MnLTAP’s steering committee is made up of volunteer transportation professionals from across the state who oversee the program’s priorities, spending, and execution. Representing both their own agencies and professional organizations, members also identify partnership opportunities and exchange information about state and national LTAP programs across their networks.
Lon Aune, county engineer for Marshall County and chair of the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB), has served on the MnLTAP steering committee for the last three years. “[MnLTAP] is a resource that some people don’t realize is out there,” Aune says.
Originally intending to pursue a career in architecture, Aune found his way into public works by accident. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in the late 1980s with his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, hoping to branch off into the architecture field further down the road. Shortly after college, Aune took a project engineer job with the City of Apple Valley and has worked in the public sector ever since. He later moved on to serve as assistant public works director for the City of Roseville before coming back to Marshall County, where he grew up.
As county engineer, Aune plays a key role in a variety of projects, from maintenance (mill and overlay, patching) to full road construction and nearly everything in between. “We’re dealing with ditch inspectors, [and] I’m also signing off on construction plans, maintenance projects … There’s a lot of diversity,” Aune says. “It can be a different hat each day.” He enjoys the challenge of piecing together local tax dollars, along with state and federal funds, to provide the most value and long-term impact for his community.
After a career spanning several decades, Aune has begun thinking about retirement. A challenge familiar to many local agencies—workforce and succession planning—is one that Aune is turning his attention to. Requirements for becoming a county engineer in Minnesota include a civil engineering degree, a Minnesota Professional Engineer (PE) license, and experience working under a registered engineer.
Ideally, Aune is looking for an early-career professional who could gain experience working under his guidance. “They could potentially walk into a county engineering job here when I retire in four or five years,” he says. He encourages interested candidates to reach out via email: [email protected].