For nearly three decades, whenever water rushed down the streets, blizzards froze municipal infrastructure, or wastewater facilities needed round-the-clock protection, Deb McCollum was on the front lines in St. Clair.
Now, after 27 years of dedicated service to the city’s Public Works department, McCollum is preparing for her final day on Sept. 4—marking the end of an era defined by hard work, community resilience, and trailblazing leadership.
“St. Clair is her baby,” said Public Works Supervisor Thad Baker, who has worked alongside McCollum for the last decade. “Going to be hard to move on from Deb. All her years of knowledge, expertise, and experience are hard to replace. Her reliability has been so important—someone who is going to show up each day and put in the work.”
From Secretarial School to Manhole Covers
McCollum’s journey into municipal public works was anything but conventional. Raised in St. Clair, she attended school for secretarial studies and lived in Madelia for a time because it was convenient to walk to classes while working. Upon returning to St. Clair in the late-90s, she spent seven years working at the BP gas station shortly after it was built in town.
When a former St. Clair Public Works worker transitioned to a new job in Mankato, an opening emerged and McCollum saw an opportunity to branch out to a more outdoors-based career. At the time, she wasn’t entirely aware of the full scope of a city maintenance job—she had never even inspected a manhole cover or valve pipe. But as a lifelong hands-on worker who grew up plowing snow, caring for farm animals, tackling home repairs, and gardening, she wasn’t intimidated.
“I was always up for a challenge and knew I could pull my own weight,” McCollum recalled. “I wasn’t afraid to get in there and get messy.”
Entering a historically male-dominated industry presented its own unique hurdles, but McCollum stood her ground from day one. “Being a woman in this position… you have to fight for your spot at the table,” she said. Over time, her work ethic and mastery of the city’s complex infrastructure earned her universal respect, with male colleagues—including Baker—often chiming in to urge others to “listen to her!”
Historic Floods, Dirty Jobs, and Modernization
Throughout her 27-year tenure, McCollum’s daily duties spanned every corner of St. Clair’s infrastructure. A typical day began with morning team meetings and routine checks at the wastewater plant, pump station, and water tower. From street patrols and lawn mowing to twice-weekly water tower backwashes and fall sludge hauling, no task was too small—or too dirty.
One job in particular stands out: cleaning the bar screen at the wastewater plant, which filters out debris. I’ll let you take a guess on what that “debris” actually is. During facility tours, McCollum noted with a smile that city council members could barely handle the smell and sight of the bar screen, though it had long become second nature to her. McCollum’s experience proved vital during some of St. Clair’s most challenging moments, particularly during historic flooding events.
When disastrous floodwaters threatened the city in 2010—the first major flood of its kind during her career—McCollum worked tirelessly alongside city staff, local residents, and eager students to sandbag and construct earthen berms. Their efforts successfully saved both the post office and the wastewater treatment plant. Subsequent floods in 2016 and 2024 saw her once again leading emergency response and flood defense efforts.
Beyond emergency management, McCollum witnessed and drove significant modernizations in St. Clair’s infrastructure. When she first started, staff relied on an old tractor and pickup truck with limited capabilities and faulty arms. Over 27 years, she helped usher in updated facilities by the water tower, advanced treatment technology, modern equipment, and overall improved city infrastructure.
Despite the grueling demands—such as fixing broken water mains in sub-zero blizzards—McCollum admits she secretly preferred the winter months. “I love cold weather,” she shared, noting that even with icing and extreme temperatures, she welcomed the challenge.
A Seamless Partnership and Passing the Torch
For the past decade, McCollum and Baker formed a two-person powerhouse keeping St. Clair running smoothly. “We clicked well together right from the start,” McCollum said. “There was a lot of trust built between us over the years.”
Baker echoed the sentiment, noting that even though he stepped into the department a decade ago, McCollum was instrumental in his growth. “She has taught me as much as I’ve taught her. The last ten years have been all about learning and doing the best job we can for the city.”
In May 2026, McCollum approached Mayor More and City Council to announce her decision to retire, wanting to give the city ample time to find and train a successor.
While Baker admitted he playfully responded with “No, I don’t believe it,” his overarching feeling was complete support. The broader community response has been overwhelmingly warm, filled with handshakes, pats on the back, and reminders that she will be impossible to replace.
Currently, McCollum is actively mentoring her replacement, passing down decades of institutional knowledge, tips, and tricks. She hopes her legacy encourages a new wave of young men and women to enter the field. “There are complications with public works…it’s a career where the duties change often and you never stop learning…but there are huge advantages to being part of a small town,” she said.
Looking Forward to ‘Every Day Feeling Like Saturday’
As Sept. 4 approaches, McCollum acknowledges that stepping away from a job that has been her life for 27 years is daunting. “My work is my life, so being able to walk away is so tough—it will be hard not to scratch that itch,” she said. “But I want to be able to live life while I’m able and make up for lost time with my family.”
Her post-retirement plans begin with a well-deserved vacation and a trip to Georgia to visit one of her daughters, alongside various home remodeling and crafting projects. Her ultimate goal? “To get to the point where every day feels like a Saturday and I forget what day it is!”
Reflecting on her career, McCollum expressed gratitude to her original mentor, Dennis Seys, supportive mayors and city councils over the years, her co-worker Thad Baker, and the residents of St. Clair. “I’ll miss the people,” McCollum said. “It’s a small town, so you get to build real relationships with residents. I’ve had a cup of coffee with so many people in town and I look forward to appreciating this wonderful community as a resident.”
Though Deb McCollum may soon lay down her tools, her imprint on St. Clair’s roads, water lines, and community spirit will endure for generations to come.
