Mayor John Gayle and Interim Utilities Director Henry Hicks honored Assistant Superintendent Kenneth Lowe as the August 2017 Employee of the Month at the Aug. 10 City Council meeting. Lowe received a framed certificate and a check for $200, and his name appears on a plaque in City Hall.

In his role as Assistant Superintendent, Lowe is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Mud Creek Water Pollution Control Plant.

Over the past year, state and federal regulatory agencies migrated two programs that are used by plant operators to electronically submit the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit report monthly to the Environmental Protection Division. This report is mandatory for all WPCPs to address water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. The migration of these programs was finalized in May 2017.

Lowe worked diligently to ensure that the Mud Creek WPCP is registered and set up to submit the monthly reports to the proper agencies. Lowe also voluntarily assisted the newly hired Withlacoochee WPCP Superintendent Ricky Cornelius with registration and setup of their reporting system. Lowe’s assistance was invaluable in getting both of the city’s wastewater treatment plants correctly set up on time.

While working on this project, Lowe also brought attention to at least two reports no longer required due to the May 2017 migration. This was verified with EPD inspectors and will save the city $18,000 annually in outside laboratory analysis fees.

The City of Valdosta applauds Lowe for his initiative and for being named the August 2017 Employee of the Month.