When Chaska City Administrator David Pokorney received the Dr. Robert A. Barrett Award for outstanding service to local government from the Minnesota City/County Management Association earlier this month, it was a rare surprise for the man who is usually ‘in-the-know.’
For the past 24 years, Pokorney has overseen the day-to-day operations for the city of Chaska. This year, he is being heavily rewarded for his work and contributions.
Last month, Pokorney was honored with the George C. Klein Award for service above self at the annual Chaska Rotary banquet. The Barrett Award for Management Excellence, a rare award bestowed occasionally on an exceptional city or county administrators, followed closely on the heels of the Klein award. Last year he received the 10th annual Community Spirit Award from the Chaska Area Chamber of Commerce.
But the real recognition may have been best heaped upon Pokorney from those that work with him day in and day out. Upon return to City Hall after picking up the Barrett Award, Pokorney was greeted with a congratulatory sign, an office full of balloons and patriotic banners, and a healthy dose of silly string.
“He’s a good guy and a good friend,” said former mayor Bob Roepke.
“I’m glad that he is getting the recognition which he deserves (and has deserved for a long time),” wrote Chaska City Councilor Bob Lindall in an e-mail. “Our community has been truly blessed to have his leadership of the city and in the community.”
“I cannot think of anyone more deserving,” said Chanhassen City Administrator Todd Gerhardt in an e-mail.
Second visit
Pokorney had visited Chaska only once before taking the city administrator job, but it met his criteria nicely.
After stints in Roseville, as assistant manager, and Mahtomedi, as city administrator, Pokorney was ready for a change.
“I was looking to move to a larger city and generally wanted to stay in the Twin Cities,” he said. “I was more interested in working in a town rather than a suburb.”
Pokorney was 34 years old when he arrived in Chaska. At the time, Tracy Swanson was mayor and she wasted little time putting him to work. Pokorney recalled her informing him that their goals were to redevelop downtown, complete the flood control project, build a new city hall and expand the industrial park.
“I thought, boy they have a lot of big goals here,” he said.
Six months later Swanson resigned, but that didn’t stop Pokorney from seeing all of her wishes through to fruition.
Roepke said that Pokorney’s work on the $42 million flood control project was probably his most important work for the city to date. “He stepped to the front as being the point person,” said Roepke. “It really took a concerted effort.”
Pokorney is also credited for his work with developing the community center, the town course and its Internet service Chaska.net.
“Dave has certainly been instrumental in conceiving and carrying out all of our major projects,” wrote Lindall. “It’s hard to imaging them having been accomplished without him.”
“He gave us a new City Hall, the community center, new fire and public works buildings, three additions to the community center, municipal services building additions – all that and we still have one of the lowest tax rates around,” said Mayor Gary Van Eyll.
Philosophy
Pokorney credits much of his success to a clear philosophy and a great cast of employees to carry out the city’s vision.
Early on in his Chaska tenure, Pokorney focused on Chaska’s small-town identity and looked at potential projects in terms of how they would affect that identity.
“We wanted to use growth to preserve the small town,” he explained. “We had to ask how could these things enhance our small town.”
It’s a philosophy that is recognized as being successful by Pokorney’s peers. “Dave has an appreciation of Chaska’s values and traditions,” wrote Gerhardt. “He does an excellent job of instilling those values into his staff.
“He also has done a great job of maintaining Chaska’s strong history while enhancing it with new construction and technology,” he continued. “Through these accomplishments, the city has improved the quality of life for all Chaska residents while preserving the history and traditions that make Chaska ‘one’ of the ‘Best Small Towns in Minnesota.’”
However, the humble Pokorney prefers to hoist the accolades onto his staff. “These are never things that one person does,” he said. “The sense of pride is more in bringing people together.
“We are blessed with really good people,” he added. “I learned early on that the more I could let other people do their jobs, the better.”
Creative
If you asked Pokorney what qualities a good city administrator should have, he would give a host of answers that indicate how broad a job his really is.
“You need to enjoy public service, need to be able to work with a variety of people with varying interests to reach a consensus,” he started. “You better to open to suggestions and enjoy suggestions – be a good listener. And you have to like every day to be different.”
Most would agree that it is Pokorney’s ability to work well with others that have made him successful. “He partners well with others,” said Van Eyll. “He knows what a servant leader is and that’s what he is.”
“The project that jumps out to me is Lyman Boulevard,” said Carver County Administrator Dave Hemze, of the proposal to expand and improve the roadway near the new Chanhassen High School – a project involving the cooperation and funding from the cities of Chanhassen and Chaska as well as Carver County. “He was instrumental in bringing us all together and making that happen.”
In his letter of recommendation for Pokorney to be considered for the Barrett Award, Councilor Gino Businaro highlighted his work with Pokorney during his time on the District 112 School Board.
“It is rare to find an administrator working with school districts in making arrangements to finance additions to school buildings, buying land for new high schools, exchanging city land to make room for a middle school, or having developers set aside land for elementary schools,” wrote Businaro. “But that is what Dave Pokorney was able to make happen in Chaska by working with the school district.”
Others point to Pokorney’s ability to get creative as the key to his success.
“In terms of cities in the metro, Chaska’s right up there on the creative cutting edge,” said Hemze. “That’s due in a large part to Dave. He’s very bright, very creative and able to cut through the minutia.
“Dave also has this ability to see issues and the ripple effects at a greater resolution than I think most people even realize is possible,” wrote Councilor Chris Schulz in an e-mail.
“He’s a great problem solver,” said Roepke.
“Dave is an excellent leader and is not afraid of taking risks for the betterment of the City of Chaska,” wrote Gerhardt.
Longevity
Though Pokorney has been on the short list for city management positions in other metro cities during his time in Chaska, he has yet to leave – a fact many are thankful for.
“It’s unique,” said Roepke. “I don’t think you find a lot of city administrators around after 20 or 25 years.”
“I’ve threatened to leave, and my family has always told me to go ahead and they’d visit (me) on weekends,” Pokorney joked. (Pokorney and wife Pam have four children.)
Part of the allure for Pokorney is that Chaska has yet to become a boring job.
“It’s a good place to live and raise kids and it’s become my hometown,” he said. “And professionally, it’s always been a challenge.”
“I think it’s a better small town today than it was 24 years ago,” he concluded. And looking ahead to ultimate build-out, Pokorney thinks much the same way. “I think it will be a better small town at 35,000 than at 8,400.”
Meantime, Pokorney has plenty to keep him busy and entertained. He’s currently got his hands full working on Ridgeview Medical Center’s stand alone emergency room, the bioscience zone, and the Ed Campus higher education facility – all pieces he hopes will create jobs and strengthen community identity.
“What I love hearing today is ‘You’re going to screw this place up’ and ‘don’t lose our small-town feel,’” he admitted. “It means they like the way things are.”
-Mollee Francisco, staff writer