Payson Roundup

Fun failed to make the list Tuesday as Gila County supervisors and various department heads discussed their values and evolving mission statement during a work-study session.

However, both fun and innovation generated much discussion.

As county personnel director Berthan DeNero ran down a list of values, she made the unfortunate assumption that government could not be innovative.

Public works director Steve Stratton took slight offense. “It’s not all black and white,” he said of government. “There’s a lot of grey. If you’re innovative, you can use that grey area to accomplish what your constituents need.”

Supervisor Tommie Martin agreed. “I would like us to be innovative,” she said. “I think government needs to be.”

Supervisors began planning in February, and they meet periodically to talk values and develop a mission statement.

In a later example of fun, and perhaps innovation, Martin noted her employees greatly enjoyed the Nintendo Wiis that have temporarily sat in her Payson office on their way to places like the Senior Center.

A round of virtual golf can leave an employee rejuvenated to work on a stressful project, she said, suggesting that maybe all the supervisors could get Wiis for their offices.

“There’ll be days when nobody comes play it,” she said. But when stress rises, fun helps.

Martin’s focus on fun had intercepted the beginnings of Supervisor Shirley Dawson’s lamenting the state legislature’s ongoing budget battles.

“My stomach is churning,” Dawson said.

“I’m the only one here who said fun,” Martin interjected. “If we’re not having fun, let’s have an entire workshop on that.”

“There’s a difference in enjoyment and having fun,” Dawson said.

Values that did make the list included integrity, teamwork, accountability, empowerment, excellence, inspiration and honesty.

The draft mission statement stated: “The mission of Gila County is to provide regional leadership and fiscal responsibility for public services in a healthy, safe community, and to promote and support the use of natural resources on public, private and tribal lands.