Winter 2006 - Michigan Water Environment Association

MWEA IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE 

WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION (WEF) 

VISION: 

The Mission (Aim) of the Michigan Water Environment 

Association is to be the recognized authority on and 

advocate for preserving, restoring and enhancing 

Michigan’s water resources. 

TO CONTACT THE MWEA: 

Questions or comments regarding this magazine can 

be directed to: 

MWEA 

P.O. Box 397 

Bath, Michigan 48808 

Phone: 517-641-7377 

Fax: 517-641-7388 

Email: mwea@cablespeed.com 

Website: www.mi-wea.org 

Copyright© 2005 

Michigan Water Environment Association 

Statements of fact and opinion expressed are those of 

the authors and MWEA assumes no responsibility for 

the content, nor do they represent official policy of the 

Association. 

Volume 1, Number 4 - Winter 2005 

DEPARTMENTS 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

My View – President’s Message................................................................ 4 

COMMITTEE NEWS......................................................................................... 6 

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES......................................................................14 

News in Brief...........................................................................................36 

MWEA EVENTS CALENDAR .........................................................................42 

ADVERTISER’S INDEX..................................................................................43 

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY........................................................................44 

MWEA in no way endorses the products or services of 

their advertisers. Advertisements are included as an 

educational service to our members and are reviewed 

by the editor before publication to ensure their 

relevance to the water environment and the objectives 

of the Association. 

FEATURES 

2006 JOINT EXPO ......................................................................................19 

2006 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW ......................................................30 

IAWTF RECEIVES AWARD............................................................................32 

Publisher: Craig Kelman 

Managing Editor: Cole Kelman 

Layout & Design: Jackie Vitug 

Sales Managers: Aran Lindsay/Linda Bloomer 

20 

30 

Phone: 866-985-9780 

Fax: 866-985-9799 

Email: info@kelman.ca 

www.kelman.ca 

MWEA MATTERS: WINTER 2005

my view - MWEA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

A YEAR IN REVIEW 

CHUCK KRONK 

President - MWEA 

Look ahead for 

more opportunities 

to participate in 

these seminars as 

either a student 

or instructor during 

this next year. 

W 

elcome to 2006! We have left this past 

year in a cloud of dust, it just ‘flew’ 

by. Our MWEA agenda for this coming 

year is setting up to provide another 

fantastic opportunity for all of us to teach 

and learn within our collective groups and 

committees. 

As I watch the dust from last year 

settle, it is clear that the MWEA has made 

significant strides toward meeting several 

of our strategic initiatives. Our MWEA has 

successfully scheduled and administered 

26 seminars this past year. Nearly 1,500 

individuals had participated in the 

seminars as attendees to learn technical 

and/or administrative techniques as well 

as to earn CEC units. Look ahead for 

more opportunities to participate in these 

seminars as either a student or instructor 

during this next year. 

Eight municipalities have purchased 

the on-line training services that are now 

offered through our MWEA office. A total 

of 126 training modules were included. The 

Cities that have taken advantage of these 

services are: 

* Ann Arbor * East Lansing 

* Bay County DWS * Flint 

* Bridgeport * Grand Rapids 

* Chesaning * Saginaw 

I believe that the success of this program 

will spread and allow us to offer even more 

training modules in the very near future. 

Sadly, we have lost our good friend 

and colleague, Dan Wolz, this past year. 

I am proud to have known Dan, and I 

am very impressed as I listen to others 

and learn more about Dan’s life and his 

accomplishments. 

Dan Wolz was truly a fine man. 

In an effort to properly remember and 

honor Dan, Steve Aiken has volunteered to 

lead a Task Force to provide us with ideas 

and a plan to serve this purpose. Please see 

the article on page 36 for more information 

on how to participate in honoring Dan 

Wolz and all that he stood for. 

Finally, I have adopted a couple of New 

Year’s resolutions. 

First of all, I have promised myself to 

visit and use our MWEA website more 

often. Please join me in visiting our 

website, and let us have any feedback that 

you feel will improve our current set-up. 

My second resolution is to keep the 

‘MWEA President’s Messages’ shorter. I 

will definitely keep this one as well, starting 

right now. 

I look forward to seeing all of you during 

this coming year. Hopefully, I will have a 

chance to run into some of you during the 

2006 Joint Expo in Lansing this February. 

Best wishes to all for a Healthy and 

Happy New Year! 

Chuck Kronk 

President - MWEA 

 


COMMITTEE NEWS 

NEW COMMITTEE 

REACHES OUT TO NEW PROFESSIONALS 

I 

n late 2004, the MWEA New 

Professionals Committee was formed. 

The committee is designed to provide 

new water professionals and new MWEA 

members an opportunity to maximize 

their potential in the water environment 

field by establishing a relationship with 

MWEA. The committee provides guidance, 

professional development, training, 

mentoring, and networking opportunities. 

Over the last year they have sponsored 

several successful events with very diverse 

attendance. There are no rules as to who is 

considered a ‘new professional’. In general, 

they cater to those relatively new to the 

water environment field. However, all 

water environment professionals, new and 

not so new, are welcome at their events. 

One of the most popular activities that 

the New Professionals Committee sponsors 

is a series of lunch hour mini-seminars. 

A ‘live’ presentation is given in Grand 

Rapids and is video and teleconferenced 

to Lansing, Farmington Hills, Saginaw, 

and Kalamazoo. Lunch is provided while 

the speaker delivers a presentation geared 

towards those new to the water profession. 

After the presentation, there is a question 

and answer session. Typically, the seminars 

start at 11:30am and end by 1:30pm, 

which limits the time away from work and 

minimizes the cost of involvement. In the 

past, Engineers, Contractors, WWTP 

Operators and Lab Techs, MDEQ 

Environmental Quality Analysts and 

Scientists have attended the lunch seminars. 

The New Professionals Committee 

kept themselves busy in 2005. They 

hosted three seminars, a plant tour and a 

hospitality suite at Joint Expo. In April, 

Fred Cowles of Fishbeck, Thompson, 

Carr and Huber gave a presentation 

titled Wastewater Regulations 101: What 

New Professionals Should Know About 

Wastewater Regulations. This was the second 

in a series of informative presentations 

which Fred started in 2004. In July, the 

New Professionals committee sponsored 

a facility tour of the City of Wyoming 

Clean Water Facility, hosted by Dan Wolz. 

Following Dan’s hilarious presentation, the 

group toured the facility. August brought 

an outstanding presentation by Corky 

Overmeyer, who works for the City of 

Grand Rapids, titled Watershed Protection 

Principles for Wastewater Professionals. 

Most recently, Dave Drullinger, from the 

MDEQ, gave an interesting presentation 

entitled An Introduction to Stormwater 

Pollution Control-Municipal, Industrial, and 

Construction Regulations. 

Now that 2005 is in the books, the 

New Professionals Committee has many 

exciting things in store for 2006. The next 

lunch seminar is planned for April 11, 2006. 

Bob O’Dette from Synagro Technologies, 

Inc. will give a presentation on Biosolids 

Regulations and Trends. You do not 

want to miss Bob speak. On Tuesday, 

February 7, 2006 at 4:00pm, at the Joint 

Expo in Lansing, the committee is hosting 

a ‘History of Sewers’ presentation. 

Following the presentation, a networking 

event will be held at The Nuthouse, with 

pizza and drinks provided. The committee 

encourages everyone at the Expo to stop 

by. Finally, a tour of the Ford Rouge Plant 

is scheduled for June 7, 2006. The tour 

will focus on the production floor and 

environmental infrastructure. 

The New Professionals Committee’s 

goal for 2006 is to continue to attract 

new members and to offer exceptional 

educational opportunities. In the future, 

they hope to expand the base of attendees 

at the lunch seminars by increasing 

involvement from local universities and 

community colleges, and by continuing 

to offer informational and interesting 

lunch series topics and events. Contact 

committee chairperson Jim Flamming at 

jjflamming@ftch.com or 616-464-3808 for 

more information. 

 



MWEA LOCAL 

SECTIONS COMMITTEE 

W 

ould you like the opportunity to 

meet vendors, consultants, and 

people from Clean Water Plants Would 

you like to visit Clean Water Plants and 

see different ways of treating wastewater 

Are you working to become a certified 

operator Would you like to know more 

about the Michigan Water Environment 

Association(MWEA) If you answered 

‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you need 

to contact Larry DeLong, MWEA Local 

Sections Director at (269)966-3599 or E- 

mail lldelong@tds.net. Do it today. I look 

forward to hearing from you! 



PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE – 2005 YEAR IN REVIEW 

By Nicole Selais, MWEA Co-Chair 

T 

he joint MWEA-Public Education/ 

AWWA - Youth Education Committee, 

has spent another successful year working 

toward its goal of providing Michigan’s 

science educators with tools, resources, 

and support to increase their students’ 

appreciation of safe water. 

Every year, we host a MWEA exhibit at 

the Michigan Science Teachers Association 

(MSTA) Annual Conference in March. 

This year’s MSTA annual conference was 

held at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel 

in Detroit on March 2 through March 5. 

Our exhibit introduced Michigan’s science 

teachers to the myriad of teaching tools, 

including educational publications and 

electronic media that WEF and AWWA 

have to offer teachers at affordable prices. 

In addition, we strongly promoted the 

Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) 

program to make teachers aware of this 

excellent science project competition 

available to 9 th through 12 th graders. We 

were also able to give out complimentary 

Water Sourcebook CDs to those that 

attended our presentation. 

Also in March, members of MWEA and 

AWWA Michigan Section judged high 

school science projects at International 

Science & Engineering Fairs (ISEF) in 

Ann Arbor, Berrien Springs, Big Rapids, 

Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo, Port Huron, 

and Saginaw. A regional winner was 

selected from each fair, then a state 

winner was selected from the regional 

winners. The state winner was Amanda 

Bennett from the Port Huron area, whose 

“Toxins of the Round Gobi” project 

represented Michigan at the National 

SJWP competition in June in Portland, 

Oregon. MWEA and WEF provided 

financial support for the Ms. Bennett and 

one of her parents to travel to the national 

competition, while WEF provided Ms. 

Bennett’s accommodations. 

This year, two $1,000 teacher grants 

were awarded to Michigan science 

teachers to create and implement water 

related curriculum for their classroom. 

The grant recipients were Lynnea Roon, a 

science lab instructor for the Kelloggsville 

Schools in the Grand Rapids area, and 

Erin McNamara, a 6 th grade science 

teacher at Newberry Middle School. Ms. 

Roon received the grant to purchase an 

Enviroscape model for hands-on water 

demonstrations for the 500 elementary 

students she teaches. Ms. McNamara 

will use the grant to purchase laboratory 

equipment to add a water quality unit to 

her curriculum. 

Opportunities are abound with the 

MWEA Public Education/AWWA 

Michigan Section Youth Education Joint 

Committee. We are always looking for 

volunteers to contribute to our cause of 

providing Michigan’s science teachers 

and schools with useful information 

related to the water environment. And 

of course, we are always looking for new 

members to join our committee to reap 

the satisfaction that comes with being 

a part of a team that focuses on public 

education and awareness of the sensitivity 

of the water environment. 

 



MWEA WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 

D 

id you know that everyone in 

Michigan lives in a watershed, works 

in a watershed, plays in a watershed, 

impacts a watershed and is responsible 

for protecting this unique and precious 

source of fresh water With Michigan 

located in the heart of the Great Lakes 

basin, everything we do that impacts 

water quality and runoff ultimately 

influences the water quality of the Great 

Lakes. Protecting this precious water 

resource is our responsibility, as well as 

the responsibility of our neighboring states 

and Canada. Protecting our water resources 

requires all our efforts. 

The MWEA Watershed Management 

Committee is a group of watershed 

professionals within the overall Michigan 

Water Environment Association that 

focuses on Watershed Protection. 

On December 1, 2005, the MWEA 

Watershed Management Committee hosted 

a one-day seminar titled, Implementing and 

Financing Actions of Watershed Management 

Plans, at the Eagle Eye Banquet Facility 

in East Lansing. Co-sponsors of the 

seminar included: American Public Works 

Association; Huron River Watershed 

Council; Michigan Association of County 

Drain Commissioners; MDEQ – Nonpoint 

Source Program; Michigan Municipal 

League; Michigan Townships Association; 

Grand Valley Metro Council; SEMCOG 

and SOCWA. 

This seminar was the 14 th annual 

watershed seminar coordinated by the 

Watershed Committee. With a diverse 

group of nearly 100 participants, the 

increasing awareness of the importance 

of watersheds and watershed protection 

was demonstrated by the interest and 

attendance at the seminar. Attendees 

included a cross section of staff from 

Township, City, County and State 

Government agencies, and consultants. 

Topics included: 

• Watershed Agencies and How They Can 

Assist Communities 

• Rain Gardens – Case Studies 

• Developing Model Ordinances 

• BMP Case Studies 

• MDEQ Stormwater Grants and Loans 

• Funding Stormwater Initiatives 

• The Watershed Alliance Act 

10 



I 

n addition to the excellent slate of 

speakers and presentations, a number 

of informative exhibits provided related 

information. Exhibitors included: 

• Abrams Aerial Surveying/Aerocon 

Photogrametric Services 

• Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. 

• Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber 

• Hesco 

• Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. 

• InSite Design Studio 

• Limno-Tech, Inc. 

• MDEQ – Environmental Science and 

Services Division 

• Michigan Department of Transporation 

(MDOT) 

• Michigan Wildflower Farm/Wildtype 

Native Plant Nursery 

• Northern Concrete Pipe, Inc. 

• Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. 

• Southeast Michigan Council of 

Governments (SEMCOG) 

• Storm Tech 

• Tetra Tech 

• Wade Trim 

I 

n early 2006, the 

Watershed Committee 

is also planning to 

produce and release 

a DVD version of the 

“Healthy Watersheds: 

Our Responsibility, Our 

Legacy” educational 

CD. The CD, originally 

released in 2004, contains a 14-minute 

narrated PowerPoint presentation which 

is an ideal tool to educate the public 

about the importance of watersheds and 

watershed protection. Written for all 

audiences, and with a focus on the Great 

Lakes as a unique Michigan resource, 

the presentation defines “watershed” 

and “water cycle” for the lay person, and 

discusses the values of healthy watersheds 

and the problems of unhealthy ones. 

The presentation identifies 10 things 

individuals can do around the home 

to help keep their watershed healthy. 

Additional Watershed Committee 

activities for 2005-2006 include(d): 

• 6/21/05 – Committee lunch and meeting 

during Annual Meeting at Shanty Creek 

• 7/28/05 – Summer Picnic and planning 

meeting in Lansing area. 

• 10/17/05 – Quarterly Meeting and Tour of 

Low Impact Development Sites (porous 

pavement, rain gardens, and other 

development sites) in Ann Arbor Area. 

• 12/1/05 – Watershed Seminar in East 

Lansing 

• 2/15/06 – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Quarterly 

Committee lunch and meeting, at 

MDEQ offices – in the Con-Con Room, 

Atrium Level, Constitution Hall, 525 

West Allegan, Lansing. We plan to have 

speakers to present MDEQ and local 

government perspectives, and then a 

panel discussion, on Phase II stormwater 

watershed program implementation on 

improving cooperation and partnering 

between Communities and MDEQ. 

• 5/17/06 – Quarterly Committee lunch 

and tour – Battle Creek area – Details To 

Be Determined. 

• 2006 MWEA Annual Meeting, 6/25/06- 

6/28/05 – Host Afternoon Session on 

Watershed Topics 

• 11/30/05 – Host 2006 Annual Watershed 

Conference 

Handouts, and evaluation forms included 

on the CD can be used to “document” 

progress under the Phase II General 

Stormwater Permit Public Education Plan 

requirements. The new DVD version will 

feature the same materials as the CD 

version, as well as additional reference 

materials. It will be playable in a standard 

DVD player, without a computer. The 

reference materials will continue to be 

accessible on a computer. Copies of the 

current CD version can be obtained from 

MWEA by calling 517-641-7377. Advance 

orders for the DVD may also be placed. 

For more information about the 

Watershed Committee or to become a 

member and/or be added to the email 

listing for the Committee, please contact the 

2005-06 Watershed Committee Chairperson: 

Gregory Weeks, PE, Wade Trim, 25251 

Northline Road, Taylor Michigan, 

734-947-9700, gweeks@wadetrim.com 

12 


MWEA MATTERS: WINTER 2005 13

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 

MICHIGAN SECTION AWWA & MWEA 

More Active Participation by NMU Student Chapter Leads To Learning Opportunities, . . . and Lot’s -O- Fun 

On November 9, 2005, the Northern 

Michigan University (NMU) Sigma Xi 

Chapter, and the Office of the Dean of 

Research and Graduate Studies hosted 

their First Annual Science Career Expo in 

Marquette, MI. 

Students from a range of scientific 

disciplines were in attendance: 

physics, chemistry, biology, geography, 

conservation, computer science, and 

environmental science to name a few, 

including our MWEA & MS AWWA NMU 

Student Chapter members. Ultimately, 

about 25 Firms and Associations involved 

with ‘environmental/science’ related career 

opportunities, participated in this Expo. 

The Career Fair Expo took place in 

the New Science Facility, and three-story 

atrium at NMU, and was a wonderful event 

for all that participated. Prior to the formal 

Expo, students were on hand to give guided 

tours of the beautiful Seaborg Science 

Complex. Lunch was furnished by the 

campus catering staff, and sponsored by 

the Sigma Xi Chapter and various student 

science organizations. 

MWEA – MS AWWA Student Activities 

Committee ( S.A.C. ) took the opportunity 

to participate, and introduce our water 

treatment and wastewater treatment 

industry to a broad spectrum of science 

majors. S.A.C. Chairman Greg Burk 

(Waterworks Systems & Equipment ), and 

Ben Thierry (MDEQ – Marquette Office) 

had a great time attending this Career Fair 

Expo, and getting the opportunity to talk 

with science students interested in learning 

what career opportunities exist in our 

industry. 

I would like to thank Wayne Kukuk 

and Scott Ross of the MDEQ Office in 

Lansing, for allowing us to use one of their 

Hydraulic Models at our display table so 

we could discuss the ‘hot issues’ involving 

groundwater remediation and watershed 

management. 

Later, at the end of the week, on 

November 12, 2005 (on a Saturday even), 

about a dozen members of the NMU 

Student Chapter took time to participate in 

a ‘field trip’ with Greg Burk. 

The morning was spent touring the 

Marquette, MI Drinking Water Plant with 

Curt Goodman and Bernard Stanaway. 

This was a great opportunity for the 

students to learn about the security issues 

that have become a concern since the 9-11 

terrorist events. It was also a great way 

for them to see ‘real world’ state of the art 

micro filtration process equipment, pumps, 

piping galleries, and on-site hypochlorite 

generators in use at the water treatment 

plant. We toured the entire facility, 

including the laboratory, and took time to 

discuss the SCADA control systems, intake 

pumps, and distribution system. 

After a great lunch at Togo’s Sub 

Shop, we hit the road, and headed off 

to the First Place EPA District 5 Award 

Winning Ishpeming Area, MI Wastewater 

Treatment Facility, where we met up with 

Paul Altobello. Paul had just begun his 

vacation that morning, and was preparing 

for the First Week of Deer Camp, but he 

was kind enough to come back to work and 

spend a couple hours in the afternoon to 

discuss their Eimco Carrousel Oxidation 

Ditch, and their wastewater treatment 

facility, from Influent to the Effluent 

Outfall Structure at the Carp River. 

It was a great introduction to the 

biological processes involved in reducing 

the ‘domestic’ wastewater treatment 

parameters (BOD, TSS, TKN, NH3-N, TP 

and Fecal Coliform) to well below their 

effluent limits. Students got a chance to see 

all of the ‘real world’ equipment involved 

with all stages of treatment at this facility 

(intake pumps, grit removal, screening 

building, DAF’s, clarification, solids 

separation, solids dewatering, disinfection, 

and discharge back to the environment). 

At the end of the afternoon, we thanked 

Paul for his very informative tour, said our 

goodbyes, and let Paul head off to Deer 

Camp. 

I would like to thank the NMU Student 

Chapter for continuing their involvement 

with the MWEA & MS AWWA Student 

Activities Committee, and I would 

especially like to thank Ben Thierry, Curt 

Goodman, Bernard Stanaway, and Paul 

Altobello for all of their time to allow us 

into their work world. We Do Water! 

Greg Burk, Chairman 

MWEA & MS AWWA Student Activities Committee 

14 


WASTEWATER 

ADMINISTRATORS 

WORKSHOP 

Put a mark on your calendar on April 20 & 

21, 2006 for the Wastewater Administrators 

Workshop in Lansing. Yes we have moved 

our dates again due to conflicts with other 

conferences and workshops so we are 

providing an early warning. At least it 

should not be as cold as February. 

We are putting together a very good 

program for you on management issues. 

After all, this is one of the few workshops 

you can get your ‘managerial’ CEC’s 

to meet your Class A or B continuing 

education requirements. We plan to 

discuss managing your equipment, assets, 

maintenance, capital improvement 

program, safety, vulnerability and 

emergency response, and your career 

as some of the topics. As usual, we will 

expect this to be an interactive program 

with participation by the attendees in the 

discussion bringing your experiences, 

questions, issues before the group for the 

benefit of all. 

So be sure to plan to join other 

superintendents, administrators, and 

supervisors from across the state to learn 

some and share a lot. One of the prime 

reasons people have indicated on the 

surveys they attend this workshop is that 

ability to share both in the formal (at 

least to some extent it is formal) sessions 

and particularly during the meals and 

other gathering times. Exchanging war 

stories, experiences in both running the 

facility and dealing with the politicians, 

the regulators, the public, or staff is an 

important part of the program. Many times 

we find we are not the only one with that 

issue or who has had to face it. 

Again, plan to be there. The committee 

members are working hard to put together 

a good program for you. Watch for the 

brochure during the winter and we look 

forward to seeing you there. 

Jimmy Spangler 

Chair 


EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 

presents 

Michigan State University Professor 

Dr. Lee Jacobs Biannual Workshop 

Utilizing Municipal 

Biosolids on Agricultural Land 

THE 2006 SEMINAR 

Biosolids Beyond the Plant 

FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 1, 2006 

Preceding the 2006 Biosolids Seminar this 

Workshop is designed for Wastewater Treatment 

Personnel, Land Application Contractors, County/ 

Local Government Employees or State Regulatory 

Officials who are interested in: 

• Developing an understanding of factors that 

should be considered for successful land 

application programs. 

• Calculating application rates of Biosolids for 

cropland. 

• Understanding current State and Federal 

regulations governing Biosolids applications in 

Michigan. 

Dr. Jacobs’ 

Workshop is 

limited to 30 

participants, 

so be sure to 

register early! 

MARCH 1, 2006 

TOURS: 

BRYS WINERY 

Opening for business in 2006, Traverse City’s 

newest winery. 

TRAVERSE CITY WASTEWATER PLANT 

Newly expanded using Membrane Bioreactor 

Technology. 

Evening Reception and Entertainment 

MARCH 2, 2006 

SEMINAR TOPICS: 

• The National Biosolids Partnership and 

Environmental Management Systems with 

examples from Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo 

and Wyoming. 

• Developing a Biosolids Master Plan. 

• Mine land Reclamation with Biosolids. 

• Liquid or Solid: Which Process works best for you. 

• Forestland Application of Biosolids. 

• Record Keeping: What you are responsible for. 

• Cogeneration: Creating electrical power from 

your Biosolids. 

• Geotubes and Polymers: Up-to-date information. 

• Farmland Prevention. 

For more information on the Workshop or Seminar contact: 

Steve Mahoney at 517-241-2508 or 

Todd Wibright at 616-457-0720 

The Workshop and the Seminar will be held at 

the Park Place Hotel in downtown Traverse City. 

16 


18 


JOINT EXPO

JOINT EXPO 

FOCUS ON JOINT EXPO 

By Kathleen Hodgson 

This year’s joint exposition hosted by 

the Michigan Section, AWWA and the 

Michigan Water Environment Association 

on February 7 & 8 at the Lansing Center, 

Lansing Michigan, promises to be one 

of the most informative and entertaining 

events of 2006. As the largest exposition 

in the Midwest featuring new technology 

and products and services for those 

working in water and wastewater 

industries, and an unbeatable price (free 

for attendees), the rave reviews for the 

15-year-old event keep pouring in. 

“It is an excellent chance for people, 

both new to the profession and those 

more established, to get a lot of exposure 

to what we do,” says Ken Colston, 

Maintenance Supervisor, YCUA. “And 

maybe get a crucial fact that three years 

from now, may reoccur to them and save 

them in a situation.” 

Charles Van Der Kolk, Water Supervisor 

for Zeeland Board of Public Works says 

it succinctly, “We would not miss it.” His 

organization insists their operators attend 

at least one day of the two-day event. 

“It is a place where you can get any 

of your water/waste water questions 

answered.” 

“On the first day, they have the 

Legislative Luncheon, and more than 40 

of our legislators come,” cites Van Der 

Kolk. “They tell what new legislation is 

coming in and offer responses to the 

questions asked by the audience.” 

Meeting representatives from the 

Department of Environmental Quality is 

also a compelling reason to attend says 

Van Der Kolk. “It is a chance to learn 

about what is coming down the pipe 

and is on the horizon.” Overall, he says, 

it is the networking with 1,700 other 

professionals that adds value to his day. 

Without doubt many attend to update 

their technical skills, learn about new 

safety procedures, and meet old 

friends. Others, though, are intrigued 

by Expo’s special events. “This year, 

we are introducing something new,” 

says Matt Tomlinson, one of the event’s 

organizers, “our committee members 

saw an excellent exhibit and invited Jon 

Schladweiler to discuss and display his 

presentation at Expo.” 

Jon’s Sewer History Exhibit hails 

from Arizona and has been featured 

on the History Channel. It showcases 

the revolution of the sewer system and 

exemplifies some of its most interesting 

features. With its plethora of old photos, 

artifacts, and documents relating to 

sewer design, the exhibit is sure to 

please those new to the water and 

wastewater industry as well as the more 

established. 

Last year, an exciting event that 

engaged the audience was the 

operations challenge. More than a 

few participated in the event that saw 

professional pitted against professional in 

the battle to determine who was the most 

accomplished at a professional task. 

This year promises to have more of the 

same excitement building as attendees 

pit their skills against their colleagues in 

the industry. 

Attendees are also encouraged 

to attend Operators’ Day, hosted in 

20 


JOINT EXPO 

conjunction with Joint Expo. These fully 

packed two-day series of seminars offer 

the information participants need in 

order to fulfill a part of their educational 

requirement for certification. Those who 

attend the entire operators day program 

may receive three hours of MDEQ 

drinking water/waste water accreditation, 

each day, respectively. 

In the past, Operators Days attendees 

have learned of the essential tools of 

their profession as well as the relevant 

news of the day. For example, in past 

years the vulnerability of water and 

wastewater facilities has been discussed 

as well as information regarding personal 

protective equipment, pump and motor, 

and hydrant and valve maintenance. 

This year, the wealth of information 

continues to grow. Topics include 

a global perspective on evolving 

infrastructure maintenance, pump and 

pump station maintenance, and asset 

management. “The exposition and the 

technical training are the keys,” says 

Tomlinson. “Some come for the show 

itself but many others come for the 

technical training and the show.” 

With its longevity in the industry, the 

15-year-old Joint Expo is the place to 

be in February. “Expo is offered annually 

on the first Tuesday and Wednesday in 

February so that attendees know when 

to expect it,” says Tomlinson. It is also 

a slower time of the year for drinking 

water and wastewater treatment 

processes, primarily due to Michigan’s 

winter weather. 

The hall at the Lansing Center where 

Expo is held is more than 71,000 square 

feet and it is packed with exhibitors. 

Last year 250 booths displayed a host 

of products for water professionals. 

“Any company or organization from 

any location which manufactures and 

provides products or services to the 

water and wastewater industries is 

eligible to attend,” says Tomlinson. With 

booths being reasonably priced for such 

an established event (they range in price 

from $500 for one to $1,350 for three) 

the value is definitely apparent. 

“The primary reason why we attend is 

exposure,” says Randy Hamlett, owner of 

Hamlett Environmental Technologies. His 

company represents manufacturers that 

have a range of products and services 

for those in the water and wastewater 

industries. “Every year, we can directly 

connect a specific sale or two to our 

presence at the Joint Expo.” 

Displayed this year will be the latest 

in MBR technology, fine screening 

equipment, as well as ultra violet 

equipment. “Exhibitors can expect broad 

exposure to a variety of customers – from 

plant personnel to consulting engineers,” 

comments Hamlett. 

Approximately 10 years ago the 

Organizing Committee established 

a practice at the Joint Expo that 

has resulted in a fabulous return 

for attending. “Four 2006 Annual 

Conference registrations and 10 

association memberships will be given 

away to attendees by the MS-AWWA 

and the MWEA,” states Tomlinson. 

The memberships are worth $30 for 

the affiliate and $62 for the AWWA 

Operations membership. 

With technical skills to sharpen, a 

variety of products and services to 

evaluate, and professionals to educate, 

the excitement of this year’s Joint Exp 

will resonate far into the future. 

JOINT EXPO 

A comparison 

When Joint Expo was first 

established 83 exhibitors occupied 

90 booths and 750 attended the 

first show. 

In 2006 more than 1,700 are 

expected to attend the show. 

Over the years, Joint Expo has 

evolved. On average, in the early 

years, an exhibitor would purchase 

one booth to display products. 

Today, exhibitors purchase 

multiple booths and get that much 

more value for their presence. 

Also, interest in the large expo 

has escalated. So much so that 

organizers have added an extra day 

of technical programs, a legislative 

lunch, a tapping contest, and the 

operations challenge, while not all 

events have been as successful as 

others, this constant attention to 

innovation has been an invitation 

that few in the industry can afford 

to miss. 


JOINT EXPO 

FEBRUARY 7 - 8, 2006 

LANSING CENTER - HALLS A-C 

22 


JOINT EXPO 

2006 JOINT EXPO EXHIBITORS* 

*at time of press 

360Water, Inc. 

1335 Holly Avenue 

Columbus, OH 43212 

Ph: 612-294-3600 Fax: 614-294-3601 

info@360water.com 

www.360water.com 

Providing customized online operations 

and maintenance training courses to 

municipalities for drinking water and 

wastewater plants. 360water’s online 

training is approved by the MDEQ for 

license renewal credit. 

A & L Great Lakes Laboratory 

3505 Conestoga Drive 

Fort Wayne, IN 46808 

Ph: 260-483-4759 Fax: 260-483-527 

www.algreatlakes.com 

A.Y. McDonald Mfg Co. 

425 Homer Road 

Concord, MI 49237 

Ph: 517-524-7636 Fax: 517-524-6617 

www.aymcdonald.com 

Abba Pump Parts & Service 

5370 Munroe Court 

Burlington, ON, Canada L7L 5N8 

Ph: 905-333-2720 Fax: 905-333-0973 

www.abbaparts.com 

Adaptor Inc. 

2151 South 54th Street 

West Allis, WI 53219-1603 

Ph: 414-764-6733 Fax:414-764-1494 

www.adaptorinc.com 

Advance Concrete Products Co. 

975 North Milford Road 

Highland, MI 48357 

Ph: 248-887-4173 Fax: 248-887-2755 

www.advanceconcreteproducts.com 

Advanced Valve Technologies 

13280 Northwest Fwy, Suite F330 

Houston, TX 77040 

Ph: 713-822-5787 Fax: 832-553-3060 

www.advalve.com 

AIRVAC 

4217 N. Old U.s. 31, PO Box 528 

Rochester, IN 46975 

Ph: 574-223-3980 Fax: 574-223-5566 

www.airvac.com 

American AVK Company 

7241 Peppermill Parkway 

N. Charleston, SC 29418 

Ph: 513-257-8991 Fax: 843-552-8852 

www.americanavk.com 

American Leak Detection 

PO Box 325 

Dexter, MI 48130-0325 

Ph: 734-433-0000 Fax: 734-475-0575 

mrose@americanleakdetection.com 

www.americanleakdetection.com 

Providing leak detection service 

Bay College Water Tech Program 

2001 N. Lincoln Road 

Escanaba, MI 49829 

Ph: 906-786-5802 Fax: 906-786-0146 

gallaght@baycollege.edu 

www.baycollege.edu 

Bay College offers and Associate 

of Applied Science degree in Water 

Resource Management and Environmental 

Management, and a one-year certificate 

in Water Tech. Offer CEC’s. 

BioTech Argonomics, Inc. 

PO Box 180 

Benzonia, MI 49616 

Ph: 231-325-5011 Fax: 231-882-9690 

kgbonney@charter.net 

Residuals management company 

CGS Safety Training, Inc. 

No info available at time of press 

Corrosion Fluid Products Corp 

PO Box 337 

Farmington Hills, MI 48335 

Ph: 248-478-0100 Fax: 248-478-0970 

www.corrosionfluid.com 


JOINT EXPO 

Corrpro Waterworks 

1055 West Smith Road 

Medina, OH 44256 

Ph: 330-725-6681 Fax: 330-723-6065 

www.corrpro.com/waterworks/ 

Datamatic, Ltd. 

3600 K Ave., PO Box 940641 

Plano, TX 75074 

Ph: 214-274-40332 Fax: 972-234-1134 

www.datamatic.com 

Dave Ray & Associates 

4949 Delemere Avenue 

Royal Oak, MI 48073 

Ph: 248-280-0000 Fax: 248-280-0998 

www.georgeinstrument.com 

Detroit Pump Co. 

18943 John R. Street 

Detroit, MI 48203 

Ph: 313-893-4242 Fax: 313-893-7139 

www.detroitpump.com 

Dixon Engineering, Inc. 

1104 Third Avenue 

Lake Odessa, MI 48849 

Ph: 616-374-3221 Fax: 616-374-7116 

www.dixonengineering.net 

DuBois Cooper Associates, Inc. 

905 Pennimam Box 6161 

Plymouth, MI 48170 

Ph: 734-455-6700 Fax: 734-455-6711 

office@duboiscooper.com 

www.duboiscooper.com 

Process equipment for water and wastewater 

treatment. Package pump stations 

and grinder pumps for low pressure sewer 

systems. 

Duke’s Root Control, Inc. 

1020 Hiawatha Blvd 

West Syracuse, NY 13204 

Ph: 315-472-4781 Fax: 315-475-4203 

www.dukes.com 

East Jordan Iron Works Inc. 

301 Spring Street 

East Jordan, MI 49727 

Ph: 231-536-2261 Fax: 231-536-4458 

ejiwsales@ejiw.com 

www.ejiw.com 

A leader in manufacturing and distribution 

of construction castings, including designer 

tree grates/trench grating, manhole 

frames/covers, drainage castings and utility 

construction castings. 

Elhorn Engineering Co. 

889 Eden Rd. 

Mason, MI 48854 

Ph: 517-676-3786 Fax: 517-676-3788 

Website not available 

Etna Supply Co. 

529 32nd St. S.E. 

Grand Rapids, MI 49548 

Ph: 616-241-5414 Fax: 616-514-6121 

www.etnasupply.com 

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber 

1515 Arboretum Drive S.E. 


Ph: 616-464-3716 Fax: 616-464-3993 

www.ftch.com 

Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, 

Fluid Process Equipment Inc. 

2960 Lucerne Drive S.E. 


Ph: 616-977-1000 Fax: 616-977-1005 

www.fveng.com 

Gannett Fleming, Inc. 

4151 Executive Parkway, Suite 350 

Westerville, OH 43081 

Ph: 614-794-9424 Fax: 614-794-9442 

www.gannettfleming.com 

Grand Haven Meter 

Coupling Sales/DAKE 

724 Robbins Road 

Grand Haven, MI 49417 

Ph: 616-847-4872 Fax: 800-846-3253 

www.metercouplings.com 

Gregware Equipment Co. 

5085 Alpine Avenue, N.W. 


Ph: 616-784-0800 Fax: 616-784-0505 

www.gregwareco.com 

Hach Company 

PO Box 389 

Loveland, CO 80539 

Ph: 800-227-4224 Fax: 970-669-2932 

www.hach.com 

Hach Company manufactures and distributes 

analytical instruments and reagents used to 

test the quality of water and other aqueous 

solutions. 

Hamlett Environmental Tech. 

905 Gulley Road 

Howell, MI 48843 

Ph: 517-545-2500 Fax: 517-545-3231 

www.hamlettenvironmental.com 

HESCO 

28838 Vandyke Avenue 

Warren, MI 48044 

Ph: 586-978-7200 Fax: 586-978-2200 

www.hesco-mi.com 

HoBas Pipe USA, Inc. 

1413 Richey Road 

Houston, TX 77073-3058 

Ph: 800-856-7473 Fax: 281-821-7715 

www.hobaspipeusa.com 

Hydro Designs, Inc. 

5700 Crooks Road Suite 100 

Troy, MI 48098 

Ph: 248-250-5000 Fax: 248-786-1788 

bwalter@hydrodesignsinc.com 

www.hydrodesignsinc.com 

We are a full service company that 

specializes in cross connection control 

services for municipal and industrial clients. 

Assisting our clients with development, 

implementation, and maintenance of their 

cross connection control programs. 

Hydro Dynamics, Inc. 

6200 Delfield Industrial Drive 

Waterford, MI 48329 

Ph: 248-623-8460 Fax: 248-623-9599 

www.hydrodynamics.com 

Hydro Source 


ICI Devoe Coatings 

Ph: 800-654-2616 

www.icidevoecoatings.com 

Insituform Technologies USA, Inc. 

702 Spirit 40 Park Dirve 

Chesterfield, MO 63005 

Ph: 313-835-0417 

www.insituform.com 

J.G.M. Valve 

1165 Welch Road Suite D 

Commerce, MI 48390 

Ph: 248-926-6200 Fax: 248-926-6290 

jgmvalve@aol.com 

www.jgmvalve.com 

Vaughan Chopper Pumps, world’s first and 

only true chopper pump with the capabilities 

of pumping rags, rope, plastics, mop heads, 

panty hose all without clogging. 

24 


JOINT EXPO 

J.L. Hoffer & Associates, Inc. 

4557 Borland Avenue 

West Bloomfield, MI 48323 

Ph: 248-360-3996 Fax: 248-360-5445 

www.jlhoffer.com 

Jack Doheny Supplies 

PO Box 609 

Northville, MI 48167 

Ph: 248-349-0905 Fax: 248-374-1051 

www.doheny-supplies.com 

JCM Industries, Inc. 

PO Box 1220 

Nash, TX 75569-122 

Ph: 903-832-2581 Fax: 903-223-4760 

www.jcmindustries.com 

Jett Pump & Valve, LLC. 

4770 Pontiac Lake Road 

Wakeford, MI 48328 

Ph: 248-673-2530 Fax: 248-673-2574 

sales@JETTpump.com 

www.JETTpump.com 

Our specialty is in the design, sales and 

installation of water and wastewater 

pumping systems. We can service any type 

of pump or pump system. 

KAR Laboratories, Inc. 

4425 Manchester Road 

Kalamazoo, MI 49001 

Ph: 269-381-9666 Fax: 269-381-9698 

www.karlabs.com 

Kennedy Industries, Inc. 

PO Box 809 

Milford, MI 48381 

Ph: 248-684-1200 Fax: 248-684-6011 

wwwkennedyind.com 

Kerr Pump & Supply, Inc. 

12880 Cloverdale 

Oak Park, MI 48237 

Western Michigan Office: 

6624 Clay S.W. 


Ph: 248-543-3880 Fax: 248-543-3236 

sales@kerrpump.com 

www.kerrpump.com 

Established in 1905, we represent major 

national brands of liquid pumps, blowers, 

vacuum and custom systems. Brands include: 

Fairbanks Morse, Hydromatic, Aurora, 

Hayward Gordon, Tuthill, Wastecorp, Marlow, 

Vanton, Layne, Busch & Travaini. Sales/ 

Service/Repair 

Layne-Northern Company 

3126 N. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd 

Lansing, MI 48906 

Ph: 517-323-4931 Fax: 517-323-1619 

www.laynechristensen.com 

Lewis Municipal Sales 

651 Hawthorne Drive 

Carmel, IN 46033 

Ph: 317-566-0723 Fax: 317-566-9289 


Liqui-Force Services 

PO Box 32608 

Detroit, MI 48232 

Ph: 734-955-2508 Fax: 734-955-2509 

www.liquiforce.com 

M.E. Simpson Co., Inc. 

3406 Enterprise Avenue, P.o. Box 1995 

Valparaiso, IN 46384-1995 

Ph: 219-462-1144 Fax: 219-531-2444 

www.mesimpson.com 

Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties 

195 Chesapeake Park Plaza, Suite 200 

Baltimore, MD 21220 

Ph: 800-648-7400 Fax: 410-780-5500 

www.magspecialties.com 

Mattoon & Lee Equipment 

23943 Industrial Park Drive 


Ph: 248-478-9101 Fax: 248-478-4070 


MDEQ-Operator Training 

PO Box 30473 


Ph: 517-241-7199 

www.michigan.gov/deqoperatortraining 

MDEQ-Wellhead Protection Unit 

PO Box 30473 


Ph: 517-241-1370 

www.michigan.gov/deq 

Michigan Pipe & Valve 

4047 Eagles Nest 

Flushing, MI 48433 

Ph: 810-230-2737 Fax: 810-230-2992 

www.michiganpipe.com 

Michigan Rural Water Association 

PO Box 960 

Harrison, MI 48625 

Ph: 989-539-4111 Fax: 989-539-4055 

www.mrwa.net 

Michigan Section AWWA: 

PO Box 16337 

Lansing, MI 48901-6337 

Ph: 517-373-4752 Fax: 517-241-0325 

www.mi-water.org 

Michigan Water Environment Assoc. 

PO Box 397 

Bath, MI 48808 

Ph: 517-641-7377 Fax: 517-641-7388 

www.mi-wea.org 

MJK North America Inc. 

37 Sherwood Terrace, #126 

Lake Bluff, IL 60044-2228 

Ph: 877-655-5465 Fax: 847-482-8654 

www.mjk.com 

Modernistic Cleaning & Restoration 

821 Wakefield, PO Box 318 

Plainwell, MI 49080 

Ph: 800-627-5080 Fax: 269-685-9796 

www.modernistic.net 

Municipal Supply Co. 

PO Box 627 

Coquille, OR 97423 

Ph: 800-523-6696 Fax: 541-396-6529 

www.munisupply.com 

MWEA Biosolids Committee 

276 Crescent Drive 

Portland, MI 48875 

Ph: 517-647-6597 Fax: 517-647-2007 


National Waterworks, Inc. 

6575-23 Mile Road 

Shelby Township, MI 48316 

Ph: 586-323-8800 Fax: 586-323-8812 

www.nationalwaterworks.com 

Nelson Tank 

Engineering & Consulting Inc. 

16240 National Pkwy 


Ph: 517-321-1692 


New Century Sales, Inc. 

8250 Goldie 

Walled Lake, MI 48390 

Ph: 248-360-2500 Fax: 248-360-8059 


Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. 

34935 Schoolcraft Road 

Livonia, MI 48150 

Ph: 734-522-6711 Fax: 734-522-6427 

www.ohm-eng.com 


JOINT EXPO 

Peerless Midwest, Inc. 

55860 Russell Industrial Parkway 

Mishawaka, IN 46545 

505 Apple Tree Drive 

Ionia, MI 48846 

28800 Wall Street Suite A 

Wixom, MI 48393 

Ph: 574-254-9050 Fax: 574-254-9650 

info@pmidwest.com 

www.pmidwest.com 

- Well and pump performance testing, 

rehabilitation, servicing, treatments 

and evaluation 

- Pumping equipment supply, installation 

and overhaul 

- Water well design and installation 

- Hydrogeological services 

Peterson and Matz, Inc. 

24350 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 107 


Ph: 248-476-3204 Fax: 248-476-3445 

www.petersonandmatz.com 

Powell Fabrication 

& Manufacturing Inc. 

740 East Monroe 

St. Louis, MI 48880 

Ph: 989-681-2158 Fax: 989-681-5013 

www.powellfab.com 

Preload Inc. 

60 Commerce Drive 

Hauppauge, NY 11788 

Ph: 631-231-8100 Fax: 631-231-8881 

www.preload.com 

Professional Pump, Inc. 

41300 Coca Cola Drive 

Belleville, MI 48111 

Ph: 734-394-7878 Fax: 734-394-7867 

www.professionalpump.com 

Pumps Plus Inc. 

22162 Lancrest Court 


Ph: 248-888-9004 Fax: 248-888-9005 

info@pumpsplus.com 

www.pumpsplus.com 

Water & Wastewater pumps and wastewater 

headworks systems. 

Raymer Co. Inc. 

1357 Comstock Street 

Marne, MI 49435 

Ph: 616-677-2751 Fax: 616-677-2909 

www.raymerwaterwells.com 

Reed Manufacturing Co., Inc. 

1425 W. 8th Street 

Erie, PA 16512-132 

Ph: 814-337-4468 Fax: 814-337-4468 

www.reedmfgco.com 

Richland Machine & Pump Company 

9854 M-89 

Richland, PA 49083-9602 

Ph: 269-629-4344 Fax: 269-629-9924 


ROMAC Industries 

21919 20th Avenue S.e., Suite 100 

Bothell, WA 98021-4404 

Ph: 425-951-6200 Fax: 425-951-6201 

www.romacindustries.com 

Rosemount Analytical, Inc. 

1201 N. Main Street 

Orrville, OH 44667 

Ph: 800-433-6076 Fax: 330-684-4434 


Severn Trent Services, Inc. 

16337 Park Row 

Houston, TX 77084 

Ph: 866-646-9201 

www.severntrentservices.com 

Sewer History Exhibit 


S.L.C. Meter Service Inc. 

10375 Dixie Hwy 

Davisburg, MI 48350 

Ph: 248-625-0667 Fax: 248-625-8660 

kreid@slcmeter.com 

www.slcmeter.com 

Celebrating 25+ years in the waterworks 

industry. Specializing in water meter reading 

systems and technology. Installation service, 

large meters, pits, parts, testing and repair. 

Stantec Consulting Michigan Inc. 

3959 Research Park Drive 

Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2216 

Ph: 734-761-1010 Fax: 734-761-1200 

www.stantec.om 

Synagro Central, Inc. 


Systems Specialties 

390 Enterprise Court, Suite 200 

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 

Ph: 248-332-0099 Fax: 248-332-4919 

www.sysspec.com 

TH Eifert, Inc. 

3302 W St Joseph 


Ph: 517-484-9944 Fax: 517-484-1699 

www.theifert.com 

The Water Associates, Inc. 

PO Box 823 

Jackson, MI 49204 

Ph: 517-787-9016 Fax: 517-787-9036 


Therma-Stor Products LLC 

PO Box 8050 

Madison, WI 53708 

Ph: 608-222-5301 Fax: 608-222-1447 

www.thermastor.com 

Tnemec Company Inc. 

6800 Corporate Drive 

Kansas City, MO 64120-1372 

Ph: 517-540-0038 Fax: 517-540-0041 

www.tnemec.com 

Underground Pipe & Valve 

PO Box 508 

South Bend, IN 46624 

Ph: 574-282-2323 Fax: 574-287-9523 

www.upvinc.com 

Utility Solutions, Inc. 

327 Curtis Street 

Deleware, OH 43015 

Ph: 440-877-1031 Fax: 440-877-1031 

www.utility-solutions.com 

Victaulic Co. of America 

3825 Windwood Drive N.e. 

Rockford, MI 49341 

Ph: 616-293-1528 Fax: 616-863-8471 

www.victaulic.com 

Wade Trim 

26251 Northline Road 

Taylor, MI 48180 

Ph: 734-947-9700 Fax: 734-947-9726 

dvago@wadetrim.com 

www.wadetrim.com 

We offer operation and maintenance, utility 

management, start-up training, operations 

assistance, instrumentation and controls, 

safety, maintenance management and 

process audits. 

26 


JOINT EXPO 

Water For People 


Water Solutions Unlimited 

295 Industrial Dr. 

Franklin, IN 46131 

Ph: 800-359-3570 


Waterworks Systems 

& Equipment Inc. 

PO Box 575 

Lakeland, MI 48143 

Ph: 810-231-1200 Fax: 810-231-1331 

ckronk@waterworkssystems.com 

www.waterworkssystems.com 

Wolverine Water Works, Inc. 

2469 Airport Road 

Waterford, MI 48327 

Ph: 248-673-4310 Fax: 248-673-4311 

jphillips@wolverinewater.com 

www.wolverinewater.com 

Pump controls, remote monitoring systems, 

pressure transducers and liquid level controls. 

Raco, Anchor Scientific. 

Process treatment equipment, chemical feed 

systems, disinfection systems, odor control 

equipment and flow/level control gates. 

Westin Engineering 

of Michigan, PLLC 

407 E. Fort, Ste. 200 

Detroit, MI 48226-2900 

Ph: 313-961-1100 Fax: 313-961-1104 

www.we-inc.com 

Wightman & Associates, Inc. 

2303 Pipestone Road 

Benton Harbor, MI 49022 

Ph: 877-927-0109 Fax: 269-927-1200 

www.wightman-assoc.com 

Williams & Works 

549 Ottawa Ave. NW 


1042 North Milford Road 

Milford, MI 48381-1541 

Ph: 616-224-1500 Fax: 616-224-1501 

Contact_us@williams-works.com 

www.williams-works.com 

Engineers, planners, and surveyors for 

Michigan municipalities. 

Wolverine Power Systems 

3229-80th Avenue 

Zeeland, MI 49464 

Ph: 616-820-0503 Fax: 616-820-0506 

Al.selesky@wolverinepower.com 

www.wolverinepower.com 

A distributor of general power systems, 

generators, and transfer switches with 24/7 

warranty/service, parts, rentals, sales and 

sizing of all brands. 


JOINT EXPO 

10 COMMANDMENTS FOR EXHIBITING AT A TRADE-SHOW 

A lot of effort goes into exhibitors 

achieving success at a trade-show. 

This effort must be expended before 

the show, during the show and 

after the show. Here are 10 rules or 

‘commandments’ to follow to get that 

success. 

1. SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS. 

First, ask what it is you want your 

display to accomplish. Are you after 

leads, sales, the chance to introduce 

a new product or service, or simply 

just to keep your company’s name in 

front of potential customers Once you 

have determined your goals, plan other 

aspects of your booth (theme, layout, 

product displays, give-aways, literature, 

etc.) with them in mind. 

2. READ THE EXHIBITOR 

HANDOUTS/MANUAL. 

The exhibitor handouts/manual will 

provide you with pertinent information 

such as show schedule, registration, 

electrical service, floor plans, shipping 

and freight services, housing information 

and advertising. The specific information 

will vary depending on the show. 

3. PLAN GRAPHICS EARLY. 

Planning your booth’s graphics early 

reduces stress for everyone concerned 

and ensures that the finished product is 

what was originally envisioned. 

4. PREPARE THE BOOTH STAFF. 

Trade-shows – large and small – are 

very demanding in terms of time, energy 

and cost. Too often, the booth staff are 

totally ignored and simply told where and 

when to show up. These staff members 

are your company’s representatives, 

its ambassadors. They must be briefed 

prior to the event, told of the company’s 

aforementioned goals and what is 

expected of them. You expect them to 

act professionally during the trade-show, 

so be professional in preparing these 

individuals for the show. 

5. FIND OUT THE VISITORS’ NEEDS 

AND TRY TO MEET THEM. 

Avoid having your staff members deliver 

a common script to all visitors that 

stop at your booth. Remind them that 

they have one mouth and two ears for 

a reason. Ask the right questions and 

then listen carefully to the responses. It 

is important to find out why the visitor 

has stopped at your booth. Once that 

has been determined, your booth staff 

member can go about trying to meet that 

need to the best of his/her ability. 

6. LITERATURE AND GIVEAWAYS 

ARE EXTRAS, NOT THE 

‘END ALL AND BE ALL.’ 

Ensure that your booth staff members 

hand out literature and giveaways along 

with their discussions with visitors and 

not ‘instead of’ those discussions. Too 

often, booth personnel think they have 

done their job simply by handing out 

a bag of ‘goodies.’ This is the wrong 

approach to take as nothing concrete 

comes out of it. 

7. BOOTH STAFF MUST BE 

FAMILIAR WITH MATERIAL AND 

DEMONSTRATIONS. 

In your pre-show preparation of staff 

members, ensure that they are familiar 

with what is on the video presentation, 

know how to work the equipment, and 

can perform the demonstration. A wellprepared 

‘show-and-tell’ comes off as 

being very professional. The opposite is 

also true. 

8. SCHEDULE BOOTH STAFF 

ACCORDINGLY. 

Too often, a company displaying at 

a trade show has a glut of personnel 

around the booth. These colleagues 

spend all their time socializing with one 

another rather than with the trade-show 

visitors. Draw up a booth staff schedule 

and insist staffers stay away from the 

booth until their scheduled time. Assign 

specific tasks so everyone knows why 

they are there. 

9. FOLLOW UP THE LEADS. 

Set a method and a deadline as to how 

and when you and your staff should 

complete the ‘follow-ups’ on the leads 

generated at the show. The longer these 

leads are left unattended, the colder they 

become. 

10. EVALUATE THE TRADE SHOW 

AS A BUSINESS EVENT. 

At a meeting immediately following the 

event, determine if the pre-set goals 

were met. Evaluate the performance of 

your company/booth/staff and discuss 

how there could be improvement for the 

next trade-show. 

28 


JOINT EXPO 

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF ATTENDING A TRADE-SHOW 

Going for a stroll through the park brings 

great rewards. The soft scent of the 

flowers, children’s happy laughter, and 

wildlife peeking through the foliage are just 

some of the delights that can await you. 

Meandering through a trade-show though, 

only wastes time and money, ultimately 

causing great regrets. Learn how to 

successfully apply your time and then reap 

the rewards received from careful planning. 

• Obtain a map of where the exhibitors are 

located from the event’s organizers. It 

will make it easier to plan your strategy. 

• Make a list of exhibitors that interest you. 

Have ‘must see,’ ‘ should see,’ and 

‘want to see’ sections. Stick to your list. 

Prioritize. 

• Design a lead gathering form. It is an 

evaluation tool that will help you compare 

one vendor’s product to another. 

• Have specific goals. Make them 

quantitative. Know exactly what it is you 

are looking for. 

• Research the different vendors to 

find similarities and differences. Plan 

intelligent questions to ask them. 

• Consider contacting those you ‘must 

see’ before the show and make an 

appointment. Often, people have their 

time booked before the date of the show. 

• Book your air travel and hotel 

accommodations early. It will save you 

money and worry. 

• Arrive at the show a day early. Being 

rested will give you the dynamic outlook 

you need to get the best experience 

from the show. 

• Carry stacks of business cards, hand 

them out, and have a case for carrying 

the ones you receive home. 

• Attend the demonstrations. 

Many exhibitors will either have 

video demonstrations or product 

demonstrations scheduled or ongoing. 

• Read the exhibitor directory. It is loaded 

with information. 

• Use the first hour and the last hour of 

show hours wisely. These are the ‘golden’ 

times of the day when the exhibit hall is 

not busy. 

• Work the room with a ‘wing man.’ If you 

get stuck talking, he or she can help you 

exit gracefully, but more importantly, 

having a ‘wing man’ will help you make 

critical decisions on the spot. 

• Take a light bag to store ‘give-aways.’ 

Plastic bags can cut into your hands. 

A soft cloth bag may minimize the 

discomfort. 

• Pack comfortable shoes and clothes. 

High heels can become daggers to your 

soles. Consider insoles. 

By keeping these considerations in mind, 

your time at your next trade-show should 

be as easy as a walk in the park and as 

valuable as a fistful of dollars. 


2006 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW 

WATER IS LIFE 

Submitted by Corky Overmyer 

“Working to 

provide water for life - 

for your life and the 

lives of your children’s 

children.” 

Water is Life. This bold statement is certainly true for those working and 

serving in the water pollution control industry. Although until the past few 

years in my career, I have never realized how true this is, and I hazard to 

say that most of us have never considered just how huge this concept really 

is. Every day of our lives, we rise to the alarm clock, travel to our work site 

and begin planning how to protect, preserve and restore water in our various 

projects and locations. Think about the water itself for a moment—we flush, 

shower, cook, wash, and irrigate with it before we ever leave our home. We 

cool or heat with it as we drive to work using it to help the performance of our 

car that required many gallons to manufacture. We consume beverages, food, 

and products made with it, and we eagerly seek to satisfy our body’s need for 

it as we sense thirst. What about the energy used as we travel to and perform 

our work—the electricity, the petroleum refining, and the manufacturing 

Oh yes, and then there is the brief rain that we drove through to get to work 

that replenishes the water we used already in the day—water that gets dirty 

just dropping through the atmosphere and running across the earth and manmade 

surfaces we have designed for our convenience. Think about how many 

hours you invest each day cleaning, restoring, and returning the spent water 

of our citizens so we can start the process all over again when we return home. 

I am surprised to say that I have personally invested over 70,000 hours of my 

life’s 490,000 plus hours on earth working with water and restoring it for the 

lives of others. I have become very passionate about the water (and lives) of 

the future children of my granddaughters and the grandchildren of the many 

friends I have in this business. The 20th century damaged the earth’s water 

resources (and our lives) and you and I are in the position to implement 

sound changes in our lives (and water uses) so those coming after us will have 

water (and life) to survive. 

We rarely stop to ponder how ‘water-dependent’ we have become and how 

important the natural watershed resources, man-made treatment resources, 

and water cycle is to survival on the earth. Water truly is necessary for life 

and those of us working in this profession are as important to human life 

as a neurologist or cardiologist. These professions would be out of work 

without clean water. MWEA’s own Jerry Harte jokes about “Doc Harte”, but 

his brand is really about all of us—the earth’s water doctors. The treatment, 

management, and planning for water resources performed by MWEA 

members and the influence we provide to our State is as important to our 

citizens as the Emergency Room staff at the local hospital. 

This article is meant to provide a kick-start to motivate you and other 

employees to begin planning to attend the upcoming MWEA Annual 

Conference next June. This year’s conference will be like no other in that 

Corky Overmyer’s granddaughters, Ryleigh & Morgan. 

30 


2006 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW 

the theme, something that may never have been done in our organization’s 

history, sets the stage for our future. The theme, chosen as a way to posture 

the conference program, provides a jumping off point for the many various 

aspects of the water (and lives) we protect, restore, and preserve daily. It 

is meant to stimulate thought—about MWEA’s future, your future, and 

our successors’ futures. It is meant to bring together the many diverse 

professions, ideas, and subjects of Michigan’s water resources to plan for the 

future. Just as an accomplished surgeon would never think of entering an 

operating room without training and preparation in all aspects of the surgery 

he/she will perform, none of us should presume to do our work every day 

without training and preparation on all aspects of the water we work on. The 

water cycle, the watershed, the rain, the groundwater, the surface water, the 

atmosphere, the septic tank and the treatment plant, the earth’s hydrology 

and ecology, the sources of contamination, treatment schemes, uses, 

conservation…do you get the idea Your life’s work (and the work of water) is 

much, much more than a clarifier, or watershed management plan. It touches 

my family and me, and my work touches you and your family—forever. 

The MWEA is a multi-disciplined organization of very talented, 

professional, service-oriented human beings, working to provide water 

for life—for your life and the lives of your children’s children. A Native 

American philosophy asks that we think of what impact our actions today 

will have on the seventh generation. This year’s program committee has 

accepted the challenge to take the MWEA Annual Conference to a new 21st 

century position—a position of leading Michigan’s water industry to the 

seventh generation and beyond. As the American Medical Association speaks 

for health care providers, MWEA needs you and your professional expertise 

to help us speak for Michigan’s water resources in this century. There is no 

other State water conference where you will experience this broad spectrum 

of water knowledge and information enabling you to improve your skills, 

knowledge, and impact for the future. Our lives as Michigan citizens and 

its future generations depend on you and your commitment to professional 

development and training time for your future. 

Water is life…drinking, irrigating, manufacturing, producing energy, 

enjoying recreation, and celebrating life. The 2006 MWEA Annual 

Conference will stimulate thought and raise awareness about our State’s 

future, its survival, and its water resources. What do you need to do as a water 

professional in this century to carry Michigan into the next seven generations 

and beyond Can you afford not to attend Your life depends on it! 

The MWEA 81st Annual Conference will be held at 

Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs on June 25-28, 2006. 


ISHPEMING AREA, MI 

WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY 

Receives USEPA Region 5 First Place Award For Operation & Maintenance 

By Greg Burk 

Congratulations, accolades and kudos, go to 

the staff at the Ishpeming Area, Michigan 

Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWTF), 

for earning a USEPA-Region 5 Wastewater 

Operation and Maintenance Excellence 

Award for First Place in the Medium 

Secondary category for 2005. 

Ben Thierry (District Supervisor) of the 

MDEQ Marquette Office, worked long 

and hard with the IAWTF staff to begin 

the process of applying for this prestigious 

award. Both parties compiled operating 

data, and details of the O&M records for 

the IAWTF, to satisfy the requirements of 

the award application process. 

On September 22, 2005, Debbie Pellow 

(Facility Director), Paul Altobello (Lead 

Operator), and the other plant operators, 

Bob Houvener, Darren Kotajarvi, and 

Mike Junak, along with the entire IAWTF 

Wastewater Treatment Board, were 

honored to have Dave Stoltenberg from 

the USEPA Region 5 offices in Chicago, 

IL on-site for their award presentation 

ceremony. 

Debbie, Paul, Bob, Darren, and Mike 

tell me that receiving this award is one of 

the highlights of their working careers. 

As Paul Altobello said “I don’t think you 

could find a better crew of people to be 

associated with – we all work together 

every day to keep the plant meeting, and 

exceeding, our MDEQ permit limits. We 

are proud to do our job, and are constantly 

working to improve our performance” 

The IAWTF is designed to treat a 

flow of 2.34 MGD (receiving an average 

flow of 1.18 MGD), while serving a 

population of 8,200 in the City of 

Ishpeming and Ishpeming Township. 

All of the flow comes from domestic and 

commercial sources. The plant does an 

outstanding job of pollutant removal, 

consistently removing an average of 

98% of the biochemical oxygen demand, 

suspended solids, and ammonianitrogen; 

and 83% of the phosphorous 

from the incoming wastewater. Major 

treatment processes include preliminary 

treatment, phosphorous removal by 

chemical addition, biological treatment 

in an Eimco Carrousel Oxidation Ditch, 

final clarification, chlorination and 

dechlorination prior to discharge into the 

Carp River, a tributary to Lake Superior. 

Sludge is aerobically digested, thickened, 

and held in a holding tank until it can be 

dewatered by a belt filter press and hauled 

to an approved landfill. 

This award is based primarily on the 

following achievements, in addition 

to excellent pollutant removal: (1) 

improvements over the past several years 

have increased the efficiency of the plant, 

such as installation of a fine screen, 

changes in the Eimco Carrousel oxidation 

ditch aerators that included the addition 

of a lower turbine design and VFD’s, 

and adding baffles to the final clarifier; 

(2) the laboratory provides potable water 

and wastewater testing for several nearby 

communities, and the resulting revenue is 

used to reduce the plants operating costs; 

(3) the plant currently has an agreement 

with the Marquette County Landfill to 

treat their leachate, and in return the 

landfill accepts the plants treated sludge 

at no cost, resulting in a cost savings of 

about $24,000 per year; and (4) based on 

past history, projected outside revenues for 

2005 will decrease the O & M budget by 

$38,000, or 3.5%. 

Debbie Pellow emphasized that the 

entire staff at the IAWTF deserve credit 

for this award, as they all work together to 

keep the plant operating effectively and 

efficiently. Debbie also recognizes that the 

plant staff has a great working relationship 

with Wastewater Authority Board, 

consisting of Fred Benzie, (Authority 

Board Chairman); Ken Walimaa, (Vice 

Chairman); Neil Black, (Secretary- 

Treasurer); Seth Johnson and Dean Korri 

(Trustees). 

Many of the recent plant upgrades were 

accomplished using the design engineering 

firm of STS Consultants (Crystal Falls, 

MI). The plant automation firm was 

Talsma Controls (Ishpeming, MI), and the 

Eimco Carrousel aerators improvements 

were done by Waterworks Systems & 

Equipment (Lakeland, MI), and Eimco 

Water Technologies (Salt Lake City, UT). 

The award ceremony was attended 

by over 50 participants; including local 

citizens, MDEQ regulatory agency 

members (from both Marquette and 

Lansing), family friends, and local media. 

Stacy Welling, a representative of 

Governor Jennifer Granholms’ office 

in the U.P., also attended and spoke on 

behalf of the Governor’s office saying 

“that the Governor thanked this IAWTF 

staff for their brilliance, their hard work, 

and their pride in their work to protect 

the water environment”. 

Steve Casey of MDEQ (Marquette 

Office), spoke ‘historically’ of “the 

improvements he has seen in the quality 

of the local watershed, because of the 

significant treatment levels that the 

IAWTF provides for the wastewater it 

receives”. Steve mentioned “one of the 

most noticeable and obvious changes since 

the plant came on-line twenty years ago 

is seen downstream, that being improved 

water quality of Deer Lake.” 

All in all, it was a great day to ‘feel 

good’ about what we all do to improve 

the quality of our Michigan water 

environment. As we say, We Do Water! 

32 



MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 

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Membership Categories: Choose one membership category by checking the appropriate box. 

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co-sponsor events with MWEA. If you prefer not to be included in these lists, please check this box. 

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Dues: $115 

Periodicals included: WEF Research Highlights, MWEA Matters. 

Included - Please select ONE: Water Env & Technology/Operation’s Forum Water Env. Research Industrial Wastewater 

Operations - For individuals working day-to-day in (or retired from) a wastewater collection, treatment, laboratory facility. 

Dues: $77 


Included - Please select ONE: Water Env & Technology/Operation’s Forum Water Env. Lab Solutions 

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Dues: $25 


Corporate - Corporations which design, construct, operate, or manage water quality systems. Entitles ONE person to membership benefits 

Dues: $300 

Periodicals included: Water Env. & Technology/Operation’s Forum, Water Env. Research , MWEA Matters, Ind. Wastewater, 

Env. Reg. Watch, WEF Research Highlights 

MWEA Affiliate Member - MWEA basic membership. Does not include WEF membership or publications. 

Affiliate members may vote but not hold office. 

Dues: $33 

Periodicals included: MWEA Matters 

Retiree - For retirees whose combined age and years of association membership total at least 75 years. Charge for optional WEF membership. 

Dues to WEF: $25 

Dues to MWEA: NONE 

Periodicals included: WEF Research Highlights, MWEA Matters 

Method of Payment 

Check enclosed (Make check payable to MWEA) 

Charge my: VISA MASTERCARD 

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with payment to: 

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For more information, 

Call 517-641-7377 Fax 517-641-7388 

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Membership rates are subject to change without notice. Call MWEA for current rates at any time.

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NEWS IN BRIEF 

OH DANNY BOY 

By Jerry Harte 

Dan at the Legislative Reception on 

September 20, 2005 

I had a thought while driving to work 

the day after Dan Wolz died that really 

rocked me for a moment, “God has called 

for both Dan and Rosa Parks in the same 

week. He must be reinforcing His team for 

something big.” 

I am not going to abuse the privilege 

that the MWEA Board has granted me of 

writing about Dan by reliving too many 

of the highlights that Dan created for my 

memory banks. I am, however, going to 

list a few of the cornerstones that formed 

the foundation of one of the finest human 

beings I ever had the honor and pleasure 

of knowing. Like most of you, I greatly 

appreciate that the rest of my life will be 

enriched just because I knew him. As one 

Past President said to me, “I’m a better 

person from knowing him. Period.” 

Most of us realize that the most 

important leadership is that which 

happens by example. Dan was probably the 

best example of this I ever witnessed. He 

certainly took action with the courage of 

his convictions more boldly and more often 

than anyone else I have observed. 

Dan loved this quote from Oliver 

Wendell Holmes, “The mind once 

stretched by a new idea never returns to 

its original shape.” He and I often spoke 

of making presentations that would mess 

with the configuration of people’s minds. 

We also consoled each other often with this 

quote, “Man makes plans and God laughs.” 

Dan didn’t just have vision, he was 

a VISIONARY. He struggled to gain 

acceptance for many of his ideas because 

he was simply so far ahead of his time. 

Like many great visionaries and world 

changers, he often exposed himself to 

ridicule, knowing full-well that the cause 

would benefit. 

Dan really understood teaching. He 

knew that stretching people’s comfort 

zones was the best way to get people to 

remember his message. 

Dan was a man whose heart was 

obviously much bigger than it was strong. 

Dan probably served in every significant 

position in the MWEA and his finger 

prints are everywhere on this organization. 

Many years ago I came to believe that 

the best way to honor a person after his 

death is to simply act like you were paying 

attention while he was alive. We could all 

do this with a small specific commitment 

to become more Dan-like. I think that we 

(as individuals), the MWEA and the world 

would all benefit from the effort. 

God bless you all (and with a nudge from 

Dan I know He will). 

Okay, I’ve got to do this…. Why don’t we 

eat clownfish Answer on page 38. 

HOW DO YOU HONOR 

A LEGEND, AN ICON, A VISIONARY 

AND A PROFOUNDLY AMUSING TEACHER 

The news of Dan Wolz’s death in late 

October emitted shock waves that shook 

the MWEA right to its very foundation. 

Almost immediately suggestions began 

flooding in about how to memorialize this 

man who meant so much to so many. 

Steve Aiken has volunteered to head up 

a Dan Wolz Memorial Task Force that will 

take suggestions from anyone who would 

like to submit them. The job of the task 

force will be to try to determine what is the 

most appropriate action(s) and then make 

a recommendation to the MWEA Board of 

Directors. 

Please send your suggestions by 

February 1, 2006 to: 

Steve Aiken 

via email saiken@gcdcwws.com 

Steve can also be reached at 

810-735-7135 

36 


NEWS IN BRIEF 

EXCITEMENT IS….. 

Working for MWEA! I have met so many 

interesting people in the 10 months I have 

worked for MWEA. ‘Doc Harte’ comes to 

mind, as does ‘Brother Dan’. 

I had only been on board two months 

when Jerry asked me if I would like to take 

the registration packets to Battle Creek. 

The Local Sections Regional Meeting was 

being held the same day that he had to 

be in Traverse City for the Septage Law 

Seminar. So off I went to Battle Creek. 

I arrived in plenty of time to get set 

up to register 50+ people. Afterwards, 

while I was organizing my files, I heard 

music coming from the room next door 

– CHURCH music! CHURCH MUSIC 

I started walking down the hall, trying to 

figure out if my hearing had finally gone 

wacko after listening to rock & roll for 

years. I came to a doorway and there stood 

‘Brother Dan’, asking everyone to sing 

Rock of Ages with him! I thought MWEA 

had screwed up hiring such a person to 

give training for water people. No one was 

singing, they were just sitting there with 

their mouths hanging open (like mine). 

Then he said something about getting their 

attention and went on with his training. 

And that, my friends, was how I met 

Brother Dan. 

Doc Harte was another story. He was 

actually ‘born’ right here in this office. One 

day we were talking about a doctor’s headpiece, 

the next, Doc was looking at me with 

this lab coat on, a stethoscope around his 

neck and his prescription bottles in his 

pocket. He is quite an unusual man; but 

very effective. 

The Board that runs this organization is 

absolutely fantastic. Of course they have 

not fired me (as of yet) and no appendages 

have fallen off me due to the little mistakes 

I have made while learning this job, so I 

guess that is a good sign. 

The members that I have talked to 

via the telephone or email are very 

understanding when I tell them I have to 

‘find’ their answers and call them back. 

Thank you everyone for your patience, you 

are a great bunch of people. 

In June I was asked to attend the 

registration day of the Annual Conference. 

There I met a man who has been one of my 

favorite people. He graciously autographed 

the entire back of my brand new MWEA 

shirt. There it was, in giant letters, JOE 

KOCHER, Assistant Coach of the Detroit 

Red Wings. WOW!! He asked me who 

my all-time favorite Red Wing player was 

(probably expecting me to say, Joe Kocher) 

and I said Chris Chelios. We talked for 

several minutes, he autographed a picture 

for my husband, Wayne, and we left him, 

shaking his head and saying “I don’t know 

how he does it, she’s crazy.” 

Where else could you work your own 

hours I get the better of two worlds. I 

retired in 2002 from the State of Michigan 

and made it about a month before I went 

out and found myself a part-time job. 

Then I was contacted by MWEA to come 

work for them. In doing so, I also get to 

work closely with my old office and my old 

friends there. I also get to work reduced 

hours in the summer. That allows me to go 

to my summer home almost every weekend 

from May to mid-October. Life could not 

get much better than that. 

Thank you MWEA, the Board, and 

members. You are great. If this all 

happened in 10 months, I have got to stick 

around for next year! 

Connie Underhill 

Office Manager MWEA 


NEWS IN BRIEF 

LOCAL SECTION 21 (Upper Peninsula) 

MEETS TO PLAN FOR 

UPCOMING 2006 OPERATORS CONFERENCE 

On November 10, 2005, Local Section 21 

Chairman Mark Bowman pounded his 

gavel to call to order the members of the 

Local Section 21 Conference Planning 

Committee Members, at the MDEQ Offices 

in Gwinn, Michigan. 

With this being our first planning 

meeting since last years U.P. Operators 

Conference, there was a lot of business to 

attend to, however, none more important 

than deciding what to order for our 

working lunch. 

With that business out of the way, we got 

busy working on the preliminary details 

of the upcoming 2006 52 nd Annual Local 

Section 21 (Upper Peninsula) Operators 

Conference.The date for next year’s 

conference will be May 15– 17, 2006, and 

it will be held at the Bay Mills Resort in 

Brimley, MI. As per usual, the Operators 

Conference will plan for both Technical 

and Management CEC classes that address 

all aspects of our wastewater treatment 

industry. We will cover a wide variety of 

topics that include MDEQ Regulatory 

Updates, News From The Field Topics, 

Plant Upgrades and Case Histories, 

Technical Equipment and O&M ‘Hands- 

On”’ Sessions, Vendor Displays, etc. I am 

certain that we will work in a little fun also, 

with time for networking and discussions 

with one another over a cool beverage. 

Details for the 2006 Local Section 21 

Operators will be hammered out in the 

next couple of months at future Planning 

Committee Meetings, so if you have any 

input, and/or want to help get involved, 

please contact Mark Bowman at the 

Gogebic-Ironwood, MI WWTP @ Phone # 

906-932-5322. 

The initial structure of the conference is 

shaping up like this: 

May 15 

Pre-Registration and Annual Golf Outing 

(please contact Les Therrian at the St. 

Ignace, MI WWTP for more details @ 

Phone # 906-643-9670) 

May 16-17 

Operators Conference & Technical Sessions 

Mark your calendars now. 

We hope to see you all there. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Greg Burk, 

Waterworks Systems & Equipment, Inc. 

2006 MWEA 

OPERATIONS 

CHALLENGE 

Register for the Operations Challenge to 

be held at the 2006 MWEA AWWA Joint 

Expo February 7 and 8, 2006. Sharpen 

your skills and have fun. 

The Challenge will have a new two-day 

format this year. Day one will be training. 

Day two will be a demonstration of 

techniques learned through timed 

competition. 

For more details and registration 

information please visit our web-site 


ANSWER TO RIDDLE 

FROM PAGE 36 

Why don’t we eat clownfish 

Because they taste funny! As far 

as anyone could tell, this was 

Dan Wolz’s favorite joke after the 

release of Finding Nemo (who was 

a clownfish.) 

38 


NEWS IN BRIEF 

Dear Mr. Burk, 

I would like to thank you for the honor 

of receiving the 2005 MWEA Antenore 

“Butch” Devanzo Scholarship. It is much 

appreciated, and all assistance to help 

further the education of our young people 

is very worth the while. My first two 

years here at Michigan State have done 

extraordinary things as far as opening my 

eyes to environmental issues. It is very 

exciting to think that I will be working 

on the forefront of these matters in the 

near future. As I enter my Junior year, I 

am very enthused to get into more field 

specific subjects such as hydrology, which I 

am currently taking. It is truly fascinating 

how the world works. However, with this 

learning comes increased responsibility 

for dealing with the associated issues. 

Issues which will decide the future of our 

environmental resources. 

I would also like to thank you for your 

cooperation and understanding with my 

contact difficulties over the summer. As 

it turned out, it was the best 3 months of 

my life. It was filled with adventures and 

life changing experiences that were truly 

amazing. The work itself was tough, but 

the people I worked with and the places I 

had the opportunity of living in, more than 

made up for the exhausting days. Being 

with a group of such passionate people was 

invigorating and restored my faith that 

there in fact are people who care about the 

environment and our future generations. 

Their inspiration was exactly what I 

needed in this time in my life. 

I cannot wait to see what these next few 

years of college produce, and overall I am 

very excited about the future! 

Thank you again, 

Justin VanderBerg 


NEWS IN BRIEF 

LOOKING FOR 

SJWP DONATIONS 

‘FLIGHT FUND’ 

For more information on the SJWP 

program and the ISEF, 

see the following web site: 

http://www.wef.org/PublicInfo/ 

Stockholm/index.jhtml. 

Nicole Selais 

Co-Chair MWEA Public Education Committee 

Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. 

248-454-6582 

NSelais@hrc-engr.com 

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) 

program is an international science 

competition that the MWEA administers 

at the State level. Each year (March), 

members of the joint MWEA-Public 

Education/AWWA - Youth Education 

Committee judge students’ science projects 

at International Science & Engineering 

Fairs (ISEF) in Ann Arbor, Big Rapids, 

Detroit, Flint, Port Huron, and Saginaw. 

We will definitely be looking for volunteers 

to judge water-related science projects at 

these fairs for the purpose of selecting a 

State winner. The State winner advances 

to the National SJWP competition to 

represent Michigan. MWEA financially 

supports the student and the student’s 

teacher with their flight accommodations 

to the national competition in the spring of 

each year. If you are interested in making 

any donations to the SJWP “Flight Fund” 

please contact myself or the MWEA office. 

LEADERS 

AMONG LEADERS 

WHAT WOULD YOU 

SAY IF CALLED 

UPON TO SERVE ON 

THE MWEA BOARD 

OF DIRECTORS 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the 

MWEA. We are truly blessed to have such a 

unique and diverse collection of dedicated, 

professionals coming together in common 

interest and cause, and that is what drives 

the MWEA. We are an organization filled 

with leaders, leaders who accept personal 

responsibility for the creation and successes 

of committees, seminars, public education, 

and so much more. MWEA members are 

leaders of our industry. Jerry Harte recently 

said that he felt “duly inspired” when 

looking around the room at the Committee 

Chair retreat, “these people are leaders of 

leaders…the real cream of the crop.” 

When it comes to volunteer based 

organizations, it is important to have a 

mission, a plan to achieve that mission and 

the tools to execute that plan. But in the 

end, success or failure hinges on leadership 

and that leadership starts with our Board. 

For our association to survive, grow and 

accomplish its mission, we need a Board of 

Directors made up of individuals who are 

ready, willing and capable of leading. 

We are currently recruiting to fill several 

positions on the MWEA Board of Directors 

in 2006. What are we looking for Leaders 

of Leaders. An ideal, prospective BOD 

member has clout within the organization 

based on his/her professionalism, 

knowledge, experience, history of personal 

service to the association, and commitment 

to the mission of the MWEA. I bet you know 

someone who fits this description, possibly 

that person is you. If you would like to 

nominate someone and/or indicate an 

interest on your own behalf please submit a 

nomination in writing to the MWEA Office 

or Cheryl Vosburg (Nominations Chair) at 

cvosburg@cityofmarshall.com. 

All nominations must be submitted no 

later than February 1, 2006. 

40 


NEWS IN BRIEF 

GEORGE E. HUBBELL II 

NAMED PRESIDENT OF HUBBELL, ROTH & CLARK, INC. 

the American Water Works Association, 

the Water Environment Federation, the 

American Society of Civil Engineers and 

the American Council of Engineering 

Companies/Michigan. 

HRC is a full-service multi-disciplined 

consulting engineering firm providing 

professional services to Michigan 

communities for over 90 years. HRC 

provides municipal, transportation, 

environmental, and industrial engineering 

services throughout southeastern 

Michigan, in addition to servicing various 

national clients. HRC is headquartered in 

Bloomfield Hills, with offices in Howell, 

Mt. Clemens, Detroit, and Pontiac. 

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan –Hubbell, 

Roth & Clark, Inc. (HRC) announces 

that George E. Hubbell II, P.E., DEE, has 

been named President of the firm effective 

January 2006. Mr. Hubbell assumes this 

leadership position immediately following 

the celebration of the firm’s 90 th anniversary 

in 2005. As fourth generation successor, Mr. 

Hubbell follows in the footsteps of his great 

grandfather, Clarence W. Hubbell, founder 

and firm visionary who provided innovative 

engineering solutions for the City of 

Detroit’s growing population in the early 

twentieth century. 

Mr. Hubbell’s leadership efforts will focus 

on forward thinking innovative solutions to 

the complex issues facing today’s municipal 

environment. He will continue to direct 

planning, design and construction efforts 

and provide technical expertise for major 

road, bridge, sanitary, stormwater, water 

system, and municipal and industrial 

wastewater treatment projects for the firm. 

As a 26-year veteran of the firm, most 

recently as Vice-President/Treasurer, Mr. 

Hubbell serves as principal-in-charge for 

general engineering services for several 

communities in Southeast Michigan. In 

addition to his efforts in Oakland County, 

Mr. Hubbell directs the activities of HRC’s 

Howell office, serving communities in 

Livingston County and surrounding areas, 

and is principal-in-charge of HRC’s MDOT 

Services Department. 

Mr. Hubbell holds a bachelor’s degree 

in Civil Engineering from Michigan 

State University and a master’s degree in 

Civil Engineering from the University of 

Michigan. He is a member of the Michigan 

Society of Professional Engineers, the 

Michigan Water Environment Association, 

SOLBERG, KNOWLES & ASSOCIATES 

Water & Wastewater Treatment Equipment 

• Screening 

• Dewatering 

• Grit Removal 

• Thermal Aeration Digestion 

• Membrane Bioreactors 

• Aeration & Mixing 

5720 WEALTHY STREET, NEWAYGO, MICHIGAN 49337 

PHONE: 231-652-1934 • FAX: 231-652-1938 

CELL: 616-893-9643 • E-MAIL: jsolberg@wmis.net 


MWEA EVENT CALENDAR 

FEBRUARY 2006 

7-8 AWWA/MWEA Joint Expo Lansing Center, Lansing 

14 MWEA Process Committee Meeting (9:30 a.m.) Lansing WWTP 

22 Lagoon Seminar Saginaw Valley State University, University Center 

28-Mar. 1 MWEA Biosolids Workshop (presented by Dr. Lee Jacobs, MSU) Park Place Hotel, Traverse City 

MARCH 2006 

1 MWEA Biosolids Tours Park Place Hotel, Traverse City 

2 MWEA Biosolids Seminar Park Place Hotel, Traverse City 

APRIL 2006 

20-21 Wastewater Administrators Seminar TBA, Lansing, MI 

25 MWEA Local Section Regional Meeting Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth 

27 MWEA Local Section Regional Meeting McCamly Plaza, Battle Creek 

JUNE 2006 

25-28 MWEA 81st Annual Conference Boyne Highlands 

AUGUST 2006 

6-9 WEF Specialty Collection Systems Conference Detroit Marriott Renaissance, Detroit 

OCTOBER 2006 

21-25 WEFTEC 2006 Conferences Dallas 

JUNE 2007 

24-27 MWEA 82nd Annual Conference Boyne Highlands 

OCTOBER 2007 

13-17 WEFTEC 2007 Conferences San Diego 

OCTOBER 2008 

18-22 WEFTEC 2008 Conferences New Orleans 

OCTOBER 2009 

17-21 WEFTEC 2009 Conference Orlando, Florida 

SEPTEMBER 2010 

8-13 Joint MWEA/MI-AWWA Soaring Eagle Resort, Mt. Pleasant 

OCTOBER 2010 

2-6 WEFTEC 2010 Conferences New Orleans 

Please call MWEA office 517-641-7377 to confirm dates and locations. 

42 


AD INDEX 

COMPANY TELEPHONE PAGE COMPANY TELEPHONE PAGE 

360 WATER.com, INC. 866-259-7480 7 

AGILE SAFETY 616-299-2808 21 

AMERICAN LEAK DETECTION 269-679-5818 37 

ANDERSON, ECKSTEIN & WESTRICK, INC. 586-726-1234 45 

ANTHRAFILTER INC. 519-751-1080 45 

ARCADIS 800-456-0817 35 

BADGER METER, INC. 877-243-1010 43 

BAY COLLEGE 906-786-5802 15 

BIOTECH AGRONOMICS INC. 231-325-5011 45 

BLACK & VEATCH LTD. 313-962-9116 44 

BOLL FILTER CORPORATION 734-451-4680 13 

CAPITAL CONSULTANTS, INC. 517-371-1200 18 

CDM 517-702-1213 33 

CEU PLAN 352-754-1259 44 

DUBOIS-COOPER ASSOCIATES 734-455-6700 13 

EAST JORDAN IRONWORKS, INC. 800-874-4100 8 

ENDRESS + HAUSER, INC. 317-535-1476 9 

ENVIRONMENTAL SALES, INC. 248-569-9393 45 

FISHBECK, THOMPSON, CARR & HUBER 616-464-3716 45 

FLUID PROCESS EQUIPMENT, INC. 269-345-1923 44 

GLOBAL ODOR CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES 800-973-2656 44 

GOVE ASSOCIATES INC. 269-385-0011 44 

GREELEY & HANSEN 313-628-0730 46 

HACH COMPANY 800-227-4224 35 

HUBBELL, ROTH AND CLARK, INC. 248-454-6300 45 

HYDRODESIGNS, INC. 800-690-6651 17 

ITT INDUSTRIES SANITAIRE 414-365-2200 11 

J.G.M. VALVE CORPORATION 248-926-6200 2 

JETT PUMP & VALVE, LLC 248-673-2530 35 

JONES & HENRY ENGINEEERS LTD. 269-353-9650 45 

KAR LABORATORIES, INC. 269-381-9666 18 

KEMIRON COMPANIES, INC. 785-842-7424 40 

KERR PUMP & SUPPLY 248-543-3880 41 

LEMNA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 612-253-2000 33 

LIMNO-TECH, INC. 734-332-1200 45 

MALCOLM PIRNIE, INC. 517-337-0111 28 

MJK NORTH AMERICA INC. 877-655-5465 15 

PEARPOINT INC. - An SPX COMPANY 800-688-8094 29 

PEERLESS-MIDWEST, INC. 574-254-9050 46 

PREIN & NEWHOF 616-364-8491 44 

PUMPS PLUS, INC. 248-888-9004 33 

ROYCE TECHNOLOGIES 504-400-7442 39 

S.L.C. METER SERVICE, INC. 800-433-4332 46 

SOLBERG, KNOWLES & ASSOCIATES 231-347-5125 41 

STANTEC 734-761-1010 44 

STORMTECH LLC 888-292-7081 7 

TERASEN WATER INC. 800-500-8855 5, 23 

TETRA TECH, INC. 734-665-6000 44 

USA BLUEBOOK 800-548-1234 48 

WADE TRIM 734-947-2733 13 

WATERWORKS SYSTEMS 810-231-1200 18 

WILLIAMS & WORKS 616-224-1500 46 

WOLVERINE POWER SYSTEMS, INC. 616-820-0503 27 

WOLVERINE WATER WORKS, INC. 888-313-7808 47 


PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY 

WE BRING IT ALL TOGETHER 

ENERGY WATER INFORMATION GOVERNMENT 

Detroit 313-962-0300 Grand Rapids 616-459-2360 

Toledo 419-720-0900 Ann Arbor 734-665-1000 www.bv.com 

44 



SUPPLY 

INSTALLATIONS 

REMOVAL 

& DISPOSAL 

4992 Sweet Home Rd., Niagara Falls, NY 14305 

Tel: (716) 285-5680 • Fax: (716) 285-5681 

E-mail: swildey@anthrafilter.net • Web: www.anthrafilter.net 

A residuals management company 

KEVIN BONNEY, President 

PO Box 180, Benzonia, MI 49616 

Phone: 231-325-5011 Fax: 231-882-9690 

E-mail: kgbonney@charter.net 



10375 Dixie Highway 

Davisburg, MI 48350 

(800) 433-4332 

(248) 625-0667 ext. 309 

Fax: (248) 625-8650 

www.slcmeter.com 

William Traynor 

President 

btraynor@slcmeter.com 

EXTRA EXPOSURE ON 

THE WEB AT NO EXTRA COST 

MWEA Matters magazine is available at 


MWEA Matters is your opportunity to advertise your company and 

its products, services and features to a controlled circulation of 2,500 

that reaches public and private operators and managers, engineers, 

wastewater consultants, scientists, environmentalists, regulators, public 

officers and municipal leaders. 

2006 SCHEDULE 

SPRING 2006: APRIL 

• Official Show Guide to MWEA’s annual 

Conference & Trade Show June 25 to 28, 2006 

Harbor Springs, Michigan 

BONUS DISTRIBUTION AT SHOW 

SUMMER 2006: AUGUST 

• Post conference report 

FALL 2006: OCTOBER 

• Buyers’ Guide & Membership Directory 

WINTER 2006/07: JANUARY/07 

• 2007 Joint Expo Show Guide 

BONUS DISTRIBUTION AT SHOW AND 

TO MICHIGAN AWWA MEMBERS 

46

Winter 2006 - Michigan Water Environment Association

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