Northampton County employees who have reached service milestones for Fiscal Year 2025 were recognized for their service at the November 13, 2024 Board of Supervisors meeting.
From left to right: Ronald Rowe, Robert Hole, Anna Marie Crockett, Charlene Bagwell, Lane Parks, Tammy Selby, James Gray
Do you ever stop to think about how things get done in our County? How the trash is taken care of so we aren't living on heaps of it in our backyards? How when there is an emergency, there are people who run towards it to help? How our laws protect all of us and how those laws are applied to many circumstances whether it is building a house or driving too fast or anything in between? How we have beautiful parks to explore? How there are free boat ramps to use for fun or business? How there are programs offered for our family enjoyment and recreation? How there are schools for our children to learn and grow? How we can balance the budget to pay for all the things it requires to run County government? We all benefit from a stable County government that strives to make all of our lives easier and more fulfilling. The Northampton County employees aim to make our County a place where we can all be proud to live, work and play.
The Northampton County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 recognized County employees who have reached service milestones in their dedication to public service of our County.
Charlene Bagwell receives Letter of Recognition from Janice Williams.
Deputy County Administrator, Janice Williams said it best, "I have often told the Board that their employees are our greatest assets. Tonight, we are implementing a new event to thank, and to honor, those of our employees in the Board of Supervisors’ departments who have reached Service Milestones during Fiscal Year 2025."
Of the all the milestones recognized, Ronald Rowe, Director of Solid Waste and Recycling was clearly exceptional. Forty five years!
Mr. Rowe has served Northampton County for 45 years!
Janice Williams, gave a touching speech about Mr. Rowe and the kind of employee he has been for our County. We wanted to share with our readers some of the speech she gave:
"Board Members, this is the epitome of a public employee. When we have a snow storm and many of us are waking up and putting on our happy faces and our PJs because we can laze around all day on the couch watching movies, Ronald is on his way to the transfer station to clear the road. The road leading into the transfer station was taken out of the VDOT system years ago so we can’t count on VDOT to clear it. It’s up to him to make sure the road is clear, not only for the staff, but for the citizens who will be using the site. The Maintenance Department has its hands full with clearing around the County Complex, the EMS stations, and all of the other facilities. When Ronald’s finished with that, he’s traveling from one end of the County to the other, from Cheapside to Wardtown, to see the convenience center sites, to make sure that they are safe for both the attendants and the public. Because you know as well as I do, that there are some citizens who simply can’t wait at home until the snow melts a little, but must carry that bag of trash out immediately!
That’s what drives this man. Not the dollar figure that’s shown on his pay stub, but how best he can serve the residents of this county….how he can make the solid waste system not only function, but function efficiently and safely.
That is who he is. When he is asked to do something, the first words out of his mouth are not, “Are you going to pay me for it?” It’s “when do you need it done, Janice?” That’s a very rare quality these days. But I can think of no finer testament to what it means to be a public employee.
Board members and guests, I’m thankful tonight for Ronald and his years of loyalty and dedication to Northampton County."
There was a round of applause and then a standing ovation for Mr. Rowe who then gave a short speech about how touched he was to be recognized and how he was thankful for so many years of employment with the County. He will receive a bonus and two weeks off.
Thank you to everyone who dedicates themselves to public service and contributing to our lives in ways we may not stop to think about.
You make our County an extraordinary place to call home!
The Northampton County employees who were recognized for Fiscal Year 2025:
Charlene Bagwell, Emergency Medical Services: Five Years
Anna Marie Crockett, Emergency Medical Services: Five Years
Lane Parks, Emergency Medical Services: Five Years
Tammy Selby, Emergency Medical Services: Five Years
Robert Hole, Facilities Management: Five Years
James Gray, Emergency Medical Services: Ten Years
Jennifer Simpson, Finance Department: Twenty Years
Ronald Rowe, Solid Waste Management & Recycling: Forty-Five Years
Congratulations on your milestones. We appreciate all you do for Northampton County!