Independence Fire/EMS Chief Shawn Wallis was awarded Employee of the Year by the city of Independence at its most recent city meeting.

 

Wallis is very highly regarded among his peers in the department.

 

Other nominees include:

• City Clerk/Treasurer David Schwenker

• Police Captain Lisa Helkenberg

• Police Dispatch/Records Supervisor Melissa Adey

• Street Department Public Service Worker, Richard Hawk

• Sanitation Department Public Service Worker, Curtis Wilson

• Park & Zoo Guest Services Coordinator, Crystal Ellis

• Zookeeper Mia Perez

 

The other nominees were awarded a certificate from the city.

 

Also awarded were the water and sewer crews who worked tirelessly throughout the sub-zero stretch in mid-February. The city had water main breaks and other issues in their water and sewer systems that needed to be fixed to keep water running in the city during the cold period. The city thanked them for their perseverance and a job well done under extraordinary challenges.

 

Those awarded were:

• Derrick Bays

• Paul Bunch

• Tim Cannon

• Dan Cranford

• Steve Elder

• Dalton Fosnight

• Zach Harris

• Russell Lloyd

• Aaron Stringer

• John Felton