A Look at GNW Maintenance

Residents of the Great Northwest are very fortunate to live in a community blessed with 38 acres of common area. Within these grounds we enjoy two pools, four tennis courts, four basketball courts, volley ball court, eight buildings, two playgrounds (and working on another), three athletic fields, a large green belt, and miles of sidewalks and curbs (too many to count). Upkeep of this vast property is an on-going challenge year round and that doesn’t even take into consideration the other types of maintenance duties, such as maintaining equipment, clearing up plumbing problems, tracking electrical problems, painting buildings inside and out, and assuring playgrounds, pools and athletic fields are safe for your children to play in.

The GNW maintenance staff is equal to this task. Fred Murphy leads a team of three employees who are dedicated to assuring the community is kept looking its best. Even being hampered by watering restrictions this past year, they have been able to keep the soccer fields in playable condition. They recently re-sodded the under six soccer field. Other accomplishments during this past year include:
- Clean-up of green belts, hauling of trash and debris
- Painting of outbuildings and interior of the GNW Lodge
- Placement of a shade cover over baby pools
- Covered graffiti
- New plants and ground cover at all GNW entrances
- Remodeled patio at GNW Lodge, put on a new roof, new gutters, replaced columns and improved drainage
- Built slabs to hold chlorine tanks at pools
- Built a new shed for soccer field equipment
- Installed a new wrought iron fence between the pool and the Patio at the GNW Lodge

When you see our maintenance crew hard at work, please take the time to say hello and tell them they are doing a good job. These guys are unsung heroes and deserve recognition. Without them, the neighborhoods would soon deteriorate to an unacceptable level.

Meet The GNW Maintenance Staff

FRED MURPHY, Director of Maintenance

Fred has been with the Great Northwest for 16 years; after 21 years in the US Navy, he retired and came to work for the GNW as a Security Officer. When the Maintenance Director position opened in 1997, Fred was a natural for the job.

Some would say it seems like Fred eats and sleeps at the Great Northwest. You will find him here at all hours of the day and weekends, working to keep things on a roll. He is a “jack of all trades.”

If the old adage “if you want to get a job done, ask a busy man” is true, then Fred is the epitome of the type person spoken about.

(Manuel, Victor, Steve & Fred by the Maitnenace Yard)

STEVE BARRERA

Steve has been with the GNW for more than 22 years. He serves as a Maintenance Technician, and in addition to his many skills, he is considered our local historian. He is very knowledgeable about all of the systems in the GNW, their strong points, their weak points, and funny little “quirks” that one would only learn from working around them for many years.

If there is a job to be done, an “easy way” and a “harder, but better way,” Steve is the one who will

take the extra time to assure the very best is job is done. You can always depend on him for quality work.

When asked what he likes best about his job, Steve says “It’s never boring, always something different; getting to be outdoors and building camaraderie with fellow workers and other GNW staff.” He was here before the GNWLodge was built and loves working here. He could write a book on the history of the place.

VICTOR PEREZ

Victor serves as a groundskeeper. He has been with us for three years and has the ability to do just about any task asked of him. You might remember seeing him driving the tractor for the children at the annual haunted house hay ride.

Victor is a personable young man, who enjoys work and the friendships of the people with whom he works. However, he has come to realize that he needs to get an education. He plans to leave the GNW later this month to attend a mechanics school at Harley Davidson in Phoenix, Arizona.

He will be greatly missed.

MANUEL BERMEA

Manuel is the newest member of the staff. He came to us last Spring as a temporary groundskeeper and has proven to be a man of many talents. Just last month, he was assigned to a full time position.

We’ve discovered that Manuel loves working with his hands and being outdoors (in most weather). His cheerful attitude is infectious and helps to keep everyone’s spirits up.

Manuel is always ready to help his fellow workers in whatever project they are working, After hours, he still likes to stay busy and spends much of his free time doing outside jobs. He is a welcome addition to our staff.

Is there is there something more the staff can do for you or your neighbors in the GNW? E-mail cm@greatnorthwest.org