On Tuesday, June 3, during the Polk County Commissioners Meeting, County Engineer Richard Sanders was presented with the 2024 Rural County Engineer of the Year Award from the National Association of County Engineers (NACE). On hand to present the award to Sanders were Wayne Sandberg, Public Works Director/County Engineer of Washington County, MN, and NACE Secretary Treasurer, and Lyndon Robjent, Public Works Division Director/County Engineer of Carver County, MN, and Minnesota County Engineers Association President.
NACE gives out four awards yearly. The Rural County Engineer of the Year, the Urban County Engineer of the Year, a Project Manager of the Year Award, and the David P. Brand Safety Award. These awards are the highest honor given out by NACE. The Rural County Engineer and the Urban County Engineer of the Year awards have been given out since 1965.
When did Sanders find out he was the recipient of this National award? “Our annual conference was in Schaumburg, Illinois, which is a Northwest Suburb of Chicago,” says Sanders. “On Thursday night at the banquet, they have the awards ceremony, and I was honored enough to win the Rural County Engineer of the Year Award.” The annual conference Sanders spoke of took place in April.
Sanders has served as Polk County Engineer since 2002. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Polk County Engineer from 1991 to 2002. Under his direction, Polk County has accomplished quite a list of projects. Those projects, along with some professional positions he has held, were part of why he was chosen this year. “Being President of NACE in 2018 and 2019, being a regional Vice President before that from 2013-2016, gave me points towards the award,” says Sanders. “Work that we’ve done with our county. The roundabout work that we did over the last couple of years, and other projects that we’ve done, were all part of the applications submittal.” Even though Sanders is the one who received the award, he says that it is an indicator of what the County is accomplishing and how that is benefiting people.
Another part of the application submittal is to find out what Sanders does when he is not at work for the County. “They have on there what I do in my personal life. What have I done to help the community?” says Sanders. “My work as the Blue Line President, and being on the Blue Line Club Board for many years. My work helping my wife with her church work has been part of it. My background being on different church boards was part of the application as well.”
Sanders explained that it is a very well-rounded award and not solely based on what you do as an engineer. “It’s based on how you live your life and on what you have done to benefit your community, and your county’s residents. So, I am just honored that I received it.”
This is the second award that has been presented to Sanders this year. In January, the Minnesota County Engineers Association presented Polk County with a safety award. “Winning the Safety Award from the Minnesota County Engineers Association in January for the Roundabout was an honor as well,” says Sanders. “You win these awards, and it’s because, to me, it’s sort of weird because I just do my job. I try to be the best person I can be. I try to do the best thing for the residents of Polk County, and I have been blessed twice this year now for doing my job well.”
Lyndyn Robjent (Washington County), Wayne Sandberg (Carver County), Richard Sanders (Polk County), Taylor Amiot (Red Lake County), Mike Flaagan (Pennington County)
Polk County Commissioners with Richard Sanders, Lyndyn Robjent, and Wayne Sandberg
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