The City of Independence took some time to recognize the efforts of city employees on Friday during the annual employee appreciation luncheon held at Memorial Hall.

 

Twelve employees were recognized for their years of service, ranging from 5 to 35 years and several promotions were also announced. City Manager Kelly Passauer introduced the City’s “Core Values Awards,” a new recognition program honoring employees whose work reflects the city's values of Integrity, Commitment, Excellence, and Teamwork. This year’s winners were Zookeeper Katie Southworth for Integrity; Water/Sewer Department employee Dan Cranford for Commitment, Police Dispatch Supervisor Bridget Hammer for Excellence; and Deputy City Clerk Andrea Easley for Team Player.

 

The Louis Ysusi Cost Savings Excellence Award was also given out to recognize the thoughtful stewardship of public resources. This year’s winner was Park Maintenance employees Eric Johnson, for his efforts in facilitating the completion of the Riverside Park statue garden. The upgrade allows visitors to activate the water feature as needed, and completing the work in-house saved the City more than $10,000.

 

Photo: Eric Johnson receives the 2025 Louis Ysusi Cost Savings Award of Excellence. Courtesy City of Independence