INC NEWS - Employees honored with City's STAR Award

[John Schelp]

folks,

Each month, the City honors employees for exceptional
public service with a STAR Award. Many hardworking
employees deserve this award.

Today, the City announced its September STARs. The
list includes someone whose work has been praised on
this listserv, Phil Loziuk.

hearty congrats to all,
John

****

October 19, 2005
September 2005 STARs!

Customer Service

Phil Loziuk
Public Works/Transportation

Phil Loziuk is one of our City's hardest working
employees. He cares deeply about transportation
issues, pedestrian safety and traffic calming. Below
are some examples of Mr. Loziuk's work with the
community.

To improve the safety along a popular bicycle
commuting route to RTP:

* Lack of zebra-stripe crosswalks where South Ellerbe
Trail crosses West Knox, Green, and Markham. Action:
Durham Transportation painted new zebra-stripe
crosswalks within a week of request, thanks to Phil
Loziuk (Durham transportation).

* Newly repaved section of Otis Street resulted in
zebra cross-walk at American Tobacco Trail not being
repainted. Action taken: Phil Loziuk had cross-walk
painted immediately after request.

* Install five new "Share the Road" signs along
Cornwallis Rd, between American Tobacco Trail and RTP
(to help remind motorists to keep a watchful eye for
bicyclists on the side of the road). Action taken:
Public Works responded in 48 hours and installed all
five signs in a short period of time, thanks to Public
Works director Katie Kalb and Phil Loziuk.

* Lack of outside lane lines (along Cornwallis,
between Industry Lane and Bainbridge Dr). Action
taken: Durham Transportation painted white stripes
along the section, thanks to Phil Loziuk.

* Lack of Stop sign at Laurel Oaks. Many cars exit the
residential complex, crossing both a sidewalk and the
Cornwallis bike lane. Action taken: Done, thanks to
Phil Loziuk.

Mr. Loziuk spent hours working in the community,
including several days working with EK Powe teachers,
parents and OWDNA to come up with a number of measures
to slow traffic around EK Powe School on Ninth Street:

* Durham DOT re-striped and added zebra cross hatches
to existing Ninth Street cross walk (by crossing
guard).

* Added three "20-minutes" parking spaces in front of
lower doors on Ninth (to create safe pull-out area for
late parents and school visitors).

* Replaced the "No Parking" signs on Ninth Street

with updated school hours.

* Re-striped and added zebra cross hatches to existing
West Knox Street cross walk (at Ninth). 

* Added striped triangle, with white plastic posts, to
clarify turn lane and create "pause" for peds in cross
walk (between fire station and EK Powe).

* Promised to come back in a year and replace old
school "flashing-light" signs with new ones on Ninth
Street (telling drivers a school is ahead). Just
completed.

The list goes on...

* Completing an effective traffic calming package for
Old West Durham (sans consultants).

* Working with the community and DOT to build the
sidewalk on Hillandale Rd (connecting Watts-Hillandale
and OWD with the county's largest employer at Duke as
well as providing a safer environment for Crest Street
community members to walk to the Food Lion on
Hillsborough Rd).

Throughout these interactions, Mr. Loziuk was patient
and understanding (and not afraid to explain why some
things may work while other things may not). He went
well beyond the call of duty.

For all these reasons and more, it's an honor to
nominate Mr. Loziuk for a STARs Award.

****

Noland Jones
Water Management/CBS

Noland Jones came to me and suggested that we take up
a donation for the victims of hurricane Katrina. 
(This was prior to the Seven Stars initiative) He had
such zeal to do something to help, that he talked to
staff in the Division, found a container in which to
put donations, made sure donations would be secure,
and discussed other sites where clothing was being
collected.  In addition to contributing to the cause, 
over that weekend Noland discussed this with his
friends outside of work and brought a large donation
from them on the following Monday. Noland participates
in these types of activities in the Department, but
this is the first time he showed his leadership
ability by organizing this in the Division. Noland is
commended for his initiative and caring. (Special
Note)I understand that many people have contributed to
this cause and they all should be applauded.  

****

Integrity

Chris Shepherd
Parks and Recreation

Chris demonstrates integrity in his everyday dealing
with kids and their families through the nature
programs he runs for Parks and Rec.  My children have
benefited from his programs for over 4 years now.  I
am always impressed by his wonderful soft-spoken style
which communicates the respect he has for his young
students and his passion for sharing the secrets of
nature with our city's youth.  He masterfully runs a
summer camp program that brings together children from
all different backgrounds in our City -- to spend the
day together playing capture the flag or catching a
tadpole in the creek.  His concern for children is
palpable.  He is a true gem and someone we are lucky
to have in our city's recreation program.

****

Teamwork

Billy Gregory
Solid Waste

Billy has worked for the City for over 25 years and is
currently a Crew Chief at the City's Transfer
Station/Yard Waste Facility.  Multi-tasking is Billy's
middle name.  On any given day you will see Billy
operating equipment, assisting citizens, training
staff and doing whatever it takes to complete the
mission. Billy always can be seen helping his
employees getting the job done even if it means coming
in on the weekend to help.  He goes out of the way to
offer his assistance.
 
****

Leadership

Jody W. Morton
Fire/Prevention

Fire Inspector Jody Morton has demonstrated
outstanding leadership capabilities in the Fire
Prevention Division.  His fire inspection numbers
consistently exceeds the required Division¡Çs mandate.
 Fire Inspector Jody Morton also handles additional
duties as they arise.  He willingly fills-in as the
Division Head in the absence of Assistant Fire Marshal
Eddie Reid and Fire Marshal Kenneth E. Crews.  He
constantly works with the Fire Captains in terms of
any fire code situations that may arise, i.e. fire
inspection assisting.  He also deals with customers in
a very unique way in that he is able to defuse a
hostile situation without the situation getting out of
hand.  He has demonstrated exceptional knowledge in
terms of Code interpretation.  Fire Inspector Jody
Morton has also completed the State requirements for
teaching the Fire Prevention Levels I, II and III
classes.  Additionally, he has achieved his North
Carolina State Certified Fire Investigation
Certificate.  He also has obtained his National Fire
Investigation Certification.  He conducts all of his
investigations in a very thorough manner.  He is very
instrumental in teaching fire extinguisher classes to
City employees.  Finally, he has demonstrated all the
attributes of an outstanding leader.

****
 
Open Communication

Eugene (Gene) Arrington Solid Waste/Street Cleaning
Overall Open Communication

****

Fairness

Chris Cates
Solid Waste/Street Cleaning

Overall Fairness to fellow co-workers.

****