Celebrating Town Staff and Their Devotion to Public Service

May 2023

Our emergency responses, permit processing, site inspections, community planning, capital projects, and pathway maintenance are fine examples of services the Town of Hilton Head Island provides for the public. Behind these services is a dedicated team of public servants devoted to their careers and working on your behalf. Without them, we wouldn't be able to enjoy the quality of life we treasure on our island.

As part of Public Service Recognition Week this month, I am proud to honor our town employees and their tireless efforts to keep our town working like a well-oiled machine. Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated from May 7 through May 13. It is the perfect time to share with you what public employees in government do, why they do it, and how well they do it. The vital work they do positively affects all of us every day.

In this month's CH2 magazine, the editorial team highlighted some of our team members and their work on our residents' behalf. They represent our town's mission to promote the health and vitality of our community through ethical and inclusive programs, policies, and actions. They reflect a wide range of experiences and positions—from Fire Chief Chris Blankenship, who began his career with the Town 21 years ago, to Nicte Barrientos, who joined the town's Community Development staff last summer. You will enjoy reading about what attracted them to public service. Thank you CH2 for this special feature.

Public servants deserve thanks for working diligently on our behalf. The Town of Hilton Head Island proudly serves a diverse community of over 40,000 residents and over 3 million annual visitors in all facets of life, work, and recreation. Each day, a workforce of 127 Town Hall staff and 147 Fire Rescue staff come together to ensure the community's needs are met through municipal service.

Public servants are also those who work in roles besides those in government. They include healthcare professionals and others who risk their lives, airport workers, laborers, computer technicians, teachers, and countless other occupations. Day in and day out, they provide various services to people with efficiency and integrity. They are the motor of our community. So, while we should thank them daily, Public Service Recognition Week is an opportunity to shout from the rooftops that we genuinely appreciate their incredible work to meet our needs and address our challenges.

Without these public servants at every level, continuity would be impossible in a democracy that regularly changes its leaders and elected officials. I encourage each of you to reach out to public service employees of our town and let them know their dedication and service are noticed and appreciated.