Water/wastewater official to retire

By Pat Hahn for the Daily Times
Monday, December 3, 2007 12:34 PM CST

HUSTISFORD - A 30-year career serving the village of Hustisford will come to an end later this month when Water/ Wastewater Superintendent Dennis Uecker retires, and colleagues and friends honored him at Hustisford Firemen's Hall Saturday.

Uecker began working for the village and its utilities in January 1977. He was promoted to water/wastewater utility superintendent in September 1983 and has served in that capacity ever since.

Things were different when he started working for the village, Uecker noted. The village had two full-time and one part-time employee, and the three took care of both public works and water and wastewater. “Back then you did everything - you picked up garbage, mowed the grass, and removed the snow, as well as handled water and wastewater duties,” he said.

That changed as the state Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency added regulations and mandates. Uecker said keeping up with those rules and requirements was undoubtedly the most challenging part of his job.

Those mandates significantly increased the workload, and the mounds of required paperwork increased correspondingly. Cur-rently the water and wastewater utility has two full-time employees, while two additional village employees handle public works responsibilities.

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The increased mandates also increased water and sewer expenses, Uecker noted. Things like adding a softening plant to remove radium, testing for and monitoring an ever growing list of substances, and completing and filing required reports takes time and costs money, he added.

During Uecker's tenure as water/wastewater superintendent, the village's population increased to more than 1,100. In 1981 Hubbard-Hustisford Sanitary District No. 1 installed a sanitary sewer system and started to discharge to the Hustisford treatment plant. Ten years later Hubbard Sanitary District No. 2 followed suit. Currently the treatment plant serves an estimated combined population of 2,350.

Uecker indicated improving and upgrading the system - its lift stations, mains, and treatment plant - were the highlights of his career. “Because of those changes, we've cut back significantly on call-out time. There's not a lot of that anymore,” he said.

Working for the public has been the most satisfying part of his job, Uecker said. “I've enjoyed doing that, as well as knowing that we're doing our part to protect the environment.”

Uecker said the many friends he made by working with village and utility boards, community members, organizations, contractors, and engineers are something he will always treasure. “That's what I value the most,” he said.

In addition to his water/wastewater responsibilities, over the years Uecker was active and took on leadership roles in the Lake Sinissippi Association and the local Emergency Medical Ser-vices unit. He also was active in many professional organizations.

Following his retirement, Uecker intends to take it easy for a while as he settles into his new home in the village with his daughter Ashley, who will turn 11 just before Christmas. “I've had offers for part-time work,” he said, “but I'm not even thinking about that until spring.”

Utility Commission Chairman Don Baumann commended Uecker for his dedication and knowledge as he presented him with a plaque acknowledging his 30 plus years of service. “Those of us who worked with Dennis respect his opinions and work so much. We will miss him, but we wish him well,” he said.

Bethany Lutheran Church Pastor Timothy Bauer noted Saturday's event was in some ways bittersweet, with Uecker's wife, Carol, passing away from cancer last year and his friend and colleague Electric Superintendent Richard Kirchoff dying in August. “But we all appreciate Dennis as a great worker, supervisor, and friend,” he added.