Missouri Engineering Association Recognizes SSE at Their Annual Awards Banquet

Stan and Bob pose for photo with project panel

They received the Honor Award for their work on the Hayti Water Treatment Plant.

what a good looking table

CHESTERFIELD, MO – Schultz and Summers Engineering joined over 200 engineers at the annual American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri (ACEC/MO) awards banquet in Chesterfield, Missouri.  They were one of the 26 awardees on hand to be recognized during the ceremony. ACEC President Bruce Wylie commented, “There were many quality projects to evaluate, but I’m sure the judges considered how serious Hayti’s water situation was and were impressed with how SSE helped them obtain funding, implement cutting edge designs, and provide extra upgrades with the cost savings.”

SSE Owner Stan Schultz added, “For our company to be recognized for our work in rural Missouri is a true honor.  Some of the largest engineering firms in Missouri are here tonight and being included in the group is a testimony to the direction our company is headed.”

SSE won the Honor Award in the Water Resources Category for their work on the Hayti Water Treatment Plant.  Mayor Bobby Watkins said, “Our water was so bad nobody wanted to drink it and DNR was all over us about getting it fixed.  The water issue was the number one issue I believe I was elected to solve.”

Bob, Mayor Watkins and the crew in the new plant

SSE looked at their current plant as well as the old plans and designed a new system that would meet the needs of their citizens, not only today, but well into the future.  The city council took the design and presented it to the voters and a bond issue was passed with an unbelievable 91%.  Schultz and Summers then helped the city with the initial design and costs estimates, and made sure all the required paperwork was filled out properly and turned into the USDA.   

Once Hayti was awarded the $1.9 million grant construction began on a new iron and manganese water treatment plant, three miles of various sized distribution lines, and tank rehabilitation for two elevated tanks in town.  Additionally, this plant is one of the first iron removal plants to operate without an aerator in the state, allowing the City to lower maintenance and operational costs. “The new plant will be much cheaper to operate.  It will produce 1,200 gallons of clean drinking water per minute but use half the electricity, half the chemicals, and half the manpower to operate in comparison to the City’s old plant,” said Watkins.    

Bob, Stan and Rick

The project’s funding was originally $3,391,000.  ($1,475,000 RD Loan; $1,416,000 RD Grant; 500,000 CDBG).  The project was completed approximately $500,000 below cost allowing the City to accomplish several things outside of the original project scope.  The City was able to purchase an automatic meter reading system for all 1,300 meters in town, including three towers to provide instantaneous reading across the entire system.

When presenting the award to Schultz and Summers Rick Sinclair the Master of Ceremonies, described this project by saying, “This project also used a new innovative application to remove iron and manganese, which along with the other improvements has allowed the city to cut the operating expenses in half. Congratulations to Schultz & Summers on this wonderful project.”

  

Kathy, Stan, Bob and Emily

Both SSE principles and the SSE marketing director attended the banquet with their wives.  Bob Summers accepted the award on be-half of the company and he remarked, “We take great pride in this project but receiving recognition for helping improve the lives of our neighbors is a very humbling experience.  Your kind words and encouragement are very appreciated by all our employees and the City of Hayti.  Thanks for a wonderful evening.”   

Bob after everything is done