HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners gave community members and staff cause to celebrate with the presentation of their annual awards and community service recognitions.
During their final meeting of the calendar year, commissioners recognized community members who served on Holmes Beach committees and outstanding staff members. They also presented the third annual Louis Strickland Citizen of the Year Award.
Mayor Judy Titsworth was joined by City Clerk Stacey Johnston in recognizing former members of the city’s Parks and Beautification Committee for their years of service to the community. The recognitions included former members Susan Anderson, Carol Hatz, Allyson Gilles and Donna Ryan. None of the parks members were present for the presentation.
Titsworth also recognized former Planning Commissioner Barbara Hines for her years of service on that committee. Hines joined the planning commission as an alternate in 2012 before becoming a full member just a few weeks later in December 2012. She stepped down from the planning commission in August 2021, choosing to ask to not be reappointed to allow for someone else to have the opportunity to serve the city in that position.
“I cannot thank you enough,” Titsworth said to Hines, presenting her with a plaque commemorating her years of service.
Hines thanked city leaders for the acknowledgment of her service on the planning commission.
Titsworth presented Code Compliance Administrative Assistant Kim Charron with the 2021 Employee of the Year Award. In thanking Charron, Titsworth said that she’s the first person to step up and help out wherever needed with any task, no matter what department. Charron came to the city of Holmes Beach in December 2020. The mayor was joined in recognizing Charron by Code Compliance Supervisor James Thomas, who thanked commissioners for allowing him to hire Charron.
“She’s a great employee,” he said of Charron. “She’s the best that we have.”
In other recognitions, Titsworth awarded the city’s Community Partnership Award to the Hagen Family Foundation for their ongoing support of the city, particularly in providing funding for city parks and other public spaces. In 2021, the foundation provided $56,000 to build dugouts at the city field ball field – they are currently under construction by public works staff – and to purchase exercise equipment for a walking trail. The trail, planned for installation at the city field complex located adjacent to Holmes Beach City Hall, is currently in the design phase.
The final award of the evening was the third annual Louis Strickland Citizen of the Year Award, which is given to an individual for outstanding community service. This year’s award was given to Deb Sneddon, who was surprised by the honor.
Sneddon is a six-year resident of Holmes Beach who coordinates community volunteer opportunities and events with her neighbors, ranging from providing Valentine’s Day cards for area first responders and gift baskets to thanking veterans with a celebratory dance party and gathering $2,500 at a Halloween fundraiser for Hope Family Services and other efforts to better the community.
“I cannot thank you enough. You are so deserving of this award,” Titsworth said to Sneddon, presenting her with the award.
“It’s a pleasure to live here and it’s a pleasure to be around people who are ready to step up and support this community and their neighbors in a way that is really unlike any other place that I’ve been. This really goes out to everybody because everybody is ready to do that,” Sneddon said, thanking city leaders for the award.
