Dave Pokorney is the city administrator of Chaska, Minnesota. After 24 years of service to the people of Chaska, Dave is hanging it up. He is retiring, effective August 4. He has been helpful in accomplishing a great number of things in Chaska. He will be tough to replace.
I think it’s interesting to read retirement and resignation letters. They are often filled with truth and perspective that can only be told on the way out. Dave shared his retirement message with a number of his peers via email last week. I thought it would be interesting to share Dave’s retirement message with my readers.
Here it is. Good luck Dave.
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Dear Mayor and Council,
Effective August 4th 2008 I will be retiring from my position as Chaska City Administrator. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Chaska community over the past twenty-four years. In particular, it has been professionally and personally rewarding to work with City Council members who have been committed to making Chaska the best it can be. I am both proud of and humbled by the fact that Chaska is viewed by many as a better small town today with 24,000 residents than it was in 1984 when 8,000 people called Chaska home.
Chaska’ first strategic plan was developed in 1985 and identified the following five long range priority goals:
· Complete development of Chaska’s industrial park area
· Construct and finance the $45 million Chaska flood control
project
· Build a new City Hall, public works facility, fire station and
community center
· Facilitate the long awaited new Hwy 212
· Redevelop the Chaska Downtown Area
As you are all aware, each of these big dreams have been accomplished and I hope that you along with past City council members can feel a real sense of accomplishment relative to each.
Vacating the Administrator position at this time gives me the unique opportunity to move on when the Chaska organization is operating at peak performance and a number of the community’s long-term goals are have been or are being realized. Few local government professionals have this opportunity.
The accomplishments of Chaska clearly could not have been achieved without the dedicated efforts of our employees. Since I began, I have constantly been impressed with how committed and dedicated to Chaska’s mission our employees are. Clearly, Chaska municipal employees feel a strong sense of ownership and are willing to make the effort to make Chaska a special place. I would urge you to continue to reward and support these efforts of a unique group of employees. I also must give special recognition to the department head group who have been outstanding. Now I can even share a secret with the Council-they are the ones who do all the work and have the great ideas-I have just stood back and let it happen!
Although this is a tough decision, I am confident that Chaska will continue to be committed to excellence and will be even a better place in the future to call home for my family and myself. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve.
Respectfully,
David Pokorney
