Alexander Mayor hosts awards dinner

(Corrections made July 17, 2016.)

City of Alexander Mayor Paul Mitchell hosted an awards dinner to recognize City employees and volunteers. The dinner and awards ceremony were held at the Alexander First Baptist Church Friday evening, July 8.

In his opening remarks Mitchell said, “This is the first time, that I know of, that we’ve ever done anything like this in the City of Alexander. I hope that next year we can continue this on, each and every year, to honor those who go above and beyond.”

“Above and beyond,” was definitely the theme throughout the awards presentations. Whether it was first-responders, city hall employees, or volunteers Mitchell expressed his gratitude for their efforts to go, “Above and beyond.”

“I can’t do it without them,” he said. “So this is a way of recognizing them.”

Mayor Paul Mitchell &
Fire Chief Mark "Gator" Ridgeway

Mark “Gator” Ridgeway

First up to receive one of three plaques was Fire Chief Mark “Gator” Ridgeway, who was selected Employee of the Year. Mitchell credited Ridgeway with rebuilding the fire department.

When Mitchell became mayor in January 2015 the city was paying Chrystal Hills Fire Department volunteers to be Alexander’s full-time paid firefighters. Also, by that time, all of the volunteers had left.

“It (fire department) was in disarray,” he said. “Lots of times I didn’t even know if I’d have anyone to fight a fire, or do a rescue.”

Ridgeway was a member of the fire department when it was the Woodland Hills Fire District. In 2006 Woodland Hills was annexed into the city and the fire district became part of the Alexander Fire Department. He remained with the department until he left in 2013 after sustaining an injury. Mitchell wanted Ridgeway to return as fire chief and restore the department.

“It took some convincing for a long time … to convince him to come back to the City of Alexander Fire Department.” Mitchell said. “He has restored our entire fire department, fixed all of the vehicles that were broke, … got full-time people hired; ... we have a full-time, 24-hour, seven days a week fire department now.”

“Not only that,” Mitchell continued. “He has managed to get us from an ISO of 3/9 to an ISO-2.”

As a comparison Little Rock has an ISO rating of one, the highest possible. According to Mitchell this puts Alexander at the same fire protection rating as Benton and Bryant. Mitchell also pointed out that Benton and Bryant are the only other cities in Saline County with a full-time, 24/7 fire department.

“I ask Chief Ridgeway to do ten-thousand other things besides fire,” Mitchell continued. “I asked him, can you get a signature on some annexation (documents) we have out here. Sure, I’ll take care of it," (Ridgeway’s response).

“He half-way runs the street department when I’m not available,” Mitchell said. “Anything I ask him to do, he’ll do.”

Reading from the award, etched into cut crystal, Mitchell said, “Employee of the Year, Presented to, Mark “Gator” Ridgeway, Fire Chief, Alexander Fire Department, Mayor’s Award, Alexander, Arkansas, 2015 and 2016.”

After an exhuberant round of applause Mitchell also presented Ridgeway with a certificate which reads, “Certificate of Recognition, This honor is bestowed upon Mark “Gator” Ridgeway, Alexander Fire Chief, In recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence, And is awarded this certificate by Mayor City of Alexander, July 8^th, 2016, Paul E. Mitchell, Mayor.”

“A little something, I know it’s not a lot,” Mitchell concluded.

“July 1^st is my nine year anniversary,” Ridgeway said. “I’ve been through four mayors, four police chiefs. I’ve got the best group of firefighters, police, brothers and sisters I could ask for; and the best mayor. I really appreciate it.”

Mayor Paul Mitchell & JoAn Churchill

JoAn Churchill

Next up was Office Manager JoAn Churchill. Mitchell first announced Churchill, “will be retiring next year.” He said he wants to talk her out of it but doubts he’ll be successful.

“She takes care of the day-to-day operations of the city,” Mitchell said. “As all of you know I have another job. I keep in constant contact with her on everything, on the things she needs my answer on. Things she can handle herself she handles.”

Besides her role as office manager Mitchell listed her other duties. “She’s our bookkeeper; maintains all of our books, makes sure everybody in the city gets their paychecks on time.”

“I call her my executive assistant also,” he continued. “Once again, like Chief Ridgeway, I ask her to go far beyond … at no additional cost, no additional money, just her regular pay and she’s doing all this additional work, and I really appreciate it.”

“She helps me out on so much, nothing that has anything to do with her job,” he said. “Hey JoAn can you check on this and find out; it’s done, I don’t have to worry about it.”

Praising the city employees in general he said, “All these people step up and go above and beyond. Once again, I can’t do it without these type of people. They make me look good.”

Reading from a second cut crystal award Mitchell says, “Presented to, JoAn Churchill, Office Manager, Service and Dedication, Mayor’s Award, Alexander, Arkansas, 2015 and 2016.”

After a round of applause Mitchell presents Churchill with a certificate. Reading from it he says, “Certificate of Recognition, This honor is bestowed upon JoAn Churchill, Office Manager-Accounting-Executive Assistant to the Mayor, In recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence, And is awarded this certificate by Mayor City of Alexander, July 8^th, 2016, Paul E. Mitchell, Mayor.”

Following more enthusiastic cheers and applause Churchill said, “I think that everybody that works for Paul will agree that he’s made working in Alexander a good thing. And, it’s pleasant.”

Mayor Paul Mitchell & Oscar DeLeon

Oscar DeLeon

The third and final crystal award went to Oscar DeLeon. A Sargent in the Alexander Police Department Reserve he’s responsible for up to 12 reserve officers and reports to the Assistant Chief of Police.

Mitchell pointed out that the reserve officers are all volunteers and are used to supplement the department’s five full-time officers. One of DeLeon’s duties is to insure each reserve officer is working the minimum 16 hours a month required to stay in the program.

“Sometimes … we got [sic] one maybe full-time (officer) out on the street at a time, if we’re lucky to have one,” Mitchell said. “This is where the reserves come in. They supplement and fill in so the full-time officer isn’t out their by himself.”

“So he keeps that, maintains hours, and (does) everything else that they might need to be necessary to keep that program running for the taxpayers,” Mitchell continued. “It’s a good program.”

“With the reserve and full-time police ... we have the third largest police department in Saline County,” Mitchell said. “And, the vast majority of these guys are full-time city firemen.”

According to Mitchell both last year and this year, on more than one occasion, someone didn’t show up on time for the next shift. “He hears it on the radio, he’ll just call central (dispatch) and check himself 10-8 on-duty and take over until someone showed up, finally,” Mitchell said. “So, he was always there. Most of the time these people just didn’t show up.”

Reading from the third and final cut crystal award Mitchell says, “Volunteer Award, Presented to, Oscar DeLeon, Alexander Police Department, Mayor’s Award, City of Alexander, Arkansas, 2015 and 2016.”

After the applause subsides Mitchell presents DeLeon with a, “Certificate of Recognition, In honor of, Oscar DeLeon, Sargent, Alexander Police Reserves, Recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence, And is awarded this certificate by Mayor City of Alexander, July 8^th, 2016.”

“You’re only as good as the people who work with you,” DeLeon said. “And, we appreciate the opportunity to even be here to do this, and thank the citizens to allow us to do this.”

Mayor Paul Mitchell & Juanita Wilson

Juanita Wilson

Another volunteer recognized at the awards ceremony was Juanita Wilson. A former alderman in Ward-2 Wilson volunteers by helping at city hall.

“Miss Juanita does so much for the taxpayers,” Mitchell said. “When we’ve got somebody off sick at the doctor, can’t be there (at city hall) for some reason, just call her she’s right there to fill in that spot; take the phone calls, work the front window. Without her we’d be short-handed at city hall taking other people away from their job.”

“If we had more like her we could do more for the city,” Mitchell continued. “Volunteers are always needed in the city, and some of them are really, really special; not only just volunteer but go above and beyond.”

Reading from the certificate Mitchell said, “Certificate of Recognition, This honor bestowed upon, Juanita Wilson, Alexander City Volunteer, Recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence, And is awarded this certificate by Mayor City of Alexander, July 8^th, 2016.”

“This is my city, too,” Wilson said as the applause was quieting. “I want to help do all I can.”

“My tax dollars is [sic] just like yours,” she continued. “They’re (taxes) going out to things we need done.”

“I found out this city is in the best financial shape it’s been in since it’s existence,” she concluded. “That gives me the right to be a real proud citizen of this town.”

Justin Potter

Full-time paid firefighter and reserve police officer Justin Potter was to be presented a Certificate of Recognition, however, he was not present at the awards ceremony. Mayor Mitchell proceeded to reflect on Potter’s two years with the city.

“He’s done an exemplary job as a reserve police officer in the City of Alexander,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know how he stays married, all the hours he puts in.”

“Last year, I don’t know what we would have done without him,” Mitchell continued. “Every time I looked up he was working.”

“He was filling all those slots in along with Oscar (DeLeon) making sure those calls (911) were being taken,” Mitchell concluded. “And, he’s done just an excellent job.”

Mayor Paul Mitchell & Anthony Small

Anthony Small

“This guy here is one of those I’ve been talking about with the Alexander Reserve Police Program; also one of our good, full-time paid firefighters,” Mitchell began. “What I’m awarding him with here is for his hours that he puts in freely.”

He, “Has put in an enormous amount of hours,” Mitchell said. “From what I hear from the Assistant Chief and Chief of Police his performance is top notch.”

“He’s one of those guys, once again, that has been there, that’s stepped up,” Mitchell concluded. “Every time that we fall down we need these guys to step up, and he’s one of those.”

Reading from the certificate Mitchell said, “Certificate of Recognition, This honor bestowed upon, Anthony Small, Alexander Reserve Police Officer and Firefighter, Recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence, And is awarded this certificate by Mayor City of Alexander, July 8^th, 2016.”

“Thanks for our new police admin (administration) for putting up with us and thanks for Gator (Ridgeway) for putting up with us,” Small said. “Thank you all for letting us serve.”

Mayor Paul Mitchell & Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins

The final honoree of the evening was Robert Hawkins. Hawkins is also a full-time firefighter and police reserve officer.

“Bobbie has stepped up, like the other ones, has really, really stepped up and has done extraordinary work for the City of Alexander,” Mitchell said. “He’s worked when nobody else would work.”

“I let Bobbie take a (police) car home ... because we didn’t have anybody working,” Mitchell continued. “He was there, with that car, at home ready to take those calls. He stepped up, he’s always stepped up.”

In summarizing Mitchell said, “These three, with the reserves, are the ones I’m awarding this to because without them stepping up … there were periods of time I was having so much difficulty in trying to keep that 911 call, that you make, (have) a police officer show up at your door.”

Mitchell acknowledged others in the police reserves have regular jobs outside the city and aren’t always available to fill-in unexpected gaps in the police department schedule.

Reading from the certificate Mitchell said, “Certificate of Recognition, This honor bestowed upon, Robert Hawkins, Alexander Reserve Police Officer and Firefighter, Recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence, And is awarded this certificate by Mayor City of Alexander, July 8^th, 2016.”

After his well-deserved, and a bit rowdy, round of applause Hawkins said, “I appreciate it, thank you all.”

The coincidence that the awards dinner was held nearly 24 hours after the sniper shooting in Dallas, Texas wasn’t lost on Mayor Mitchell.

“With everything that’s going on around the country today, in Dallas, there are law officers that are not going home,” Mitchell said. “This is a way to give back to those firefighters, the first-responders, and our police department. I want to recognize all of them everywhere. So, let’s give them all a hand.”

Everyone attending responded with a standing ovation.