One of the lighter moments of the Dec. 11 Fayette County Board of Commissioners meetings saw some county employees recognized for their efforts to display the Christmas spirit in the workplace.
County Administrator Steve Rapson awarded the tax commissioner’s office and the public works department with the winning trophies in the county employees’ annual door decorating contest.
“We had a tie this year, and with ties there is always controversy,” Rapson said as he began explaining each entry’s highlights.
The public works crew found a number of inoperable pieces of equipment with which to create their display, which was built in front of their facility on McDonough Road just east of downtown Fayetteville. A huge grader assumed the role of Santa’s sleigh, with red riding lawn mowers for each of the reindeer, with their names on placards identifying each one.
Rapson said it was an impressive achievement, “especially since it was mostly a bunch of guys.”
They emphasized that the work was done during many lunch hours and at home by each employee who participated.
While the contest is technically for the best door decoration, the public works department did not decorate the actual door to the building. Instead, the employees created a 30-foot “door” large enough to be seen from the road by motorists who passed by.
The good-natured competition was on full display as the photos of the public works entry were shown on the screens in the meeting room. Employees of the tax commissioner’s office were heard loudly saying, “It’s not a door,” in reference to the fact that public works employees did not use their actual door as the contest technically implies.
When the tax commissioner’s office entry was shown, those same employees stated emphatically, “That’s a door.”
Rapson pointed out perhaps the most interesting feature of the display, with the words “Merry Christmas” across the top of the door in letters cut out of car tags.
The employees themselves were given the opportunity to explain how they came up with their creations. The tax commissioner’s office display used a variety of ribbons that were woven together to fashion the tree, with small stockings for each employee and other highlights. They emphasized that the work was done during many lunch hours and at home by each employee who participated.
Public works director Phil Mallon conceded, “We didn’t pay much attention to the rules.” That remark drew a good deal of laughter, and he continued to say that his group’s display focused on utilizing as many different areas of his department as possible.
The second-place award went to the Water System, with a door (and a major part of the surrounding hallway) that incorporated a gingerbread house theme.
All of the participants spoke positively about the teamwork involved in these projects and way it allowed them to work together on a fun project apart from their regular work duties.
