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MORRIS – Dick Joyce has spent the past 30 years serving on the Grundy County Board because he believes he can continue to be of service.
“I’ve been on the board since 1984,” Joyce said Wednesday. “I think I have something to contribute, and I have the time now since I retired seven years ago.”
Joyce, along with 35 other Grundy County employees, were recognized Tuesday night for their years of service.
Employees are recognized for every five years of service with the county and are presented with something to honor the occasion.
Joyce received a 30-year pin, a certificate, a clock and a gift certificate from the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s nice to be recognized,” he said Wednesday. “It’s most likely my last term.”
He said he’s seen a lot happen in his time on the board and he thinks his history and experience contribute to the newer board members who have been elected in the past two elections.
“Most of our board members have four years or less,” he said. “I think experience counts. Some things we face have come up over and over again. A problem will go away and then come back up. I think I can help the other members.”
He said the transparency of the board has come a long way, as before 1992 minutes weren’t taken at the committee meetings, and some committees, like personnel, only met twice a year – once to set holidays and once to determine salary.
Board Chairman David Welter presented Joyce with his gifts and thanked Joyce for his time on the board.
“That’s longer than I’ve been on this Earth,” Welter said during the presentation on Tuesday.
Two other county employees were recognized for 30 or more years: Richard Hoyt has worked 35 years for the Highway Department, and Richard Walsh has worked for 30 years with the Highway Department.
County Engineer Craig Cassem presented them with their awards.
He said the two men have responded at all times of day and night to plow roads, put up road blocks when there is flooding, or close a road for an accident.
“They are excellent employees, very reliable,” Cassem said Wednesday. “They have the mindset that if it needs to be done, they do it.”
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EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED
Grundy County employees recognized by the county board:
• 35 years- Richard Hoyt, highway department
• 30 years- Richard Walsh, highway department; Dick Joyce, board member
• 25 years- Donna Holtan, 911 center; Mark Sajnaj, sheriff's office
• 20 years- Frank Halpin, board member; Paul Clampitt, sheriff's office, Andrea Roseland, state's attorney office; Daniel Winchell, sheriff's office
• 15 years- Cheryl Wardell, Land Use; Deb Wyeth, Health Department; Susan Gale, Animal Control; Susan Clemmons, assessor's office; Molly Daughterty, clerk's office; Mitchell Conwell, Juvenile Justice,
• 10 years- Robert Coleman III, sheriff's office; Alan Love, sheriff's office; Jeffery Black, sheriff's office; Joshua Slattery, sheriff's office; Jason Cory, sheriff's office; Matt Walker, sheriff's office; Julie Peterson, sheriff's office; Chris Kindlespire, 911 Center
• 5 years- Larry Pelehowski, maintenance; Joe Schroeder, EMA; Kelly Hitt, Health Department; Amy Gillette, Health Department; Dan Peterson, Information Technology; Deborah Hanley, clerk's office; Elizabeth Macdonald, clerk's office; Michael Olewinski, public defender; LuAnn Ishmael, state's attorney office; Patricia Harvey, state's attorney office; Michelle Redford, sheriff's office; Raymond Odom Sr., sheriff's office; Sharon Odom, sheriff's office; and Kiley Jungles, sheriff's office