The City of Fargo is undertaking an effort to recognize and highlight the work of City employees. As part of each City Commission meeting, Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney is taking time at the beginning to spotlight one of The City of Fargo’s departments to honor their dedication, hard work and customer service. In spotlighting the achievements of departments, The City of Fargo has instituted an honor for City employees called the Fargo Rising Star Award. The award is for employees who have been with The City for seven years or less and have consistently gone above and beyond in their service to residents and visitors.
On Monday, April 14, the Mayor presented the award to Dustin Halsne, who’s worked for the Solid Waste Department for six years. He began as an Operator II and progressed to Operator III before taking on the role of Leachate and Landfill Gas Technician. He is now the Solid Waste Landfill Supervisor, leading a team of 16 full-time employees and one seasonal employee. In this role, Dustin oversees the safe and environmentally compliant operation of the Fargo Landfill, which processes over 220,000 tons of waste annually. He also manages composting efforts and The City of Fargo’s renewable energies program, which are both critical components of Fargo’s sustainability initiatives.
In selecting Dustin for the award, Solid Waste leadership cited his emphasis on professional growth and his willingness to take on complex, specialized roles. “Dustin’s self-starting attitude and dedication have made a lasting impact on the Solid Waste Division and The City’s broader environmental goals. His commitment to service and outstanding efforts truly make him a Fargo Rising Star,” Mayor Mahoney stated.
Previous winners of the Fargo Rising Star Award include:
• Matt Hager, a Water Treatment Plant Operator III, has worked at The City of Fargo’s Regional Water Treatment Plant for over three years. His duties are focused on the complex operations of the plant and the drinking water pumping stations across the region. His work includes logging regulatory information, monitoring the computer control system, laboratory testing, plant flow changes, chemical adjustments, water plant maintenance and several other tasks.
• Andrew Almer, a Fixed Route Dispatcher for MATBUS, has served in his role for more than three years. Andrew monitors daily bus schedules, provides customer service, logs incidents and ensures communication between staff and management. He also tracks vehicle locations using software and two-way radios, completes reports and coordinates with various Transit personnel to maintain efficient service across the metro area. Andrew previously worked for The City’s transit contractor Transdev as a Dispatcher, Road Supervisor and Bus Operator.
• Alyssa Geller has worked for the Public Works Department for about two years as an Office Associate III. Alyssa helps Public Works deliver key programs and services to the community. She answers a high volume of phone calls for all divisions of Public Works and provides residents with assistance and information. She manages utility locate requests before excavation work begins, addresses concerns regarding snow removal, maintains employee records and conducts orientations for new hires.