(11:00 a.m. Time Certain) Graduation - Fall 2022 Citizens Academy

1:48:59I'm gonna do the R ninety three was due for eleven o'clock and I I apologize for pushing everybody back a little bit, but they've been waiting here for a bit, so let's do uh R ninety three, the fall twenty twenty twenty two Citizens Academy.

1:49:14Good morning commissioners. Uh Derek Berger, Program Manager for County Administrator. Today we celebrate the fall 2022 graduating class of the Pasco Citizens Academy. Pasco Citizens Academy is a 10-week educational program designed to give citizens a backstage pass to their county government by providing an in-depth look at the unique challenges facing county government, programs and services, budgetary limitations, and the day-to-day operations from elected officials to county team members. Uh to we have eighteen graduates this time around and So I will present the certificates

1:49:44of completion to those that are able to join us today. Following the presentation, we ask that you join us for a group photo. Class, when I call your name, please come up with for your certificate and stand uh behind the podium. Um Megan Amir?

1:50:00Uh Patrick Ayrton.

1:50:03From our home county staff. Um Alex Davis.

1:50:11Tiffany Evans.

1:50:15Alyssa Goldbach? Charles Hacker.

1:50:21Beverly hand.

1:50:24Rich Henderson?

1:50:27Carolina Howard. Holly Kane. Karen Keith.

1:50:35Christina Louvre. Olivia Mallis.

1:50:43Jill Neiman. Tom. Oh man, I practice this one. Um

1:50:52Penagopolis. Well gee, I practiced that for a while but um William Sauce and Mr. David Wallace. So again, congratulations to the fall 22 202 2022 class. Uh we hope that you enjoyed our program. Um thank you for your interest in learning about what we do every day to make a difference in the lives of those who serve. We're currently accepting applications for the Next Systems Academy, which starts in spring 2023, about mid-March. If you want more information, you can go onto our website. Thank you.

1:51:18Thank you.

1:51:24Congratulations everybody and Commissioner Starkey. This was the your brain child from years ago. It was a great idea and uh it's great to see so many people that love this course.

1:51:32Yeah, I mean where else do you learn um what local government is and what it does? And I I'd love to hear some of your comments um briefly because we're buying schedule. But if one person wants to speak from the class, maybe they can uh say something to us. And for our new our new uh commissioner. They go around and meet all the constitutionals and they get to see meet uh every department and learn all about local government. Usually I come and address the group, but I just didn't have time this time. But we are really grateful that you took time out

1:52:02of your life to come and learn more about how your local government works.

1:52:07Commissioners, thank you very much for the opportunity. Uh there are multiple stories that we have to tell you guys, but we want to thank you with the bottom of my heart. I I'm a new transplant to uh Florida, so the way that it was governed in my previous home is a lot different than it's done here. So Getting exposed to the way the county is operated is tremendous. One thing I have to tell you though, you can tell a lot about an organization by the people who work in that organization and the fact that you gave us access to the d directors, the the

1:52:37the upper echelon, the leadership. was instrumental in educating us on on what you guys do and how you operate. But the biggest thing that I took from this class Is the quality of employees. in the county. the inspiration that they have for doing their own jobs. is tremendous. You can't go to the wastewater treatment plant without meeting Jeannie. You can talk about genie land. You can't go to the fleet fleet uh department, you can't go to the parks and rec department without finding every employee

1:53:08impassioned. For working for this county and that says a lot about this county. Thank you for the opportunity.

1:53:13Thank you very much. That's very cool.

1:53:19Yeah.

1:53:20All right.

1:53:21So let's do a picture. Let me have everybody in front. Let's go back here.

1:53:27And uh y'all come down and tell your tell your friends about this. We like to have this class be very full.

1:53:34Can we get a bus over to Zephyrhills? We'll bring a bus look.

1:53:41Good job.

1:53:49All All right, folks, very good.

1:53:55Thank you. Thank you all very much. All right. Congratulations, everybody.

1:53:59Yeah,

1:54:02Yeah.

1:54:14Yeah.