News

County Signmaker Honored for 40 Years of Public Service

Rick Swanberg, the lead sign technician for Otter Tail County, was paid $3.35 an hour when he first joined the shop.

Published

11 months ago

May 22, 2023

Highway Engineer Chuck Grotte, left, presents Rick Swanberg with a certificate honoring the signmaker’s 40 years of public service. Credit: Otter Tail County, Facebook

After four decades in the signshop of Otter Tail County in western Minnesota, Rick Swanberg is being recognized for his longevity and commitment to public service.

Swanberg, the county’s lead sign technician, was recently presented with a “Forty Years of Service Certificate” and a gift by Highway Engineer Chuck Grotte, according to an announcement on the county’s website.

Swanberg started in the county signshop on April 22, 1982 when he was 20 years old, earning $3.35 an hour.

Today he leads a team of three who are responsible for installing all vital signs located along county highways. Maintenance is also a big part of the job. “We do a lot of repairs to signs and reinstalling the signs in the ground. You wouldn’t believe how many signs need resetting after high winds,” he says.

Read the full announcement here.

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