As you travel down some of the 700 miles of roads maintained by Whitfield County Public Works, you might take a moment to thank Daniel Morgan and his crew for making the trip safer.
Morgan recently made a transition from a typical right-of-way crew leader into a newly created slot to focus on potholes and guardrail.
Both operations are conducted with special equipment, neither of which Morgan had operated.
He spent many personal hours researching information about his work to become more proficient. He was the first in Georgia to operate both machines on a regular basis, and his research and collaboration with others have made both operations a huge success for Whitfield County Public Works.
For his extraordinary efforts on the job, Morgan has been selected as Whitfield County Employee of the Month for March.
“Daniel is a skilled operator on numerous machines,” said Roger Lackey, who nominated Morgan for the award. “He spent over 14 years operating a Gradall ditching machine along county right-of-way. He has refined an asphalt blend for potholes that better matches the existing mix, and he has also modified our pothole machine to facilitate easier maintenance and a longer-lasting mixing tub. Daniel was also instrumental in rewriting the current Public Works policy manual, making specific changes to our attendance policy.”
Mr. Morgan’s special equipment crew provides both maintenance and revenue back to Whitfield County. “That’s typically not considered with PW maintenance,” Lackey said. “However, as Daniel patches routine potholes, he also repairs utility cuts in the roadways, with over $15,000 billed to date to utility companies. The same also applies for guardrail repair due to an auto accident with the insurance companies.”
Mr. Lackey also said that Morgan’s crew consistently “get recognized for their job performance and professionalism from citizen calls and notes.”
Mr. Morgan worked through personal hardship over a 2-3 year period recently, as his wife was going through very serious health issues. “Daniel continue to be an asset to Whitfield County even though he was challenged around the clock for an extended period,” Lackey said.
To let Whitfield County residents learn more about him, Morgan recently took a few moments to fill out the following fun questionnaire.
Name: Daniel Morgan
Job title: Crew leader, Whitfield County Public Works
Time with the county: 18 years
Where I went to high school: Southeast Whitfield
My role as a county employee: Install guardrail and pothole patching
What keeps my job interesting: Learning ways of doing my job with new technology
What gives me a sense of accomplishment on the job: When people in the public thank you
The most important thing I’ve done on the job: Working on Miracle Field Park
Where I grew up: Whitfield County
Family: Wife Lisa Morgan, sons Josh Morgan and Jacob Long
After work, I enjoy: Fishing and hunting
Community activities: Past Master of Hill City Lodge
Favorite TV show: ESPN
Favorite team: Georgia Bulldogs
Favorite meal: Breakfast
Favorite song: I Believe in You (Don Williams)
Favorite Whitfield County restaurant: Tijuana’s
Favorite Whitfield County event: Prater’s Mill Country Fair
I’m most proud of: My son Josh Morgan
You can pick someone to have dinner with (anyone from any time in history) – who would you choose and why? My mother, Katherine Morgan – I miss her.
Cats or dogs? Dogs (Day Day)
Cake or pie? Coconut pie
My dream car? 2016 Stingray
Host or be hosted? Hosted
Early riser or sleep-in? Early riser
Favorite vacation ever: Camping at Lake Winfield Scott
Best teacher you ever had: Miss Sanders
Pet peeve: People who don’t put up buggies at stores
If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s: Try to stay calm, don’t take things to heart.
Who has the most impact on my life: My wife Lisa, watching her fight and survive breast cancer
What’s left on my bucket list: Buy a new bass boat
If I could have been in any profession of my choosing, I would have been a: Fishing on Bass Master Tour.
If I could have two wishes, they would be: Fish the Bass Master Tour or FLW Tour
You’d be surprised to learn that I: Love to fish.
The best advice you ever got: If you don’t take risks, you will never learn.