This award was established to recognize outstanding operation, maintenance and administration of a treatment facility. The Subcommittee chairperson shall provide other subcommittee members as identified above with copies of the “Criteria for Operator Advancement Award” as listed in Appendix 3 of the IAWEA Manual of Policies and Practices. Documentation on plant operation and maintenance activities should be included with the completed form as well as flow diagrams and other printed material on the treatment facility.
Frequency of Awards:
Facility category eligibility for nomination shall be according the following schedule:
- Grade I/IL and Grade IV Plant: 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, etc.
- Grade I/IL and Grade II/IIL Plant: 2015, 2018, 2021. 2024, etc.
- Grade I/IL and Grade III Plant: 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025, etc.
Occasionally awards may be made out of sequence due to the lack of nominations of well-operated smaller facilities. If you know of a Grade I, II, or III facility that is well run and maintained please consider contacting the Awards Committee about nominating them for this award. Contact information for the Awards Committee is available on the Committee page.
Award Recipients
2017
Kyle Sheetz, Leon – Grade I; Zeb McFarland, Stanton – Grade I
2016
Norman Hart, Indianola – Grade III
2015
Dan Miers, Indianola – Grade III
2014
Dan Riney, Clinton – Grade IV
2013
Mike Shotwell, Bennett – Grade IL; Steve Kunkel, Harlan – Grade III
2010
Melvin Martin, Harlan – Grade III
2009
Charles Coffey, Garden Grove – Grade IL; Jeff Peterson, Huxley – Grade II
2008
Rod Lammers, Luster Heights Prison Farm – Grade IL; Michael Fields, Marshalltown – Grade IV
2007
Leigh Armstrong, Deep River – Grade IL; Elynn Charlson, Forest City – Grade III
2005
Scott Berka, Colo – Grade IL; Royce Hammitt & Phil Koundakjian, Des Moines WRA – Grade IV
2004
Rip Overton, Adel – Grade IL; John Meyer, Tama – Grade III
2001
Dennis Belken, Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District – Grade III
1998
Larry Hite, Mount Pleasant – Grade III
1996
City of Leon – Grade IL; Lyle Drueger, Cedar Falls – Grade IV
1995
John Arndt, Le Claire – Grade III
1994
Mark Nielsen, Ida Grove – Grade II
1993
John Butler, Treynor – Grade IL
1992
Don McCormick, Decorah – Grade IV
1991
Jan Anderson, Grinnell – Grade III
1990
Bob Atkinson, North Liberty – Grade II
1989
Lyle Buttrey, De Soto – Grade IL
1988
Bob Main, Newton – Grade IV
1987
Jack Weir, Emmetsburg – Grade III
1986
Bill Hepker, Quasqueton – Grade IL
1985
Ken Chudzinski, Independence – Grade III; Gary Elbert, Indianola – Grade IV