The City of Hot Springs has more than 600 employees who serve our community, and a new recognition program has been established to honor those who go above and beyond for our city and citizens.
The Hot Springs HERO idea came to be after a community member sent a message to the City’s Facebook page to thank the City employee who helped their family at Carpenter Dam Park. The employee was Cory Smith, maintenance worker for the Parks & Trails Department, and he helped the family after he noticed they had gotten their boat and trailer stuck off the boat launch pavement. Smith is in charge of cleaning the City’s 19 parks, and he oversees the transportation and work of his daily crew of community service workers. Smith stopped what he was doing when he saw the family get stuck and asked if he could be of service. He and two of his workers unhooked the boat and manually moved the trailer so the SUV could get back on the boat launch paved drive. The family was able then to get the boat trailer back on its way.
“We were stuck,” read the citizen’s message to the City about that morning. “Not sure who they were…in the white Parks Department vehicle…but they immediately pitched in and helped. A great example of how people can be and do good for others.”
As Smith’s actions inspired the HERO program, it is only fitting that he be the first honoree. A portrait was taken of Smith at Carpenter Dam Park, and the spotlight is featured on the City’s website at www.cityhs.net/HERO.
To nominate a City employee for a HERO spotlight, simply fill out the short form at www.cityhs.net/HERO-nominate.