Westmont, Illinois - Date Issued: September 24, 2021
At the September 23 Public Works Committee meeting, the Village Board recognized Public Works Director Mike Ramsey for 35 years of service with the Village of Westmont. Including his part-time seasonal work with the Village prior to full-time employment, Ramsey has served the community a total of 39 years. Mike has worked in the water profession since age 15 and has been full time with the Village of Westmont Public Works Department since 1986. He was promoted to the position of Public Works Director in 2015.
Over the years, Ramsey has received numerous accolades within the water distribution service profession including the American Public Works Association Award of Merit; the American Water Works Association George Warren Fuller Award, which was only presented to six people internationally the year he received it; the American Water Works Association Illinois Section Educator of the Year Award and Water Professional of the Year; and the Clifford E. Fore Award, which is presented to the State of Illinois Water Operator of the Year
Additionally, Ramsey has been very active as a water profession ambassador and educator. In 2013 Mike launched Hydrant Hysteria, a state-wide competition in which teams of two race to assemble a fire hydrant. In 2015 he was awarded the AWWA Gimmicks & Gadgets Award for developing the light up valve key and in 2017 he started the Model Water Tower Building Contest in Westmont, which has since gone on to be a regional and state-wide competition. In recent years, he began a summer internship program in which high school students could train with water professionals and earn a water operators license.
The Village of Westmont thanks Mike for his many years of service and dedication to the Village.
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