The annual Graham Woodhouse Intergovernmental Effort Award was presented to the thirteen organizations involved in the Lakes Area Sewer Authority Wastewater Collection and Treatment System Project.
SWMPC Chair Linda Preston presented award plaques to 8 representatives of the 13 agencies involved. Accepting the plaque on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development were Jim Turner and Todd MacLean. Cass County was represented by Robert Wagel, Larry Malsch, and Joe Silvia, all from the Cass County Board of Public Works. Greg Kinney of the Van Buren County Road Commission received the plaque for Van Buren County. Gerald Melko, accepted awards for the Lakes Area Sewer Authority, and also on behalf of the Big Fish Lake Property Owners Association. Project engineers Tom Deneau and Alan Smaka represented Wightman & Associates. Marcellus Township was represented by John Grib and Bob Tower. Deborah Leath accepted for the West Saddlebag Lake Association.
John Egelhaaf, SWMPC Executive Director, said: "the Graham Woodhouse Intergovernmental Effort Award seeks to assure those who search for collaborative change that their work is appreciated and worthy of recognition. The process can be thankless and the players are frequently not recognized."
Congratulating the participants, Jim Turner, USDA Rural Development State Director, spoke of the success of such projects throughout the state and described the various loan and grant programs his agency administers. According to Alan Smaka, Wightman & Associates; "the Lakes Area Sewer Authority was formed to provide the area with an environmentally sound sanitary system through inter-municipal cooperation maximizing the service area and minimizing duplication of services." In 2009, USDA funding was approved as part of the $10.8 million project and construction began September 2009 on the first Schreiber wastewater treatment facility in Michigan, concluding in November 2010. Smaka commented that; "the overall success of the project is a clear example of how building trust in relationships among all team players is the true objective and driver for the project."
This award was established in 1987 to honor former Dowagiac Mayor Graham Woodhouse and is presented annually for projects that exemplify cooperation by local units of government. Recipients receive the Award in recognition of outstanding cooperative effort in problem solving.
