On August 4th, 2021, Nevada County residents began reporting smoke from a wildfire near the Bear River in Placer County. This fire would later be known as the River Fire, which ultimately burned in both Nevada and Placer Counties, destroying 2619 acres and 102 residences.
During the first hour of the fire, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office began deploying deputies to the scene in case the fire crossed into Nevada County. One of those first responding deputies was Deputy Galen Spittler.
Deputy Spittler responded to the lower Dog Bar Road area to support incoming resources for emergency evacuations. He worked closely with a CAL FIRE Battalion Chief to assess the need for evacuations and remained at his post into the night, providing information to the regional dispatch center, conducting briefings, and helping Nevada County residents evacuate.
Deputy Spittler’s calm demeanor and clear, concise communication with deputies, residents, and other first responders prevented loss of life during the first day of the River Fire.
“I have no doubt that Deputy Spittler’s actions saved the lives of residents and first responders that day,” said Lieutenant Perry. “This was a fast-moving fire. The clear and direct information provided by Deputy Spittler over the radio allowed for the safe retreat of four deputies and a Forest Service ranger before their positions were overrun by the fire.”
It is due to these heroic actions that Sheriff Lieutenant Jason Perry nominated Deputy Spittler as Nevada County’s Employee of the Year, an honor that Spittler received at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
Employee Recognition Awards
Recognition of Spittler as Employee of the Year comes as part of the County of Nevada’s annual Employee Recognition Program, which gives County employees the opportunity to nominate their coworkers for outstanding service over the last fiscal year.
“This year we received 110 nominations for just seven awards. I think this shows both the amazing work being done in our organization and the level of support and appreciation our employees have for each other,” said Nevada County Human Resources Director Steve Rose. Nominations are reviewed by a panel of five judges, who select the winners.
“Our employees are the backbone of our organization,” said Nevada County Executive Officer Alison Lehman. “I am constantly impressed by the dedication and hard work of our public servants and I’m proud that we have the opportunity to honor them today.”
This year’s Employee Recognition Award winners are:
Above and Beyond Employee of the Year
This year’s Above and Beyond winner has gone above and beyond in so many ways this past fiscal year. Once reopened for business after COVID-19 in 2021, this employee made it a mission to enable easy access to materials that she knew her customers, both adults and youth, would want. This meant ensuring materials were available not only in the office, but in other locations where customers would visit such as community centers and schools. This year’s winner reached out to local area schools to set up visits by the youth to take advantage of the services offered by this employee’s area of work. This employee partnered with local agencies to provide bilingual materials and services to local communities; set up summer programs that served close to 700 customers by providing meals and books. This year’s Above and Beyond winner is Piret Griffith, Library Technician, Truckee Library.
Innovative Employee of the Year
In 2021, this year’s Innovative Employee of the Year winner coordinated and led the County's first community project submittal that included four projects that led to the award and funding of three projects that included the North San Juan Fire Suppression Project for $1.05M, Nevada County Sheriff's Office Radio Infrastructure Project for $4.8M, and $750K for the Ponderosa West Grass Valley Defense Zone Fuel Reduction Treatment Project. This employee demonstrated true innovation by researching and working with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the County's Federal Lobbyist, Paragon Government Relations, Inc,. to identify and incorporate new congressional processes of both the House and Senate Congressional offices/committees with County departments to identify applicable projects and develop and submit project applications. This employee developed a standard project application that was both comprehensive and professional. Through this employee’s innovation, Nevada County was not only awarded over $6M in critical project funding, but now has a developed process by which to compete for federal community project funding. We congratulate Sarah Holyhead, Administrative Analyst II with the Board of Supervisors, Innovative Employee of the Year winner.
Multiplier of the Year
This year’s Multiplier of the Year winner served as a resourceful leader. This employee’s ability to track funding sources and programmatic needs for departmental staff while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been exceptional. During this year he was instrumental in crafting a sustainable budget chock full of grant sources. This employee’s multiplying efforts benefitted not only the employee’s own department, but another department as well. The employee found grant funds that helped both departments. Through the use of grant funds, the departments are able to bring additional resources to bear on the time-sensitive work done in the department to improve the lives of the public. Congratulations, James Kraywinkel, Accountant in HHSA Admin who serves the Public Health Department.
Rookie of the Year
This year’s Rookie of the Year winner has worked for the County for about one year. In this employee’s first year, this employee demonstrated a strong ability to learn on the job. This year’s winner has also been highly productive during this time, quickly progressing in taking on duties normally associated with a person whose been in the job a lot longer. As a rookie, this employee became the lead on developing key ordinance regulations that would affect a number of citizens and visitors to our area. This employee has already begun to embark on implementing the Regional Early Action Planning Grant, by preparing ordinance amendments that are geared toward encouraging more housing opportunities in Nevada County. This employee is a member of the agency’s Outstanding Public Service team and an active member of relevant professional associations. Congratulations to Kyle Smith, Associate Planner, Planning Department, this year’s Rookie of the Year award winner.
Supervisor of the Year
This year’s Supervisor of the Year received many nominations. This employee “has been a great supervisor since I’ve started and has been a great teacher and mentor.” “This employee cares so much for our division. You can count on this employee to help out in any situation.” “You can count on this employee to help out, share knowledge, and be there for you.” “This employee’s knowledge of our line of work is super impressive and inspiring. This employee is a role model and someone we look up to.” “I have seen this employee troubleshoot, and rectify, many problems in the 43 miles of buried sewer lines in Lake Wildwood alone that had the potential of creating a spill or backing up into a homeowners house. I'm positive the same could be said about the other systems throughout Nevada County that I don't work at.” Congratulations James Zerbel, Wastewater Collection Supervisor, Public Works Department.
Collaborative Individual or Team of the Year
This year’s Collaborative Individual or Team nominees were able to provide coordinated, effective and compassionate assistance to both our community and County members impacted by the River Fire. In addition, this Collaborative Team supported our State DTSC, State OES, CalRecycle and FEMA partners with site inspection support, coordination with pertinent key contacts at the County and with Cal Fire. Relationships were developed and will last into the future which will benefit everyone in the event of our next disaster coordinated response. The incredible efforts by this team resulted in the acknowledgment by Cal OES Central Division Debris Chief Amber Lane in the form of a Challenge Coin presented to the Environmental Health Director. Chief Lane indicated that the coordinated efforts on behalf of the Environmental Health Department and all departments involved in the Phase I and Phase II operations were exceptional and deserving of recognition. Congratulations to the Community Development Agency River Fire Response Team, with employees from the Building Department, Code Compliance, Environmental Health and Public Works for winning the Collaborative Team of the Year Award!
Employee of the Year
On August 4th, 2021 Nevada County residents began reporting smoke from a wildfire that was occurring near the Bear River in Placer County. This fire would later be known as the River Fire which ultimately burned in both Nevada and Placer Counties and destroyed 2619 Acres, and 102 residences. The Sheriff’s Office as well as numerous other law enforcement and fire agencies assisted with countless emergency evacuations the day of the fire, as well as continued safety patrols and other duties for weeks afterwards. In the beginning hour of the fire, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office began deploying deputies to the Nevada County side of the Bear River in the event the fire crossed into Nevada County and required emergency evacuations. One of those first responding employees is our award winner this year. This employee responded into the lower Dog Bar Road area and initiated a roadside incident command post to direct incoming resources for emergency evacuations. The employee worked closely with a Cal Fire Battalion Chief to relay the most accurate and current fire conditions and assess the need for evacuation of Nevada County residents. The employee relayed pertinent information to the regional dispatch center, responding deputies, as well as Sheriff Office command staff during this time. This employee’s supervisor received two commendation letters, one from a dispatch supervisor and one from a detective, both who were working the day of and days following the fire. The first commendation praised this employee’s calm and clear directions and updates, and the second commendation documented the actions of this employee that led to the safe retreat of four deputies and a forest service ranger who would otherwise have been overrun by the fire. We both thank and congratulate Deputy Galen Spittler, Sheriff’s Office, this year’s Employee of the Year winner!
