Honoring Mike Trdan

This morning, the Council passed a resolution I authored honoring Seward resident Mike Trdan for his long and successful career in recycling. I was delighted and proud to follow up on a constituent’s idea to honor Mike, whom I have known for years as a neighbor and fellow Seward Neighborhood Group Board member and more recently as a knowledgable and skilled advisor and strategist, especially when in comes to waste management and recycling. Mike is someone who can actually get things done to help improve how we manage waste in Minneapolis. For example, he recently led the effort (working with the Seward Neighborhood Group as well as County and City staff) to apply for funds for a pilot project in Seward to test out a new dual-stream recycling program. I'm excited about partnering with him on this and on other environmental initiatives in the future.


Here's the text of the resolution:

Resolution
By Gordon, Reich, Hofstede, Johnson, Samuels, Lilligren,
Goodman, Glidden, Schiff, Tuthill, Quincy, Colvin Roy, and
Hodges

Honoring Mike Trdan for his career-long efforts to establish
recycling programs throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan
area.

Whereas, Mike Trdan spent 10 years working for the City of
Minneapolis in the beginning of his career as a “recycling expert”;
and

Whereas, Mike has worked as an Environmental Specialist for
Dakota County for over 20 years; and

Whereas, Mike started his
career in recycling by supervising the first Minneapolis pilot program for
curbside recycling; and

Whereas, through Mike’s supervision and
management he and his staff implemented the first citywide curbside recycling
program; and

Whereas, Mike credited his fledgling staff and
volunteers for their accomplishments, consistently downplaying his own
achievements; and

Whereas, Mike was responsible for the
establishment of the “Area Recycling Managers” (ARM) group, to share information
and data regarding recycling programs; and

Whereas, the Minneapolis
recycling program is one of the most successful programs throughout the country
in the amount of material recycled and financial return for the material, thanks
in part to Mike’s early leadership; and

Whereas, Mike is a lifelong
resident of Minneapolis and longtime resident of the Seward neighborhood, and
served on the first Seward Ecoteam; and

Whereas, Mike is embarking
on a new role as a neighborhood activist by co-chairing the Seward Neighborhood
Group’s Environment Committee and helping the City complete an application to
Hennepin County for a composting and dual-stream recycling project in Seward;
and

Whereas, Mike and his wife Diane concern themselves with all
things environmental, the Twins, and of course all things
Irish,

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the
City of Minneapolis

That the City of Minneapolis recognizes Mike
Trdan for his tireless contributions to the environment through recycling,
marketing recyclable materials, and most important education of the people of
Minneapolis.

Be it Further Resolved that the City of Minneapolis
wishes Mike well in retirement and thanks him for the years of service he has
given, and will give, the City of Minneapolis.