[0:11] We are forming up and excavating. [0:14] Making a pad for one of the memorial benches. [0:17] Got the site prepped and ready, [0:18] and we're going to be bringing in concrete shortly. [0:20] Once it's done, the bench will be able to go on it then. [0:23] My name is Steve Wills, and I'm currently employed [0:26] with the City of Woodbury in the Public Works Department, [0:28] and I work in the Parks and Forestry Division. [0:35] I currently work [0:36] and do a lot of our special projects and builds [0:40] anything from constructing new enclosures, building repairs, [0:46] dirt work, [0:47] concrete work, [0:48] carpentry work, kind of a little bit of everything. [0:51] Probably start down there and pull it this way. [0:54] Yeah. [0:54] I'm just trying to get this edge here is all. [0:57] Just make sure we don't have too much or too little here. [0:59] I say you just broom it. [1:01] Good call. [1:03] Before parks, I worked for the city [1:05] and the police department. I worked there for 30 years. [1:07] I started off [1:08] as a patrol officer. [1:09] After 4 or 5 years, I was promoted to patrol [1:11] sergeant. [1:12] And I became a captain and oversaw our patrol division. [1:15] And then I was a investigations commander until I retired [1:19] in 2022. [1:25] Proudest moment was towards the end of my career. [1:27] We had three homicides, a couple suicides, [1:30] and it was really a tough stretch, [1:31] and I was just so proud of the coworkers I worked with. [1:34] The team that we had there really worked hard. [1:37] All the cases were cleared, all of them were solved, [1:39] and there was such a sense of teamwork. [1:46] We'll the take the charge on it. [1:47] Oh, yeah. Yeah. [1:52] The one day I know I'll always remember. [1:54] We did. [1:54] I think there was 7 or 8 search warrants [1:56] that we executed the day. Some simultaneously. [1:59] The list of property kept growing. [2:00] And our last search warrant, they opened the garage door, [2:02] and it was literally a storage unit [2:04] that was full of stolen property again. [2:06] And someone snapped a picture that you’ll see that [2:09] Kind of summarized how I was feeling that day. [2:15] 98% of the people in Woodbury [2:18] were very genuine, caring, polite people. [2:21] It really made the job much easier. [2:24] It pays off to do the job right and treat people right. [2:27] And, as it turns out, it was a great career decision. [2:30] I absolutely enjoyed it. [2:31] And and had a lot of great experiences there with that. [2:44] Outside of police work, I really enjoyed working [2:48] in kind of remodeling construction, outside type work. [2:51] After my career in law enforcement, [2:52] I wanted to stay busy. [2:54] The position was posted and I was able to apply for it. [2:56] And here I am today. [2:58] It worked out great. [3:04] I really enjoy seeing the people in the parks [3:07] and how much they appreciate when they see us out there. [3:10] Emptying a trash can, fixing a door that's broken, or, [3:13] some of the improvements we've done around [3:15] the pickleball courts, stuff like that. [3:16] Ultimately, whether it in police and fire, [3:19] you know, with serving the community [3:21] and probably helping them out on some of their, [3:23] their toughest days. [3:24] And now in this role, [3:26] I'm able to see people probably [3:27] having some good days in their life and, [3:29] you know, seeing them enjoying life that's rewarding. [3:32] And so you do feel a good sense of service there.