News Flash

Jeff Hayes retired Sept. 1, after 36 years of service with the City. Mr. Hayes started his career with the City of Lenoir in 1984 as a Water Plant Operator. He was promoted to Chief Water Plant Operator in 1989.

Roger Barlow retired Aug. 1, after 30 years of service with the City of Lenoir. Mr. Barlow started his firefighting career with the City in 1978. He left the City in 1990, but returned in 2002. Barlow was promoted to Fire Inspector in 2006 and Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal in 2009. In 2018, he was promoted to Assistant Chief / Prevention.

During the Council meeting, Mayor Joe Gibbons read resolutions honoring both Mr. Hayes and Chief Barlow and presented both men with a Key to the City. Fire Chief Ken Hair also presented Mr. Barlow with a watch, a shadow box containing his helmet shield, badge, and ribbons, and a United States Flag that was flown over Station 1 in his honor.

“We are very proud of Chief Barlow's and Mr. Hayes’ many, many years of service to the City of Lenoir,” Mayor Gibbons said. “Anyone who works 30 years or more with one organization has made a great achievement, and that kind of experience is hard to replace. We are honored to have had Mr. Hayes and Chief Barlow for as long as we did, and we’re thankful for everything they have done to help make Lenoir such a great place to live.”

Public Utilities Director Radford Thomas said that Mr. Hayes's knowledge of the water treatment plant was extensive.

“Jeff understood all the inner-workings of the City’s Water Treatment Plant,” Director Thomas said. “He took ownership of operations and took responsibility for providing clean water for our residents. That’s a big public health responsibility.”

Director Thomas said Mr. Hayes also helped plan the last two projects at the water treatment plant. The City of Lenoir recently invested $11 million to build two new water filters and install an Active Flow System at the water treatment plant.

“Jeff provided a lot of input into the planning and design process of those projects, and his opinions meant a lot to me,” Director Thomas said. “I have a lot of respect for Jeff. I appreciate his friendship and I appreciate his commitment to providing clean water to all our customers. He was always a pleasure to work with, and he’s going to be hard to replace.”

Fire Chief Ken Hair said it was a privilege to recognize Chief Barlow for his three decades of service with the City of Lenoir Fire Department.

"Chief Barlow was a great mentor to me and helped the department tremendously," Chief Hair said. "I am most proud of his ability to consistently apply the fire code to every business in the city. When we were building Fire Station 3, Chief Barlow made sure we followed the fire code just like every other business. I am sad to see him go, but I wish him nothing but the best in his new journey of a well-deserved retirement."

RESOLUTION HONORING JEFFERY IRVIN "JEFF" HAYES

WHEREAS, Jeffery Irvin (Jeff) Hayes, began his career as a Water Plant Operator Trainee on August 17, 1984, and was promoted to Chief Water Plant Operator on September 22, 1989; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Hayes, has announced his retirement effective September 1, 2020, ending 36 years of exemplary service to the ci􀁖izens of Lenoir and Caldwell County; and WHEREAS, Jeff's operational experience and knowledge of the Water Treatment Plant were key to the success of the two most recent water treatment plant improvements projects completed over the last four years; and

WHEREAS, his leadership skills, commitment and pride m protecting the integrity of the Water Treatment Plant and the distribution system, along with his proven excellence in the quality of the water produced every day, have greatly benefited the community;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Joseph L. Gibbons, Mayor, and on behalf of the Lenoir City Council and all the citizens, do hereby wish the very best for Jeff in his retirement and commend him for the example he has set as a dedicated public servant; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we extend our sincere appreciation and deep gratitude for his faithful and outstanding service which has contributed to the betterment of our City.

Witness my hand and seal this the 20th day of October, 2020.

Joseph L. Gibbons, Mayor

RESOLUTION HONORING ROGER CALVIN BARLOW

WHEREAS, Roger Calvin Barlow began his career as a Firefighter with the Lenoir Fire Department on July 1, 1978 separating his first appointment on June 8, 1990, rehired on August 6, 2002 and was promoted to Fire Inspector on June 5, 2006 and Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal on March 26, 2009 and Assistant Chief/Prevention on May 6, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Roger Barlow has announced his retirement effective August 1, 2020 ending 30 years of exemplary service to the citizens of Lenoir and Caldwell County; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure of dedicated service, Roger Barlow has served with great competence and always contributed positively to the professional development of those around him; and

WHEREAS, during all of his endeavors both in and outside the Fire Department Roger Barlow has brought honor and respect to himself and the City of Lenoir by his actions and his fair treatment of all persons;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Joseph L. Gibbons, Mayor, and on behalf of the Lenoir City Council and all the citizens do hereby wish the very best for Roger in his retirement and commend him for the example he has set as a dedicated public servant; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we extend our sincere appreciation and deep gratitude for his faithful and outstanding service which has contributed to the betterment of our City.

Witness my hand and seal this the 20th day of October, 2020.

Joseph L. Gibbons

Jeff Hayes

Roger Barlow

Front row from left: Mayor Joe Gibbons, Jeff Hayes, and Public Utilities Director Radford Thomas. Back row from left: Councilmember David Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Crissy Thomas, City Manager Scott Hildebran, and Councilmembers Ralph Prestwood, Ike Perkins, and Jonathan Beal.

Front row from left: Mayor Joe Gibbons, Roger Barlow, and Fire Chief Ken Hair. Back row from left: Councilmember David Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Crissy Thomas, City Manager Scott Hildebran, and Councilmembers Ralph Prestwood, Ike Perkins, and Jonathan Beal.