December 22, 2023 |
Photo – Awarding of Max Dutton Award – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The city of Rawlins honored its long-serving and exceptional employees.
During Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey presented the 2023 Years of Service awards. Sarvey said Rawlins is lucky to have such dedicated workers.
City Manager Sarvey called the 12 long-serving employees up one at a time to present them with a certificate and a pin. Sarvey began with the people who have worked for the city for five years.
After presenting the five-year awards, Sarvey moved on to the longer serving city employees. The city manager called up the people with 10 or more years of service.
Following the recognition for years of service, Sarvey moved on to the Max Dutton Award. The city manager said the award is bestowed upon a city employee who exemplifies the quality of selfless service to the community.
Before announcing the Max Dutton Award recipient, Sarvey provided some background on who Max Dutton was. The city manager said Dutton worked for the Rawlins utilities department for 37 years, from 1949 to 1986. Sarvey said Dutton became an integral part of the city.
The 2023 Max Dutton Award was presented to Rawlins Fire Department Battalion Chief Allen Robinson.
Sarvey said Robinson was nominated by Fire Chief Brian Schumacher. Reading from Schumacher’s nomination letter, Sarvey said for over a quarter of a century, Robinson has worked to strengthen his department and benefit the city.
Continuing to read from Chief Schumacher’s nomination letter, Sarvey said Robinson lead his team through two large-scale fires with no injuries. The city manager also said Robinson was crucial to the procurement of much needed emergency radio equipment.
Sarvey said Robinson serves on many boards and volunteers for innumerable events, such as acting as honor guard for fallen firefighters and organizing the city’s 4th of July fireworks celebration.
Robinson said serving the city is tough on him and his family, but he is motivated to help.
Also honored during Tuesday’s meeting was Rawlins Police Lieutenant Rick Hooper and the entire police dispatch team. In November, Lt. Hooper and the five members of the dispatch center received IT of the Year and Dispatch Team of the Year awards during the annual Wyoming Association of Professional Communication Officials and National Emergency Number Association conference.
Lt. Hooper was also named Supervisor of the Year by the city for his 22 years of service with the Rawlins Police Department.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the city was set to present the 2023 Employee of the Year award as well, but City Manager Sarvey said he had not selected a recipient. Sarvey said the winner must be chosen from the four most current Employee of the Quarter winners, and his initial choice was from 2022. The city manager said he will return at the January 9th Rawlins city council meeting with his final decision.
