Environmental Progress - Winter 2000

8,350 Years And Counting

Agency recognizes employees for years of service

A luncheon program at the State Fairgrounds in Springfield on Feb. 1 recognized Illinois EPA employees who have worked for the Agency for periods of 10 to 30 years. In addition, special acknowledgement was given to five others who have been employed by the state of Illinois for longer than the 31 years that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has existed and to one who marked 55 years of state service last fall.

In brief remarks preceding presentation of awards, Director Tom Skinner said he expects to see a new concentration on more efficient communication with the public as the next major accomplishment by the Agency. He said the ACES (Agency Compliance and Enforcement System) program now being implemented will make information about compliance and enforcement more easily accessible both within the Agency and to the public via the Agency's Web homepage. In turn, the ACES program will be a necessary first step toward implementation of a broader ENFO (ENvironmental Facts Online) program.

Regarding other Agency projections, Director Skinner said he does not believe the change of administrations in Washington will significantly impact present Illinois EPA programs. Director Skinner added "I think the present administration understands the importance of the states controlling their own programs. I don't expect to see many changes in programs though probably we will have more autonomy in administering those programs."

Concluding his remarks, the director noted that the employees receiving recognition had jointly given a total of 8,350 years of service to the state of Illinois.

During the Agency's February 1 Recognition Day ceremonies, Director Tom Skinner highlighted the service careers of six of those attending. Already working for the state when the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency came into being on July 1, 1970, they either were transferred to the new Agency immediately, or switched to the IEPA later. Four of them -- Carol Crawford, Richard Blankenship, Barbara Keys and Thomas Wallin -- marked their 35th anniversaries in 2000, while Lieura Hackman had put in 35 years by 1998.

Anne Alexander, secretary to the division manager of the Division of Public Water Supplies, was given special recognition and a gold watch by Director Skinner and a standing ovation by her fellow IEPA employees attending. Last fall, Anne marked 55 years of state service. Her career record currently only has been surpassed by two other state employees -- one who has worked for the state of Illinois for 59 years and the other for 62. Like Anne, these two women are both still at their posts. In 1995, Gov. Jim Edgar proclaimed Sept. 1 of that year as "Anne Margaret Alexander Day in Illinois" in appreciation of her 50th anniversary of state service.

After a state career that included working for Secretary of State Edward J. Barrett and for Gov. Adlai Stevenson, Anne had transferred to the Illinois Department of Public Health when the IEPA was created in 1970. She was among the IDPH staff transferred as a unit to the fledgling environmental agency. Among other transferees was Roger Selburg, who in 1985 became manager of the Division of Public Water Supplies, and moved from being Anne's co-worker to being her boss. He was on hand at the Recognition ceremony to receive his own 30 year service award.