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Employee ProfileOur employees are essential to our success. We communicate openly, promote diversity and teamwork, and encourage personal initiative and growth. We value the unique contributions of each employee. |
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Scott Oettinger and Tony Young, distribution and building services representatives, agreed to give us a brief overview of just what goes on under the streets of downtown Saint Paul. You may have noticed their white truck sporting the new District Energy logo with the bright red wave. From time to time you see them emerging from or descending into a manhole and maybe you wondered, "What are they doing down there?" The manholes are an access to the infrastructure that was built in the early 1980s and 1990s to pump hot and chilled water in a closed-loop system of underground pipes. The hot and chilled water pipes (totaling more than 50 miles) are connected by various types of valves for draining and filling and require consistent maintenance. Scott and Tony perform other important tasks that include doing locates to identify hot and chilled water lines as well as the fiber optics buried underground. By locating and painting these areas, they protect the pipes and fiber from damage from other contractors that could potentially interrupt service to District Energy customers. They are also in charge of service shut downs when there is a tie-in to a new customer building. This involves isolating and draining the pipes in the area and re-filling them when the job is complete. Before this process begins, the valves are checked to make sure they are in good working order. Another part of their job requires them to provide assistance to mechanical, electrical, civil (excavators) and insulator contractors and to keep them stocked with needed supplies. Scott has worked for Ever-Green Energy for six years while Tony has been employed here for one and a half years. Surprisingly, when asked what they like most about their job they both replied, "The hours!" Family time is valuable to both men and since they each worked shifts in the past, they appreciate the consistency of a day job. Scott and his wife Heather, parents to Livia, 4, and Addison, 18 months, reside in Rosemount. He grew up in International Falls and it was there he learned a love of the outdoors. Scott especially enjoys hunting, fishing, sports (especially hockey), traveling and camping with his family. Tony and his wife, Darcie, are involved in coaching youth sports while their two children, Brandon, 10, and Delaney, 7, participate in various sports year-round. Tony is director of football for the third and fourth grade league in their hometown of Cottage Grove, and he also helps Darcie teach pitching clinics. Now, what we all want to know, what surprises do you see when you are below ground in the tunnels? Scott replies, "It's really pretty clean. You might see a few ants and occasionally a spider or a couple of mice might sneak through a vent box but they are usually dead." No big rats? "No rats," Tony says with a big smile. |
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