[music] The city's public works director has overseen some of the city's largest infrastructure projects. Some of them include expanding the north parking ramp at 50th in France, launching the sidewalk inspection and maintenance program, and improving the city's pavement condition. Following those and many more accomplishments, Brian Olsen is set to retire at the end of the month after more than 13 years with the city. Edina TV shows us how his long career has had an impact across the city. >> [music] >> Every time a new employee starts, I have a one-on-one moment with that new employee and I spend an hour with uh them talking about their family [music] and my family and what they mean to me and what are what my priorities are in life [music] and one of the passages or parables that I read to them is by Charles Swindle. Attitude to [music] me is more important than facts. It's more important than the past, than [music] education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, [music] than what other people think or say or do. >> Public works and engineering had split. We still work together very closely, but Brian brought a very mission focused initiative to public works. >> I started my career as a civil engineer with the city of New Brighton. After about 3 years, I joined the fire department as well. >> I liked his experience [music] in in New Brighton and also in Ramsay. Um, I liked his experience as a firefighter. I thought that was important. >> Brian wanted us to really focus on our mission. So, uh, service level deliverables. Uh, that's what the public sees. How how quickly are we plowing the snow? How completely are we plowing the snow? water quality, what are we doing for uh street sweeping? >> Brian has been able to accomplish some things that [music] uh uh maybe other departments would need more people to do. >> The fact of the matter is that we had 50 employees when I started. We have 50 employees today. We've reduced [music] our salt uh usage significantly during the time he's been here. Uh in terms of updating equipment that had the capacity to do that kind of measuring and operating uh including the operators themselves and the technology that they would employ and doing the street [music] work I think has been uh something that they've embraced uh wholeheartedly and done a very effective job at >> when it's working well. It's it's a thing of beauty. It's ballet in motion. It's a lot of people and equipment in tight spaces, big spaces, um, that have to get the job done safely and efficiently. >> Every time they flush a toilet, they're relying on the sanitary sewer. They're also relying on the water. All of that stuff has to work. Um, the streets is only one aspect of it, but that that comes with, [music] you know, challenges. 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 type grade in in 10 years. That's remarkable. >> We're going to miss Brian. Uh he's been a key member of our team for over a decade. Um [music] I wish him well. This quiet confidence that you have, this confidence that you have to do the job that needs to be done uh in the way it needs to be done has really been impressive. >> We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string that we have and that is our attitude. Charles Swindle. After Olsen retires, the public works and engineering departments will combine under the leadership of Chad Milner. Olsen will continue to work for the city part-time into next summer to assist with the transition.