Supervisor praises county employees, urges respect for public servants

At the close of the Washington County Board of Supervisors’ organizational meeting, an unnamed supervisor delivered extended New Year remarks urging colleagues and the public to recognize the work of county employees.

The speaker recounted the hardships county staff face in severe weather and emergency responses, describing crews who work "in blinding snowstorms" and employees who have had to repair equipment overnight or put tire chains on vehicles in subzero conditions. The supervisor said staff often handle traumatic calls — arriving at homes where a loved one is dying or where children are frightened — and urged patience and appreciation for those duties.

The speaker criticized what they called uninformed public criticism and emphasized the moral dimension of public service: "You're the ones walking into the dark so others can sit by the fire and not have to think about dragons," the supervisor said. The remarks included examples of pressure staff face, including being told by critics to "put them out in the street" rather than provide shelter or services.

The comments were delivered as internal remarks during supervisors’ comments and were not followed by formal board action. The meeting adjourned after the remarks.

The speaker was identified in the meeting as a supervisor in the comments period but was not named in the transcript; therefore direct quotes are attributed to an unnamed supervisor as recorded.