Good Job

Dana LeBoeuff
Public Works & Engineering
The city picked the Greater Houston Development Corporation to build her home, wrote Georgia Hill. After the first heavy rain, sewage backed up in both bathrooms. It seemed the sewer line was attached to a manhole with no openings, Hill wrote. The city worked on the pipes and graded the ditch.

“But water stands in the ditch,” Hill wrote. “Each time I called, the work was done, but not at my address.” Finally, after submitting photos and many more calls, Hill’s request was given to Dana LeBoeuff.

“He called me and explained what he was going to do as soon as the weather permitted, and he followed through,” Hill wrote. “He listened to me and went to the location to analyze the problem. I appreciate his professionalism and courtesy.”

Jean Olive
Finance & Administration
After several attempts to collect on an old city invoice, Wallace Gamble, president of Magellan Trading Company, spoke to Jean Olive.

“Ms. Olive guided me through the city bureaucracy with the attitude of a bulldog,” Gamble wrote. “She would not let up even when I was ready to write off the invoice.”

After many years of selling to the city and working with city employees, Gamble calls Olive the best. “She makes city government look good,” he wrote.

Laura Garza
Municipal Courts Administration
Laura Garza helped Oscar Alberto resolve a parking ticket he said he never received.

“Laura was very helpful, polite and patient, especially when working in a position of assisting those who can get irate when they call,” Alberto wrote.

Naresh Dham, Gary Bridges
Planning & Development
Naresh Dham and Gary Bridges expedited the review process, wrote Mark S. Mucasey, allowing his architectural firm to beat a near-impossible deadline for the bond closing on an apartment complex. Dham helped clear up a review issue that was stalling the permit process, and Bridges gave the firm a clear direction of how to proceed through the review process.

“These men stood out in their tremendous assistance,” Mucasey wrote.

Vassie Cook
Housing & Community Development
Human Resources Director Lonnie Vara cited Vassie Cook for an outstanding job of organizing the Texas Safety Association Public Employee award selection. “When a committee is a success, the credit starts with the chair,” Vara wrote. “We were fortunate to have Vassie serve as chair and as an ambassador for the city.”

Charles Foerster
Legal
Winn Richbourg’s client wanted to sell his property, but he did not have the deed. About 50 years ago, his parents bought the property from the city and lost the deed without recording it, Richbourg wrote.

Although she thought it was a hopeless quest, Richbourg wrote the city attorney asking if the city could replace the deed.

Charles Foerster took over. He advised Richbourg and her client of the status of the file, tracked the file, faxed a copy of the replacement deed for review and told them when the deed was ready, Richbourg wrote. “Your office was outstanding. Mr. Foerster was pleasant to work with and communicated with us without delay.”

Jeff Anderson, Patricia Bustamante, Hiawatha Henry, Benito Reyna, Deborah Williams
Library
The Salcedos praised these employees for providing videos that helped them educate their children at home. “Thank you for having reliable resources for home schooling and for being so helpful with our learning experience,” they wrote.

Stephen Bennett, Montecella Flaniken
Planning & Development
Kudos to Stephen Bennett and Montecella Flaniken for improving the Cimarron Civic Association neighborhood, wrote Buddy Horne.

Bennett, a community service inspector, removed junked and inoperable vehicles, cleaned up and mowed vacant lots, and enforced ordinances about house numbering, unsecured buildings, improper storage of materials and rodent control. Horne called Bennett courteous, personable, sincere, and an exemplary public servant.

Flaniken, assistant director, turned an eyesore into an attractive house with a well-kept yard, Horne wrote. Now, she’s working on another house that sports an old car with flat tires and a tractor in the front yard. “She should be commended from the highest levels for her performance,” Horne wrote.

Alfred Presley
Public Works & Engineering
As soon as Stella Makris realized she was paying a sewer charge for a sprinkler system she no longer had, she called the city. Alfred Presley quickly investigated and had the meter removed, Makris wrote. “He is a dependable and caring employee who expedited the matter efficiently and expertly.”

Bobby Oakes
Planning & Development
Citizens are singing Bobby Oakes’ praises. “He is polite, helpful and amazingly efficient,” wrote Jeanine Wolter, who called Oakes about permit problems in her neighborhood. “He’s the cream of the crop.”

John Suchina, who lives in a designated 100-year flood plain, agrees. After his next-door neighbor’s contractor left several loads of fill-dirt that resulted in water and dirt runoff on his property, Suchina called the city.

They held a meeting, but nothing happened until the drainage issue was given to Oakes. “Within a few days, Mr. Oakes corrected the drainage onto our property,” Suchina wrote. “Bobby Oakes took his job seriously and acted with integrity. He is the person to count on to get things properly done.”

Ernesto Buenrostro, Ruben Vela
Mayor’s Office
An abandoned property on Theresa Smith’s block was decrepit, and the yard was overgrown with weeds. When she called the city, Ernesto Buenrostro and Ruben Vela investigated.

“These men addressed the issue with the speed of lightning,” Smith wrote. “The property was cleaned and cleared and looks beautiful. The neighbors and I are extremely pleased.”

Reggie Epperson
Public Works & Engineering
Roberto Medina
Mayor’s Office
After years calling the city and being stalled, evaded and ignored, Frank Oidtmann enjoyed dealing with Roberto Medina, who wanted to help. He quickly found the ordinance that related to Oidtmann’s problem and e-mailed it. “Mr. Medina was courteous, knowledgeable and professional,” Oidtmann wrote.

Next, Oidtmann phoned Reggie Epperson, explained the problem and gave him the information he received from Medina. Within two weeks, the obstruction was removed, Oidtmann wrote. “Problem solved. A well-deserved attaboy to these two employees.”

Christine Gallegos, Somayya Scott, Karen Perkins
Human Resources
“Kudos to Christine Gallegos and her team,” wrote Anne Flournoy, president of ExecuTeam, a temporary staffing agency. Flournoy cited their outstanding accessibility, communication and problem resolution. Also, the accounts receivable status has never been better, Flournoy wrote. “We appreciate the great work of Chris, Somayya and Karen.”

Maria Jasso
Health & Human Services
Margie Balderas e-mailed 311 to thank Maria Jasso for quickly removing stray dogs from her neighborhood.

Keith Phillips
F&A
As an owner of the former Third Church of Christ Scientist building that was honored for historic significance, Deborah Keyser was trying to get an historic exemption for tax purposes. After a year of dealing with incorrect forms, transfers and inaccurate information, someone gave Keyser Keith Phillips’ telephone number.

“My sanity was finally restored,” Keyser wrote.

Phillips conscientiously guided her through the process. “I am indebted to him for his invaluable assistance,” she wrote.

Reda Richardson
Convention & Entertainment Facilities
Thanks to Reda Richardson, the event for the Houston Grand Opera trustees held backstage at Wortham Center was a success, wrote Mattew Shilvock. “It was an intimate and powerful experience for the attendees. Providing a seamless, professional evening for these people was invaluable to us. We couldn’t do it without you.”

Lane Ankenman, Milton Buell, Mark Evans, Ade Harris, Earnest Kirchner, Robert Parry
Fire
James McGraw’s fall from a ladder onto a hard deck prompted his wife’s call to 911. “Before we could blink our eyes, these great guys from station 78 were here,” McGraw wrote. “They were professional and knowledgeable. A big thanks to these competent firefighers.”

David Clark, John Cody, Ronnie Tovar
Fire
Linda Giles-Terrell
HEC
Shawn King’s 7-month-old granddaughter was choking. Panicked, King called 911. “The operator (HEC telecommunicator) was calm and got the information quickly and efficiently,” King wrote. “The EMS staff arrived faster than I expected and were very helpful. I am happy to know the service is so good.”

Sheila Blake, Gary Bridges, Marlene Gafrick
Planning & Development
With little experience getting building permits and no experience with city permitting procedures, Greg Stephens needed help and advice.

Neither the first nor the second try for his footings and foundation permit was approved, Stephens wrote. Yet, each plan analyst and supervisor was accessible and professional.

Sheila Blake, Gary Bridges and Marlene Gafrick met with his team often and provided helpful suggestions and information. “They deserve recognition for their efforts and professionalism,” Stephens wrote.

Marty Blaise
Health & Human Services
Research into food industry health and safety guidelines drew Maggie Moreland to health’s Web site. Copying and pasting the many pages into a separate document was time-consuming. What Moreland wanted was a PDF format she could download.

Less than five hours after e-mailing her request to Marty Blaise, Moreland had the file.

“Wow, that’s service,” Moreland wrote. “Thanks so much.”

E.L. Chew, M.J. Frost
HPD
As soon as Keith and Carolyne Finn of Miami realized their 16-year-old daughter had run away again, they began investigating. They called her friends and reported her absence to the Miami-Dade and Broward County authorities.

Because their investigation pointed to Houston, the Finns contacted E.L. Chew and M.J. Frost in HPD’s missing persons division. “They understood our concern, were compassionate and reassuring and took quick action. In less than three hours, they had our daughter in custody,” they wrote.

Contrast that with the authorities in Miami, the Finns wrote. “They called us for information to start the case after our daughter had returned home.

“We really need committed, caring, professional people like Officers Chew and Frost in law enforcement,” they wrote. “Please accept our respect and gratitude for a timely and well-done job.”

Roger Collins
HPD
A patient with a bite from a coral snake was admitted to East Houston Regional Medical Center, wrote Todd Caliva, CEO and president. The antidote is rare.

Officer Roger Collins used his cell phone to track down the antidote and took control of its delivery to the hospital, Caliva wrote. He arranged for a DPS helicopter to pick up the antidote in Lufkin, and because the hospital has no helipad, told them to land at a local Home Depot.

The weather got worse, and the helicopter couldn’t get to Houston, Caliva wrote. So Collins got a DPS trooper to meet the helicopter in Livingston and drive the antidote to the hospital.

“Officer Collins’ commitment saved the life of this patient,” Caliva wrote. “I can’t tell you how impressed our staff was with his dedicated efforts. He went above and beyond the call of duty.”