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Lorain utilities honor Jim Malik for 49 years of service
Summary
The Lorain Sewer & Water Board recognized Jim Malik, superintendent of water distribution, on his retirement after 49 years with the city, praising his work on leak reduction, valve replacement and hydrant repairs.
The Lorain Sewer & Water Board recognized Jim Malik, superintendent of the city’s water distribution department, during its meeting for 49 years of service to the City of Lorain.
Board chair Pat opened the recognition by recounting Malik’s career path from redevelopment work into the water department and later engineering, and by describing the tasks Malik performed: designing rehab projects, preparing contracts, supervising bidding and overseeing construction through completion. “When I would have Jim do a project, I don't have to worry about it anymore,” Pat said.
Nut graf: The board framed the recognition around concrete maintenance and reliability gains Malik led in distribution work — reductions in main breaks, valve failures and out-of-service fire hydrants that board members said improved public safety and system reliability.
Board members and residents attributed specific operational improvements to Malik’s leadership. The board said breaks dropped from an average of about 300 per year before Malik’s tenure to roughly 110 per year while he led distribution. Malik also introduced a valve replacement program that board members said reduced valve failures from roughly 50 percent to about 15 percent. The board noted the number of nonworking hydrants fell from about 300 to roughly 20.
Malik credited his crews and auxiliary police colleagues. “These guys were out in minus-6 degree wind chill fixing main breaks, sometimes getting soaked from head to toe to keep the public supplied with water,” Malik said, adding that 16 of 17 distribution staff now hold required licenses after a program of in-house training he led.
Several board members and councilors offered remarks at the microphone. Kevin, a meeting attendee, thanked Malik for his leadership and for looking out for employees. Resident Joanne and Councilor Kim Detre also thanked Malik for his decades of service.
Ending: The board presented Malik the recognition and members, staff and residents used the meeting’s public-comment portion to thank him before the board moved on to its business agenda.
