Employee Spotlight: Bill Thoennes

Why work in city government, specifically in Alexandria? It is very enjoyable serving the residents and visitors of Alexandria.

Alexandria is such a great place to raise a family and for visitors to see what the area has to offer. I enjoy making Alexandria a safer and better community to live, work and visit. The City of Alexandria is a great place to work!

Share a memory of a time you felt proud to be in local government.

I enjoy coming to work every day. Every day is a different day and every day presents it’s own challenges and rewards! Great to see working partnerships with residents, businesses, visitors and city staff to develop into “The Place To Be” There is no one specific thing that stands out.

What are your goals for this year?

There is a lot already in the works for 2018. We have a group that is raising money to construct a Veteran Memorial at Legion Park to honor all the veterans of all the wars and from all the branches of our military. We also have group of residents that is fundraising to build a “Splash Pad” at Fillmore/Dean Melton Park. We encourage to donate to both of these projects and watch them come to life! We will be building some new restrooms at Big Ole Park this spring/early summer. We will be also be redoing the roof at City Hall. We also looking at installing a new playground system at Lake Burgen Park. We have a lot of activity that are being planned for in the parks and around to. All will be great for the community!!

What are your hobbies?

In the summer my family and I like to go ATVing and are involved in the local ATV Club ROAR –Runestone Off-Road ATV Riders. Go wheelin all over the state and into Wisconsin and in the Blackhills area.

Also, like to spent time the woods and deer hunt – If I don’t get one – not a big deal, just great to be out in the woods!

Tell us about your family and yourself.

I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 34 years. We have 3 kids – 2 daughters and a son. Oldest LaTorea 33 is married and lives in Forada and has a step son who is 12 and she works at Primewest  Our son is 32 and lives in Moorhead and single and works for Implied Engineering who does a lot of work for Bobcat and is in the Mn National Guard and has had deployments to Iraq. And my youngest Courtney is 24 and is getting married this fall and is the Assistant City Clerk for the City of Parkers Prairie. My wife Melody is a VP – Cue Supervisor for Heritage Banks out of Willmar. For me — have worked for the City of Alexandria for 30 years (May 1^st) and Park Director since 2006. I am a Battalion Chief on the Alexandria Fire Dept and been on the dept since Sept of 1992. I am board member on the Mn State Fire Chiefs Association Board of Director for past 10 years. In my spare time I work as an EMT for North Memorial Ambulance Service in Alexandria since May 1997.

Even though we are empty nesters – our home is always open to whomever needs a home or place to stay!

What are you goals this year and for your department?

I have a great dept that does so much more then is asked of them. They take so much pride in what they do and they deserve all the credit for how the parks look. Our goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable park system for all to enjoy!

There are a lot of acronyms in government, explain ones that come behind your name or that you use in your work.

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Where is your favorite place to go to enjoy Alexandria?  (restaurants, parks, activities/exercising, etc.)

We enjoy eating out at all the different restaurants that Alexandria has to offer. We like to take walks and bike ride on the Central Lakes Trail!

Photo by licia marie photography (www.liciamariephotography.com)