Staff Writer
Council members Jack Webb and Stephen Joost weren’t the only people honored at the Jacksonville City Council installation ceremony Thursday.
While Webb and Joost thanked the public for allowing them to serve as City Council president and vice president, respectively, outgoing President Richard Clark was charged with selecting people for the Charles D. Webb, Robert O. Johnson Good Government and Starr Bishop awards.
The City Council’s “most prestigious” internal award, the Webb Award is bestowed annually to the Council member that best exemplifies the commitment to public service demonstrated by the late Charles D. Webb during his years on the Council. He served on the Council from 1971 until his death in 1976.
“It’s hard to single out one person for this award,” said Clark. “You look for someone who has built year on year. This year’s winner did something incredibly difficult, he chaired the finance committee during one of the toughest financial times the city has seen and he did it remarkably well.”
Stephen Joost was selected as the 2010 winner.
Social worker Bill Kintz was the second recipient of the Starr Bishop Award.
“This award is named after someone who is close to our hearts,” said Clark, referring to the late daughter of Council member Bill Bishop. “She was so involved in the community and no one really knew until she was gone. That’s what this award is all about, that unsung hero who never gets any recognition, and doesn’t want it.”
“This year’s recipient has always been there whenever there is a problem,” said Clark.
The Robert O. Johnson Good Government Award was established in 2003 by the Council to honor the outgoing Council Auditor, Robert O. Johnson. The recipient of the award personifies the outstanding public service and exemplary reputation for integrity and honesty to the Council and to the people of Jacksonville that was set as a benchmark by Robert O. Johnson, who served as Council Auditor for over 25 years.
The 2010 winner was Marilyn Fenton-Harmer of the City’s Housing/Neighborhood Department.
356-2466