Kirkwood City Council Recognizes Staff Member for State Award

With a certificate of commendation and a box of cookies, Kirkwood Mayor Art McDonnell recognized Louise Marcolla, office manager for the , for receiving the 2012 Support Staff Award by the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association.

Marcolla originally was recognized as Support Staff of the Year at the association’s annual conference earlier this month. To qualify for the award, the person should have worked for their city for at least 10 years and have demonstrated “exemplary service above and beyond the normal duties of the job,” according to the association's website.

“You have been a wonderful person in our city government and in our parks department,” said McDonnell to Marcolla during Tuesday night’s city council meeting. “A lot of wonderful things wouldn’t have happened without you. We are very excited about the award which you received.”

Marcolla, who has been working for the city for 19 years, said she has enjoyed every second of it.

“I feel very fortunate to come in contact with all the wonderful people, employers and supervisors who work here,” Marcolla said.

Murray Pounds, the director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, said he was very proud the Missouri Parks and Recreation association picked Marcolla for the award.

“She goes far and away, and above and beyond everything she needs to do for this job,” Pounds said.

As the mayor gave Marcolla a certificate of commendation, he also gave her a box of cookies. Laughing, McDonnell said he wanted to give Marcolla the cookies because “every time I go into her office she always asks me, ‘Where are the cookies?’”

“She deserves that and more,” he said.