Website team expects to crush opposition in friendly employee competition for a good cause

Again this year, North Liberty will participate in the annual Severson Challenge, a friendly competition with employees of Johnson County, Iowa City, University Heights and Coralville. The challenge collects goods for a charity in each community (North Liberty’s collection benefits the North Liberty Community Pantry), with the city donating the most items per full-time employee winning a traveling trophy.
In addition to the inter-city competition, North Liberty’s various departments compete for bragging rights and a department lunch cooked by City Administrator Ryan Heiar. Last year, the Communications Department, which runs the public outreach for the city, demolished the competition with 78.67 items per employee. The Streets Department took second place with a measly 47.14 items per employee (good job, good effort, fellas).
This year’s competition has already heated up. Following the contest’s announcement, Communications Director Nick Bergus suggested his department was up for defending its title in an e-mail reply to all city employees:

Hi.
It’s us.
Winners of last year’s challenge.
I fully expect we’ll mop the floor with you saps again this year, so bring it (down to [human resources assistant] Jackie’s office so she can take it to the pantry for distribution to those who need it).

Rejoinders followed, and at least two departments are soliciting donations from the public (which, while not forbidden, this writer feels is ethically questionable). Other Machiavellian machinations are to be expected until a winner is declared in January.