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1945
October 10, 1945. The Mission Township Main Sewer District No. 1 is created in accordance with the “Mission Law” (KSA 19-2731 to 19-2752). It provides sanitary sewerage service to an unincorporated portion of Mission Township. State law assigns governmental authority to Johnson County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and appoints the County Clerk as Clerk of the District, and the County Treasurer as District Treasurer.
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After the District is created, an attempt is made to enter into a contract for wastewater treatment with Kansas City, Missouri, by hooking to sewers at Cleveland Avenue. Despite the backing of L. P. Cookingham, City Manager of Kansas City, Missouri, the terms of the agreement are felt to be unacceptable by the BOCC.
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A second plan is proposed to put a plant in Wyandotte County that would be shared by the two counties. An agreement cannot be reached with Wyandotte County.
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The BOCC decides to build a treatment plant between Nall and Lamar at 48th Street. The site will treat two watersheds and is the most cost-effective and secluded. Because of its “up hill” location, a series of pumping stations will be constructed to pump waste-water to the plant.
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Black & Veatch designs the first sewage treatment plant. It will serve 15,000 customers and have an on-site laboratory enabling staff to check effluent immediately.
1946
Construction begins on the first plant, Mission Township Main Sewer District No. I treatment facility (Mission Main).
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Construction on the first treatment plant begins before Board finds the single right employee to manage the sewer system.
1947
A population of 15,000 is served by the Sewer District. Total county population is 50,260.
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Twice, the Board offers the job of Chief Engineer to Myron Nelson, a graduate of the University of Kansas. Harvard had just offered him an opportunity to earn his master’s degree with a stipend for his living expenses. Myron likes the on-site laboratory; stipulates he wants to hire his own staff.
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November 1, Myron Nelson is hired as the first Chief Engineer of the Johnson County Sewer System. His first office is in the basement of the County’s northeast “courthouse” at the southwest corner of Broadmoor and Johnson Drive. His office furniture consists of a used desk and a filing cabinet.
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Excavation starts for the Belinder Pump Station at Belinder and State Park Road.
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Myron Nelson convinces the Board that additional personnel is needed to answer the telephones, handle correspondence and to check house connections.
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The total operating budget for the year is $30,000.
1948
The response of the federal government to the developing urban wastewater management issue is to enact the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, popularly known as the Clean Water Act. The legislation provides for comprehensive planning, technical services, research, financial assistance, and enforcement.
1949
Mission Township Main Sewer District No. I treatment facility (Mission Main) is completed and begins operation.
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The Granthurst subdivision is transferred from the Kansas City, Missouri, sewer system and is connected to the Mission Township Main treatment plant. This becomes one of the first lateral districts.
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Belinder Pump Station is completed and begins operation.
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Sludge is put into drying beds and is then removed by Johnson Countians to be used to fertilize flower gardens.
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Mission Township No. 2 (Lower Indian Creek Treatment Plant) at 108th and Mission Road is the first District created as a result of petitions from developers.
1950
Myron, or “Little Caesar,” develops the reputation for running the sewer system “mean and lean,” and refuses to compromise on quality.
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Myron and the BOCC shows great foresight in purchasing land that will eventually become the sites of new treatment facilities two and three decades later.
1952
The Water Pollution Control Act is extended by Congress.
1953
It becomes necessary to make additions to the Mission Township Main Sewer District No. I treatment facility and double its service capacity to 30,000 people.
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Virgil Lawrence, like many other staff members, are hired without any prior experience in wastewater treatment and are taught what they need to do.
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Legend: black = general background; yellow = national event; tourquoise = county legislation; green = plant construction; purple = statistics including population
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