Lansing honors wastewater crew for quick response; treatment plant wins state safety award

The Lansing City Council on Sept. 25 presented certificates of appreciation to wastewater employees who resolved a resident’s backyard water problem and publicly recognized the wastewater treatment plant for receiving a 2025 safety award from the Kansas Water Environment Association.

The recognition followed a July rain event in which a Lansing resident reported water pooling in his backyard. The resident, who identified himself in a recorded message as John of Valley Court, said city employees ‘‘were amazing’’ for tracing the source to an abandoned force main and resolving the problem. Mayor Anthony R. McNeil presented the certificates to the employees.

The council was told the two employees who responded to the resident’s call started with the city in December 2023, have class 2 operator certification, hold commercial driver’s licenses and are enrolled in a 16‑week program at Fort Scott Community College for environmental science or water technology. Director Zell introduced the employees and played the resident’s voicemail during the meeting.

Separately, staff announced that the Lansing wastewater treatment plant won the Class B safety award from the Kansas Water Environment Association. City staff said the plant has had no accidents in four years and three months and no lost‑time accident in more than 13 years. The KWEA award process, the city noted, included a written questionnaire and an unannounced site safety audit.

Council members and the mayor commended the wastewater crew for their work and training. No formal policy or budget action was taken; the items were recognitions and presentations.

The presentation also listed other employees who were recognized as part of the plant’s safety award: Gordon Cunningham, Ron Lake, Chris Bennett, Ryan Smolzk and Parker Kokenowski. The city asked the public to join it in thanking the wastewater team for their response and safety record.