In one of her last acts as chairman of the James City County Board of Supervisors in 2014, Mary Jones honored two employees and a citizen group for their service to the community.
Jones (Berkeley) gave the Chairman’s Award to employees Scott Brandt and Christina Spilde, both employees in the county’s General Services Division. She also honored Clean County Commission, a seven-member volunteer group.
Brandt, a landscape technician who has been working for the county for eight years, is responsible for taking care of plantings through the changing seasons.
He was honored for his exceptional work in a major overhaul of the landscape design at the James City County Government Center in addition to his countywide duties.
“Anyone who sees Mr. Brandt at work, he always has a smile on his face and he is always working,” Jones said at the Dec. 9 meeting.
Spilde, a senior groundskeeper who has worked with the county for nine years, is the lead worker of a landscaping crew that takes care of more than 60 acres of landscaped areas along 10 miles of roadways.
Her crew is responsible for maintaining the environmental character of the county’s buildings, sidewalks and trails.
“She is always such a hard worker and works to really keep the quality of the community just beautiful and I really believe the work that you do deserves recognition,” Jones said, addressing both the public and Spilde at the award presentation.
The Clean County Commission, which began in 1979, aims to better educate the community on littering and recycling, as well as coordinate beautification projects throughout the county.
“Thank you all for everything you do. I’ve watched how much you put into this over the years, and I do appreciate it,” Jones said.
In the 33rd annual countywide cleanup last spring, the commission mobilized 34 community groups to remove 117 tons of litter and 1,268 tires from roadsides and illegal dump sites, Jones said.
“This is a dear, pleasant surprise for me and the rest of my commission. … We’re honored to have this and we hope to keep on going,” said Peg Boarman, co-chairman of the commission.
