During the last 10 years, the Chatham Water and Sewer Department has overcome a series of significant challenges: A controversial conversion to a new water plant. A resulting problem with high levels of manganese in the water. The subsequent adoption of a unidirectional water-main flushing program.
In addition, a major water tank painting project took the central Illinois village’s two water tanks offline for several months each.
But through it all, employee J.D. Crawford was a calm and steadying influence on the department’s other employees, always leading by example and getting the job done, says Dustin Patterson, general foreman of water, sewer and
