DEL CITY, Okla. (KFOR) – It began with a social media submit about trash left at Del Metropolis’s Eagle Lake after folks shot off fireworks there. It caught the eye of Mike Cantrell, the town supervisor. He rounded up volunteers and obtained to cleansing, and that sparked a Pay It Ahead nomination.
“We’re right here at Del Metropolis Metropolis Corridor, the place in the present day we’re going to be assembly our Pay It Ahead recipient,” says KFOR’s Kent Ogle within the car parking zone. “Lisa Scales is the one who nominated. James Boggs is right here with First Constancy Financial institution to inform her why they’re excited to be a part of this.
“Lisa, we had been so touched about your story with Mike,” says James. “Simply the way in which he serves others above self, it represents every part about Pay It Ahead. So, on behalf of everybody at First Constancy Financial institution, I am so happy that will help you Pay It Ahead.
“Thanks a lot” says Lisa. “I am unable to wait to present this to Mike and see what his response is to all of this. He’s a tremendous man for our little metropolis, our entire group right here. He does a lot for the group. He actually is a blessing for every part he does for us.”
We went into the mayor’s workplace the place they had been calling Mike in for what he thinks will likely be a routine assembly.
“Hello, Mike, I am Kent Ogle with Channel 4. How are you in the present day?”
“Doing good, sir.” says Mike
“We now have one thing enjoyable that is occurring in the present day. Lisa right here nominated you for our Pay it Ahead award as a result of she says you accomplish that a lot above and past for the group. We’re going to let her let you know why she has nominated you,” says Kent.
“Properly, sort of just like the Eagle Lake factor,” says Lisa. “Anyone posted on Sunday that it wanted cleansing up, and Monday you had been proper there on the ball to do it. And Excessive Spirits Park wanted to be completed, and also you had been proper there with us, together with sliding down that slide. Something that wanted to be completed on this metropolis, you might be on the ball. You do it. It does not matter what it’s. It does not matter the place it is at. You’re there to do it. So, I nominated you for it and a part of that’s providing you with $400,” says Lisa, as she awards Mike the money.
“Thanks. All that is humbling,” says Mike as his fellow workers applaud.
“What do you get out of working for the town, doing the job you do?” says Kent.
“I have been working right here for 30 years and it is all about group, it is about serving to, it is about aiding.” says Mike. “We have got nice residents right here, we have got nice workers, nice folks and all of us work collectively. It isn’t about ‘I am the boss and I’ve an enormous ego, and everybody goes to do as I say.’ I do not consider in that. I consider in being proper there aspect by aspect. Proper there with everyone.”
Del Metropolis is a younger metropolis, a bit over 70 years outdated. Mike has labored for the town for nearly half of that point. That is without doubt one of the issues that makes Mike so beneficial to the town, in accordance with Mayor Floyd Eason.
“He is aware of each nut and bolt on this metropolis. He is aware of the place each waterline is, each sewer line is,” says Mayor Eason. “And discuss a man who’s Johnny-on-the-spot. If a citizen has an issue, he goes proper there and is aware of find out how to repair it and what to do.”
Together with the Eagle Lake clear up.
“We had about 20 or 30 folks present up, choosing up trash, and we had that park cleaned up in a few hours, and he spearheaded that effort, and, you understand, you have to commend the man,” Eason says.
However humble Mike, as regular, makes it about everyone however himself.
“I could not ask for a greater group of individuals to work with. Everybody right here is simply excellent,” says Mike.
The Pay it Ahead award is simply the icing on the cake.
