Reaching your 10th anniversary as an Iola city employee could have been quite profitable this year.
Ken Hunt, the city’s human resources director, told commissioners Tuesday that employees eligible for League of Kansas Municipality Awards — given to employees who celebrate their 10th, 25th or 40th year with the city — were eligible to pick, among other prizes, a gold ring.
With the skyrocketing cost of gold in recent years, a size 10 men’s gold ring is valued at more than $1,000. Ladies’ gold rings cost more than $700.
The prize is noticeably more costly than other 10th anniversary awards, which range from $43.18 for a set of binoculars to $159.34 for a money clip.
Employees celebrating their 25th anniversary this year can pick from prizes worth $174.30 — for diamond earrings — to $396.04 for a necklace. Price ranges for employees celebrating their 40th anniversary range between $188.21 for a drill and driver set to $586.42 for a set of speakers.
One employee is set to celebrate his 10th anniversary this year; another will be with the city 25 years in 2010.
Commissioners said the steep price of gold will likely prompt them to drop the rings from the list of available awards.
The city pays for the prizes, City Administrator Judy Brigham said.
One 25-year employee selected a gold ring three years ago, when it cost about $800.
“Those rings have never cost this much,” Brigham said.
Commissioner Bill Shirley said the rings soon will be removed from the list of potential prizes.
In addition to the LKM prizes, employees who retire after 10 years will receive a plaque from the city. Those who retire between 10 and 25 years receive a quartz clock. Those who retire after 25 or more years receive a wrist, pocket or pendant watch.
The city’s resolution to put the prizes in place was adopted in 1997.
Some city employees could get quite a gift
