A former, long-time administrator of the Vermilion County Health Department is being honored for his service. Stephen Laker was surprised to learn at Tuesday night’s Board of Health meeting that he was being recognized. Laker says new Health Department Administrator, Dr. Prince Danso-Odei, had told him earlier that he should get a plaque or something, but Laker told the new administrator he already has a box of plaques at home…
{AUDIO: “So I guess their answer was to get me a plaque that they could put up in here. Well, that’s appreciated. You know during my tenure here I even won a national award, and I probably should have insisted that they leave that one up in here. And I might bring it back in here – my American Public Health Association award. But any appreciation is appreciated, but I don’t handle it well.’’
Laker says he really appreciates the award…
{AUDIO: “You know I had a lot of blood, sweat, and tears involved in this place in almost forty years. Now I’ve actually got ten months to add to that total, and now I can say I worked in public health in Vermilion County for forty years. Just thirty-four-and-a-half as administrator, but I had some expertise and I was willing to volunteer that.”
The Board of Health also honored a long-time employee, Susan Pacot, who is currently serving as Special Assistant to the Administrator.
