On December 12, 2025, the City of Marietta convened to honor its dedicated public servants, emphasizing the city's gratitude for its 810 employees who serve as a "calling" rather than just a job. City Manager Bill Britain and Mayor Steve Tumblr led a ceremony celebrating years of service, individual contributions, and the city's ongoing commitment to community well-being through employee recognition programs. The event included speeches from council members, the presentation of specific awards for leadership and innovation, a moment of silence for deceased colleagues, and the recognition of retirees and long-serving staff members.
Okay, well, welcome everybody to our service awards. This is a great group of people. I love seeing everybody today. This is one of the days we look the most forward to out of the entire year. And why is that? Because we get to recognize all the wonderful people that we have that work for us. We've got about 810 employees, depending on the day. And uh it's an amazing group. I mean, I I say it all the time. Mayor says it all the time, the council members do. Um I've said it today at two different events. Um we've got the best people anywhere. There is no question. I mean, as I said, uh one event this week. I mean, we've got people that could go work anywhere, anywhere. I mean, we've got that quality. And so I really appreciate, and I know the citizens appreciate all of you working for us in this community, being the great public servants you are. And I do say public servants to everybody, because everybody that chooses to work for a local government and spend a lot of their life doing that, it's a calling. Uh, it is something that you definitely are serving the public every day. I mean, I don't care if you're in an office, you're out on the road, uh, you've got a uniform on, you don't, uh, you got a hard hat on, whatever you're doing. Um, you are serving the public. Um, and so thank you. I know you don't get thank yous all the time. Some of you get them a lot from what I've seen. But uh I want to thank you for all the citizens and the the residents, the people who uh do business here. Um they uh you know they talk to a lot of us, you know, when we're social gatherings, whatever else, and all we hear is good things. I mean, really, all we hear is great things about the people that work for us. And so it is a privilege. I mean, a real privilege for all of us to serve with you. And uh I'm I'm honored to be here today to recognize a lot of you for that service. But the first thing I get to do is thank the people that uh have me here, which I want to thank greatly, and that's our city council and the mayor. Um I know we went through some elections, uh, we've finally gotten that over with, so now we know who's gonna be there going forward. And uh I'm very delighted to be able to say that our mayor will still be our mayor for the next four years. And congratulations, Mayor. And it's been a real pleasure to work for him. He's very uh devoted to this community, devoted to the school system, devoted to our employees, devoted to everything that is Marietta, and you can see that with him every day. So it's a great pleasure to introduce our mayor, Steve Thunder Tumblr. Well, thank you. This is like you say, probably the most special day in this city hall that we have every year, you know, recognizing the good job that you do. Uh Bill talked about being devoted. I'm looking to people that are really devoted. In fact, I didn't know y'all were so pretty until today, so I'm proud of how y'all dress up and look good. But this is uh as we all know, it's blessed, more blessed to give than receive, even though receiving is a lot of fun. But uh y'all give every day of the year. To make me to the citizens of Marietta to make this just a better place to live, to work, to play, to raise a family, to have your favorite pets. I mean, this is just uh it's a delight. But each one of you with your own particular skill, add to what what a great city this is, and this is a day we'd like to recognize your contribution in this year-in celebration of you working for the city of Marietta. God bless you. I would like joining me in those comments. Audrey Sims, Councilman Andre Sims, uh Councilman Carl Al Kent, Mr.