Public Service Recognition Week, May 7-13, is an ideal time to offer thanks to a public employee working on the forefront or behind the scenes to make a positive impact in the lives of others. I’ve heard many stories from public servants about their road to public service, and most of them started with something along the lines of “I wanted to make a difference” or “I wanted to serve my community.” Almost always there is a desire to “do their part for the greater good.”

In a world that often encourages a “take care of yourself” and “me first” attitude, it’s amazing we still have public servants like Lois Landwehr. As the Administrative Assistant at Derby Public Works, she keeps track of countless details on behalf of the 53 people who take care of Derby’s parks, streets and water utilities, and she also is a hard-core community volunteer.
 
Since 2008, Lois has volunteered with the Derby Optimist Club spending hundreds of hours each year assisting with community events. She used to haul and set up the bounce house, and now she takes cotton candy and shaved ice machines to events. Lois volunteers because the Optimist Club raises money to benefit the blind and hearing impaired and provide scholarships for graduates of Derby schools. Lois is the energizer bunny of community service and proves one person CAN make a difference.

Remember the recent wildfires in Reno County? Perhaps you didn’t know the City of Derby sent police and fire employees to help those in need. Two police officers, Officer Cory Skov and Officer Kirk Brown, who finished their normal shift at midnight, then worked in Reno County until 9:00 a.m., assisting with security in evacuated areas. Four off-duty firefighters, Josh Loffland, Patrick Campa, Captain Matt Ludwig, and Lieutenant John Purdy, worked a 12-hour shift at a Hutchinson fire station so Hutchinson firefighters could get some much needed rest.

More city employees give their time above and beyond what we would ever expect, and you will never hear about them because they don’t do it for recognition. They do it because they put others before themselves and believe they can make a difference. I encourage you to take time this week to thank a public servant for what they do, on and off the job, or send your example to The Derby Informer as a letter to the editor so everyone can read your story.

Jenny Turner, Human Resources Director
City of Derby

Published in the Derby Informer on May 3, 2017