Staff

Staff

Mark Knoff Director of Public Works

Mark Knoff serves the City of Mankato as director of public works to ensure clean drinking water, manage effective wastewater treatment, oversee garbage and recycling collection, offer reliable transportation services, provide well-designed and maintained streets, walkways, storm drains, parks, public landscaping and reliable transportation alternatives, including the Mankato Regional Airport.

Prior to joining the City of Mankato, Knoff worked as Public Works Director in Fairbault. He is retired from the United States Air Force, where he served as a helicopter pilot and an engineering instructor at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He is a registered professional engineer. Knoff earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and his masters and doctorate degrees from Purdue University.

Public Works Administration

Environmental Services

Mary FralishDeputy Director of Public Works-Environmental Services

Responsible for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Water Treatment Plant, Storm Water, Flood Control, Infrastructure and Solid Waste. Fralish has a bachelor's degree in biology. She is certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a Class A Minnesota wastewater treatment facility operator and also has a type IV waste disposal facility certificate.

Richard BairdWater Quality Specialist
Performs administrative and technical duties in association with the City of Mankato's Surface Water Management Plan, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, Sanitary Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Plan, Well Head Protection Plan and other water quality related studies and plans. Technical duties include inspection and enforcement. Baird is a University of Minnesota certified erosion sediment control specialist, site manager and inspector/installer.
Carie ChristiansenSenior Account Clerk-Environmental Services

Provides administrative support for water, wastewater and infrastructure.

Jim BruenderWastewater Superintendent

Directs the operations, maintenance, and laboratory personnel for the waste water treatment plant and sanitary lift stations.  Bruender holds a Class A operators license and a type 4 biosolids license from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.  He also has a Class D water operators license from the Department of Health.

Terry FogalUtilities Foreperson - Wastewater
Supervises and coordinates the operations of the wastewater treatment plant including preventative, corrective and emergency maintenance. Fogal holds a wastewater license from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and  Type 4 bio-solids license.
Jim JonesWater Superintendent

Directs the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant, wells, reservoirs, water towers and certified lab. Jones has a bachelor's of science degree in biology and an applied science degree in water and wastewater treatment. He holds a Class A water operator certificate from the Minnesota Department of Health, a Class A wastewater operator certificate and a type four waste disposal certificate from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Paul ZimmerUtilities Foreperson-Water

Supervises preventative, corrective and emergency maintenance or repairs of water treatment facilities. Zimmer has an associate's degree in water and wastewater technology. He holds a Class B water certificate from the Minnesota Department of Health and a Class D certificate from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Tony TalamantezInfrastructure Superintendent
Directs, plans, organizes and supervises personnel in water distribution, water meters, wastewater collection, storm water, and flood control. Talamantez has an associate's degree in business management. He is licensed as a Class SB wastewater treatment facility operator by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. He is also certified by the Minnesota Department of Health as a Class C water supply system operator.
Mark KochUtilities Foreperson - Infrastructure
Performs, plans, organizes and supervises preventative, corrective and emergency maintenance or repairs of  wastewater collection and water distribution facilities. Koch holds a Class SC wastewater treatment facility operator license from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and a Class C water supply system operator certificate from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Ron SikUtilities Foreperson-Infrastructure

Performs, plans, organizes and supervises preventative, corrective and emergency maintenance or repairs of water distribution and wastewater collection facilities. Sik holds a Class C certificate as a water supply system operator and a class SC certificate as a wastewater treatment facility operator.

Transportation Services

Kevin BakerAirport Manager
Baker manages and maintains the Mankato Regional Airport.
Curt DoumaTransit Assistant
Mark AndersonTransit Superintendent

Makes planning recommendations to the director of public works. Coordinates, implements and directs transit operatons and related services. He oversees the efficient operation of the city's ten fixed routes, two paratransit vehicles and 30 employees. Anderson has a bachelor's degree in economics.

Operational Services

Karen WillmottOperations Senior Account Clerk
Provides customer service and administrative support for the Department of  Public Works.
Jim BraunshausenStreets Superintendent

Plans, directs and supervises personnel in street maintenance activities. Braunshausen has a certificate of completion in construction equipment. He has been with the city of Mankato for more than 21 years.

Joe GrabianowskiStreets Foreperson

Coordinates and implements street maintenance activities. 

Ben SparksCentral Garage Superintendent
Plans, directs, coordinates, and supervises the central garage staff and fleet equipment. Sparks has a degree in diesel mechanics.
Facilities Services

Tom FournierAssistant to the Public Works Director
Performs professional and managerial work in planning, directing, implementing, and evaluating the administrative, forestry, and facilities based activities of the Department of Public Works.
Brian HagbergCity Forester

Develops long range forest and tree resource management plans. Hagberg has a bachelor's degree in urban forestry. He is certified as a tree inspector and an arborist.

Doug EllingParks Superintendent

Supervises and performs maintenance on city buildings. Elling has a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation.