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Adopt a resolution and plaque of appreciation honoring Wanda L. Whatley, Office Coordinator, upon her retirement from the Department of Resource Management with over 31 years of dedicated service to Solano County
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution and plaque of appreciation honoring Wanda L. Whatley, Office Coordinator, upon her retirement from the Department of Resource Management with over 31 years of dedicated service to Solano County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Wanda L. Whatley began her distinguished career on April 21, 1993, as an Extra-Help Document Clerk for the Business Division of the Assessor-Recorder Department where she provided administrative support, assisted taxpayers, entered tax values, completed a countywide personal property tax file system conversion, provided coverage for vacant positions and providing rotating support in Real Estate, Administration and Mapping Divisions. Ms. Whatley’s accomplishments were recognized and she was hired permanently on December 5, 1993.
Ms. Whatley was promoted to Clerical Support Specialist on December 29, 1996, in the Administration Division of the Health and Social Services (H&SS) Department; where she provided administrative support to several units, the reception counter and temporary and summer youth employees.
Ms. Whatley transferred as a Clerical Support Specialist on July 14, 1998, to the H&SS, Employment Services and Eligibility Division, where she supported the fiscal unit, provided administrative support to a program manager, four supervisors, over 50 staff, case workers and clients in the CalWORKs program. In April of 1999 her position was reclassified to an Administrative Secretary and she transferred to the H&SS, Older Disabled and Adult Services Division as part of a department reorganization and provided administrative support to a deputy director, administrator, seven supervisors, social workers, mental health clinicians, public health nurses and clerical staff, with over 75 staff in seven units and supervised five accounting clerks in the fiscal unit and multiple temporary and summer youths.
On May 6, 2007, Ms. Whatley was promoted to office coordinator in the Public Works/Operations Division of the Resource Management Department where she provided administrative support to the operations manager, superintendent, six supervisors and 42 staff, spanning six work crews and four corporation yards. In her role, she dispatched and performed emergency response to keep the County’s public right-of-way safe during some of the worst storms and fires in Solano County history, including several “100 year” floods and the LNU Lightning Complex Fire of 2020, earning a Star Performer Award in 2017.
Ms. Whatley performed her duties with a high level of professionalism throughout her 31-plus-year career, consistently focused on the safety of residents and visitors of Solano County, proving her to be an invaluable asset to the Public Works Division and County as a whole, earning her the respect of management, peers and the public. Ms. Whatley will retire on July 06, 2024.
Ms. Whatley will be missed for her work ethic, dedication and kindness which enriched the lives of those fortunate enough to know her in her time here with the County of Solano. Her high level of commitment to her job and the Solano community was evident throughout her career with the County.
Ms. Whatley presently lives in the Vacaville area and once retired plans to move to Tennessee to begin her next chapter, to enjoy a slower pace of life, live near the river, relax, play games including the occasional round of poker, discover new hobbies and spend quality time with family.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of preparing the resolution and plaque of appreciation is included in the Board’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to not adopt the resolution and plaque of appreciation. This alternative is not recommended because Ms. Whatley’s service to Solano County is worthy of recognition and provides a positive example for others.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION