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HomeMy WebLinkAboutII (A4) Recognition of Utility Department Employees for FS/AWWA Annual Conference Competition Agenda 2-01-2000 Item II A 4 "CENTER OF GOOD LIVING-PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE" MAYOR•COMMISSIONER COCCIee S. SCOTT VANDERGRIFT 6714r. CITY OF OCOEE COMMISSIONERS DANNY HOWELL I 150 N.LAKESHORE DRIVENZ SCOTT ANDERSON OCOEE FLORIDA 34761-2258 RUSTYJOHNSON (407)656-2322 NANCY J.PARKER CITY MANAGER ELLIS SHAPIRO MEMORANDUM DATE: January 10, 2000 TO: The Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners FROM: David Wheeler, P.E.pC%An✓ Assistant City Engineer/Utilities Director SUBJECT: Recognition of Employees for participation at 1999 FS/AWWA Conference The 1999 Florida Section American Water Works Association Conference was held at the Radisson Twin Towers Hotel on Kirkman Drive from November 30th to December 2nd. The conference allows many people from around the State of Florida to get together to discuss issues related to water treatment, distribution & metering, operation & maintenance, customer service, and regulatory compliance. The theme for this past conference was "In Search of Excellence". The City of Ocoee was well represented at this conference: attending the technical seminars; viewing the exhibitor displays of new equipment; interacting with fellow water professionals at all levels; and participating in the various competitions for distribution personnel. There were also three competitions between utilities from around the state. They were Pipe Tapping, Meter Madness, and Backhoe Rodeo. Pipe Tapping Contests: Ductile Iron Pipe Tap: The Ductile Iron Tap requires a direct tap onto a pressurized iron pipe and the setting of the copper service line to a meter connection. The winner of this competition represents the Florida Section in the national contest held each year at the National AWWA Conference. The Ocoee team of Jim Butler, Bob Clark, Hector Rivera, and Stephen Hollingsworth came in second behind the ten time champions, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority team. Poly Ethylene "Fun" Tap: The "Fun" Tap requires a tap through a corp stop onto a pressurized poly pipe and the setting of the poly-tubing service line to a meter connection. Since this competition is not recognized nationwide, the winner does not get to go to a National Conference competition. This competition was started in Florida as result of the amount of PVC and HDPE pipe used in the state. The Ocoee Team#2 of Mike McCall, Mike Snowman, Derrick Anderson, and Gary Gleason finished forth. The two time defending state champions Ocoee Team #1 of Q , qieze,0-44D4 Protect dcoee!s Wa it°°,ResaFges 0 0� Jim Butler, Bob Clark, Hector Rivera, and Stephen Hollingsworth were again victorious at this conference over nine other utility contestants. Meter Madness Contest: The Meter Madness contest requires individual contestants to rebuild a meter that has been dismantled and mixed with additional parts. The meter must register and hold pressure. The winner of this competition represents the Florida Section in the national contest held each year at the National AWWA Distribution System Symposium. The City of Ocoee's contestant, Mike McCall, finished tenth out of fourteen competitors. The winner was from Orlando Utilities Commission. Backhoe Rodeo Contest: The Backhoe Rodeo contest requires individual contestants to perform three activities to test an operator's skill and dexterity in handling a backhoe and not damaging anything. The three activities were: 1) remove five tennis balls from cones without touching the cone, 2) pickup three five-gallon pails of water and place them in a vertical pieces of 12 inch pipe without spilling any water, and 3) roll an egg outside a three foot circle without breaking the egg. This competition is not recognized nationwide, therefore, the winner does not get to go to a National Conference competition. The City of Ocoee's contestants, Bob Clark and Jim Butler, finished seventh and ninth, respectively, out of twenty-seven competitors. The winner was from Orange County Utilities. This recognition is deserved not because of the winning but because of the competition. Although, the competitions are judged on speed and no leaks/breakage, this is the type of work that these individuals do for the City of Ocoee on a daily basis. The competition's goal is a search for excellence and quality. We do not advocate speed in the Ocoee's system; we advocate a quality product from an excellent performance. Each of these employees, two or three days a week, came in a few minutes early and/or left a few minutes after the regular work day to practice. The other employees in the Utilities Department also deserve recognition because they offered their moral support, backseat coaching, and some additional practice time by offering to do those contestants end-of-the-day cleanup work, as time would permit, so there could be some additional practice time. PoWF' Protect Ocoee Water Resources ':;