MPW.69 / 2017 Steve Johnson: Finding Time by Pamela Houser
Photographer
Pamela Houser Ashland, Mo.

Team Lee

Story Summary

Eldon, Missouri Public Works Director Steve Johnson has many city responsibilities including operation of the community center, parks and recreation, animal control center, waste water treatment, streets, the airport, city building maintenance, and code enforcement. Johnson manages a team of workers who mow the parks and repair the streets and buildings of the city. Many of his duties require public relations skills as well as a knowledge of the needs of the city.

He stopped by the Eldon High School principal’s office on Valentine’s Day 2011 to alert the school about a broken water main and noticed that Yvette Hoer was the only woman who hadn’t received flowers. “Where are your flowers?” he asked. Yvette replied, “I am not in a relationship.”

Steve returned to his truck and ordered flowers for Yvette. Two days later they had their first date and today they have a blended family of nine children. Married in 2016, both work at “finding time.”