT,” said Davis. “We’re excited about the expertise she brings to our agency as we work to make MnDOT a more inclusive and diverse agency.” 

The Office of Equity and Diversity provides diversity and compliance training, accessibility assistance and mediation services. Sanchez Tibbetts can be reached at 651-366-4717 or by email Sherry.Sanchez.Tibbetts@state.mn.us. 

By Mary McFarland Brooks

Do you or a co-worker have an interesting job to share with readers? Send us your ideas, and we’ll contact you for more information.

Recent employee profiles:

• Teri Bahr juggles variety of duties as District 2 maintenance subarea supervisor
• Ken DeCramer and his team test materials for projects in District 6
• District 4’s Rick Johnson helps keep plows on the road

By Mike Dougherty, District 6 public affairs coordinator

MnDOT’s use of a radio-operated vehicle equipped with a video camera to improve the inspection of pipes and culverts in southeast Minnesota received a 2016 Governor’s Better Government Award Jan. 30 at a ceremony in St. Paul.

Lt. Gov. Tina Smith honored the MnDOT group from District 6/Rochester, who developed and implemented the inspection vehicle, and are now producing similar vehicles for other MnDOT districts.

Smith presented awards to four agencies that have made state government more efficient, accountable and effective for the people of Minnesota. Since 2010, the Governor’s Better Government Awards have annually celebrated individual and organizational accomplishments that have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of state government.

Smith said the winners “are helping make government more responsive, while saving time and money. We are committed to building on this progress, and creating a culture of continuous improvement across state government.”

Winners were picked from three categories: Great Customer Service, Great Place to Work, and Great Results. MnDOT won the Great Results category.

MnDOT’s award noted that the Rochester group’s effort helped reduce costs and save time using a remote control inspection vehicle built with off-the-shelf hobby shop parts to inspect pipes and culverts. The Hydraulic Inspection Vehicle Explorer in District 6 already has saved thousands of dollars when an inspection of a culvert on Hwy 26 in Houston County showed that only limited repairs, rather than full replacement, were needed. HIVE also completed inspections of culverts in the Hwy 52 Rochester corridor, revealing major culvert failures that could not be seen using external visual inspection.

“The HIVE has proven to be an invaluable tool for the inspection of the thousands of culverts and pipes that exist under our transportation system in southeast Minnesota,” said Jeff Vlaminck, the district engineer in District 6. “The effort has tapped our employees’ expertise across departments and has shown what a fairly simple, but innovative, idea can do to improve our efficiency and financial effectiveness.”

Rob Coughlin, who inspects culverts and pipes to provide key information for construction projects and regular maintenance programs, initiated the program. Coughlin’s idea was approved and overseen by Kris Langlie, District 6 water resources engineer. Coughlin met with Chade Trupe and Mark Hill in materials management to evaluate equipment and order it. By coincidence, Trupe and Hill are radio-operated car enthusiasts and offered expertise to Coughlin on how to equip the vehicle to achieve the best performance.

Since then, Coughlin has used HIVE to inspect hundreds of culverts and pipes. The vehicle uses a wireless connection to send video from the vehicle’s camera to a tablet held by Coughlin. The vehicle was fitted with a camera that can be rotated by the operator and includes additional lighting on the vehicle to provide sufficient illumination for the camera to capture images that Coughlin evaluates. Trupe has built additional HIVEs for other MnDOT districts and Hill has assisted in helping create an electronic assembly and inventory catalog for users.

A record 63 reform initiatives were nominated for Better Government Awards this year by teams from almost every state agency.

Other winners were Minnesota Veterans Home – Luverne, which won in the Great Customer Service category for a music and memory program with its residents. Two awards in the Great Place to Work category were given—one to the Department of Revenue for its inclusive program, “I am Revenue,” and one to Minnesota Management and Budget for promoting state employment opportunities.

Learn more about the awards at the governor’s website.

By Judy Jacobs

As a result of highway expansion in the 1950s, Interstate 94 physically divided the Rondo community, displacing families and businesses to make way for the new roadway. At that time, the Rondo community was St. Paul’s most vibrant, prosperous and self-sustaining African American neighborhood.

At a recent preview of the History Theatre's production of “The Highwaymen” at Water’s Edge, director Jamil Jude said he dedicates his play to the “to the memories we step on and the lives we drive over.” He asked that drivers take a moment to reflect on Rondo’s legacy when traveling on I-94 through St. Paul.   

MnDOT’s African American Employee Resource Group members worked with the History Theatre to designate a day, and a discount, for MnDOT employees interested in attending this event.

“The AAERG is committed to providing a format for engaging employees in a way that advances, grows and develops employees both personally and professionally,” said Marcell Walker, I-94 resurfacing project manager, who helped to bring this program to MnDOT employees. “Where there is an opportunity for understanding and lessons to be learned from the past, we all should seek to be students of life to ensure a better future for all. This is a great way for employees to learn about local history and the impact it had on past, present and future highway construction and community engagement.”       
 
The History Theatre is offering 50 percent discount tickets for MnDOT employees to attend the event on Sunday, Feb. 12. The promotional code to receive the MnDOT employee discount is “MNDOT.” Visit the History Theatre’s website to order tickets. 

The theatre will sponsor an extended version of its “After Thoughts” program on Feb. 12 with a panel that includes Commissioner Charlie Zelle, and representatives from the Rondo community, History Theatre and Ramsey County.   

The play runs through Feb. 26 at the History Theatre. Tickets prices range from $25-$40.   

A sign language interpreter will be available at this event. For other accommodation requests, notify Janet Miller at janet.rae.miller@state.mn.us or by phone at 651-366-4720, at least one week in advance.