Nashville’s Jim Leonard Named Specialist Of The Year
Jim Leonard
By Leah Williams
The city’s chief water department operator has received state wide recognition, earning operator of the year from the Illinois’ largest rural utility association.
Jim Leonard of Nashville received the Illinois Rural Water Association’s 2020 Water System Operations Specialist Of The Year during the 38th annual Technical Conference in Effingham on Tuesday, February 18.
According to the IRWA, the yearly award is given to the individual dedicated to the water treatment industry who is a “selfless individual who gives back to the industry by furthering the goals and the objectives of the operations and maintenance of the water treatment and/or collective system.”
“This accurately describes Mr. Jim Leonard,” said Frank Dunmire, executive director of the Illinois Rural Water Association. “Jim Leonard has shown himself to be truly committed to furthering the professionalism of the Water Treatment Industry, by helping to ensure a safe and clean potable water for the environment and the customers of Nashville, Illinois.”
Leonard, who has worked for the city for 16 years, said he is joined in his achievement with his team at the water plant, which includes Chuck Koepke, Mike Hempen and Caleb Lyons. Together, the department is able to provide safe and clean potable water for the city.
“It was a team effort,” he said.
This is not the first time that Leonard and the city of Nashville have received accolades for the water supply. Leonard had been previously named one of three runners-up in the Illinois Potable Water Supply Operators Association a couple of years ago. He was one of nine “outstanding professionals in their individual categories of service in producing and supplying drinking water for Illinois public water supply consumers.”
Mayor Raymond Kolweier and the Nashville City Council congratulated Leonard and thanked him for his dedication for the city and its residents.
Leonard and his wife Laura live in Nashville with their two sons Cade and Jase.
That’s awesome Jim!
That was my boyfriend in college
That’s my dad