By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County’s Corporate Citizen of the Year doesn’t manufacture a product, doesn’t construct buildings, and doesn’t transport products across the country – like previous winners of the award.
But this year’s corporate citizen – with all of its work buried underground – has made all those efforts possible for other businesses.
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District was recognized Thursday evening during the annual meeting of the Wood County Development Commission.
In accepting the award, NWWSD President Jerry Greiner said his vision for the district’s legacy is pretty simple.
“We want their water to flow everytime they turn on the faucet,” he said. “We are responsible for every drop.”
The district began modestly as the brainchild of then county commissioners Leonard Stevens, Alvie Perkins and Marilyn Baker – who saw the need for an entity to provide water and sewer services as a function of economic growth and human health.
While other areas bickered over water and sewer jurisdictions, Wood County officials found a way to bypass the infighting.
They realized water and sewer services were the lifeblood of economic development.
“They have significant impacts on where companies decide to locate and where people decide to live,” Greiner said.
Greiner recalled the forward-thinking step of creating a district to provide water and sewer services to help attract new businesses and allow existing businesses to expand. He still remembers Wood County Common Pleas Judge Charles Kurfess comparing the formation of a water and sewer district to the merging of school districts.
“No one really likes the idea, but everyone benefits in the long run,” Greiner recalled Kurfess saying.
The water and sewer district started small, serving a few thousand customers, said current Wood County Commissioner Craig LaHote.
But after nearly 30 years, the district now serves 20,000 customers in four counties, has 75 employees, and an annual operating budget of $65 million, LaHote said.
“We learned to operate like a business, instead of a government entity” – being accountable and efficient, Greiner said.
An estimated 6 million gallons of water are delivered daily into businesses and homes, through the district’s 458 miles of water lines. And approximately 850,000 gallons of wastewater are treated daily by the district, Greiner said.
As a government entity, the water and sewer district doesn’t get much attention, he said. “And when we do, it’s usually bad.” Headlines were flashed from stories on the controversy created when the district was formed.
But three decades later, the district has had a pivotal role in bringing millions of dollars in investments and thousands of jobs to Wood County.
“We try to make this a better place to live and work,” Greiner said.
Companies like First Solar, the CSX rail hub, UPS, Home Depot distribution center and NSG glass plant all rely on the district to deliver clean water and take away wastewater.
“We are responsive and active partners in economic development,” Greiner said, oftentimes investing in oversized water and sewer lines in preparation for future growth.
Wade Gottschalk, executive director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission, noted the role played by the water and sewer district.
“The award recognizes the achievements of The District and its vital role in economic development in Wood County,” Gottschalk said. “Their cooperation in building solid, reliable infrastructure in Wood County and our region has led to the growth of so many businesses and industries.”
Greiner said he was asked by a district employee if the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award was like a lifetime achievement award for the district. “He’s probably right,” Greiner acknowledged.
