The City of Zephyrhills recognized several employees with service awards at a regular city council meeting on Jan. 11.
Seventeen employees were presented plaques for achieving benchmarks of five, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years of service, respectively.
A service award ceremony is usually conducted at the city’s annual Christmas party, but the celebration was unable to occur because of COVID-19, according to Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe.
Of note was a presentation to Zephyrhills Police patrol officer Ray Revell, who reached five years of service with the city, but is retiring having a combined 25 years of law enforcement experience.
Revell previously spent 20 years with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, in various capacities. There, he is known for spearheading a veteran housing unit at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center in 2014, which offers a range of services for military veterans in the way of counseling, rehabilitation, job placement, life skills and an outreach program. Revell came up with the idea upon hearing of a similar program during a leadership planning trip to FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia.
Revell’s last day patrolling the streets of Zephyrhills was Jan. 11. His last official day in uniform will be sometime in mid-February. He joined the local agency on June 21, 2015.
“We’ve been lucky enough to have him for the last five years,” Poe said of Revell.
Meanwhile, the longest-tenured city employees recognized were streets foreman Joseph Galloway and building official Bill Burgess — as both achieved the 30 years’ service plateau. Galloway started working for the city on Oct. 3, 1990. Burgess began Oct. 25, 1990.
“The secret to any successful business or city is the longevity of their great employees,” Zephyrhills Council President Charles Proctor said at the meeting. “I’ve always been a major supporter of our employees and it’s exciting to see people staying with us for so long, and I appreciate all of your service, whether you’ve been here for one year or 30 (years), we appreciate your service to this great city.”
Added Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield: “I just want to congratulate the city employees that achieved the different levels of work and attendance and patronage to the city, and all the city employees who do such a great job. We just thank you all for the work that you do.”
Five years of service
Rodney Corriveau – senior planner – June 2015
Emile Limoges – patrol officer – May 2015
Ray Revell – patrol officer – June 2015
Eugene Howard – patrol officer – September 2015
Jodi Stewart – telecommunications operator – October 2015
Gene Rains – building maintenance specialist II – November 2015
Amy Knoechelman – customer service representative – November 2015
15 years
Peggy Panak – assistant library director – June 2005
Russell Guynn – parks maintenance worker II – June 2005
Stephanie Nelson – telecommunications supervisor – June 2005
Marvin Johnson – utilities service worker II – July 2005
Deborah Lopez – senior circulation clerk – August 2005
Kalvin Switzer – senior code inspector – November 2005
20 years
Tammy McIntyre – utilities department executive assistant – May 2000
25 years
Eugene Brown – public safety inspector – October 1995
30 years
Joseph Galloway – streets foreman – October 1990
Bill Burgess – building official – October 1990
Published January 20, 2021
