The City of Edina takes great pride in its fleet of vehicles. From heavy-duty snowplows to street sweepers and everything in between, skilled mechanics put in long hours at the Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility to ensure that the equipment staff depends on operates smoothly and efficiently.

It’s rare that the muscle behind the machines find themselves in public light, however – and it’s even rarer to find someone more dedicated to service than Maintenance Technician Jay Van Altvorst, who went far above and beyond at Public Works in 2023. His story is one of grit and hard work and displays the persistence of one of Edina’s most valued employees.

For his impressive ability to juggle multiple projects at a time and be an everyday “workhorse” for the team of mechanics, Van Altvorst was recently awarded the 2023 IQS Award for Service.

Mechanics have a knack for figuring things out and overcoming challenges, so when Edina’s Public Works Department was met with a significant workforce shortage in 2023, the team leaned on Van Altvorst. Just 40% of the mechanics positions were filled at the time.

Locked in a tough position that many would shy away from, this obstacle proved to be no issue for the veteran mechanic, who has been with the City for over 17 years. “He always has a positive attitude and is willing to help in any way,” said Equipment Operations Supervisor Richard Poppitz.

Time and time again, Van Altvorst was regularly asked to do far more than previously expected. His expanded role proved crucial in a range of projects – many of which overlapped and required more people than readily available. Each time his name was called, Van Altvorst stepped up and got the job done, keeping the City’s equipment in excellent condition.

“Jay has gone over and above for the City in the last year being short staffed. It doesn’t matter what the job is, he is willing to work on it until the job is done. He will do anything that you give him and keep moving forward,” said Poppitz, who was previously a Maintenance Technician working in a similar role to Van Altvorst.

The challenges endured by Public Works in 2023 were intensified by one of the snowiest winters on record. The equipment used to keep the streets clear were pushed to their limits as the team battled Mother Nature. Van Altvorst routinely performed maintenance on plows and other snow removal equipment, and filled in to run plow routes as needed.

Aside from his role as a Mechanic, Van Altvorst was the sole representative of the Public Works Engagement Survey Committee, which sought to strengthen the connection between its employees and City Hall. Van Altvorst also serves on the Labor Management Committee and is on the negotiation team for union contracts.

Public Works Director Brian Olson likened Van Altvorst’s range of abilities to that of a Swiss Army knife.

“If I had a team of 50 Jays on my staff, I’d be in heaven,” said Olson. “His work ethic is through the roof, and he knows what it takes to run a city and helps in every aspect there is.”

“Jay has given us the gift of dedication,” said City Manager Scott Neal. “Having him step forward and dedicate all his time to his coworkers is first rate, and without him we could’ve been in big trouble.”

Neal presented Van Altvorst the award in front of his peers at the Feb. 29 Public Works Department morning muster.