-By Erin Dixon-

Public service can be a thankless job. According to The National Employee Survey^TM, only 53 percent of local government employees say they have received recognition or praise for doing good work in the last seven days. National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) believes that city, town and county staff deserve gratitude year-round for their efforts in making their communities better. So we’ve picked out several local government organizations to recognize who have put in the extra effort this holiday season.

Franklin, Tennessee

The City of Franklin, Tennessee takes time each Thursday to send a special “thank you” note to a City employee or department for a job well done in serving the community. These gratuitous sentiments are extended to those individuals and departments who made an impact on someone’s daily life in the community.

St Charles, Illinois

With winter comes difficult road conditions and risk for commuters, so Public Works crews in St. Charles, Illinois spent a sunny afternoon practicing snow plow maneuvers to prepare for winter road conditions. By mastering the equipment and techniques for snow removal, St. Charles Public Works demonstrates a commitment to reducing vehicular accidents and managing inclement road conditions when the flakes fall.

Boulder, Colorado

The City of Boulder teams up with Boulder Housing Partners and residents who live in affordable housing to install sustainable solar panels. Not only does this help the City’s green initiative, but the residents receive training and experience for job opportunities.

Milton, Georgia

Many people travel during the holidays, leaving their homes vacant. The City of Milton offers special police patrol services to keep homes secure while residents are out of town. This gives travelers a little extra peace-of-mind during the holidays.

Savage, Minnesota

The City of Savage educates residents during Winter Hazard Awareness Week about the potential dangers of the cold weather season, such as hypothermia, home fires and more. Promoting winter preparedness within the community is one way to create engagement and comradery as residents and City leaders bundle up for colder climates.

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Recently appointed City Manager Stuart Ed dove head-first into public service by volunteering to assist in building five new homes with the City Fire Department and the local Habitat for Humanity. By being hands-on with this humanitarian effort, Ed begins his tenure by supporting a sense of City-wide unity.

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National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) is a leading full-service survey research and evaluation firm focusing on the information requirements of the public sector, including local governments, health care providers, foundations and non-profit organizations.  Visit our home on the Web at www.n-r-c.com.  Check out our media page for more news, tips and human-interest stories from NRC.