BARRHEAD-For the second straight year, the County of Barrhead honoured its employees who have worked with the municipality for several years and had reached the five, ten and 15 benchmark.
Usually, employees who have reached the benchmark are honoured at the Agriculture Service Board‘s Appreciation Dinner in January. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the county cancelled the event for the second straight year.
In its place, the council recognized their achievements during a Dec. 21 ceremony before in council chambers.
Equipment operators Trent Girard and Mike Downing received awards for five years of service, while lead mechanic Andy Fraedrich, Kris Magill, and seasonal labourer Travis Anhorn were recognized for serving 10 years. Agricultural fieldman Kyle Meunier was the longest-serving member, receiving his 15-year award.
Downing
Downing is the grader operator for Area 2.
Infrastructure director Ken Hove said he is very "professional and efficient when operating equipment."
But moreover, he said Downing has very good grade control and understands the abilities of his grader and what its capabilities are.
When called upon, Hove said Downing is also often tasked with operating the county's bulldozer and backhoe.
"He also enjoys the challenge of new tasks and is eager to volunteer when anything comes up," he said.
Hove added that Downing is also called upon to help train new equipment operators.
Girard
Girard joined the county as part of the construction crew, a position he is sometimes asked to resume.
However, after four years, Hove said he developed the skills, patience and finesse to become a finishing operator.
"He now operates the D4 bulldozer and is the last one to leave any construction project, ensuring they are cleaned up to a high standard," he said. "Trent is mechanically gifted and has also become a fair welder, and as such, the shop often requests his help."
Magill
Magill has actually been with the county for more than 10 years, with his first few years spent as a seasonal worker on the construction crew.
"The scrapper was his speciality, but he could operate all the equipment," Hove said.
When the Area 5 grader operator position became available, Magill saw his chance to become full-time.
"Kris' patience and ability make him well suited for the job. Residents regularly call to thank him and tell us about the quality of his work," Hove said.
Fraedrich
Joining the county as a mechanic, a job he held for four years, he became lead mechanic six years ago.
In addition to being the lead mechanic, Hove said Fraedrich serves as the unofficial foreman of the public works shop.
"He is responsible for all equipment maintenance, including that of the fire department and the landfill and plays an active role in equipment purchases," he said.
Anhorn
Anhorn joined the county 20 seasons ago as a seasonal labourer on the construction crew, a position Hove hopes he will resume this season.
"He has been a key component on the labour crew ever since his arrival. When Travis builds a fence, it is straight as an arrow and the posts are evenly spaced," Hove said, adding when they have a new addition to the labour crew, they make sure they are teamed with Anhorn. "They soon learn what an honest day work is."
Meunier
In 2006, Meunier joined the county as an assistant agricultural fieldman.
He took over the fieldman role five years ago after Marilyn Flock retired after holding the position for many years.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun as an assistant and now full fieldman is a member of the provincial fieldman organization.
"It is quite a diverse group, with a lot of expectation on technical expertise and Kyle has been an active, well-respected member," she said.
However, Oyarzun said, for the majority of county residents, Meunier is probably best known for his expertise in "blowing up beavers dams."
"In Kyle's world, the biggest, worst swearword that is B, for beavers," she said. "
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
