A pair of exemplary Oldsmar residents recently received the City Council-City Manager Award of Recognition from city officials.
Local businesses owner LJ Tucker was given the award for the month of November 2017, while realtor and reality TV star Quyen Trujillo was the recipient for December.
The award is given to City employees or residents who commit their time and effort for the betterment of the community. Recent past recipients include architect Francisco Semsch and former Council member Linda Norris.
In presenting the award to Tucker on Nov. 21, City Manager Al Braithwaite praised the founder and president of Tucker Enterprise Tree Services for his efforts to help the community recover from the effects of Hurricane Irma.
“This is called the Council-Manager Award, but I think for this particular time only I‘d like to call it the ‘save the day’ award,” Braithwaite said.
Braithwaite then explained how Tucker, who is also a local football coach and mentor to one of Oldsmar’s most famous sons, used his invaluable claw trucks to help clear the city of Irma debris.
“LJ agreed put some of his other business aside to help us get the debris cleared citywide,” he said, adding, “LJ saved the day for the City.”
Upon accepting the award, Tucker thanked his family and the council, and he spoke about the importance of helping his community.
“I learned a long time ago it’s not about the money, it’s about building relationships and the allies,” Tucker said.
“We try to stay as economical as possible and do a good job. Because that’s what’s most important to us. Doing a good job.”
On Dec. 5, Trujillo, a real estate agent and active member of community, was presented with the Council-Manager Award by Vice-Mayor Dan Saracki, who got to know Trujillo through her volunteer work on the city’s centennial committee.
“I met Quyen and her husband, Tony, at a task force event and I said wow, she’s going somewhere,” Saracki said of the HGTV regular known as a diminutive dynamo for her stature and personality.
“She’s won awards and she is taking off as a superstar, and I want to thank you for your leadership and your desire to help others in the community, and I look forward to seeing what you are going to do in the future for the city of Oldsmar.”
In her remarks, Trujillo said she was honored to accept the award, as she has been an active member of the community since she moved to Oldsmar six years ago.
“Right away I became involved, with Code Enforcement, and it seems like every year I add something to the list,” she said.
“So I thank you so much for adding the centennial (committee) onto that list as well. It was so fun and I was able just to feel like really a part of the city.”
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