The fifth annual Perry Safety and Employee Appreciation Day was held Wednesday at the Fire Station, and city employees from every department were on hand to be thanked for their years of service.

The first speaker was Mayor Jay Pattee, who told an anecdote from his recent hiking trip at the Grand Canyon. His wife, Jan, needed help after coming down with an illness, and several people, some who they had never met before, came together to help them out. Pattee then explained the connection to his story and how the City of Perry functions. “So it’s about (the) individual doing everything they can. It’s about working as a team. And that’s what I see here in Perry. I see it in all the departments with this City, I mean it doesn’t matter really which department it is.”

Pattee would go on to describe each department and how it has helped the City grow and become prosperous. When his speech was through, Pattee was surprised to receive a personal thank you from the City employees for his 15 years of service on the council and as mayor. The assembly then listened to a presentation from Jennifer Becker about workplace wellness and tips for staying fit and healthy while at work.

Deputy Public Works Director Josh Wuebker then kicked off the employee appreciation part of the event, recognizing each city employee and how many years they’ve served. Those who have served for a multiple of five were also given a certificate of appreciation. Three employees — Kevin Kenealy of the parks department, Patty Anderson of the police dispatch department, and Alan Kelleher of the streets department — were each honored for 30 years of service. The rest of the event featured a lunch catered by Hy-Vee, a presentation from City Administrator Sven Peterson about local option sales tax, a drone demonstration from Assistant Fire Chief Brian Eiteman, and a presentation from Dallas County Emergency Medical Services Director Mike Thomason.