The Macon-Bibb County Human Resources Department will host its 5th Annual Wellness Appreciation Day at Lake Tobesofkee’s Sandy Beach Parkon Thursday, May 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., with lunch at the Fish-n-Pig from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This event is sponsored annually by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia with a $15,000 grant from its Health Promotion and Well Being program.
 
This year's event will include the Public Works, Solid Waste, Parks & Beautification, Facilities Management, Engineering, and Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance Departments, so these departments will be closed that day. They will compete in a variety of activities that promote physical wellness. The competitions are being judged by the Recreation Department, and awards will be given out to winning teams and departments during lunch. (The full schedule of events is below.)
 
With the Solid Waste Department participating, recycling and yard waste collections scheduled for Thursday will happen Wednesday, so areas with Thursday collection should put their recycling and yard waste on the curb on Tuesday night. Friday collection will still happen on Friday. Garbage and containerized yard waste collection will remain as scheduled, since it’s collected by ADS.
 
    Time             Activity

7:30 a.m.    Breakfast & Welcome
8:30 a.m.    Team Captain Meeting
8:45 a.m.    Hula Hoop Run
9:05 a.m.    Crab Walk
9:25 a.m.    Wheelbarrow race
9:30 a.m.    Horseshoes & cornole
9:45 a.m.    Beach Ball Run
10:05 a.m.  Over/Under Sponge Relay
10:30 a.m.  Tug-of-War
11:40 a.m.  Lunch & Awards
 
“Whether it’s fixing streets or building sidewalks, I know our crews are an integral part of what Macon-Bibb is doing to improve the infrastructure of our city, and we want them to know how important they and their work are to us,” says Public Works Director Marvin Land. “Plus, we’ll be defending our title and bringing the trophy back to our department.

“These are the crews working to beautify our community, and it can be an uphill battle some days as people throw litter out of their cars or in the summer when it’s impossible to keep up with amount of grass needing to be mowed,” says Parks & Beautification Director Sam Kitchens. “They’ve earned this day, and we want the trophy back. It was taken from them last year, so Public Works better watch out.”
 
“Our crews are out working no matter the weather, from heat to cold to rain, and this is our chance to show them that this community appreciates what they do, day in and day out, to make a greener Macon-Bibb,” says Solid Waste Director Kevin Barkley. “The trophy is coming to us, whether Parks and Public Works believe it.”
 
“Often, it’s too easy to overlook the work all these men and women do to keep this government and this community moving forward, but it’s important work that deserves to be seen and recognized,” says Facilities Management Director Rob Ryals. “And those guys don’t know what’s coming; our crews are hungrier than them and will be walking away as champions.”
 
In 2017, the Public Works Department took home the Championship Trophy, and Parks & Beautification won it the year before.