Grant officials host appreciation lunch for staff
Grant County Commissioner Danny Stone, right, mans a warmer filled with burger patties and hot dogs during Wednesday’s appreciation luncheon for county staff while County Auditor Michele Jaderlund visits with staff and serves baked beans.
R. HANS MILLER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, left, and other county officials work together to cook up hundreds of burgers and hot dogs for county staff on Wednesday. Grant County deputies, maintenance crews, clerks and administrative staff – to name a few – were present to enjoy much-deserved kudos.
County staff, including Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan, seated at far right, enjoy a meal together during Wednesday’s appreciation event put on by elected officials from throughout Grant County.
EPHRATA — Elected officials from throughout Grant County were on hand to cook up and serve burgers, hot dogs and appreciation to county staff in front of the Grant County Courthouse Wednesday.
“We feel like our employees work hard, and we want to say thank you to them every year and encourage them in their endeavors as part of the county team,” said Grant County Commissioner Danny Stone.
Stone was serving grilled goodness to county staff as they worked their way through the line for food. Employees were present from every department with fairgrounds staff visiting with Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies and deputy clerks.
Commissioner Cindy Carter said the event is the second the elected officials from throughout the county have put on since the pandemic ended. Elected folks from around the county have been paying for the event and making sure staff felt appreciated from at least when she first started on the Board of County Commissioners in 2007, and she said she was glad to be able to give them recognition and a chance to enjoy a good meal. The event is paid for by the elected officials, she said, as a way of thanking county staff for all they do to keep roads in good shape, buildings functioning and the various other tasks that keep the gears of government moving in the county.
Sheriff Joe Kriete was busily tending a large grill filled with hot dogs and burgers during the event. He said the event is a way to ensure that county staff understand that their elected supervisors know how hard they work each day to keep the county going.
“It’s just a small way — a small token — for us to be able to thank them for all the hard work that they do,” Kriete said. “We just may not be able to see (all of them) every day, so we just want them to know how much we all do appreciate them and all the work they do for our county.”
Several other county elected officials were present at the event.
Carter added a note of thanks specifically to the maintenance crew that helped set up tents and tables for the event.
“(That team) really helps us put things together and make this happen,” Carter said.
R. Hans "Rob" Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com.
