City of Hays

Employee service awards were presented Thursday evening by Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller to city employees who have been employed for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 years.

The employees were also thanked by city commissioners and City Manager Toby Dougherty.

City of Hays 2019 Employee Service Awards

 5-Year Awards
Dave Gillan – Dave started his career with the City as a Police Officer. Two years later, Dave was promoted to Police Corporal.
Jason Riegel – Jason first joined the City as the Water Conservation Specialist. In 2017 he was promoted to his current position of Water Reclamation and Reuse Superintendent.
Jayson Dinkel – Jayson rejoined the City as a Dispatcher in 2014. He was later promoted to Lead Dispatcher.
Kevin Kamphaus – Kevin has served his five years with the City as the Superintendent for the Golf Course.
Matt Schmidt – Matt is currently a Part-Time Maintenance Worker for Water Resources.
Stefan Gildemeister – Stefan began his employment as a Hays Police Officer. In 2019 he was promoted to a Master Police Officer.
Tanner Pabst – Tanner started as a Volunteer Firefighter and became a FullTime Firefighter two years later.

10-Year Awards
Chris Hancock – Chris began his career as a Part-Time Police Officer with the City. One month later, he was promoted to a Full-Time Police Officer. In 2014, he was once again promoted to Police Corporal and took his newest title as Police Sergeant in 2016.

Chris Rorabaugh – Chris has served the City the last ten years as a Part-Time Code Enforcer.
Clayton Unruh – Clayton has worked his ten years at the Chetolah Creek Water Reclamation & Reuse Facility. He started as a Plant Operator and moved up to his current role, Senior Plant Operator.
Dustin Anderson – Dustin started his career as a Maintenance Worker I for the Service Division. Dustin continues to work for the Service Division and is currently a Senior Maintenance Worker.
Kelli Sprague – Kelli joined the City as a Dispatcher. Two years later she became a Records Clerk with the Hays Police Department.
Kolleen Dome – Kolleen began employment with the City as a Records Clerk for the Hays Police Department. In 2019 she took on a new role as the Municipal Court Clerk.
Mike Windholz – Mike was hired by the City as a Maintenance Worker I for the Parks Department. He was promoted to Maintenance Worker II in 2011 and then to Park Technician in 2014.
Tom Mai – Tom has served the City as an Information Technology Technician for the last 10 years.

15-Year Awards
Brandon Zimmerman – Brandon began as a Volunteer Firefighter for the Hays Fire Department. A year later he moved to a Full-Time Firefighter position. In 2019 he was promoted to Senior Firefighter.
Justin Choitz – Currently a Senior Firefighter, Justin started with the Hays Fire Department as a Volunteer Firefighter. In 2005 he joined the department full time as a Firefighter.
Linda Bixenman – Linda has served the Planning, Inspection, and Enforcement Division for the last 15 years as their Administrative Assistant.

Luke Scoby – Luke was hired by the City as a Volunteer Firefighter. He became a Full-Time Firefighter in 2005. In 2011, Luke was promoted to his current role of Fire Lieutenant.
Myron Dreiling – Myron began his career with the City in 2004 as a Firefighter. In 2019 he was promoted to Senior Fire Fighter.
Ryan Hagans –Over the course of Ryan’s 15 years with the Hays Fire Department, he has served as a Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Deputy Fire Chief, and his current position, Fire Chief.

20-Year Awards
Mark Lang – Mark was hired by the City as a Plant Trainee for the Wastewater Division in 1999. During his tenure, he was promoted to Plant Operator I in 2000 and Senior Plant Operator a year later.
Aaron Larson – Aaron joined the Hays Police Department as a Dispatcher. A year later he was promoted to a Police Officer and has held multiple roles as a Law Enforcement Officer for the City of Hays including, Uniformed Investigator, Detective, and his current role, Detective Sergeant.
Tessa Scheck – Tessa started with the City as an Office Clerk for the Water Resources Department. She currently serves as that department’s Administrative Assistant.
Steve Schmidtberger – Steve was employed by the City 20 years ago as a Plant Trainee in the Water Plant. Shortly after he was promoted to Plant Operator I and two years later was promoted to his current position Senior Plant Operator.

25-Year Awards
Steve Dreiling – Steve began his career as a Refuse Collector in 1994. He has also served as a Maintenance Worker I for the Service Division, a Truck Driver for the Solid Waste Division and a Refuse Equipment Driver which was reclassified to his current position Solid Waste Senior Maintenance Worker.