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Commending and expressing appreciation to Dino Lucas (Dino), Waterworks Pump Operator, on retirement from Madison Water Utility (Utility) after 36 years of service.
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WHEREAS, Dino was a member of the United States Marine Corps, stationed in North Carolina where he specialized in the operation of heavy equipment before moving to Madison, WI.
WHEREAS, he was first hired by the Utility as a seasonal employee on January 11, 1988, and then permanently as a “Flusher” on July 24, 1988; AND
WHEREAS, on June 24, 1990, Dino became a Waterworks Operator 1 conducting “Rounds” at the Utility’s remote well sites daily - 7 days a week. For almost three decades, he was the eyes and ears of the Utility, collecting water samples, recording pump data, and identifying any site issues to ensure proper and secure operations; AND
WHEREAS, Dino accepted his current position as a Waterworks Operator 2 on December 12, 2021, monitoring and controlling the Utility’s water supply, treatment, transmission, and storage systems utilizing a highly complex supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system; AND
WHEREAS, during this time, he ensured the delivery of an average of 25 million gallons of water a day (9 billion gallons annually) to the citizens of Madison; AND
WHEREAS, there were many a night, where Dino vigilantly watched over the distribution system, providing water while taking both emergency and nonemergency calls before dispatching relief during all hours of the night; AND
WHEREAS, he determined the levels of chlorine and fluoride levels in the water on a regular basis, adjusting chemical feed rates accordingly to meet Utility drinking water quality standards; AND
WHEREAS, for much of his career with the Utility, he was probably in the best physical shape of any Utility employee as he ran, bicycled, and swam daily. Dino participated in a good number of Iron Man contests, finishing in the upper divisions of his age groups; AND
WHEREAS, he rode his bicycle to work on his first day with the Utility over 36 years ago and plans to ride his bicycle home after his last day of work; AND
WHEREAS, Dino has consistently embodied the vision and mission of the Utility and the City of Madison through his professionalism, hard work, public engagement, and good heartedness; AND
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Water Utility Board hereby commends and thanks Dino for his years of dedicated service to Madison Water Utility and the City of Madison.