By David Buckingham ~
Most of us have not been where I was at this time last year — and most don’t need to. I spent three hours slogging around our
wastewater treatment plant. I was mostly there to visit with some great folks who spend their working days in a stinky place so that when we flush our toilets, the environment does not suffer.
Another team keeps the sewer lines clear and the stuff moving to the WWTP. Lest we forget, to Dave and Dane, and Chad and Alex, and all the team at the WWTP and in waste collections, thanks for your service.
Last spring I spent an afternoon on ride-alongs with several of our police officers. In the span of four hours they engaged four different homeless residents in various states of need (our officers knew each one by name) and responded to an accident in which a resident had nearly driven a Buick through a storefront. Lest we forget, to Jody, Maria and Bonnie and the entire MBPD (Xello, too), thanks for what you do.
Remember “Bobby, the young boy who was left in Morro Bay when his school bus field trip left town? Our lifeguards found him on the beach this summer. The school group was somewhere past Kettleman City when the Harbor Department team found and cared for Bobby and then reunited him with his classmates. Lest we forget, our gratitude to Becka, Scott and Kyle, and the entire team on the waterfront for the safe harbor you provide.
“I like to pay my water bill in person at City Hall, because I always know I’ll get a cheerful greeting from the gals at the counter,” that’s a quote I heard a few months ago. And behind those great folks up front, is a whole team who keeps the bills paid, and the network running, public records accessible and the City staffed appropriately. Thanks to Charlee, Brooke and Laurie and all the rest at City Hall.
Six weeks ago, a 50-year-old water valve failed, knocking out water to nearly all of north Morro Bay. What our residents did not see was the water team working through the night to fix the problem. To Jamie, Trevor and all the guys with the shovels, wet boots and tired eyes, lest we forget, we give thanks.
It thankfully doesn’t happen often, but earlier this year our Fire Department responded to a devastating house fire in the City. Unsurprisingly, the fire was quickly contained, sparing a number of adjacent homes. What does happen hundreds of times a year is our well-trained and highly skilled firefighter paramedics respond to medical emergencies of all types, from elderly residents suffering in their homes to a serious traffic accident this week on Highway 1. Our thanks to Todd, Jeff, Travis and the whole Fire Department.
Even play does not happen without work. Last weekend I was enjoying a gorgeous day, sitting on the grass, watching a kids’ soccer game. I looked over my shoulder and there was Bob, moving from one venue to the next, all over town, keeping a network of part-time refs, volunteer coaches and multiple games on various fields across the city moving. Karen, Edward, Angelica and all the rec team, including an army of wonderful volunteers, deserve our thanks.
When you actually consider how much work our small maintenance team has on its plate, it’s amazing they keep up with it all. This time last year we received a grateful note from a visitor who had lost a wedding ring down a drain and one of our maintenance team disassembled the pipes to recover the ring. Lest we forget all the little things Matt, Raul, Roland and their whole team do to keep the city running — and the big acts of kindness and service — we say thanks.
Last year obtaining a building permit took several months. Our average now is about 3 weeks. We are grateful for Cindy, Joan and Pam and the rest of our small but hardworking team in our growing Community Development Department.
Like each of us, our city staff, both individually and corporately, is imperfect. Imperfect, but caring, professional, hard working, courageous, thoughtful, firm, friendly, skilled and serving. They call it public service because we are servants.
Lest we forget, though, those who serve also deserve gratitude. So, thanks team, for making Morro Bay a great place to work, live and play.
This week, and in the weeks ahead, consider stopping a City employee just to say “Thanks.” And, I’d love to hear about the great service you receive, along with the ways we can improve, at: [email protected]. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
