News - September 2005

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JOHNSON COUNTY WASTEWATER ADMINISTRATOR PLANS TO RETIRE AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE

Douglas L. Smith will retire January 1, 2006, after 25 years as the administrator of the Johnson County Unified Wastewater Districts.

His retirement was announced Monday, September 12, and begins the formal process toward choosing his successor.

He has played a significant role in the growth and success of Johnson County and contributed to the development and prosperity of this community,” said Annabeth Surbaugh, Chairman of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners.

Smith has served as administrator for Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) since 1980.

County Manager Michael B. Press said Smith’s leadership and administrative experience has helped JCW evolve from a sanitary sewer department into a modern and innovative wastewater treatment organization that now serves more than 380,000 customers in Johnson County. The county’s wastewater system now includes more than 2,000 miles of sewer lines, 7 treatment plants, and 34 pump stations, processing more than 22 billion gallons of sewage annually.

Smith's integrity and attention to detail have supported JCW in its mission to protect the health and environment of the county. Johnson County’s nationally recognized infiltration/inflow program helped alleviate problems associated with too much water entering the sewer system during intense rains.

Smith was instrumental in the creation of the county’s Environmental Department, which began as a small laboratory in JCW.

Under his leadership, JCW played an important role in the continued growth of Johnson County by providing the wastewater treatment capacity to meet the increasing demands of commercial and residential development.

During his tenure, JCW also introduced new methods for charging for wastewater treatment services which are consistent with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended methods and with the way other communities charge for services and are based on usage of the system versus property valuation.

No stranger to public service, prior to becoming Wastewater Administrator, Smith served nine years on the Overland Park City Council and was a member of the board of directors for the Mid America Regional Council (MARC) for seven years. He was MARC Chairman for two years and was a key player in developing the region’s 911 system.

Outside his public contributions, Smith has been active in his community and has been a willing participant in the county’s annual Feed the Need campaigns, serving as chairman in 1994 and co-chairman in 2004.

Press said Smith's community service reflects his dedication and loyalty as a Johnson County public servant and citizen for more than two decades.

The county will miss his enthusiasm, leadership, and sense of humor,” Press said. “We will continue to enjoy his presence for the next few months until his retirement becomes official.”

A resident of Overland Park, Smith and Elsie, his wife of more than 40 years, are the parents of two grown children.

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