Journal-News.com

FAIRFIELD — Service, teamwork, above and beyond, and reliability.

These are the qualities displayed by Fairfield employees who won STAR awards in 2008.

And one, or maybe more, of the 2008 winners will be named Fairfield Employee of the Year this week.

"I think it's an opportunity for the management and all the city employees throughout the year," said Assistant City Manager Dennis Stuckey.

The annual dinner and award ceremony is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. The event is organized annually by Jenny Burton, administrative assistant for City Manager Art Pizzano.

"It's the highlight of our year in recognizing our employees," Burton said.

STAR awards are given to city employees quarterly who represent service, teamwork, going above and beyond and reliability.

The recognition was an initiative from city council and started in 2000.

There is generally something new added to the event each year.

Last year, a baby-sitting service was provided for children between ages 3 and 12.

"That way, (parents) can have an evening out," Burton said.

About 200 people — employees, spouses and guests — are expected to attend the invitation-only event at the city's Community Arts Center.

Operator/maintenance workers Jason Turner and RC Wysong were both named employees of the year for 2007.

They were recognized for their work installing 36 computerized flow monitors throughout the sewer collection system, then retrieving the monitors 90 days later. The data was then given to an engineering firm to analyze.

The in-house work saved the city $25,000 to $30,000.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.