[SPRINGFIELD CITY EMPLOYEE NEWS EXTRA ] March 2020 City names Neil Slagle as new Director of Information Systems Neil Slagle was named the City of Springfield’s States Marine, Director of Information Systems (IS), effective having served two Feb. 18. This position is critical in leading the City’s tours supporting technology needs, including those that directly affect air traffic control "All School Exhibition" daily operations, both emergency and routine citizen systems for several March 6–April 26 services. The IS Department serves approximately Marine air control 2,500 employees across 22 departments, located squadrons. Springfield Art Museum Neil Slagle The museum's longest in over 100 buildings throughout the City and Slagle received running exhibition initiative, surrounding areas. The department supports nearly his bachelor of science degree in physics from the "All School Exhibition" 400 software systems. Michigan State University and a master’s in business invites student artists from Slagle comes to Springfield, following a 2017 administration from the University of Michigan. He public, private, parochial and home school cooperatives to retirement from the state of Michigan Department and his wife Linda have two grown sons. He recently exhibit outstanding artwork in of Technology Management & Budget. He has moved from Michigan to Springfield in 2019 to be our largest gallery space. This over 23 years of experience in government, closer to his parents, who live in Mountain Home, exhibit also reflects the work where he managed several different state agency Arkansas. of the incredibly talented information technology programs for the state of teachers in our community, Slagle grew up in a military family, moving many of whom are practicing Michigan, including the Department of Corrections, frequently, but spent the most of his life in Texas. artists themselves. Department of the Attorney General and His biggest impression of Springfield so far has been Opening Receptions: Department of Treasury. one of a busy, thriving place. • Middle/High School: In 2001, he was a member of the team to March 6: 5:30-7 p.m. “One can tell that the City of Springfield is • Elementary School: consolidate all of the information technology from involved in a lot of economic development. That March 8: 2-4 p.m. 19 state agencies into a newly-formed department. requires coordination from different parts of the city As part of the consolidation effort, he received and partnership with our citizens to be successful. two Michigan Governor awards for statewide data I have been in Springfield for almost a year and center consolidation and implementation of a new continue to be surprised by what the city has to enterprise security strategy. He is a former United offer.” Owl Prowl: Nature Fire Chief recognized with Ambassador award from Center Walk and Hot for Public Safety Excellence Chocolate Bar Springfield Fire Chief David the continuous quality improvement March 20: 7-8 p.m. Pennington has been awarded process of accreditation, credentialing, Lake Springfield Park and the Ambassador of the Year and education. Boathouse Award by the Center for Public “The CPSE Ambassador of the Year Take a short hike around Safety Excellence (CPSE). Award recognizes an individual who Lake Springfield to listen CPSE is an international goes above and beyond in their support for wild owls. Then, visit the Boathouse to make delicious technical organization of accreditation, credentialing, and hot chocolate and meet that works with the most CPSE as a whole. Chief Pennington four species of owls from progressive fire and emergency received his Chief Fire Officer (CFO) the Dickerson Park Zoo. service agencies and most active designation in 2012. He is a strong Registration requested by calling 417-891-1550 or in- fire professionals. Its mission advocate for professional credentialing person. Fee: $5/person, is to lead fire and emergency within his department and neighboring Free/4 yrs. and under services to excellence through Fire Chief David Pennington communities. 4See FIRE CHIEF on page 3 Airport Fire employee MOmentum State of the 2020 Polar Plunge BeCivilBeHeard.com donates kidney to Workforce Survey results set for March 7 Be Attentive: Live with awareness relative released toward others and your surroundings. 2 5 8 Airport Fire employee donates kidney to relative SPRINGFIELD CITY Mike Hutchison, a 36-year- The surgery took place [ old aircraft service specialist at the University of Kansas EMPLOYEE NEWS EXTRA] for the Springfield-Branson Health System. Hutchison EDITOR National Airport Fire said he didn’t sleep much the Cora Scott Department, had an available night before. He had never MANAGING EDITOR kidney (a person can survive had a surgery before and was Melissa Haase with one functioning kidney). nervous. DESIGNER A relative needed one last “We went in very early, Rebecca Pfitzner year, and he was a match. For and it was over with quickly,” Hutchison, it was as simple he said. “It was done PHOTOGRAPHER as that. laparoscopically, and I had Christopher Akins “It was the right thing to three incisions in my abdomen COPY EDITORS do,” Hutchison said. and one in my belly button, Sharon Spain His aunt by marriage, where they pulled out the Sharon Smith Rita Hickman, who is the kidney. I had pain afterward, Kamille Barker Julie Greer mother of former Law especially when getting in department paralegal Joanna and out of bed, but it was controlled with medicine. I The SCENE is published monthly by the Hickman and wife of John City of Springfield, Hickman who worked in Airport Fire for did end up getting an infection, which was 840 Boonville, P.O. Box 8368, many years, was on the transplant list to painful for a couple of weeks, but it healed.” Springfield, MO 65801 Comments and articles which appear in receive a kidney. Hers were failing due to Hutchison has no regrets about donating The SCENE do not necessarily reflect the uncontrolled high blood pressure and she a kidney and was happy to see that it gave views or opinions of City administration was on dialysis. his aunt and uncle their lives back. or any employee thereof, but are for information only. Permission to reprint The process to donate the kidney was “When she was on dialysis, they material may be obtained from the a roller-coaster ride, Hutchison said. In couldn’t travel, and she couldn’t play with Department of Public Information, January 2019, he underwent testing to see her grandkids,” Hutchison said. “I’d do it (417) 864-1010. if he was a blood-type and antibody match again if someone needed an organ to live to donate to Hickman. He was denied at and I didn’t need it. The hardest part of first because his body-mass index was too the whole thing for me was asking my high. He had to lose 30 pounds, which he supervisor for six weeks off work to have said he “needed to lose anyway.” By August, the surgery and recover, but he was OK he had lost the weight and was approved as with it,” he added. MISSION a donor. The long-term health implications for We are committed to The family was excited and emotional. Hutchison having only one kidney are working with the community to Hickman was grateful that she would minimal, he added. The only restriction he provide ethical and responsible local government so that everyone receive a kidney from a relative and not has is that he can’t take a lot of NSAID can enjoy the benefits of living from a non-living organ donor that she pain relievers because they are taxing on and working in Springfield. didn’t know. the kidneys. Additional City info is available on our Web site at Department of Labor satisfied with City’s action www.springfieldmo.gov. Videos may be viewed on CityView to address grant fund eligibility on the Web or on Mediacom channels 15.1 and 80 and AT&T The City of Springfield’s Workforce U-verse channel 99. Development Department has received word that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is satisfied with the corrective action SCENE Deadline clarifying eligibility processes regarding March 26, 2020 the use of grant funds for a workforce Please direct your submissions development initiative called “America’s eligibility criteria established.” to the Department of Public Promise.” In a Feb. 11 letter from the Following an internal audit by BKD and Information. Submissions and Employment and Training Administration a second independent audit by RSM, the ads via e-mail are preferred: Division, officials notify acceptance of the City flagged 59 of the 376 participants in [email protected] “City of Springfield’s evidence that it has the program as ineligible. taken the necessary corrective actions to • 53 participants did not reside in the ensure that moving forward, all participants approved geographic area; printed on recycled paper enrolled in the • Four participants were enrolled in a program meet the 2 SCENE 4See AMERICA'S PROMISE GRANT on page 3 4FIRE CHIEF from page 1 4AMERICA'S PROMISE GRANT from page 2 Under Chief Pennington’s local educational agency; mentoring and leadership, 25 • One participant did not have required officers of the Springfield Fire documentation to show residency in Department have successfully gone the approved service area. (Several through the designation process attempts to contact the individual making his department have more were made; however, the participant designated officers than any other. was unable to be reached to obtain In addition, Chief Pennington additional documentation); has served as a peer reviewer for • One participant did not have the Commission on Professional supporting documentation to Credentialing since 2014. A Pennington sworn in as Springfield show eligibility for unemployed, proponent of accreditation, Chief Fire Chief in May 2017.