A Pella man is among 16 employees of the Iowa Department of Transportation who were recently awarded the U.S. Army’s Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service. Rick Taylor, who works at the DOT garage in Oskaloosa was recognized for serving the state over the past 14 months in assisting FEMA and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division to secure funds to repair public facilities damaged by the floods of 2008. The Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves by meritorious, direct “hands-on” participation in an act or operation of a humanitarian nature assisting an individual or group. The awards were presented late last month in Cedar Rapids.