Mayor Shane McFarland Recognizes Richard Johnson with STARS Award

Mayor Shane McFarland honored City employee Richard Johnson as the September STARS Award recipient during the Oct. 19, 2023, City Council Meeting. Johnson is an employee of the Water Resources Department who took quick action to extinguish a burning vehicle.

Hired in April 2022, Johnson serves the Water Department as a Water Resource Equipment Operator.

City employee Todd Adams provided this information in nominating Johnson for the STARS award:

“Mr. Richard Johnson, a Water Resources Operator, was driving his dump truck along John Bragg Highway on the morning of September 14, 2023, when he noticed a burning vehicle by the side of the road. In an effort to get assistance, the driver flagged Mr. Johnson down. Mr. Johnson exited his dump truck, grabbed his fire extinguisher, and commenced putting out the flames on and around the vehicle. Unknowingly, Mr. Johnson’s prompt response likely prevented injuries and additional damage to the person’s vehicle.”

STARS stands for “Succeeding Through Attitudes Reflecting Service Excellence.” STARS are examples of representing the City in a positive light, exhibiting the core values, and creating a better quality of life for citizens.

The STARS Service Excellence program recognizes 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 beyond their normal job duties in providing outstanding customer service to internal and external customers. The STARS nominations are reviewed each month by a STARS committee consisting of City employees who then vote for the nominees.

Congratulations to Richard Johnson for being named a STAR!