Auburn Public Works employee earns state recognition

The Auburn City Council honored Mooney at its Aug. 5 meeting, where public works director David Hawthorne said the four-year employee has earned the respect and friendship of everyone he works with.

Hawthorne told the Barrow Journal after the meeting that he’s never had an employee that has shined brighter than Mooney, who goes to great heights and great depths to do anything needed.

“Most people wouldn’t climb our water tank, but Ben would almost wrestle you to go up,” Hawthorne said. “He loves the excitement of doing things.

“I told him today that we had a catch basin to go down in and check the drain pipe, and he said, ‘How deep is it?’ “He wanted it to be deep. He wanted a challenge. He loves it.”

In his nomination letter to the association, Hawthorne noted that Mooney also is a member of the “Crystal River” gospel group that has produced music and videos in Nashville.

“Ben Mooney is a man with exceptional talent as a performer as well as an employee who exhibits conspicuous excellence in every area of his job description,” Hawthorne wrote.

“Happily married with two small children, Ben travels 25 weekends a year and cheerfully arrives at work on time each Monday morning.”