EDMONDS – Mike Adams keeps this city rolling – literally.
As one of four mechanics working for Edmonds, Adams, 43, spends his days fixing and tuning the city’s police and fire vehicles, Public Works cars, Parks Department vans and meter-reader trucks. Or, as he puts it, “everything with wheels.”
Recently, Adams was named “Employee of the Year” by city staff, an honor he remains humble about.
“I was just surprised,” Adams said of his reaction to the award. He added that he had no idea until they called his name at the city’s annual Holiday breakfast. “People asked me afterward, ‘Well, didn’t you think it was weird that your whole family was there?’”
A mechanic by trade, Adams came to Edmonds almost five years ago after working for Chuck Olson Chevrolet in Shoreline. The move, he said, was based on a shorter commute and a desire to work in the city where he lived with his wife and two teen-age daughters.
“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” Adams said.
And it still does. Adams said he plans to continue working for the city until he retires.
The camaraderie of city staff is one of the main reasons, he said.
“We’re a pretty tight group – there’s four of us who work in fleet maintenance,” Adams said. And it’s a lot like a family; we’re in the same compound as street, water and sewer (employees), and we’re all friends.”
Another reason, he said, was that he can focus on fixing vehicles rather than selling products, as he did in previous jobs.
“It’s nice to just come in and fix it, and not have to turn around and sell something,” Adams said.
Of winning the Employee of the Year award, Adams said he thinks he was nominated because of his positive attitude and productive work ethic.
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