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Officials with the City of Brewton have announced the name of the employee chosen as “employee of the quarter” for the first quarter of 2023.
Watching the city’s green spaces and flowering streetscapes, Ronald Smith said he can’t help but feel pride.
“The city’s growing every year, getting better in plantings and design,” he said. “I like learning new things and people seem to like the results they see.”
Every day is a different challenge, Smith said, as a supervisor in the Public Works Department. He started with the city shortly after he graduated from T.R. Miller High in 2012.
“Most of the crew starts at 6 a.m.,” he said, “but I drive the street sweeper starting at 3 a.m. three days a week, so I have an early start most days.”
Smith specializes in maintaining irrigation lines, trimming trees and general maintenance of public areas among a long list of work duties.
Craig Jerkins, director of Public Works where Smith is employed, said the worker is an asset to the department.
“Ronald is a hard worker and keeps a great attitude,” Jerkins said. “He never meets a stranger.”
Currently, Smith is training in the Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Program.
“It’s like going back to school,” Smith said. “We are learning so much about flowers and soils–I’m happy to have that opportunity.”
In his spare time, Smith said he enjoys cookouts at O’Bannon with his friends.
“I’ve been going to that park all my life,” Smith said. “It’s a beautiful place. I like to cook out there or at my house with friends over. I like to travel too and learn from other places like Boston, Lexington, Arroyo Grande, St. Louis, Chicago and San Antonio. Seeing how they do things helps us do better work here.”
Smith said he enjoys being close to his parents in his hometown.