The Geary County Commission recognized 22 employees Monday afternoon for their years of service.

Those employees recognized Monday have been with the county between five and 35 years.

Rodney Christenson has been working for Geary County with Public Works for 35 years. “I took the job just as a stepping stone. I thought maybe well I’ll just take it for a job, it’s a job. Come out here out of high school and though I’ll find something better, 35 years later I’m still here.”

Christenson said that the biggest changes he’s seen over his 35 years would be the new equipment. “We used to have machinery that had holes in the floor and you had heaters and you had to wear all the clothes you ever owned just to stay warm. Now a days the new road graders and stuff that we have you can plow snow with a t-shirt on.”

Two other employees were recognized for 30 years of service. Garry Berges, Emergency Management Director and Bertram Mathis with the Sheriff’s Department.

Berges said that when he first started with Geary County he was with the Sheriff’s Department,”I worked my way up from the jail to a road deputy to investigations and then was under sheriff there for four years.”

Berges has been the Director of Emergency Management for the past ten years.

Mathis has always been with the Sheriff’s department and said that he’s stayed with the department because he likes the people.”I like the people that I work with and I enjoy meeting new people.”

All of the employees were recognized during a ceremony Monday afternoon at the County Office Building.