Monroe County honors staffer who helped coworker recover after surgery

Monroe County put a behind-the-scenes fix-it job in the spotlight June 10, honoring Ilze Aguila, a senior administrator in Growth Management, with the county’s first-quarter Employee Service Award for 2026. The award recognized more than routine help desk support. It highlighted the way Aguila stepped in to keep a coworker’s work on track while he recovered from surgery.

The nomination came from code inspector Christian Robinson, who credited Aguila with repeatedly helping him remain productive during recovery. According to the county, Aguila coordinated with information technology staff so equipment could be installed in Robinson’s office, stayed available for questions and helped troubleshoot problems as they came up. Robinson said her support put him at ease during a difficult stretch, a reminder that a county office can depend as much on steady internal problem-solving as on any public-facing service.

County leaders also used the recognition to point to the larger role Growth Management plays in day-to-day life across Monroe County, Florida. The department is tied to planning, inspections and permitting, work that affects homeowners waiting on approvals, contractors trying to keep jobs moving and local businesses that depend on predictable county service. In a place where delays can ripple quickly through neighborhoods and commercial projects, the ability to keep staff connected and operating matters well beyond one office.

Emily Schemper, Growth Management director, praised Aguila’s cooperative spirit and her willingness to help people across department lines. That cross-department help was central to the award’s message: Monroe County was not just recognizing kindness, but a form of operational reliability that keeps government functioning when staffing or health issues could easily slow it down.

The county’s decision to spotlight Aguila also showed how it wants to define internal culture. Customer service, teamwork, responsiveness and public service were treated as measurable values, not slogans. For county leaders under pressure over affordability, hurricane readiness and basic service delivery, the award served as a quiet but pointed example of how Monroe County expects its government to work, efficiently, collaboratively and with enough flexibility to keep serving residents when the system is tested.