A department of Johnson County, KS

Richard Howe is JCW STARS recipient

The STARS Selection Committee and JCW Leadership Team are happy to announce that Richard Howe, truck driver, is the first STARS honoree. He received the award for the first quarter of 2009.

“Richard is very deserving of this award,” said Supervisor Ted Sanborn. “His attitude and actions exemplify someone who is cooperative, reliable, and dependable. He takes great pride in his work and consistently looks for opportunities to go above and beyond what is required.”

Timothy Whorton, who nominated Richard said, “It has been said that Richard has the ‘cleanest truck in the county.’ Ask anyone who works with Richard Howe and they will tell you of his good character, strong moral judgment, and sincerity in helping others. He is an ideal candidate and a good example for us all to follow.”

Richard also received the JCW Employee of the Month Award in July 2005.

Other top nominees forwarded to the Leadership Team for consideration were Lonnie Ponder and Betty Ryder.

Officials Break Ground on Largest 'Green Infrastructure' Project

Federal, state and local officials broke ground today on the largest "green infrastructure" project in the State of Kansas to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009--a $16 million series of improvements to Johnson County's Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Treatment Plant.

The wastewater treatment plant improvements are chiefly financed by $15 million in Recovery Act funding, with the balance provided by the Kansas Clean Water State Revolving Fund. According to estimates, the project is expected to create 270 new green jobs, result in almost $600,000 in annual cost savings for Johnson County wastewater utility rate payers, and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 9,700 metric tons.

The project, which will be built by contractor BRB, of Topeka, Kan., was officially approved by the Johnson County Board of Commissioners in March. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

"Investing in green projects is a win-win situation because of Johnson County’s strong commitment to sustainability, energy conservation, and reduction of greenhouse gases,” said Annabeth Surbaugh, Chairman of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners. “Achieving sustainability and accomplishing our environmental goals are important because county government is helping to provide a more sustainable future for all our citizens.”

Surbaugh was joined by Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby, Johnson County Wastewater General Manager John O'Neil, and EPA Acting Regional Administrator William Rice at today's groundbreaking event. Ceremonial shovels used by officials at the event will be donated to Heartland Habitat for Humanity.

"Strategic investments, such as the Johnson County, Kansas, wastewater treatment plant's green innovations, will help protect the environment and improve the economy," Rice said. "This is a stellar example of Recovery Act funds being utilized to drive innovation in green technologies and energy efficiency practices."

Components of the treatment plant improvements include the construction of a new anaerobic digester, a FOG (fats, oils and greases) station to more efficiently receive and treat used greases and oils from restaurants and industries, and a cogeneration system to produce virtually all of the plant's annual operating energy from captured biogases.