Mayor to Present December 2020 Award of Excellence

Published on September 13, 2021

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today will present the Mayor’s Award of Excellence for December 2020 to Steven Harris, a Gardener in the Parks and Recreation Department’s Northwest District. The award will be presented at 3 p.m. at the beginning of the City Council meeting at the County-City Building, 555 S. 10th Street.  The award presentations for 2020 were postponed due to the pandemic. The awards recognize City employees who consistently provide exemplary service and work that demonstrates personal commitment to the City.

Harris was nominated by Susan Larson Rodenburg of the Lincoln Parks Foundation in the category of customer relations for his work preparing for the “Hub & Soul” concert series in Union Plaza, which kicked off its third year on  Thursday.  Rodenburg says Steve is professional, accessible, dependable, and enthusiastic about the event.

“Steve took it upon himself to ensure that Union Plaza was beautiful, clean, and safe for the event each week,” Rodenburg wrote in her nomination.  “He set out the fence panels; mowed, trimmed, and pruned the park; provided electricity panels to the amphitheater; installed shade structures; supervised his crew; assisted volunteers; and had a presence at each event.”

The other categories in which employees can be nominated are valor, productivity, safety, and loss prevention. Consideration also may be given to nominations that demonstrate self-initiated accomplishments or those completed outside of the nominee’s job description. All City employees are eligible for the award except for elected and appointed officials. 

Individuals or teams can be nominated by supervisors, peers, subordinates, and the public.  Nomination forms are available at lincoln.ne.gov/awardofexcellence or from department heads, employee bulletin boards or the Human Resources Department, which oversees the awards program.

All nominations are considered by the Mayor’s Award of Excellence Committee, which includes a representative with each union and a non-union representative appointed by the Mayor.  Award winners receive a $50 gift certificate, a day off with pay and a certificate.  All monthly winners and nominees are eligible to receive the annual award, which comes with a $250 gift certificate, two days off with pay and a plaque.