FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER’S DESK

Hurricane season is around the corner

It’s hard to believe we’re already planning for the next hurricane season, which begins June 1. This is a good time to update your family preparedness plan. I encourage you to

develop a plan so your family will know where to go if an evacuation order is issued. If you know your family is safe, you can concentrate on responding to the public without too much worry about your family. It’s also time to start thinking about items for your disaster supply kit. It should include a two-week supply of medications and enough drinking water and nonperishable food to last five to seven days. One of the most important things you can do to protect your home is to purchase a flood insurance policy. Learn more at www.floodsmart.gov. You also might want to download Emergency Management’s app, which offers a one-stop shop for emergency alerts, shelter locations, disaster supply checklists and more. To download the app, visit www.volusia.org/emergency. As always, thank you for your dedication to the public. We’re an excellent team, and we’re well-prepared if a hurricane or other disaster threatens our community. - George Recktenwald

Wetherington takes the helm of Emergency Management

Just in time for hurricane season, Volusia County has hired a new Emergency Management Director, Helene Wetherington. Wetherington comes to us from Monroe County, where she served as the disaster recovery director since 2018. She replaces Jim Judge, who retired in January. She brings more than 20 years of expertise in

emergency preparedness, planning, response and recovery, including stints with the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Coastal Management Program and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. She also served as the disaster management adviser to the Caribbean Overseas Territories. Wetherington holds master’s degrees in public administration from Florida Atlantic University and planning from Florida State University. She’s a certified emergency manager and an assessor for the national Emergency Management Accreditation Program.

Lynne Urice named accounting director

Maintaining and monitoring Volusia County government’s financial transactions is a big job. A 13-year veteran of county government, Lynne Urice has been overseeing the job as the acting accounting director since March 2020. And now, she has landed the permanent position. She started in the county’s Purchasing Division in 2008 and transferred to Accounting in 2010, first as an accountant and then working her way up to fiscal

resource manager before her promotion to assistant finance director in 2016. Urice has loads of expertise in preparing financial statements and general ledger entries as well as detailed experience in cash manage-ment, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets and payroll. She also oversees the county’s comprehensive annual financial report. A certified government finance officer, Urice has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Saint Leo University.

Lyonia Environmental Center reopens

The LEC has been alive and kicking for the past year, with staff offering camps and virtual

educational programs and welcoming socially distanced visitors twice a week. The popular attraction, which is operated by Environmental Management, returned to a full schedule on May 8. Visitors can stop by to learn about the county’s fragile ecosystems, take part in programs and visit the center’s animal ambassadors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. The center will remain closed on Sundays. County to cut ribbon for two trail segments Volusia County’s trail system has grown by two more leaps and bounds! The Volusia County Council will cut the ribbon for two new trail segments at these times:

• 10 a.m. Thursday, May 20, for the 3.6-mile Gobblers Gap Trail on Gobblers Lodge Road, Osteen

• 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22, for the 1.7-mile DeLeon Springs Trail along Ponce DeLeon Boulevard, DeLeon Springs

Hats off to our Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Culture staffs for planning and developing our impressive trail system!

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April retirees Thomas Sophie, Corrections, 31 years

Tom Morrissey, Road & Bridge, 21 years

Scott Mays, Water Resources & Utilities, 33 years

Doreen Pinkowski, Emergency Medical Services, 20 years

DOGGONE PROUD – The employees of Animal Services are proud of their latest award. Front row: Stacie Vander Velden, Billie Barner and Judi Wilkinson. Back row: Brittany Schupp, Shari Williams, Adam Leath and Norma Waterman.

Animal Services recognized for partnership with UF The expertise of animal cruelty investigations in Volusia County has been greatly enhanced by an innovative partnership between Volusia County Animal Services and the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory. What’s more, that partnership has received the Florida Animal Control Association’s 2021 Outstanding Cooperative Team Achievement Award. The UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory is helping to train Volusia County’s animal control officers in crime scene investigation, excavation of clandestine graves and how to identify, document and perform forensic examinations of animal abuse victims. The lab has also provided veterinary autopsy services in several cases, facilitating the filing of criminal charges and successful prosecutions. Volunteers clean the St. Johns River More than 160 volunteers turned out for the 25th annual St. Johns River Cleanup, a socially distanced event from April 24 to May 1. The cleanup crew included county employees, 4-H clubs, Boy Scout troops, businesses and families. Their efforts resulted in a whopping 2,275 pounds of trash being pulled from the river. According to Sondra McCulloch, an environmental specialist who coordinated the event, the most common items removed were cans, bottles, cups, bags and cigarettes. The cleanup, sponsored by Environmental Management, draws attention to the river’s environmental importance and helps keep the waterway safe and clean for animals and people.

Paramedic Brianna Sophie

Student worker program produces first hire A student worker program initiated by Volusia County Emergency Medical Services in 2018 has resulted in its first hire: Brianna Sophie. Sophie joined EMS as a student worker in February 2018, when she was a senior at University High School in Orange City. After completing paramedic school at Daytona State College, she became a state certified paramedic in August 2020. She was promoted to a paramedic trainee in November and was cleared to function independently as a paramedic in January. Sophie is a second generation employee in Volusia County Public Protection. Her father, Thomas Sophie, worked for the Division of Corrections for 30 years before his recent retirement. Public Protection and Volusia County Schools have partnered on the student worker program, which recruits high school seniors who are enrolled in public safety or medical academies and allows them to start their career in their chosen field.

Jean Joseph earns fourth master’s degree

Jean Aubanel Joseph, a plans examiner with the Building and Code Administration Division, recently earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida. He also holds master’s degrees in civil engineering (transportation engineering), civil engineering (water

resources) and urban planning.

Lt. Paramedic John-Michael Cochran

EMS boasts yet another success story Hard work and determination can help you move up within your organization, and John-Michael Cochran, a lieutenant paramedic with Volusia County Emergency Medical Services, is living proof. In eight years, Cochran has been promoted four times and has used his experience and knowledge to help train others. Cochran began his career with Volusia County EMS as an ambulance supply technician in 2011. After completing EMT school and receiving a promotion to emergency medical technician in 2012, he completed paramedic school at Daytona State College and was promoted to paramedic trainee in June 2013. Six months later, he was cleared to function independently as a paramedic. In 2017, Cochran started training new employees and paramedic trainees in his new role as a field training officer. Since then, he was recognized as Paramedic of the Year by his peers and was promoted to lieutenant paramedic in the operations division.

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40 FABULOUS YEARS – From left, Billy Arnau, Kim Dolce and John Wells were 2020’s top honorees.

313 employees honored for service milestones

Hard work, loyalty and creativity are the cornerstones of great employees. Volusia County’s incredible staff has all these qualities, and then some. More than 300 employees reached service milestones in 2020, one of the most challenging years ever faced by county government. Although we were not able to gather in person this year, we’re proud to recognize these impressive service milestones, and we’re grateful for the contributions each employee has made throughout the years.

AVIATION AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES Daytona Beach International Airport Pat O’Brien, 20 Paul Petersen, 20 Roberto Perez, 15 Joanne Magley, 10 Economic Development Robbin Sebra, 20 Pedro Leon, 15 BUSINESS SERVICES Facility Management Michelle Leigh, 20 Tim Swiger, 20 James Taylor, 15 Ronnie Burress, 10 Gregory Padgett, 10 Fleet Management Steven Reyes, 20 Randall Pulling, 15 Glen Schwanebeck, 10 Darrell St. Peter, 10 Purchasing Becki Bishop, 20 COMMUNITY SERVICES Community Assistance Vickie Heath, 20 Elleanor Brown, 20 Lisa Peterson, 20

Extension Marika Campbell, 30 Library Services Kim Dolce, 40 Sandra Skupski, 35 Janie Wright, 35 Cammie Newton, 30 Lisa Doig, 20 Judy Eisnor, 20 Rose Whitehorn, 20 Lorri Davis, 15 Cynthia Fouraker, 15 Ruth Knochel, 15 Margarita Velazquez-Mercado, 15 Karen Payano, 10 Kasey Thomas, 10 Parks, Recreation and Culture Lana Kayler, 25 Randy Long, 25 Ernie McLaughlin, 25 Jeff Johnson, 20 Tony Stoute, 20 Johnny Lee Williamson, 20 William J. Dwyer, 15 Richard Kinnaman, 15 Thomas Hodkoski, 10 COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Donna Greenlund, 25 COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE

Terri Pendarvis, 20

COURT SERVICES John Boyd, 25 George Sterthaus, 25 Carla Darling, 20 Israel Gonzalez Misla, 15 Isala Surukhkaka, 15 ELECTIONS Ann Fountain, 10 Kendrick Thomas, 10 FINANCE Accounting Phyllis Brodeur, 20 Penelope Jordan, 20 Beverly Stanley, 15 Information Technology Jim Edwards, 35 Dolores McDaniel, 30 Greg Hale, 25 Julie D. Kurpa, 25 Duane E. Makowski, 25 Timothy Boring, 20 Al Hill, 15 Jason Olsen, 14 H. Jason Longworth, 10 Treasury and Billing Diane Benton, 20 Dasha Cooke, 20 Carol Dickinson, 20 Lola Spence-Thomas, 20 Jessica Treichel, 20 Deborah Leighton, 15 Marsha Reynolds, 15

GROWTH AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Administration Briana Peterson, 20 Building & Code Administration Toni Mlachnik, 15 Environmental Mgmt. Kellie Steward, 20 Kelly Young, 20 Chad Macfie, 15 Planning & Development Billy Arnau, 40 Tracy Foelker, 15 John Stockham, 15 HUMAN RESOURCES Anne Whitehair, 30 Nancy Monaghan, 15 Tammy Woodruff-King, 15 OCEAN CENTER Lori Hunter, 35 Brad Murphy, 35 Steve Murphy, 30 Richard Yost, 25 PROPERTY APPRAISER Sherry Glass, 30 Twila Harrison, 25 Kathleen DiBenedictis, 20 Brandy Futch, 20 Debra Shapiro, 20

PUBLIC PROTECTION

Animal Services Shari Williams, 20 Jennifer Raulerson, 15

Beach Safety John Texter, 25 Christine Atkinson, 20 A.J. Miller, 15 Tristian Rodriguez, 15 Benjamin Whetstine, 15 Laura Warner, 10

Corrections Thomas Sophie, 30 James Blake, 20 Aisha Davis, 20 Jeremy Faircloth, 20 Michael Gallenkamp, 20 Matthew Harrison, 20 Jason Johnson, 20 Brendan Lowenstein, 20 Jason Moore, 20 Istvan Pap, 20 Michael Reyes, 20 Mark Winn, 20 Josh Agosto, 15 Jamie Bryant, 15 Christian Gray, 15 Dawna Harridge, 15 Matthew Miller, 15 Michael Paris, 15 Daniel Rau, 15 Karen Scarbough, 15 Robert Shields, 15 Joseph Talamo, 15 Abdel V. Santiago, 15 Tracey Wren, 15 Orin Bidwell, 10 Jeffrey Hudson, 10 Michael Marcum, 10 Todd Maynard, 10 Courtney Renwick, 10 Juan Salas, 10 Adam West, 10

Emergency Medical Services John Wells, 40 Denise Thomas, 30 Doreen Pinkowski, 20 Marc Esposito, 15 Elizabeth Payne, 15 Jonathon Recanzone, 15 Thomas Rovegno, 15 Ali Bloom, 10 Charlotte Bowman, 10 Stephanie Brown, 10 Jamie Doyle, 10 Michael Gallimore, 10 William Holt, 10 Michael Jones, 10 Damion Littlejohn, 10 Nikki Malloy, 10

Christopher Morrow, 10 Matthew Ruth, 10 Jamie Tahlier, 10

Fire Rescue Paul Ebanks, 30 Roy Rawlins, 30 Dolores Ferguson, 25 Mark Collier, 20 Kenneth Girlardo, 20 Jeremiah Greathouse, 20 Samuel Hooker, 20 Jose Lopez, 20 Jeffrey Mullinax, 20 Eric Schmalmaack, 20 Michael Weeks, 20 Frances Broda, 15 Charles Cassels, 15 Carl Cusumano, 15 Christopher Davis, 15 Norman Dwight, 15 Jason Fosterling, 15 Theresa Hanans, 15 Carl Kangieser, 15 Jeremy Karaginis, 15 David Kuypers, 15 Carl Laundrie, 15 James Lucas, 15 John Lucas, 15 Daniel Martz, 15 John Moak, 15 Daniel Rudnicki, 15 James Stasko, 15 William Whalen, 15 PUBLIC WORKS

Coastal Cecilia Anderson, 30 Joe Nolin, 30 Construction and Engineering Marcia Naber, 35 Mark McClain, 30 Raymond Rock, 30 Daniel Nimlos, 15

Mosquito Control Bruce Morgan, 35 Road and Bridge David Padgett, 20 Alfred Brooks, 15 Barbara Harrod, 15 Dennis Rettger, 15 Adam Cozier, 10 James Washington, 10 Solid Waste Eric Hill, 35 David Baker, 30 Jennie Weber, 30 Susan Brennan, 25 Richard Jones, 25

Reynolds Richardson, 15 Jennifer Stirk, 15 Robert Farnell, 10 Stormwater Darron Footman, 25 Earnest Dockery, 15

Traffic Engineering Allen Cates, 25 Water Resources & Utilities James Allen, 20 Mike Ulrich, 20 Preston Collum, 15 Gene Garrett, 10 Christopher Woodham, 10 SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Virginia Glynn, 35 John Harting, 35 John Lee, 30 Robert Rohm, 30 Nancy Strickland, 30 James Whitaker, 30 Randall Carlson, 25 Leisa Chasse, 25 Roy Combs, 25 Deborah Edwards, 25 Richard Hansard, 25 Brodie Hughes, 25 Goolcharan Laloo, 25 George Maddox, 25 Tina McClish, 25 Donna Murchison, 25 Tina Summers, 25 Clayton Vedder, 25 Elizabeth Williams, 25 Michael Worlledge, 25 William Blissett, 20 Adam Clausen, 20 Jennifer Clay, 20 Budd Darling, 20 Jennifer Elkins, 20 Heidi Girke, 20 Karen Glaesel, 20 Sean Gowan, 20 Austin Hairston III, 20 Shelley Hattaway, 20 Daniel Jackson, 20 Karen Johnston, 20 Michael Lane, 20 Margaret Loconte, 20 Lindsey Matusick, 20 Kyle McDaniel, 20 Tim Morgan, 20 Kevin Moss, 20 James Nunn, 20 Jose Ramos, 20 Betty Jo Rossetti, 20 Deedra Stoll, 20 Timothy Webster, 20

Steven Wells, 20 Carol Annorino, 15 Tyler Becker, 15 Liliane Benucci, 15 Erik Bertling, 15 Ann Birencwaig, 15 Matthew Brunelle, 15 Denise Collins, 15 James Joseph Conrad, 15 Dennis Dearborn, 15 Steven Eisen, 15 Julian Elmazi, 15 Shirley Farina, 15 Lonnie Feaster, 15 Jennifer Finigan, 15 Richard Fortin, 15 Trevor Gamble, 15 Jami Girlardo, 15 Robert Ham, 15 Chuck Hillyard, 15 David Jewell, 15 Sujey Jimenez, 15 Tracy Koehler, 15 Lance Lamee, 15 Tracey Lopez, 15 Magalis Maldonado, 15 Louis Marino, 15 Kathryn Matthews, 15 Omar McKnight, 15 Albert Pagliari, 15 Austin Raimundo, 15 Taylor Sierstorpff, 15 Heather Sykes, 15 Mike Trinkle, 15 Jessica Wagers, 15 Joyce Walker, 15 Fred Wenk, 15 Summer Wilson Forst, 15 Robert Woell, 15 Seth Amrhine, 10 Matthew Andracke, 10 Steven Bryan, 10 Roslyn Caban, 10 Brandon Cobb, 10 Darin Gallant, 10 Scott Gering, 10 Dennis Gonzalez, 10 Benjamin Gordon, 10 Christopher Igo, 10 Cordell Lemay, 10 Jason Lewis, 10 William Mather, 10 William McCarthy, 10 Dennis Miller, 10 Amy Ort, 10 Gregory A. Ray, 10 Corey Rittenour, 10 Matthew Seltzer, 10 William Blissett, 20 TAX COLLECTOR

Patty Thomas, 30 Brian Rothwell, 15

Public Protection to honor deceased paramedic

When Volusia County’s Public Protection Department announced plans last year to open an emergency medical services building next to a southeast Volusia fire station, long-time paramedic Gerald Jones was looking forward to working out of the new site. Tragically, he died from COVID-19 complications on Sept. 20.

His coworkers are carrying his dreams forward by placing a plaque honoring him in the new building. The dedication ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Volusia County Fire Rescue Station 23, 1800 Pioneer Trail, New Smyrna Beach. "Gerald emulated excellence, quality and commitment in a life of service to the residents of Volusia County,” said Emergency Medical Services Director Jason Brady. “Volusia County EMS will never forget Gerald, and his memory will remain a permanent fixture at Station 23.” Jones, a U.S. Navy veteran who worked for Volusia County Emergency Medical Services for 21 years, is survived by his wife, Emily, and son, Joshua. Public Works plans road survey

To develop long-term maintenance plans and budgets, Volusia County has re-engaged with IMS Infrastructure Management Services to complete a detailed inventory and

condition rating of roadways maintained by the county. According to Public Works Operations Manager Arden Fontaine, the data will be collected and analyzed by IMS engineers to develop a management program that will assist the county in developing long-term rehabilitation plans and budgets. The project will begin with a road survey to inventory and collect pavement performance data using a high-tech device that measures pavement surface distresses and collects digital and GPS information. Once the data is collected, it will be combined, managed by the IMS team and used to develop a series of reports that will allow the county to cost effectively budget for the long-term maintenance of the roadways. The report will provide a multi-year rehabilitation program that will recommend maintenance programs based on need, priority based on cost-benefit, and cost of deferral.

It’s time to earn your wellness incentive dollars! This year's Wellness Incentive Program offers three ways to earn your wellness dollars. You only have to complete two of the three following components for a total maximum of $300: 1. Complete the biometric screening component. 2. Complete the health assessment component. 3. Complete the COVID-19 vaccination component. Employees who have Cigna Health Insurance with the county must complete and submit this form: Wellness Form 2022 Cigna 050721_1. Employees who DO NOT have Cigna Health Insurance with the county must complete and submit this form: Wellness Form 2022 Non Cigna 050721_1. For more information on the Wellness Incentive Program, visit the Human Resources website on ENN or the Volusia Employee Benefits app on your smartphone. Avoid the registration line Need to renew your tag but don’t want to wait in line? Employees can renew their registrations via interoffice mail or online through the Tax Collector website. To renew by interoffice mail, send your renewal notice or a copy of your current registration, proof of Florida insurance and a check made payable to “Will Roberts, Tax Collector” in an interoffice envelope addressed to Tag & Title, 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach. Include instructions on where to send the renewal. Your renewal will be processed within 24 hours of receipt. Online renewals may be completed 24/7 at www.vctaxcollector.org. Select “pay online.” For more information about registration renewals, call ext. 14610.