Kingman recognizes Hilltop wastewater plant, tourism office film at council meeting

The Kingman City Council recognized two local achievements during its April 15 meeting: Hilltop wastewater treatment plant received Bronze-level certification from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) under the Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP), and the city’s tourism office accepted first place in the Mohave Community College Film Festival documentary category for “Kingman: Past, Present and Future.”

The ADEQ bronze-level VESP certification, staff said, is awarded to facilities that demonstrate three consecutive years of full regulatory compliance. City staff described the Hilltop operations team’s testing program — more than a thousand sample collection events a year and analysis of over 200 analytes — as central to that compliance record. Vice Mayor Samuley asked staff to invite members of the wastewater team forward to accept the recognition and photograph the group with council.

City staff and the office of tourism presented the festival award for a short documentary that used historical photographs animated with AI and narration by Roy Purcell, who created the first Mohave County Museum exhibit and local murals. Administrative coordinator Alan Adam Geller explained the film’s use of historical images and AI to “bring all of our old photography … to life,” and staff noted the film highlights Kingman’s Route 66 and transportation history.

Both recognitions were presented without formal council action. Council members offered brief congratulatory remarks and moved on to the next agenda items.