14 Shelby employees earn recognition for storm response
Shelby Daily Globe
In the aftermath of efforts by Shelby government personnel in responding to a major winter storm and keeping city services up and running, 14 municipal employees are being honored.
The recognition and thanks came from Shelby City Council in a resolution initially sponsored by Councilman Nathan Martin and adopted 5-0 at the council’s opening meeting of February.
Resolution 6-2023 notes the staff members’ “outstanding public service” during the Dec. 23-25 severe winter storm event.
The service department employees honored for their public service:
• Superintendent Ronnie Shepherd
• Crew chief Foreman Andy Dietz
• Billy Bail, Eric Vogt, Kelly Keiser, Heath Schroeder and Tyler Distl of the Division of Streets
• Sean Cantleberry, Scott Shatzer, Brian James and Lane Benshoff of the Division of Water Distribution
• Chris Korbas, Steve Schneider and Christian Ballengee of the
Division of Sewers maintenance.
“The mayor as director of public service and Shelby City Council members do hereby recognize and sincerely thank the employees of the Shelby Service Department for their steadfast and untiring service to the Shelby community,” the resolution stated.
Details of the Shelby workers’ accomplishments were shared with the council’s Utilities and Streets Committee in early January. The full council was briefed on the matter Jan. 17 ahead of the adoption of the resolution on Feb. 6.
Councilman Martin, committee chairman, asked that the resolution be read out loud.
“A severe winter storm with blowing and drifting snow and wind chills reaching 40 degrees below zero tasked the Shelby Service Department employees with maintaining the streets and alleys and nine water main breaks during a three-day period spanning from December 23-25,” the resolution stated.
It noted that service department employees did not waver from their public service duties during this extremely dangerous winter weather event.
“Several service department employees answered the call on Christmas Eve to report to a water main break on Shelby Avenue that had taken 12 hours to repair,” the resolution read. “Employees had to endure hours of continuous work outside in the sub-zero temperatures to repair water main breaks and clearing snow from the city streets for the residents of Shelby.”
Martin called the resolution “a small token of our appreciation.”
“I think it’s very important, and I said this for some time, that when our employees go above and beyond, that we recognize them – not just inside a committee or inside City Council – with actual meaningful words as we can put together,” Councilman Martin said in remarks.
“I say this often, but I really do believe that we are the crown jewel of rural Ohio, and I count myself fortunate and blessed to live inside the city limits of Shelby,” he also said.
Shelby has an outstanding team of public service employees who provide “absolutely exceptional services” daily, Martin said.
“There are certain times when they go far above and beyond and with very little gratitude prove their worth way above and beyond that,” he said. “This is one such effort, not only was it the weather, but also circumstances of the holiday as well. We are extremely grateful.”
Councilman Garland Gates asked to be added
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