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Commending and expressing appreciation to Joe DeMorett (Joe), Water Supply Manager, on retirement from Madison Water Utility (Utility) after 16 years of service, in addition to his previous 15 years of service as the City of Madison’s (City) Hydrogeologist.
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WHEREAS, Joe was hired by the City of Madison Engineering Division as a Hydrogeology Specialist, in April 1993, after a 3-year stint with British Petroleum in which he worked on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico; AND
WHEREAS, Joe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Geography with a minor in Mathematics from Bemidji State University, in Bemidji, MN, and a Masters of Science degree in Geomorphology from Texas A&M University where his thesis was rock glacier hydrology and water quality; AND
WHEREAS, during his time with the Engineering Division, Joe maintained an excellent working relationship with the Department of Natural Resources during major investment projects, valued at $40M, for the City’s closed landfills; AND
WHEREAS, in the capacity of City Hydrogeologist, he led pump tests at Madison Municipal Wells 16, 17, and 18; AND
WHEREAS, Joe reluctantly transferred to the Water Utility, after 15 years with the Engineering Division, and only after then interim Water Utility General Manager, and City Engineer, enticed Joe by offering a City vehicle that would be personally-assigned to him, which he continued to drive throughout his tenure at the Utility; AND
WHEREAS, Joe has served as the Utility’s Water Supply Manager since April 2008; AND,
WHEREAS, during his tenure at the Utility, Joe has tirelessly advocated for and implemented variable frequency drives on nearly all Utility pump motors, whenever possible, increasing the number in use from two in 2008 to over 30 today; AND
WHEREAS, Joe has guided efforts to modernize & automate the Utility’s SCADA [Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition] system, including the transition from radio communication to more efficient fiber optic communication; add flow meters on inlet and outlet pipes of large water storage tanks; improve chemical leak detection systems and make other safety improvements; and promote strong Cybersecurity measures; AND
WHEREAS, more recently, Joe has spearheaded water supply resiliency projects to facilitate transfers between areas of excess and areas of deficiency, building flexibility into system operations, which has delayed the need for costly new supply points, thereby deferring millions of dollars in capital spending; AND,
WHEREAS, Joe has been an integral member of the emergency response planning teams of the Utility, City, and Dane County, and advocate for sustainability, including the addition of solar panels on Utility buildings.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Water Utility Board hereby commends and thanks Joe for his years of dedicated service to Madison Water Utility and the City of Madison.