County uses GIS to enhance emergency service response time

Tony Rendz, a Fergus Falls High School graduate, class of 1975, will retire from the Otter Tail County Geographic Information Services (GIS) Department after serving for 15 years as a GIS Technician. Before joining the county, Rendz honorably served in the United States Air Force from 1977 to 2001. 

After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Fergus Falls and attended MState, earning an Associate of Arts degree.

“I have enjoyed working at Otter Tail County, and I have taken pride in ensuring the safety of residents,” said Rendz. “I will miss the people most of all.”

Rendz said that his favorite part of the job was driving through beautiful Otter Tail County. His work utilized GIS technology to enhance emergency service response time for the public by locating and marking homes and other structures for E-911 signage. He was instrumental in changing the old fire numbers to the new E-911 signage in the county.

George Meyer, a longtime colleague in the GIS Department, shared, “Tony is one of those rare individuals who not only seems to know everyone but can recall an incredible level of detail about them at a moment’s notice. Day-to-day working with Tony never fails to yield a laugh, nor has it ever been dull. He will be missed.”

When asked what advice Rendz would give to those who work in public service, he shared, “Picture yourself as a property owner or taxpayer and put yourself on the other side of the counter.” W

orking respectfully and effectively with the public was a skill Rendz displayed in his work.

Rendz has been very active in the community. He is a member of the Fergus Area College Foundation Board of Directors, the Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation Board of Directors, the District Curriculum Advisory Committee and the Fergus Falls Veterans Walk of Flags Board of Directors. Tony plans to golf, travel the country, visit family and fellow service members, and spend time with family at their lake cabin near Battle Lake.