Mark Cotter

Director of Public Works

Mark oversees the City’s Public Works department that is responsible for the planning, design, building, operations, and maintenance of Sioux Falls’ foundational infrastructure. From the way water is purified and delivered to homes and businesses to streetlights and traffic signals that keep traffic moving, Public Works touches just about every aspect of people’s basic needs and the way they travel across the city. Divisions of Public Works include: Engineering, Streets, Traffic Light and Power, Water Purification, Water Reclamation, Utility Billing, Storm Drainage, Environmental, Landfill and Fleet.

Mark was appointed Public Works director on July 10, 2006. Including 17 years in his current role, he has 30 years’ experience in design and management of civil engineering projects. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota State University and a professional engineer license. The South Dakota Engineering Society – Southeastern Chapter named him Young Engineer of the Year in 2002, and the following year, he earned the same award statewide.

Professional passion: “I’m a builder; it’s in my DNA. My passion started on my family farm, grew into a career, and in my role as a director, extends to building people and relationships. Taking a long, strategic view on large infrastructure projects is critical. Equally important to a project’s success, though, is connecting with and asking the right people for their perspectives and allowing their ideas to mature and improve before we collectively move forward. That’s building infrastructure and people.”

Best part of my job: “Relationships. Public Works plays an important role in the growth and development of Sioux Falls and the region. Our work often intersects with other government agencies or municipalities, and it’s vital to have relationships and trust among our own team members and external colleagues.”

Personal interests: “Spending time with family and having fun, and lucky for me, the two often overlap. We love the outdoors, whether it’s hunting and fishing or training for half marathons together. My wife Denise and I have three children, ages 20, 22, 24. Two have started their careers and our youngest is halfway through college. Every stage of parenthood has its perks, and we have enjoyed watching them enter adulthood.”