CALLAWAY — Rancor between Callaway and Bay County utility officials has spilled over into awards each entity has won.
An employee with the Bay County Utilities Department protested earlier this year when Callaway won an award from the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA). A month later, Callaway utility officials complained after the county won an award from a state regulatory agency.
The first award was in April, when the FWEA announced the award for Wastewater Collection System of the Year would go to Callaway. Bay County Utilities Department Director Paul Lackemacher said a county utilities employee protested to the FWEA because Callaway Utilities Director Larry Johnson was in charge of submissions for the award. Lackemacher said he isn’t sure if the employee was the only person to complain.
“There was a protest,” said Kart Vaith, president of the FWEA. “The city should not be one of the members on the collection systems committee.”
Vaith said the protest was heard by an impartial committee with utilities workers from Tallahassee, St. John’s County and Jacksonville. Vaith added that the criteria for the wastewater award is determined by the selection committee, and they can have different qualifications from year to year.
Finally, Johnson announced the award was granted to Callaway at the June 10 Commission meeting, and Callaway received the plaque June 24.
The second award to draw protest came after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded Bay County an award for wastewater management.
On April 23, Johnson complained in an email to Brandy Smith, “… troublesome issues are that the County operates a lift station here in Callaway which has been emitting noxious odors … for at least 15 years.”
The outcome wasn’t changed, though. Smith responded: “The awards are presented to facilities that demonstrate excellence in operation, maintenance, innovative treatment, waste reduction, and pollution prevention, recycling, or other special achievements. Facilities that demonstrate excellence are encouraged to complete and submit a self-nominating form to our DEP district office.”