St. Paul's new director of Public Works, former city council president Kathy Lantry, gave Minnesota Public Radio host Tom Weber a lengthy interview about her new role. She was joined by Planning Commission member and Streets.Mn blogger Bill Lindeke.
Listen to Lantry's interview for yourself here.
Lantry pointed out that good infrastructure is an important part of sustaining businesses and expanding tax base, but most taxpayers pay no notice until something falls apart. Choice cut:
"One of the things I've noticed at Public Works is that they are the largest group of unsung heroes I've seen in a long time. In fact, I met with our sewer division manager yesterday, and I said, when was the last time anybody called to say, 'Thank you, I flushed my toilet and it worked.' Our infrastructure works, and works well. But nobody says a word until there's a problem, and we really need to change that. There are so many good stories that are being told every single day within Public Works. We need to get that word out. ... And yet, it couldn't be more unsexy. Nobody had a grand opening when a sewer tunnel got mined. We didn't make a big deal out of it."
Lantry makes mention of public involvement in crafting the citywide bicycle plan, which will likely go before the St. Paul City Council mid-March.
Clik here to view.
Former St. Paul City Council President Kathy Lantry at her pseudo-sorta-going-away party at City Hall, February 2015. Lantry became the city's Public Works Director soon after.
Does she mention St. Paul's 8-80 Vitality Project and its inspiration, the legendary urban planner Gil Penalosa? Do potholes grow on the ground?
Hey, you betcha!
The post Kathy Lantry, St. Paul Public Works Director, gives MPR an earful appeared first on City Hall Scoop.
