Agenda: Edina - Public Works Director Retires - Late Dec. 2025

Saturday, January 3, 2026

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Areas of Interest (3)

Brian Olsen retires after 13 years, leaving a legacy of increased pavement index scores and reduced salt usage without increasing staff.
City of Edina prepares for administrative consolidation of Public Works and Engineering under Chad Milner.
Olsen's 'mission-focused' management style successfully maintained 50-person staff capacity over a decade of city growth.

Attitude to me is more important than facts. It's more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances.
— Brian Olsen

Management philosophyExplaining the values he imparts to new city employees.

We've improved on our our pavement index score is is a is a large measurable one where we've gone from pretty average to high B low A.
— Brian Olsen

Infrastructure metricsSummarizing infrastructure improvements over the last 10 years.

Brian OlsenPublic Works Director

Overseeing infrastructure projects for 13 years; retiring at the end of the month.

2 quotes

“Attitude to me is more important than facts. It's more important than the past, than education, than money.”

Reflecting on personal priorities shared with new employees.

“When it's working well. It's it's a thing of beauty. It's ballet in motion.”

Describing the complexity of public works operations.

Chad MilnerUnspecified

Will lead combined public works and engineering departments post-transition.

50th and France (North parking ramp)City of New BrightonCity of Ramsay