Cresco Water Superintendent Born receives IWEA award

CRESCO - Mayor Mark Bohle read a letter from the Iowa Water Environment Association Region I at the Nov. 18 Council meeting in which Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Mike Born was recognized.

He was nominated by environmental inspectors from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources regional office in Manchester for doing a great job.

IWEA (Northeast Iowa Chapter) officers made site visits and conducted interviews with all the nominees. Born was recognized for his efforts and given the runner-up award at the annual regional conference in October.

Born started working for the City of Cresco at the wastewater facility in May 2010. Rod Freidhof said, “We spent about five months working together before I took the Public Works Director position. I, along with former employee Ron Hyberger, actually had the pleasure of training Mike on the daily routine in the lab and in the system. The wastewater world can be very intimidating as a newcomer, and Mike took to it quickly.”

He went on to say that Born is a very dedicated employee and is truly concerned with day-to-day operations at the facility and its impact on the environment. 

Born followed in some big footsteps to be nominated for the Operator of the Year award, joining Ron Hyberger who received the top award in 2015 and the late Lowell Lienhard, who earned it in 2009.

Of the award, Born said, “It is an honor and pretty cool to receive it as a newer superintendent.”

He noted a big factor in being nominated is he is not afraid to ask questions of his predecessors or DNR officials. “My certificate and license means a lot to me. I want to do it the right way, so I’ll ask questions. I’m not afraid to call the DNR. If you ask how to fix something, they appreciate you being honest up front.”

Regional Director Lyle Krueger stated, “There are approximately 200 wastewater treatment plants in northeast Iowa. To be nominated and considered for this award is an accomplishment in itself and should be recognized.”

The other two candidates nominated were Mike O’Hara of Decorah and Brian Bowman for the City of Waterloo, who received the Operator of the Year award.

“The entire staff, mayor and council for the City of Cresco would like to congratulate him on this accomplishment,” said Freidhof.