LAKEPORT – County employees were honored for their service at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting.
During the presentations, the county's administrative officer, Kelly Cox, indicated that he may soon be headed to retirement as he received his latest service award.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington, assisted by Board Clerk Mireya Turner, presented the employee service awards, which were small commemorative clocks.
“The community thanks you for your years of service and dedication,” Farrington said at the presentation's beginning.
For 10 years of service, District Attorney Jon Hopkins and Animal Care and Control Director Denise Johnson were recognized.
Fifteen-year employees receiving awards included Stephen Brooks, Lake County Sheriff's Office; Pauline Buchanan, Social Services; William Chapin, Parks and Recreation: Kathy Kitchens, Lake County Sheriff's Office-jail facilities; Janice Louie, Lake County Sheriff's Office; Stephen Shryock, Juvenile Home; Cynthia Silva-Brackett, Health Services Administration; Lyle Thomas, Lake County Sheriff's Office; and Charles Villines, Public Works-Roads Division.
Robert Allen of the county's Buildings and Grounds division was the first employee recognized for 20 years of service.
As he was being handed his award, Supervisor Rob Brown asked playfully, “How's that elevator?” He was referring to the courthouse's out-of-service elevator which hasn't worked in several months. Allen, as if on cue, went immediately out the chambers door.
Other 20-year employees honored were Robert Brasier, Special Districts; Loretta Deter, Social Services; John Flynn, District Attorney's Office; Chris Macedo, Lake County Sheriff's Office-bailiffs; John Moore, Social Services; Teresa Murray, Probation; Barbara Ringen, Treasurer-Tax Collector; and Laura Solis, Alcohol and Other Drug Services.
For 25 years of service, employees receiving awards included Lawrence Henry, Public Works-Roads Division; Steve Linthicum, Special Districts; Don Prather, Public Works-Roads Division; Robert Saderlund, Special Districts; and Skip Simkins, Public Works-Water Resources Division, and a recent retiree.
Employees with the most service included County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, Mike Curran of the Lake County Sheriff's Office and Donna Gitchell of Mental Health, all with 30 years; and Lary Dumont of Special Districts, who has been with the county 35 years.
Cox received a standing ovation when he went forward to get his award.
“It seems like just yesterday I was getting a five year service award,” he said.
Cox said he thinks this is the last one he'll be receiving, and he told the board and county employees that it's been an honor and a privilege working with all of them.
“Behind every good administrator is an outstanding staff,” he said.
Afterward, Cox told Lake County News that his retirement as the county's top administrator could come as soon as later this year.
In other business on Tuesday, the board received information on a tick-borne illness identified through the work of local physician Dr. Marc Shapiro, Lake County Vector Control and Lake County Public Health.
Vector Control Director Dr. Jamie Scott said no one had connected the dots until Shapiro's observations were brought together with the resources of local health officials.
The board also received an update on community meetings for the Lake County 2030 Blueprint process from Terri Persons of the Lake County/City Area Planning Council, offered a proclamation in support of National Engineers Week, turned down a request for a road fee waiver and property value reassessment, approved a conference trip to Eureka for a Mental Health Department employee and held a closed session meeting with members of the Lake County Grand Jury.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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