Dave Pokorney, the longtime city administrator who helped build Chaska into what's considered to be one of the best small towns in the country, has resigned after more than 24 years on the job.
Pokorney's resignation is effective Aug. 4. The City Council named Matt Podhradsky, Pokorney's assistant, as interim city administrator.
"It has been an honor and privilege to serve," Pokorney said in his resignation letter. "I am both proud of and humbled by the fact that Chaska is viewed by many as a better small town today with 24,000 residents than it was in 1984 when 8,000 people called Chaska home."
In 2007 Chaska was named by Money magazine as one of the 10 best places to live in the country.
Under Pokorney's leadership, Chaska's industrial park was completed; a $45 million flood-control project was built, as was a new City Hall; a new Hwy. 212 opened, and downtown was redeveloped.
He told the council that the chance to go out on top was too good to pass up.
"Vacating ... at this time gives me the unique opportunity to move on when the Chaska organization is operating at peak performance," he said. "Few local government professionals have this opportunity."
HERÓN MÁRQUEZ ESTRADA
