Village of Greenfield, OH

Jimmy Jones (center) is pictured accepting his Citizen-of-the-Month plaque from council chair Phil Clyburn at Tuesday's council meeting. To Jones's left is his wife, Liz Jones, followed by council member Brenda Losey and city manager Todd Wilkin. To Clyburn's right are council members Kyle Barr and Eric Borsini. (Photo by Angela Shepherd)

By Angela Shepherd
Village of Greenfield

The much-loved Daryle Unger & Peanut Memorial Kids Fishing Derby may be returning this year, according to the event’s longtime organizer, Jimmy Jones. 

Jones, along with his wife, Liz, organized the derby for 17 years before retiring from it. However, Jones said they have been talking about bringing it back, and even talked about bringing it back last year, but the pandemic upended any plans to make it happen. It’s something Jones said he will discuss further with the village. 

The Joneses told this to council members during their regular meeting on Tuesday, where Jones was recognized as February’s Citizen-of-the-Month for his contributions to the community, most notably through the fishing derby. 

City manager Todd Wilkin, who announced Jones as the recipient of the award, said Jones “has been heavily involved in making beautiful memories for many Greenfield kids,” and the village is grateful for his involvement in the community.

The Joneses were unaware of the award and were, though surprised, very grateful.

Jones said there have been a lot of requests for the return of the derby, and it means a lot to them that the derby means so much to the community and to the kids that look forward to it every year. 

The kids are the biggest reason why the Jonses are considering bringing it back, even if everyone would have to wear masks, and even if the event can’t be to the full capacity of previous years, Jones said. 

The night’s other award announcement came with Beverly Giffin of the water department being recognized as the Employee-of-the-Month. 

Wilkin said there was a lot of competition this month for the award with all the employee efforts put forth for snow removal, and with an employee who went out of their way to assist a person in a wheelchair down an alley, but in the end, it was Giffin who was chosen. He noted that Giffin, who is set to retire next month, has returned to work after fighting through a significant health event and is now training the newest addition, Shawna McCoy, to the water department. 

Wilkin said Giffin is “a fighter,” and that the village was “very appreciative of her dedication to her job and, more importantly, to the community.” 

The city manager also touched on the “eventful” week brought on by Mother Nature. In the more than 12 inches of snow that has fallen and had to be removed, and the literally tons of salt applied to surfaces, Wilkin commended all the efforts of the village employees. Council members also said they had heard many positive comments regarding the village employees’ work in the winter weather. 

“It takes a team, and throughout this past week, we have seen that team in action,” Wilkin said, adding that the village has gotten calls and emails of appreciation for the work.

Council chair Phil Clyburn also thanked all the employees for their efforts against the snow, and he thanked residents who have have helped keep the streets and sidewalks clear. 

On the related matter of winter weather, the village issued a snow emergency declaration over the weekend in preparation for the snow event at the beginning of the week and the forecasted snow for mid-week. Right now, the declaration is through Saturday, and in it the village is requesting that people not park their vehicles on the village’s snow emergency routes or side streets if possible so that more thorough plowing can be done. If snowfall is less than what is anticipated, the village may lift the declaration before Saturday, Wilkin said. Check the village’s Facebook page for updates.

For the safety of everyone, the city offices on the third floor remain closed to the public at this time. To reach the office by phone, call 937-981-3500, or reach the following by email: City Manager Todd Wilkin, citymanager@greenfieldohio.net; Public Service Director Gary Lewis, glewis@greenfieldohio.net ; Finance Director Carolyn Snodgrass, csnodgrass@greenfieldohio.net; and for Building and Permits, cemetery, or council matters, email Sherry Parker at sparker@greenfieldohio.net. To reach the Water and Sewer Department, call 937-981-2082, email Bev Giffin at bgiffin@greenfieldohio.net, or Kathy Patton at kpatton@greenfieldohio.net. 

Greenfield Village Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of the city building. The meetings are also live-streamed on the village’s Facebook page. For information and updates, go to greenfieldohio.net or the Village of Greenfield, Ohio Facebook page.


Council members (l-r) Kyle Barr, Eric Borsini, Phil Clyburn, and Brenda Losey are pictured during a council meeting earlier in February. (Photo by Angela Shepherd)

 

Beverly Giffin of the Water Department has been recognized as February's Employee-of-the-Month. She is set to retire next month, but has returned to work after fighting through a significant health event and is now training the newest addition, Shawna McCoy, to the department. At the Feb. 16 council meeting where the award was announced, city manager Todd Wilkin called her “a fighter,” and said that the village was very appreciative of her dedication to her job and, more importantly, to the community. Congratulations, Bev. The recognition is well-deserved!