I realize that in two weeks time, it is Thanksgiving Day. But why wait? Today, I want to jump ahead and express my thankfulness for living in a city that works. When I reflect upon the basic services provided by the city, for the most part things go very well. And we should all thank our city employees for that.
High on my list is our Water Department. Since my childhood, I have marveled that at the turn of a faucet, fresh, clean water miraculously appears in my house. Now, I am not one to take this luxury for granted, nor should you. So, think about that every time you turn on the tap, I do.
Next, I admire the Power and Light employees. How would we live in today’s world without a reliable supply of electrical power? When a car knocks down a power pole, usually power is restored in short order. When a street light bulb goes out, it just takes a phone call to get a replacement. And I’ve lived here long enough to know that the Independence Power and Light hustles to get the power back on whenever severe weather blows a circuit.
Another group of front line city employees you may not hear a lot about are those in Water Pollution Control. They are at work every day to provide our city with reliable and dependable storm water and sanitary service. We all should give a wee bit of thanks to those who keep things flowing.
Who’s next? Well, just this year, I had to rely upon the police and the codes enforcement. Their work is more visible than many city workers because they are out in the neighborhoods in times of trouble. I thank them for improving my neighborhood and for giving me the ability to get a full night’s sleep. Personally, it is easy for me to compliment them.
And as I think over the years of living in Independence, other standout employees come to mind.
The animal control officers have tirelessly gone about the business of corralling abandoned dogs and dumped kittens. They have responded to my calls on various forms of road kill and on one occasion an officer came out to lecture some folks who entertained themselves by killing a young opossum the night before.
The street department has a street sign repairman, a street sweeper operator and a dispatcher for crews to fix pot holes. I politely “ring them up” on their business phones and “presto” usually, within a day the jobs are completed.
I have tried calling in anonymously to test and see if this just works for me, and I found out, it’s not just for me. These are responsible individuals doing their everyday jobs with gusto!
Also, there are firefighters, parks workers, engineers, lawyers, secretaries, clerks, and volunteers, all working for our benefit. Understand, it takes the contributions of many individuals to complete the portrait of a city that works.
And while I don’t have the space to salute everyone name by name, I am asking you to help me out. During the coming two weeks, as the Thanksgiving season unfolds, take it upon yourself to thank a city employee of your choice. Their effort and your thanks are precisely what “a community worth living in” is all about.
Independence, MO —
