More City Departments Relocate
to New Operations Center
The new Employee Training Center at the Operations Center can
seat up to 115 people. The training facilities include a computer
lab and reception area that can be used for registration or serving
refreshments. (Photo by Mark Randolph)
Employees participating in City training opportunities or visiting
the employee health clinic will be pleasantly surprised at the
new facilities housed at the City’s Operations Center.
During the week of May 4, the Park Operations division, the Facilities
shops, the Traffic shop, Employee Health, Risk Management and
the Employee training room were all moved to the Operations Center
at the corner of 4th Street and Tennessee.
This represents the completion of the second phase of renovations.
Last October, the departments of Purchasing, Facilities, Records
and the warehouse relocated to the same building.
Now that the older buildings are vacant, the former warehouse
and parks operations buildings will be demolished for parking.
One of the highlights of the new Operations Center is a large
training room that can seat up to 115 people.
The room is equipped with dual projection screens, a quality
sound system, a document projector, VCR/DVD capability and Internet
access. The room will be available to all City departments for
training purposes free of charge.
Next door to the training room is a computer lab that will be
equipped with 10 computers that can be used for online training.
The training facilities also include a reception area that can
be used for registration and for serving refreshments
“I am very excited about the prospects for City-wide training
with the completion of the new training room, which will accommodate
anywhere from 80 to 115 employees in training sessions,” said
Karen Clark, training administrator. “The facility includes a
computer lab that will host a variety of on-line courses that
provides all employees a convenient and efficient alternative
to classroom training in which to improve job skills and knowledge.
“
The new Employee Health Clinic has a large reception area for
employees as they wait for their appointments. There are four
exam rooms, offices for the nurses and doctor, as well as a small
meeting room.
“We will now be able to offer City employees personalized wellness
advice from our on site doctor, Dr. Rhonda Brewer,” said Gary
Urban, Director of Risk Management. “She will be on site two days
per week and will provide worker’s compensation, wellness and
limited employee health benefits to employees at this time. In
the future, we hope to expand the services we offer our employees.
The rest of the building houses the Traffic and Radio shops,
the Traffic Control Center, Parks Operations, the Park Ranger
offices, the Risk Management offices, and the Facilities shops.
“Everybody seems to be very satisfied as they become familiar
and move into their new spaces,” said Vincent Tobola, Facilities
Manager. ”All of the supervisors participated in designing the
layouts of their functions.”
While these City departments are beginning to function in their
new offices, parking will temporarily be a challenge for employees
visiting the Operations Center. Temporary parking will be available
along Indiana Avenue for the Employee Health Clinic. New parking
lots will be paved this fall once the old warehouse and parks
building have been demolished.
If you'd like to submit information for the
City Talk Newsletter, you can send an email to: marlenen@ci.waco.tx.us
or call 750-5638.
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Waco CVB Director Honored
Liz Taylor, Director of the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau,
received the 2009 Gene Phillips Hospitality Award on April 23 during
a ceremony in San Angelo, Texas.
She was recognized during the 54th annual Texas Travel Counselors
Conference for dedication and outstanding efforts benefiting the
Texas travel industry.
Taylor has worked in the travel industry for more than 25 years
and has served as the director of the Waco CVB since 1993. Her service
to the tourism industry includes 6 years on the Texas Travel Industry
board and 6 years on the board of the Texas Association of Convention
& Visitors Bureaus.
Employee Health Fair
Mark your calendar now! The Employee Health Fair will be held
on Thursday, Aug. 13 in conjunction with open enrollment meetings.
The health fair will be in McLennan Hall and open enrollment meetings
will be held in Bosque Theatre at the Waco Convention Center. Look
for more detailed information in future newsletters.
Employee Scholarship Winners Announced
The winners of the first Employee Scholarship were announced during
the Employee Cinco de Mayo Luncheon at the Waco Convention Center.
Holanie Beam, Water Utility Services, was selected for the employee
scholarship; and Latorsha, daughter of Tammy Gindratt, Parks & Recreation,
received the scholarship for relative of a City employee. Congratulations!
Baylor University Hosts Summer Camp
at Lake Waco Wetlands
Baylor Advanced Science Summer (B.A.S.S.) program is a one-week
science day camp held at the Lake Waco Wetlands for students entering
7th, 8th and 9th grades.
Baylor biology faculty and staff and City of Waco staff will guide
15-20 students through several outdoor science activities during
each day. The day camp will be held June 15-19 from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. The cost is $180 per student
Students will work in small groups to design their own experiment
to test an aspect of science. Students will be encouraged to take
their projects started in the BASS program and continue to develop
and complete them for the science fair during the school year.
Each day of the week, students will study different aspects of
the wetlands, such as water quality, plankton, aquatic plants, invertebrates,
and vertebrates. For more information, contact Nora Schell at 848-9654.
Memorial Day Discount for Veterans
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is honoring active and
retired veterans and their families memorial weekend, May 23-25.
Veterans and their families will receive discounted admission:
$1.00 off adult admission and 50 cents off child admission. The
museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last guest admitted at
4:30 p.m. For more information, call 750-8631.
Zoo Adventure Camp
The Cameron Park Zoo is offering several sessions of their Zoo
Adventure Camp this month.
ZSI—Zoo Science Investigations (June 8-12) students will
use their investigative skills to learn about animals.
Super Critters (June 15-19) focuses on extraordinary animals
and their super abilities. If your child loves animals and being
outside then zoo camp is for them! The information is online at
www.cameronparkzoo.com
or call 750-8467.
Summer Reading Club
Earn a book and other treats at our Summer Reading Club! Register
in June at any of the Waco-McLennan County Libraries. Youth who
read 20 hours by Aug. 15 will receive a book, pen, and coupon treats
from Shipley Donuts, Subway, Chick-Fil-A, Pizza Hut and Auntie Anne’s.
Target is the sponsor of our book awards. This reading club is
for ages 12 and under and pre-readers may participate by listening
to stories read to them.
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