Thurston County recognizes winners of 19 national awards for community programs and services

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners recognized the 19 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award-winning programs and services with a presentation to kick off its final business meeting of July.

Department leaders and staff accepted plaques for their awards and gave brief thanks during the ceremony. Thurston County took home more NACo awards than any other Washington county for its programs and services that improve the lives of county residents.
The public health and social services team earned seven NACo honors, the most of any Thurston County department. The auditor’s office under Auditor Mary Hall won five awards, public works earned five, and the community planning and economic development and treasurer’s office each took home one.

Among the 19 award-winning programs and services was the Fix-it Fair, a free community event where 24 volunteer “fixers” from the county’s public works department repaired items brought in by the community, diverting them from the landfill. The program won a Best of Category award in the volunteer category out of 17 submissions from across the country after it served 65 people and repaired 77 items during the three-hour event.

Thurston County had been home to similar smaller repair events in the past hosted by other organizations, but through a partnership with the Lacey MakerSpace, the county was able to put on its first such repair event last November.

“We were just blown away by how much interest there was, both by volunteers and by members of the community,” Rob Pudner, Thurston County recycling and waste reduction specialist, said. “We had to turn away volunteers because we had so many. It was really exciting, but it also puts a lot of pressure on us because we know that the community sees us. They see what we’re offering, and there’s a demand, so we want to meet that demand.”

Pudner said some community members came in to the Fix-it Fair at the Lacey MakerSpace just to have their items repaired, but most attendees expressed interest in watching the repair process intently to learn the skills themselves. The county also put on another repair event in April and is planning for a third on Nov. 5.

“People around here really recognize and care about the community and the environment and sustainability. Those are some of the benefits of this event,” Karen Weiss, county public works director, said. “We’re repairing rather than just throwing away. That message really resonates in this community.”

Jennifer Walker, assistant county manager, said in a statement that the county is excited to be recognized for the quality of work of county staff.

“These awards reflect the innovation and dedication of our staff and the county’s commitment to improving the lives of our residents and the community where we live and work,” she said.

The Thurston County Resource Hub, part of the public health and social services department, was another winner during the NACo awards. The hub is a drop-in center for people with behavioral health needs who are also in the justice system. Staff help them quickly find and connect with free legal aid, health care, housing, employment help and peer support.
Nate Block, Resource Hub program manager, said the recognition by NACo is proof that the program’s approach is working and creates a positive environment for community members.

“Everyone’s in the right place when they walk in the door. When someone comes in, they’re a little hesitant and a little nervous to connect to the right service,” Block said, “mostly because they have gotten used to going somewhere and having five different things that they need help with and maybe getting one done and being told, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you with that.’ My mission, my long-term goal for the hub is to make it to where that never has to be said in that room.”

In a news release, Thurston County Board of Commissioners Chair Tye Menser acknowledged the dedication and innovation of county staff and the upward trend for quality of life for residents.

“County employees aren’t just serving the community. They’re part of it,” Menser wrote. “They look out for their neighbors, raise their children, enjoy our parks and trails, and vote in local elections alongside the residents they serve. These awards reflect the positive direction the county is headed and the deep commitment of our valued employees and leaders to the community.”

For the full list of award-winning programs and services, visit https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/thurston-county-awards.