Melbourne Police Officers and Employees Honored for Outstanding Service

Pictured from left to right: Chelsea Johnson, Officer Frank LeGate, Valerie Houston

On February 27, the Melbourne Police Department held its annual awards ceremony to recognize and celebrate police officers, communications officers and civilian employees for their outstanding performance, dedication, courage and professionalism in 2024. K9 Officer Frank LeGate was honored as Officer of the Year, Chelsea Johnson was awarded Communications Officer of the Year, and Crime Scene Investigator Valerie Houston received the Employee of the Year award. Detective Jay Hazelett was named Detective of the Year, FTO Briana Fahy was awarded Field Training Officer of the Year, and Sergeant David Helms was recognized as the Supervisor of the year. Please see the full press release for more information about these employees and their exceptional work in 2024.

Volunteers Wanted for Annual Trash Bash, April 5

The annual Trash Bash cleanup event will be held on Saturday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to noon. The Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) Division is seeking volunteers (children must be accompanied by an adult) to help clean up our community. If you, your family, church group, or organization would like to participate, please email adoptaroad@mlbfl.org or call Cheryl Caldwell at 321-608-5082 to preregister with the number of volunteers and your preferred site location (there are nine site locations this year).

ECO Division Distributing Free Recycling Decals

The Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) Division is offering free recycling guide decals to City of Melbourne residents and business owners. The 10” x 10” decals are designed to go on recycling cart lids. They provide a quick and easy guide to show what can – and what cannot – be recycled through Waste Management’s curbside collection service. 

To request a recycling decal, call the ECO Division at 321-608-5080 or email recycle@mlbfl.org. You may have the decal mailed to you, or you may pick up a decal at City Hall or the City of Melbourne Public Works and Utilities administration office. ECO staff will also be placing decals on recycling carts during weekly recycling checks as part of the Curb Contamination Program. 

“If you’re confused about what to recycle in the City of Melbourne, you’re not alone,” said Megan Ruben, ECO Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator. “Recycling has been a challenge since single stream recycling began in 2010, but it is very important for reducing waste in landfills and keeping our city clean.”

Plastic bags, for example, should not be put in the carts because they get tangled up in the machinery at the recycling plant. Aluminum and steel cans; plastic bottles and jugs; glass bottles; and paper, including cardboard, are all appropriate for curbside pickup.

For More Information:

• For questions about recycling in the City of Melbourne, or to request a decal, contact the ECO Division at 321-608-5080 or recycle@mlbfl.org.
• View Waste Management’s curbside recycling guide: wm.com/recycleright.

Six Local Schools Earn City’s Annual ECO Awards

Sherwood, Gemini, and Sea Park Elementary Schools; West Melbourne School for Science; Verdi Eco School; and Melbourne High School have all earned the 2024-2025 ECO School awards. The City’s Environmental Community Outreach Division presented the annual ECO awards to these schools to recognize their efforts toward environmental care and ownership. All six schools earning this year’s awards had hands-on activities for students that focused on environmental sustainability. For more information, please see this press release. 

Promotions

• Brandon Alderman to Utility Systems Service Worker II, Water Distribution
• Kenneth Bash to Driver Engineer, Fire Operations
• Adam Bernthal to Police Officer, Police Operations
• Johnny Delaney to Fire Lieutenant, Fire Operations
• Edwin Geetan to Airport Maintenance Foreman, Terminal Building and Area
• Ben Kingery to Equipment Operator II, Streets Management
• Carlita Mahler to Police Officer, Police Operations
• Brandon Mansueto to Equipment Operator I, Parks Maintenance
• Latishia Pittman Latson to Equipment Operator I, Parks Maintenance
• Erwin Sanchez to Utility Systems Service Worker II, Water Distribution 
• Gary Thron to Fire Inspector III, Fire Prevention
  

Excellence Awards  

From left to right: Jim Nickelson, Dustin Nickelson, Dennis Curry, and Kevin Myers

Jim Nickelson and Dustin Nickelson were recognized with City of Melbourne Employee Excellence Awards for their efforts, flexibility, positive attitudes and dedication in working at the Joseph Pelicano Law Enforcement Center during the transition to this building. They handled many tasks ranging from installation of whiteboards and hanging signage throughout the building to tackling water cooler issues and re-keying the locks in the building. 

Dennis Curry and Kevin Myers were recognized for being instrumental in completing the shelter painting project at Harbor City Golf Course. This project involved a long process to clean, prime and paint the shelters. Because they volunteered their time to do this work outside of their routine responsibilities, they helped save the City more than $15,000 from the lowest contractor bid that was received.

Applause Awards

Congratulations to recent winners of the Applause Award! The following employees were recognized for exceeding their normal job duties to provide customer service, perform a service or project, or to facilitate teamwork and/or collaboration.

Firefighter Erik Jones (left) receives an Applause Award from Lt. Maan Aboulhosn (right). 

Lt. Maan Aboulhosn (left) presents an Applause Award to Firefighter Corey Flowers (right).

Service Award

During the March 25 City Council Meeting, Council members and the city manager congratulated and thanked Bruce McClaney for 20 years of service to the City of Melbourne. Pictured left to right are City Attorney Adam Conley, Council Member Mark LaRusso, Council Member Marcus Smith, City Manager Jenni Lamb, Bruce McClaney, Vice Mayor David Neuman, Council Member Julie Kennedy, Council Member Rachael Bassett, and Council Member Mimi Hanley.

Retirements

• Stanley Cichowski, Airport Safety/Training Coordinator, retired on March 6 after 30 years of service. 
• Andrea DeCaro, Water Production Operations Supervisor, retired on March 28 after 22 years of service.