Ramsey County has promoted Bruce Thompson to be director of Property Management, replacing Jolly Mangine, who is retiring this month.

Mangine is a well-known county employee who was often quoted by the media on county building matters, such as the (hoped for) sale of the West Publishing buildings on the downtown St. Paul riverfront.

Thompson, who's been assistant director of Property Management, takes over Feb. 1.

Working for the county, Thompson has focused on energy conservation, green cleaning techniques, environmental stewardship, construction management and increasing participation of small business, women and minority participation in contracts, county officials said.

They said he's big on public-private partnerships, such as the Dunn Brothers Coffee Shop at the Roseville Library and the City of Arden Hills, Mounds View School District and Ramsey County partnership at the Public Works Facility in Arden Hills.