The City of Foley recognized municipal employees for their dedication and service to the community during the annual employee appreciation meeting held Thursday, March 5, at the Foley Civic Center.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich thanked employees for their commitment and the role they play in making Foley a great place to live.

“As I travel representing our city, people ask how we do all this,” Hellmich said. “It’s because of you guys. It’s because y’all are proud of what you do. You love your city, and you love one another, and so coming to work is a labor of love, and it’s made our city special.”

Hellmich said city employees represent Foley in many ways, whether they are building sidewalks, clearing ditches, trimming trees or working with children in the library. He added that employees often go beyond their daily duties to help residents.

“We have the same problems that other cities have, but we have a team. When we say Team Foley, that means something to myself and our council,” Hellmich said. “The important thing that we do as Team Foley is work together. We get compliments on you guys all the time, and it is very much appreciated, whether it is somebody stopping to help fix a flat tire or going out of your way with somebody when they’re down and out with an issue.”

During the event, Logan Eberly, the city’s grants and special agreements administrator, received the Foley Extra Mile Award, the city’s designation for Employee of the Year.

Hellmich said Eberly frequently supports colleagues before help is even requested and has earned the respect and appreciation of staff members and department directors. He also noted her ability to work patiently with government agencies and navigate the complex regulations involved in grant applications.

“Her knowledge and ability to deal with these federal agencies and her patience is outstanding,” Hellmich said. “She’s sitting over here confidently discussing how we get through this particular issue. And that is much appreciated. It’s an incredible skill. What you bring to the table for us, and how you work with people is very much appreciated.”

The city also recognized employees for milestone years of service.

30 Years of Service
Tony Fuqua

25 Years of Service
Randy Stallworth

20 Years of Service
Chris Cummins, Devery Thomas, Reid Cole, Michael Lucas, David Thompson, James Smith, Virgil Conway and Mike Lipham

15 Years of Service
Carl Grant, Curtis Ricks, Brandon Purdue, Andrew Forsythe and Tommy Smith

10 Years of Service
Kate Ray, Cody Nims, Drew Schaff, Gary Schrader, Joshua Gentry, Andrew Salgado, Zach Gebhart, Robin File, Tyler Sundie, David Snyder, Wesley Ray, Michael Powell, Kevin Nodhturft, Kim Ebentheuer, Carter Chmielewski, Cody Carraway and James Pate

Five Years of Service
Matt Forner, Drew Norris, Ricky Lazauskas, Nichole Blackwell, Wynter Metz, Krystal Bodiford, Sara Kate Harkins, Nathan Smith, Shellie Kichler, Jeff Lee, Garreth Cotton and Warren Harbison

The annual appreciation meeting provides an opportunity for city leadership to thank employees for their contributions and recognize the teamwork that supports services and programs throughout the Foley community.