Excerpt from IEPA Press Release dated Sept 14, 2007:

State's drinking water plant operators recognize peers at annual conference

Village of Tonica’s Marc Lemrise, named "best" in class at annual event

Springfield, Ill. –As part of their annual meeting, the Illinois Potable Water Operators Association and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency recognized the outstanding professionals in their individual categories of service in a ceremony.

At the ceremony, Marc Lemrise, Village of Tonica, was named Operator of the Year for Groundwater.  The 1^st Runner up was Paul Rivett, Village of Seneca; and the 2^nd Runner up was Danny Hadley, Village of Warrensburg.

Operators are rated on the day-to-day operation of facilities that use surface water or groundwater as their water source, or purchase water from another source and distribute it to consumers. "Operator of the Year" is the highest professional honor operators can receive in recognition of service and performance in the waterworks industry. In addition, two runners-up are designated in each category.

Around 1,000 members and guests of the Illinois Potable Water Operators Association honored the recipients for their work in providing plentiful, safe drinking water on a daily basis to users.

Other winners were:

A. Tony Loete of the City of Moline was named Operator of the Year for Distribution. 1^st Runner up was Dennis Leslie, North Park Public Water District; 2^nd Runner up was Don Grimm, Village of Hamel.

Operator of the Year for Surface Water Systems: Blaine Middleton, Village of Nashville; 1^st Runner up: Steve Booth, City of Aurora.

The recognitions came during the group's 76th annual conference that ran from Wednesday through Friday, highlighted by a street fair and recognition dinner in downtown Springfield's historic business district. Winners of the 2007 awards were announced and received their trophies during that event.

The winners are chosen by selection committee that interviews nominees. Committee members use a numeric system to rate nominees. The results are then tallied and winners selected by computer.

The annual conference provides updates and education regarding water supply techniques, practices, regulations and requirements for drinking water operators throughout Illinois.  Speakers and displays at the 2007 conference focused on the additional demands placed on local drinking water supply resources by unprecedented security planning, implementation and reporting requirements.