Matthew Meeks, “Wastewater Operator of the Year” winner
 
Matthew Meeks, Senior Water/Wastewater Controller at the City of Maize, is the recipient of the “Wastewater Operator of the Year” in Kansas. 

Respected for his conscientious and diligent work by both his supervisor and co-workers, Meeks began his career as a city employee in the water department at the city of Garden City.  After four years there, he earned certification to be a Class IV Water Operator. He then gained additional training and went on to several other jobs, before coming to the city of Wichita where he received a Class IV Wastewater Operators Certification. During this time he worked to gain earn a four-year degree in Environmental Science.

In late 2000, he began work for Maize. As Senior Water/Wastewater Controller, he handles much of the water and wastewater operations with the help of other public works employees.

 Presently the local high school biology teacher and Matt are preparing to give a wastewater treatment plant tour and to explain to the students how the microorganisms of the city's activated sludge process provides a high quality water for discharge to the environment. Meeks has also made a short training video of the wastewater operations in Maize that was published in Treatment Plant Operator Magazine. Matt is one of only 76 operators in Kansas who hold both Class IV Water and Class IV Wastewater certifications.