SSE Adds Three Former Missouri DNR Officials to Help Clients Design Water and Wastewater Systems

SSE is proud to have three former Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) Employees on our team.  Out of the 11,655 active Professional Engineers in the state of Missouri, these three P.E.’s come highly regarded, given the fact that they each worked for MoDNR for a total of 40+ years combined. SSE owner Stan Schultz added, “Our core business has been helping Missouri communities find funding and build systems to meet MoDNR’s requirements. I’m excited about what these three experts bring to the SSE team.”

 

Tim Southards, P.E.

Tim Southards of Poplar Bluff joined the SSE management team.  Southards will be covering the southeast Missouri region as the Operations Manager for the Poplar Bluff office.  As an Environmental Engineer for DNR, Tim is well versed in the requirements, regulations, and emerging issues facing communities, developers, and industries that need solutions to their drinking and wastewater needs.  Tim stated, “It is exciting to join a growing company like SSE.  Helping our clients provide safe drinking water to their citizens in the most effective and economical way possibly while keeping our streams and rivers clean for fishing and other recreational activities is a dream come true.”

 

John MacEachen of Russellville, Missouri, joined the esteemed SSE Business Development team in September of 2012.  John’s background in drinking water and wastewater operations, and management and regulatory compliance, are an important factor with the overall SSE operation.  John worked as the Enforcement Unit Chief for the Public Drinking Water Program of the MoDNR.  During his 15+ years with that program, he oversaw enforcement activities to ensure regulatory compliance, assisted in the development of regulatory language and requirements, and assisted in technical review of the project plans and specifications for regulatory compliance.  John said, “Today, small systems have the greatest problems to solve and the fewest resources available.  Therefore, the solutions have to be economical, long-lasting and within the technical capabilities of the system.  We can help you achieve that.”

 

Dave Stinson, P.E.

David Stinson joined SSE in October 2012.  David will play a key role within SSE, as Director of Engineering.  Those responsibilities will include heading up the quality control on all of SSE’s designs and plans, as well as supervising the management of all projects.  Stinson’s background with DNR has allowed him to gain considerable knowledge regarding Missouri’s water and wastewater regulations.  This knowledge will be a tremendous benefit to communities and businesses throughout Missouri.  David said, “Being an Engineering Unit Chief with MoDNR has given me a better understanding of the state regulations and how to properly design an efficient and economical drinking water and wastewater system according to state guidelines. If our clients have questions or concerns about MoDNR’s policies and regulations or their permitting process, I will gladly offer my advice and experience to help them work through their issues.”

 

SSE owner Stan Schultz concluded, “We are proud that we now have three former DNR engineers working for SSE and know that their understanding of the regulations and personnel who oversee them will be a huge benefit to the customers we serve here in Missouri.”

Chaffee gets $9 million in USDA loans for water, sewer projects

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The city of Chaffee will be improving its aging water and sewer-system infrastructure through low-interest loans funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development.

The loans, together worth $9 million, will be used to replace existing water mains in the Chaffee water district and for building an up-to-date water treatment facility. The cash also will go toward repairing and treating the city's sewer collection lines and improving the lift station.

Chaffee city administrator Lee Horton said the projects couldn't have come at a better time.

"The water lines we use now haven't been replaced in over 30 years," Horton said. "The water-treatment plant isn't modern by any means. It was built in 1978, and the filtering system it houses is around 30 years old. The sewer lines also have been in need of repair. It's time for something more efficient."

Horton added that plans for the city's water system total $6.2 million from the USDA, with another $2.8 million coming for the sewer lines and lift station. The water system money was awarded last year, while the announcement on the sewer loan was made last month.

"The money we'll receive for the sewers is in addition to what we received in 2011 for the water-system project," he said. "The water project has a head start, but if we're able to get plans for the sewers drawn and have funding in place, we'll want to work concurrently on both projects if we can."

Horton couldn't say for sure when Chaffee would receive the money for the sewer project, but he expects it to be coming soon.

"We've been discussing sewer funding with rural development since June, and we know we've been approved for funding" he said. "The money is on its way."

Schultz Surveying and Engineering of Poplar Bluff, Mo., is in charge of engineering for both projects. Chief engineer Tim Southards said he is wrapping up construction plans for the water system but designs for the sewers and lift station are in the conceptual-design stage.

"The water-system project is the primary focus," Southard said. "But once we're comfortable with what we put together for the sewers and lift station, we'll commit to them accordingly. Plans for either the water or sewer systems have to be approved by rural development and the Department of Natural Resources, and so far there haven't been any red flags. I'm hopeful they and DNR will give their final approval to the water plans by December."

Phyllis Minner, area specialist in Stoddard County's USDA service center, shared Southards' optimism for December approval.

"That sounds about right to me," Minner said. "You can never say for sure, but I think getting approval for the plans by then is possible."

A groundbreaking for the water-system project is anticipated for the spring of 2013. Once started, it is estimated to be completed within 18 months.

Original story: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1906606.html