HCWA Pays Tribute to Retired General Manager
In what proved to be a challenging task to honor all of the career acc
olades of its former General Manager within an afternoon celebration, the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) did its best to pay tribute to the 40-year legacy of Lindy D. Farmer, Jr. at a recent event in his honor, following his retirement at the end of last year.
Elected officials, local dignitaries, current and former HCWA Board Members, Authority employees and retirees, fellow water professionals, as well as family and friends, gathered last month at Eagle’s Brooke in Locust Grove to celebrate and thank Lindy Farmer for his public service that not only made the HCWA one of the model water utilities in the state of Georgia, but helped Henry County enjoy quality growth and become one of the most prosperous communities in the state, according to the remarks of those guests in attendance.
After a welcome by HCWA Chair Cletonya LaGrand, an invocation by HCWA Board Member Fred Mays, an introduction of elected officials by Board Member Warren Holder, and an introduction of the HCWA Board Members by Authority Vice-Chair Sandra Rozier, former HCWA Chairman and current Board Member Jimmy Carter presented Mr. Farmer with retirement gifts and heartfelt praise. Then, HCWA Secretary-Treasurer Siddiqa Gibson kicked off a steady stream of remarks and reflections by dignitaries, staff, family and friends.
Among those highlights
of the day included a special Commendation by the Governor of the State of Georgia, the Hon. Brian Kemp, and a Proclamation from the Georgia Senate, both presented to Mr. Farmer by his long-time friend, District 10 State Sen. Emanuel Jones, who also owns Legacy Ford in McDonough and is a noted business leader.
“One of the things I’ve learned to appreciate about Lindy is his sense of humor and personal touch with people,” said Sen. Jones during his remarks. “Thank you, Lindy, on behalf of the great state of Georgia for your 40 years of service in building a tremendous infrastructure here in Henry County. I know for my business, you’ve always been there and have always been a friend,” added Sen. Jones.
The Commendation from Gov. Kemp noted several of Farmer’s career and personal achievements, including his leadership at the Authority and within the community and water industry, his career as General Manager of the HCWA that ended with him being the longest tenured chief executive of a water utility in the state, and his role in Henry County receiving the designation as a “WaterFirst” Community in Georgia by the Department of Community Affairs.
For those reasons and more, Gov. Kemp’s Commendation concluded: “it is abundantly fitting and proper that this outstanding individual be appropriately honored for his dedication to the highest ideals of integrity, honesty, and ethics.”
Mr. Farmer joined the HCWA as its first formally designated General Manager in 1982. He is a Life Member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP), as well as being inducted into Life Membership of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) in 2018. At the GAWP’s Annual Conference & Expo in Savannah last summer, Mr. Farmer received the William J. Greene Award for outstanding service to AWWA and its Georgia Section (GAWWA). Mr. Farmer also is a past recipient of the Southeast Regional Award of Merit from the Association of Safe Dams Safety Officials.
Under Farmer’s leadership, the Authority has won numerous facility and system awards, including this past year’s GAWWA Plant of the Year Award for the Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant. The Tussahaw Plant is a three-time selection as Georgia’s Water Plant of the Year. The Tussahaw Plant also received the GAWP Platinum Award last year for 100% permit compliance for 14 consecutive years, as the facility has no permit violations since coming online in 2007. The HCWA Towaliga Plant also is a past Plant of the Year Award recipient, in 2015 and 2019.
In addition, all three of the HCWA Wastewater Treatment Plants – Walnut Creek, Indian Creek and Bear Creek Water Reclamation Facilities – are past Plant of the Year Award winners.
Most recently, this past Fall the HCWA received the GAWP Water Distribution and Sewer Collection System of Excellence Platinum Awards, which recognize utilities who score 95% or higher on the annual review of their systems for at least five consecutive years.
However, one of the awards the HCWA has received that Mr. Farmer says he is most proud of is the Henry County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award the Authority won in 2016, because it reflects the role and reputation the utility has in his home community. Mr. Farmer was the Henry County Chamber’s Public Servant of the Year in 2006, as well.
During Mr. Farmer’s tenure as HCWA General Manager, he oversaw the permitting and construction of four reservoirs, the construction of the HCWA Headquarters on Highway 20 W. in McDonough, the refinancing of six bond issues saving rate payers more than $20 million, with a Aa2 Bond Rating, and the planning of $965 million in future long-term capital improvements.
“The water industry has been very good to me and my family, and I’m very proud to have been a part of so many accomplishments and to have provided a steady hand during my 40 years leading this Authority while we built something special – from a small rural system that had a dozen or so employees when I started, to a model water utility in the state and region, with some of the best employees in the industry,” says Farmer.
“I was blessed to have worked with great leaders on our Board as well, who had a vision and understanding that water and sewer infrastructure is vital to the quality growth of our community. During my time as General Manager, I wanted my leadership and presence to provide the consistency and advocacy necessary to create an award-winning Authority.”
Captions for photos (top to bottom)
Photo 1: State Sen. Emanuel Jones (left) presents a Commendation from Gov. Brian Kemp, followed by a Proclamation from the Georgia Senate, honoring Lindy D. Farmer, Jr. (right) for his 40 years of service as General Manager of the HCWA.
Photo 2: Lindy Farmer (center, seated), who retired at the end of last year after serving 40 years as General Manager of the HCWA, is flanked by his family after an event hosted by the Authority in his honor.
Photo 3: A steady stream of family and friends, such as Mary Braun (left), paid tribute and gave thanks for Lindy Farmer at his retirement celebration honoring his 40 years of service to the HCWA.
Photo 4: Mr. Ed Cole (right) was one of the HCWA Board Members who hired Lindy Farmer (left) as General Manager 40 years ago in 1982. The Authority has named one of its drinking water reservoirs in honor of Mr. Cole, who was on hand to congratulate Mr. Farmer at his recent retirement celebration.
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