Top Three Water Plant Operators Named During 70th
IPWSOA Meet
Volume 60, Number 3-- October 2001
Drinking water plant operators in Olney, Elwood
and Woodlawn were recognized by their fellow operators as the
outstanding professionals in their individual categories of service
during the 70th annual conference of the Illinois Potable Water
Supply Operators Association (IPWSOA) Sept. 13-15 in Springfield.
Tom Umfleet, of Olney; Paul Burris, Elwood; and
Gary Tinsley, Woodlawn, were named Operators of the Year in the
surface, groundwater and distribution categories, respectively,
recognizing their work in regularly providing plentiful, safe
drinking water to users.
Umfleet is water plant supervisor for an operation
pumping 2.23 mgd to better than 5,700 services through 60 miles
of mains. Currently the operation's three elevated storage tanks
have a total capacity of 2.5 million gallons. A fourth under construction
will add 300,000 gallons.
For almost 20 years Umfleet has been a volunteer
firefighter with the Claremont-Bonpas Volunteer Fire Department,
serving two years as chief and for the past 10 years as assistant
chief. He recently began serving as an auxiliary depty for the
Richland County Sheriff's department. A water professional for
20 years, he conducts in-house training and safety issue training.
Burris, who resides in New Lenox, is a contractor
operator. He was recognized for his work as drinking water operator
for the village of Elwood, which provides 583 services with 200,000
mgd. He is also the chief wastewater operator for the village
of New Lenox, works part time for two mobile home parks and attends
classes to complete a degree in business management and public
administration. He also teaches wastewater classes for ERTC at
Southern Illinois University/Edwardsville and is conducting in-house
training for another municipality. In his spare time, he umpires
men's softball in Joliet and girl's softball in New Lenox.
Tinsley is responsible for a water system handling
290,000 mgd to 1100 services with 205 miles of watermain and 115
fire hydrants. A 20 year water professional , he is also president
of the Walnut Hill Saddle Club, and for eight years served on
the Board for Woodlawn Elementary School.
Runners-up were Jerry Connolly, Westville, and Ray
Weller, Litchfield, in the surface water division, and Patti Schaake,
Edwardsville and John McBride, Gilman, in the groundwater classification.
There were no runners-up in the distribution category this year.
Honorees were recognized and presented with plaques
and trophies during the conference banquet Thursday night.
