Volunteer spirit alive and well in Covington

BY DENNIS BOX

dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com

The spirit of volunteering is alive and well in Covington, and being recognized by the City Council.

Mayor Margaret Harto recognized a long list of community volunteers at the Tuesday City Council meeting. Harto pointed out 153 volunteers gave their time to the city during 2008 giving “almost 2,700 hours of volunteer time.”

The highlight of the evening was when the mayor opened the envelopes for the volunteer of the year and commissioner of the year.

Ashley Agnish was named the 2008 Volunteer of the Year. Agnish is a college student who gave her time at City Hall during the past six months, helping at the front desk, decorating the Christmas tree and assisting other departments. She also volunteered her time at the Valley Medical Center.

The 2008 Commissioner of the Year award was presented to Daniel Key, chairman of the Planning Commission. Key has served on the Planning Commission four years and has been the chair since 2007. During 2008, Key put in more than 100 hours of work for the commission along with volunteering for panel interviews and other meetings in public forums.

According to Karla Slate, community relations coordinator for Covington, the city had 64 commissioners who put in more than 1,300 hours of time in 2008.

The other awards presented to the many citizens who gave their time to help the city and community follows.

General Volunteers

• Arbor/Earth Day – Foxwood project

Travis Allen, Angie Allen, Thad Allen, Derek Allen,

Gracie Parrish and Sharon Parrish

• Adopting Gerry Crick Skate Park

John O’Bryan

• Rotary Jenkins Creek park project

Dick Koch, Marti Steindl, Bill Steindl, Kent Bryant, Jean Bouffard, Jim Tanasse, Treye Hovinga, Liz Collins, Bryan Collins, Kevin Holland, Kelly Galloway, Greg Schaller, Jo Blythe and Lloyd Rathburn

2008 Commission Awards

• Arts Commission

Gregg Lobdell, Davi Ann Mason, Rudi Sullivan, Deanna Dent, Saqib Ahmad, John Moore and Betty Nomura

• Parks and Recreation Committee

Liz Fast, Steve Pand, David Aldous and Connie Elliott

• Parks Commission and Shoreline Master Plan Ad Hoc Advisory Committee

Kollin Higgins, Bryan Liz and Martin Larson,

• Planning Commission

Dan Thomason, David Rudisill, Bill Blair, Sean Smith, Jim Moore and Daniel Key

• Planning Commission and Shoreline Master Plan Ad Hoc Advisory Committee

Sonia Foss and Paul Max

• Youth and Family Services Commission