|
Engineer of The Year – Cyrus Oren Noble III, Little Rock Wastewater’s engineering supervisor, has been chosen as the Engineer of the Year by the central Arkansas chapter and the state chapter of the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers. He is now eligible to compete on the national level through the National Society of Professional Engineers. Noble received his engineering degree with a focus on civil engineering from Arkansas State University in 1993.
AWW & WEA ROADeo: – Walter Martin won 1st place and Jon Stacy won 3rd place in the backhoe competition portion of the annual ROADeo event. Leon White won 1st place and Robert Clancy won 2nd place in the dump truck portion. This is the first year that LRW has won the dump truck competition and we are the first utility to win both divisions of the competition in the same year.
Sterling Agency Award – LRW was named a 2011 Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) Sterling Agency for having a fully certified staff for three (4) consecutive years.
This award was created to acknowledge an agency’s commitment to the value of certification in the public sector. Norma Hall, Chair of the UPPCC Governing Board states that “this achievement speaks volumes of [this] agency’s commitment and dedication to the profession and the skills and expertise that [LRW] bring to the public procurement industry.”
LRW is currently the only public organization to have a fully certified purchasing staff in the state. LRW set the bar three (4) years ago by becoming the only public entity in Arkansas to have a 100% certified staff and has now raised the bar by being named a Sterling Agency for its devotion and commitment to public procurement.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting – The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the Finance Department of LRW the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). This is LRW’s sixth consecutive year to accomplish this feat.
Distinguished Budget Presentation Award – The Government Finance officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada awarded Little Rock Wastewater the GFOA'S Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget for 2010.
LRW received several awards and recognition during 2010 for contributions to the environment, financial reporting, safety professional of the year and public education. The awards LRW received are as follows:
NACWA Peak Performance Awards –The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) awarded LRW two Silver Peak Performance Awards for both treatment facilities, the FCWTF and AFWTF for 2009.
The Peak Performance Award has been bestowed upon wastewater agencies since 1986. It is given to facilities that consistently meet all National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits during the year. Between the FCWTF and AFWTF there are a combined 1,194 possible violation points. To be awarded the Silver Peak Performance Award means that an agency has had no more than 5 NPDES violations in a given year, which LRW achieved for 2009.
NACWA National Environmental Achievement Award – LRW was selected to receive a NACWA National Environmental Achievement Award for its excellence in Public Information and Education for the Stay Connected® program. NACWA’s Public Information and Education Award is presented for outstanding programs in the following categories: Video, Printed Publication, Educational Program, or E-media. LRW was selected for the Educational Program category.
LRW has made a huge leap towards a cleaner, environmentally affable future with our public education Stay Connected® program. The message is one of awareness and preservation: know where your sewer service line is and have it checked for cracks, breaks and debris. With an involved advertising campaign and service line inspection plan, LRW has made significant steps in public awareness and education of sewer service line responsibility and maintenance. Unlike several larger projects LRW is presently undertaking (e.g., new wastewater treatment facility), this program is not mandatory under the Consent Administrative Order (currently mandating projects for LRW), but rather it has become a passionate endeavor that LRW has taken on for the sake of public health and the environment.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting –The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the Finance Department of LRW the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association that serves approximately 17,500 professionals in the governmental finance field. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is the “highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting” by the GFOA and is considered to be a “significant accomplishment by a government and its management.” LRW’s CAFR was judged by an impartial panel that looked for high standards of the program such as “demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.”
This is LRW’s fifth consecutive year to accomplish this feat.
Distinguished Budget Presentation Award –The Government Finance officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada awarded Little Rock Wastewater the GFOA'S Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget for 2010. The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as:
- a policy document
- a financial plan
- an operations guide
- a communications device
Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.
When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual or department designated as being primarily responsible for its having achieved the award. This has been presented to James A. Barham, Manager of Finance.
For budgets including fiscal period 2009, 1,214 entities received the award. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America. The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional association serving over 17,600 government finance professionals throughout North America. The GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.
Sterling Agency Award –LRW was named a 2010 Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) Sterling Agency for having a fully certified staff for three (3) consecutive years.
This award was created to acknowledge an agency’s commitment to the value of certification in the public sector. Norma Hall, Chair of the UPPCC Governing Board states that “this achievement speaks volumes of [this] agency’s commitment and dedication to the profession and the skills and expertise that [LRW] bring to the public procurement industry.”
LRW is currently the only public organization to have a fully certified purchasing staff in the state. LRW set the bar three (3) years ago by becoming the only public entity in Arkansas to have a 100% certified staff and has now raised the bar by being named a Sterling Agency for its devotion and commitment to public procurement.
Safety Professional of the Year –The Arkansas Water Environment Association (AWEA) Safety Professional of the Year Award is given to individuals who have shown dedication and outstanding achievement in promoting safety awareness. In 2010, it was awarded to LRW’s Safety Specialist, Richard Kyzer. Since 1931, the common goal of the members of Arkansas Water Works (AWW) & AWEA has been to provide clean water. For 79 years, attendees have considered the AWW & AWEA Annual Conference, Short School and Expo the premier event for information management in the water and wastewater industries. With more than 2,500 members representing every aspect of the water and wastewater profession, the AWW & WEA is the largest association for water professionals in Arkansas.
LRW received several awards and recognition during 2009 for contributions to the environment, financial reporting, safety professional of the year and public education. The awards LRW received are as follows:
NACWA Peak Performance Awards – The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (“NACWA”) awarded Little Rock Wastewater two Gold Peak Performance Awards for both treatment facilities, the Fourche Creek Treatment Facility and Adam’s Field Treatment Facility for 2008.
The Peak Performance Award has been bestowed upon wastewater agencies since 1986. It is given to facilities that consistently meet all National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits during the year. Between the Fourche Creek Treatment Facility and Adam’s Field Treatment Facility there are a combined 1,194 possible violation points. To be awarded the Gold Peak Performance Award means that an agency has ZERO violations, which Little Rock Wastewater achieved for 2008.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting – The Government Finance Officers Association (“GFOA”) has awarded the Finance Department of Little Rock Wastewater the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (“CAFR”).
The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association that serves approximately 17,500 professionals in the governmental finance field. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is the “highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting” by the GFOA and is considered to be a “significant accomplishment by a government and its management.” Little Rock Wastewater’s CAFR was judged by an impartial panel that looked for high standards of the program such as “demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.”
This is Little Rock Wastewater’s fourth consecutive year to accomplish this feat.
Excellence in Achievement Award– The Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) has publically recognized Little Rock Wastewater (LRW) for having a 100% fully certified purchasing department by awarding the organization the “Excellence in Achievement” award for 2009.
The UPPCC applauds LRW’s efforts but also offers “an even greater distinction” in public purchasing, which is the Sterling Agency Award. Once a public purchasing agency becomes fully certified and maintains the certification for three consecutive years, the agency will then automatically receive the Sterling Agency Award in recognition of the commitment and dedication to purchasing in the public sector. Little Rock Wastewater has four (4) fully certified purchasing employees and it is the only fully certified public purchasing staff in the state of Arkansas. This is the second year in a row Little Rock Wastewater has been recognized for this achievement.
Best of Little Rock Award - Little Rock Wastewater has been selected for the 2009 Best of Little Rock Award in the Wastewater Treatment category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of business through service to their customers and community.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
Environmental Stewardship Award - The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) bestowed Little Rock Wastewater (LRW) the 2009 Environmental Stewardship Award (aka the Envy) for its Can the Grease® program.
The ADEQ honors the quality and innovation of environmental projects and program through the Arkansas Environmental Stewardship Award. The award showcases the work of residents, businesses, industries, farms and government offices or agencies that are protecting and enhancing the environment in extraordinary ways to demonstrate they deserve the “Envy” of Arkansas.
In 2008, approximately 15,229 Can the Grease© starter kits were distributed across Little Rock. 2,100 starter kits were delivered or mailed to residential customers, 8,000 to 52 apartment complexes and mobile home parks, and approximately 4,100 at 13 various community events or tradeshows. An additional 1,029 kits were hung on doors of residences adjacent to grease related overflows.
George W. Burke Jr. Facility Safety Award – The Water Environment Federation (WEF) presents the George W. Burke Jr. Facility Safety Award to a municipal or industrial wastewater facility in recognition of an on-going safety initiative documented by the development, implementation and/or improvement of a comprehensive safety program. WEF and its global network of Member Associations help provide water quality professionals with the latest in water quality education, training, and business opportunities. WEF's diverse membership includes scientists, engineers, regulators, academics, plant managers and operators, and other professionals working in the United States and around the world. As a membership organization, WEF uses the collective knowledge of its membership to further a shared goal of improving water quality. WEF has guided technological development in water quality since 1928.
Safety Professional of the Year - The Arkansas Water Environment Association (AWEA) Safety Professional of the Year Award is given to individuals who have shown dedication and outstanding achievement in promoting safety awareness. Since 1931, the common goal of the members of Arkansas Water Works (AWW) & AWEA has been to provide clean water. For 76 years, attendees have considered the AWW & AWEA Annual Conference, Short School and Expo the premier event for information management in the water and wastewater industries. With more than 2,500 members representing every aspect of the water and wastewater profession, the AWW & WEA is the largest association for water professionals in Arkansas.
|
STONE WARD