City employees receive service awards

Torus Tammer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Forty six city employees were honored last week at

the city’s annual service award recipients ceremony. Fellow employees and

families gave kudos to those who have worked for the city from five to 25

years.

“The idea is to acknowledge our valued employees as demonstrated by

their length of employment,” said Kim Verhoef, personnel specialist for

Fountain Valley. “We acknowledge people who have worked with the city for

five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years by presenting them with a certificate.”

Kay Evans, senior word processing specialist for the city, was one of

the 25-year recipients. Starting in 1975 as a clerk typer, Evans thought

after a short time she would have found something else and moved on.

Today, she said work is a comfortable environment and everybody there

is a friend. This is just part of the reason she is looking forward to

commemorating her next milestone of 30 years.

“I’m proud of this accomplishment,” Evans said. “When I started, I was

using an automated typewriter with ribbons. My job is much more

interesting now that technology has improved so much.”

Bob Kellison also joined Evans in the class of 1975, starting in the

field division. Kellison, now a field services manager, expects to

someday retire from working for the city in which he lives. There are

numerous reasons, he said, as to why Fountain Valley holds such a

charming air among its employees, just as it does with it residents.

“We’re a small city with 269 employees; I know them on a first-name

basis, and they know me,” Kellison said. “You really get to know the

citizens appreciate the work you do.”

This year, there were only five recipients of the 25-year honor. But

Verhoef said there have been times where up to 30 people have received

the accolade.

“It shows that the employees enjoy working here and the residents of

the city benefit from our long-term employees experience,” Verhoef said.