Employee Newsletter January 2020

CITY OF HOT SPRINGS — EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER

FAMILY Allen Goines with
wife, Illissa, and
MAN son, Hayden
On and off the clock

January 2020

Volume 20 – Issue 4

Exciting year ahead for City family Coming Events

City employees, January

The winter holiday and new year season is a time for family. It’s a time to City Events
reflect back on the year that was, to give thanks for the present and to look in
anticipation to the year ahead. Some among us are experiencing challenges and Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day;
loss in their personal family lives. Others may be celebrating new additions or City offices closed
milestones in their families. Through it all, a solid foundation for our 600-strong,
one that we can always count on, is our work family. Hot Springs Events

As 2019 came to a close, our CHS family came together Jan. 14 – Arkansas Highlands Folk
to honor those who are entering retirement after many Project (Garland County Library)
years of service to our community. We raised money Jan. 18 - March 18 – A Photo Album
for four Christmas families – those whose unfortunate of Ireland (Convention Center)
circumstances threatened the chance for a happy
holiday. We enjoyed holiday potlucks and fellowship. Jan. 24 – Opening Day of Oaklawn
thoroughbred racing season
The season also highlighted the pride and purpose we Feb. 2 – Sweet 16th Annual
Chocolate Festival (Embassy Suites)
all share in serving the Greater Hot Springs community. Feb. 12 – 11th Grade Career
Exploration Fair (Convention Center)
The Police Department helped make 25 area youth’s
Sports Recreation
Christmases brighter with their first annual Shop with a Bill Burrough Registration
Hot Springs Cop event. Animal Services found “forever City Manager
homes” for all of their adoptable dogs and cats at the • 6 and under Tee Ball (Coed):
1/1/20 – 2/28/20
animal shelter – a total of 33 adoptions – at their 2nd
• 8 and under Machine Pitch (girls):
Annual Home for the Holidays event. The more than a million lights on display 1/1/20 – 2/28/20

downtown, courtesy of countless hours of work by our Parks & Trails crews, • 10 and under Machine Pitch/Fast
Pitch (girls): 1/1/20 – 2/28/20
brought joy to locals and visitors. These are but a few of the more visible year-
• 12 and under Fastpitch (girls):
end initiatives, but there have also been countless unsung successes to reinforce 1/1/20 – 2/28/20

our City’s culture of caring. • 14 and under Fastpitch (girls):
1/1/20 – 3/27/20
This edition’s cover story about recent HERO honoree Allen Goines is such an
example. We applaud his and his personal family’s consistent and extraordinary • Men’s Slowpitch: 1/1/20 – 2/23/20
efforts to enhance the family at the Hot Springs Fire Department. We also thank • Women’s Slowpitch: 1/1/20 – 2/23/20
Lt. Andrew Davis for taking the time to recognize Allen’s work.
www.cityhs.net/sport-rec
As our City family embarks on a new year and a new decade, I foresee our work
life together only strengthening. We welcome Kevin Brownlee and his leadership
experience to serve our city as a Deputy City Manager alongside Lance Spicer.
With Kevin filling the vacancy at City Hall, I look forward to having the opportunity
to stay more connected to each of your areas. I also plan to bring back City-wide
meetings to share our goals and objectives and to get your input, questions and

feedback.

Happy New Year,

City Manager
City of Hot Springs

Heart of Hot Springs

Published by the City of Hot Springs
Public Information Department

www.cityhs.net/heartofHS

Editors: Aaron Street
and Katie Yamauchi

[email protected]
501-321-6806

Driving family culture

Driver Allen Goines goes above and beyond for Fire Department

Story by Lt. Andrew Davis

Working at the Hot Springs Fire Department (HSFD) is a unique during the parade, I believe we had more Fire Department families

opportunity to engage with the public on a dramatic range of participate in this event than ever before.

circumstances. We do have the unfortunate call to assist our citizens • On December 5, we hosted a Fire Department Awards Banquet.
and our city’s guests on their worst days, even Allen took the time to transform a large room filled
what they think to be the worst day of their life. with tables and chairs into a room that displayed the
Because of this type of interaction, it requires the firefighter culture and help make the event an even
Fire Department members to have a family-like more fantastic opportunity for our Fire Department
relationship. This is not a written policy that you families to come together.
will find in our employee handbook, but a part of
• Allen spearheaded a Fire Department Christmas
the firefighter culture.
Dinner, where he fried multiple turkeys, brought
Over the last several years, we have had major in inflatable bounce houses for the kids and even
turnover within our department. Understandably, coordinated the event with assistance from Illissa and
this could impact our Fire Department family. other firefighters and their spouses. In preparation,
Therefore, it is critical to establish our culture he worked tirelessly to clean and decorate the engine
and these relationships as early as possible in a
firefighter’s career. bay to create a holiday filled atmosphere
to celebrate the season.

Over the last few months, I have observed Driver Driver Allen Goings always produces
Allen Goines going above and beyond on multiple quality work. During working hours,
occasions in efforts that support our Fire Department he is always preforming maintenance or
family and our public relations. Here are a few involved in training activities. After our
examples of his extraordinary efforts: work and training is complete, you will

• Each year, the Fire Department participates in the always find him working on a project
Christmas Parade. For the 2019 Christmas Parade, Allen Goines is
Allen and his wife, Illissa, built a Fire Department supported by his wife, that further benefits the city, the Fire
float that had an extremely positive impact on our Illissa, in instilling the HSFD family culture. Department, and our Fire Department
family. He has made a measurable

citizens and visitors. It showed the work ethic and commitment of difference within our community and with our new and existing Fire

our department to all who lined the streets. Another thing I noticed Department family members!

Goines earned the HERO honor for his efforts. To nominate an employee, visit www.cityhs.net/hero.

Kevin Brownlee starts as new Deputy City Manager

The City of Hot Springs welcomes Kevin Brownlee as Deputy visionary servant leadership.” From September 2009 to August

City Manager (DCM), effective January 6, 2020. 2019, he was chief executive officer of South Central Arkansas

Brownlee was appointed by City Manager Bill Burrough Electric Cooperative. He reorganized business and processes
following a national search with Burrough, Minnie Lennox, Lance to maximize operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Spicer and Brian Albright serving on the He started a new organization – South Central Connect – as a
hiring committee.
subsidiary of the electric co-op to offer
“I am very happy to be in this position fiber services to their service area. He

with the City. It’s an exciting time for also negotiated an acquisition and

Hot Springs, and I’m looking forward to managed the installation of a one-

do all I can to help with the growth and megawatt solar array, achieving more

forward momentum,” said Brownlee. than a 9% return on investment.

His core responsibility will be to During his 10-year tenure with the

oversee the following City departments: co-op out of Arkadelphia, Brownlee

Engineering, Parks and Trails, Public has been a resident of Hot Springs

Works, Sports Recreation, Utilities with his wife, Kathy, and two children,

(Water/Wastewater), Utility Billing and Bryce and Meredith.
Customer Service. His other duties as
DCM will be tailored to his background Kevin Brownlee joined the City's leadership team at He earned a Bachelor of Science
and interests. City Hall on January 6. degree in Accounting and Finance
from Charleston Southern University
in Charleston, South Carolina, and a
Brownlee brings to the City 25 years of management Master of Business Administration from Winthrop University in
experience, and describes himself as a “hands-on executive Rock Hill, South Carolina.
known for deliberate and focused approach to strategic and

DECEMBER HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATES

Retirement

The Solid Waste Department held a
retirement party for Jonnie Gilmore on
December 20. Gilmore is retiring after 27
years with the City. She has held several
different clerical positions within the Solid
Waste Department. She was presented
with a clock by Deputy City Manager Lance
Spicer as her retirement gift from the City.
"She will be missed, but we wish her the
best in the next phase of her life," said
Solid Waste Director Randy Atkinson.

New Hires

Employee Anniversaries Jody Crone, Animal Services
Vickie Young, Finance
Employees with 10 or more years of service.
Tammie Jenkins, Solid Waste
Shannon McDaniel, Fire 29 Years Andrew Davis, Fire 14 Years Jonathan Israel, Police
12 Years
Jonathan Burfeind, Police 23 Years John Tinney, Police 11 Years Lindie Webb, Animal Services
11 Years Mindy Collins, Police
Jason Stachey, Police 22 Years James Lambert, Utilities
Trent Wilhite, Property Maintenance
John Lewis, Engineering 19 Years Mark Wilson, Police
Employee Promotion
Tonya Burrough, Solid Waste 18 Years
Lelynn Gannon, Utilities
City Spotlights Robert Green, Fire

Christopher Coleman, Fire

www.cityhs.net/spotlights

Josh Maggie Melissa
Lacy Nunez Serafin

Lieutenant Revenue Collector Secretary

Hot Springs Fire Business Services/ Traffic Division/
Department Finance Department Public Works
3 years at CHS
15 years at CHS 3 years at CHS

Q: What is one work-related resolution Q: What’s your favorite quote? Q: What is one personal resolution you
A: Whatever you do, do it well. – Walt
you have for 2020? have for 2020?
Disney
A: Utilizing our recently upgraded A: To stay positive.
Q: What’s something in Hot Springs you
training facility to become more Q: What would we most likely find you
efficient in responding to emergencies. want to do in 2020 that you’ve never done?
doing on the weekend?
Q: What would you be doing if you were A: Explore the Northwoods Trail with
A: If we have one, fighting a fire, but
not at CHS? my family.
for fun, riding side by side on some
A: I enjoy doing carpentry. I would love Q: Seen anything lately that made you trails with friends.

to have the time, space and equipment smile? Q: What’s one of your favorite memories
to do more wood-working projects.
A: I love how City employees come from the past year?
Q: What's your favorite quote?
A: "Greater love has no one than this together to help their own work family A: Watching a beautiful sunset while
at Christmas time.
that someone lay down his life for his camping on Lake Ouachita.
friends." – John 15:13

Read the full list of Q & A's from Josh, Maggie and Melissa at www.cityhs.net/spotlights.