WORTHINGTON – When Cody Blehr started his new job as Nobles County’s deputy engineer in early July, he almost immediately got to work repairing flood damage.
Blehr is a native of the Alexandria area and comes to Nobles County with several years of professional experience at an engineering firm.
“We’ve obviously been dealing with (flood damage) since it occurred and we’re still dealing with it today,” he said. “It’s taking quite a bit of time overall to do all the repairs that need to be done statewide.”
Making these repairs has forced some of the department’s normal duties to take a back seat, but Blehr said overall things have gone fairly smoothly.
While the effects of the June flood are still being felt in Nobles County, Blehr is also looking ahead to future projects.
I have always been involved in engineering. I feel that it is my calling to serve the community through engineering.”
Cody Blehr
“We had projects going on in parallel with the flooding, but nothing that was challenging,” Blehr said. “We have a federal aid project coming up … a bridge on County Road 3 that is scheduled to begin construction in September. Bridge projects like this with federal aid have never been done in this county before, so we’re looking forward to this being the first one to be completed successfully.”
Blehr said he looks forward to serving Nobles County and being part of the community.
“I’ve always been an engineer. I feel like it’s my calling to serve society through engineering,” he said. “I like (the area), I like it a lot. It’s very similar to the area I grew up in; rural, very nice people, helpful. It’s always felt like home, which is great. I like (the job). It’s challenging, which is good. I need challenges, it’s rewarding.”
Samuel Martin joined The Globe as a reporter in September 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in media studies from the University of Sioux Falls.
