Submitted photo Wayne Stevens, left, is presented with a 2022 AMC Outstanding Service Award from AMC President and Lac qui Parle County Commissioner Todd Patzer (right) at the association’s annual conference Dec. 6 in Bloomington.

ST. PAUL — Individuals from Brown, Carlton, Isanti, Renville and St. Louis counties received Association of Minnesota Counties’ (AMC) 2022 “Outstanding Service Awards” for exhibiting excellence, innovation and dedication to their work in county government.

2022 AMC President and Lac qui Parle County Commissioner Todd Patzer presented the County Achievement awards at the association’s annual conference December 6 in Bloomington. The recipients were nominated by their counties and selected by a committee of county officials.

Receiving an award from Brown County was Wayne Stevens, Brown County Highway Engineer. Stevens has given 33 years of public service as an engineer, over 20 of them in Brown County. Stevens has always displayed a cool, calm, collected demeanor which makes him approachable for staff, the Board, and most of all the citizens of Brown County, according to his nomination.

“While working on a reconstruction and expansion project, Stevens went above and beyond any expectations by working with citizens who did not like the plans, nor agree with each other. Now that the project is nearing completion, those residents who were calling everyday demanding changes are now singing its praises. This is due to the professionalism with which Stevens conducts himself, and the extra effort and accommodations he and his staff made to make sure everyone felt heard and valued,” the nomination said.