City Recognizes Public Safety and Water Resources Department Employees with STARS Awards

A group of Public Safety and Water Resources employees received STARS Awards in June for going above and beyond in their jobs as City employees.

The City recognized a group of Public Safety employees in the Police and Fire Rescue departments for demonstrating exemplary service in the rescue of a kitten at Birchwood Apartments on May 31, 2018. Officer Richard Whitley, Officer Eric Nelson, Sgt. Marja Atchley, Richard Crick, Mike Adams, Brandon McCullough, Robert Odom and Jeffrey Plaisted were presented with the STARS Award in June.

Mayor Shane McFarland recognized the Public Safety employees during the June 21, 2018, meeting of the Murfreesboro City Council with the STARS award for Outstanding Performance: “Succeeding Through Attitudes Reflecting Service Excellence.”

In the nomination narrative presented to the STARS Committee, dispatcher Amber Smith stated,

“On Thursday, May 31 around 0240 hours the Fire Department was sent to Birchwood Apartments at 1535 Lascassas Pike at the E building for a kitten stuck in between the wall and AC unit. At first the Fire Department was having a hard time getting the kitten out and advised that maintenance was aware and refusing to do anything. They also advised that the kitten would not last much longer. They advised us to contact Animal Control and see if there was anything they could do. Animal Control advised there was not really anything they could do. Ladder 8 asked if we could possibly have an officer come out to determine if there was anything they could legally do to rescue the cat. We dispatched Officer Whitely to see if he could assist. Officer Whitley and Officer Nelson and Sgt. Atchley responded and along with the Fire Department was able to rescue the kitten. While rescuing the kitten they discovered more kittens and were able to rescue the others. This shows exemplary determination in the rescue of these animals. When others were willing to give up and leave the kittens for dead our departments persevered and saved lives. I believe this is an example of going above and beyond normal job duties to provide exemplary service. In today’s news it seems we only hear about the negative and bad things that happen. Let’s share this story as an example of the goodness in the hearts of our local first responders.”

The STARS Service Excellence program is intended to recognize outstanding employees who embody the city’s standards for service excellence and exemplify the city’s core service values. The purpose of the STARS award is to recognize and reward those employees who go above and beyond their normal job duties in providing outstanding customer service to internal and external customers.

Three employees in the City of Murfreesboro Water Resources Department have been recognized with the STARS Award for service excellence. Monte Casto, Shift Supervisor, and Greg Sandidge and Brandon Lassiter, both Maintenance employees, were named STARS award recipients for June 2018.

Mayor Shane McFarland recognized the three Water Resources Department employees during the June 14, 2018, meeting of the Murfreesboro City Council with the STARS award for Outstanding Performance: “Succeeding Through Attitudes Reflecting Service Excellence.”

Casto, Standidge, and Lassiter received the nomination from Joe Russell, Assistant Plant Manager for the Stones River Water Treatment Plant. Casto, a Shift Supervisor, has worked for the City since April 2007. Standidge was hired September 2015. Lassiter was hired May 2017.

The nomination stemmed from action the three employees took in response to a chemical spill. The three were nominated by Russell in the following narrative:

“I would like to nominate Monte Casto (Shift Supervisor), Greg Sandidge (Maintenance), and Brandon Lassiter (Maintenance) for a STARS Award based on actions taken during a chemical spill at the Stones River Water Plant. On March 28, 2018, during the delivery of Sodium Permanganate the fill line to our bulk tank cracked and broke off. Monte, Greg, and Brandon leaped into action stopping the leaking pipe and tanker by turning off valves and isolating the leak. They then create a containment area by blocking and damming drains that could have taken this chemical to the river and caused environmental issues such as killing of fish and aquatic life. Then they neutralized the permanganate with another chemical at which point it was safe to flush and clear away. They didn’t allow a drop to make it to the drains. The truck driver got this chemical all over him and Monte took him to the shower and supplied him with a face cloth, towel, soap, shampoo, and a way to remove the chemical off himself. While the driver did have a change of clothes, the three were all willing to provide him with their own clothing they had in their lockers, if needed. Monte and Greg are HazMat team members. Brandon is HazMat certified but not yet on the team. Even though he is not on the team he still felt compelled to react and help the team members that were engaged.”

“On this day [March 28, 2018], these gentlemen went above and beyond their everyday routines and provide a service to the Stones River Water Plant and the City of Murfreesboro that reflects and exudes what we are looking for in our STARS employees,” stated Stones River Water Treatment Plant Assistant Plant Manager Joe Russell. “Casto, Sandidge and Lassiter are conscientious City employees and who care about doing the right thing.”

Congratulations to both Water Resources Department and Public Safety employees for being named recipients of the STARS Award for Outstanding Performance.