Every two weeks, the City of Watertown recognizes city employees who help keep the two moving. The effort is part of the #WatertownWorks series, where different team members are randomly featured every two weeks, highlighting their contributions and personal interests. The City of Watertown employs more than 250 people across various departments and divisions.
Stay tuned as we share more about these dedicated employees and how their hard work makes Watertown a great place to live and work.
This week, we’re proud to feature (clockwise from left top):
Troy VanDusen, 911 Center – Watertown Police Department; Stacy Plocher, Bramble Park Zoo; Ried Holien, Mayor; Justin Peterson, Engineering Division of the Public Works Department
Troy VanDusen: With nearly 27 years of service to Watertown, Troy’s journey began as a volunteer reserve officer in 1993. After becoming a full-time police officer in 1996 and retiring as a Police Sergeant in 2019, Troy returned to serve as the 911 Communications Manager in 2021. He oversees day-to-day operations at the center, managing its technology, budget, and personnel, while working closely with 62 public safety agencies in a six-county region to ensure high-quality dispatch services. Troy’s favorite part of working for Watertown is the sense of community and how each city employee is treated as a valuable team member. He is especially proud of helping to secure funding for 911 systems through legislative efforts in 2023, which brought millions of dollars to South Dakota’s 911 system. Outside of work, Troy enjoys spending time with his wife, Carol, doing yardwork, riding motorcycles, and cleaning his garage. His favorite local cuisine? Pollo carnitas from any of Watertown’s great Mexican restaurants! A fun fact about Troy: he once got stuck upside down on an inversion table, leading to an unexpected lesson in physics that he does not recommend to anyone.
Stacy Plocher: Stacy joined the City of Watertown in December 2022 as the Zoo Manager, where she oversees the operations of the Bramble Park Zoo. Working alongside a passionate team, Stacy ensures that the zoo’s animals receive top-tier care through enhanced welfare programs, veterinary care, enrichment, and training. One of Stacy’s proudest accomplishments has been growing these welfare programs, which benefit the animals and enrich the experiences of visitors. She loves how the City of Watertown fosters a team atmosphere where everyone comes together to support the zoo’s success.
In her free time, Stacy enjoys gardening, growing edible flowers, and caring for her houseplants. If she could have any superpower, it would be teleportation to quickly visit family and friends. Stacy’s go-to spot to take visitors is Dempsey’s for their amazing pizza, and a fun fact: she has a pet tortoise named Franklin, who’s full of personality!
Reid Holien: Ried has been with the City for five years, serving as Mayor since 2021. His role involves leading City Council meetings, finding solutions to issues Watertown faces, and addressing citizens’ concerns. Ried is passionate about increasing transparency and professionalism in government, having drastically reduced executive sessions and promoted open discussions at all levels. Ried is especially proud of how the City has completed major projects during his tenure, including the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena, the Watertown Airport, and Foundation Plaza. He is equally proud of making city services more customer-focused for the residents of Watertown. Outside of work, Ried enjoys writing, traveling, golfing, reading, and even cooking. He dreams of having the power to heal people of diseases but also thinks being Spiderman would be a lot of fun! Fun fact: Ried has run seven marathons, and once took an eight-hour road trip (in a blizzard) just to see the world’s largest ball of twine in Kansas!
Justin Peterson: Justin has been with the City of Watertown for 4.5 years as the City Engineer. His responsibilities include reviewing permits, managing development plans, and overseeing long-range infrastructure projects for the city. One of his favorite parts of the job is seeing his projects, from streets to parks, come to life and improve the community. Justin is particularly proud of his department’s accomplishments, including the award-winning 10th Avenue NW project, the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena, and Foundation Plaza. He’s also excited about the new City Hall and the work being done on future street improvements. Outside of work, Justin is an avid curler and encourages everyone to check out curling at the new Ice Arena. He’s a fan of 80s rock music and would love the superpower to see into the past, especially to watch how Watertown developed over time. For local dining, Justin’s favorite spot is Senor Max’s, where he’s been going since childhood.