Submitted photo Nathan Besse, left, and Steve DeBates received awards from the Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association.

The Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association recently Awarded “Operator of the Year” awards virtually.

The competitive awards are presented in categories of Wastewater Operator (Class A, B, C, and D), Collection System (Class SA, SB, SC, and SD), Laboratory, Maintenance and “Rookie of the Year”.

For 2020, the winner of the Class A Wastewater Operator Award was city of Marshall employee Steve DeBates from Marshall. And the Class D Wastewater Operator Award to City of Marshall employee Nathan Besse from Marshall.

Winners of awards meet criteria of excellence in job performance, accomplishments, awards, education and training undertaken to further their performance, professional, community and civic activities and involvement in the advancement of the MWOA.

The MWOA is divided into six sections within Minnesota. The first step in the awards process is for each section to select candidates for awards from within their membership. The winners from each section (DeBates and Besse were the nominees in the Southwest Section) are then entered into statewide competition. Each candidate submits an application packet, which is distributed to representatives from each section. Awards are then voted on, and the winners are announced typically at the annual meeting in July. Because of COVID-19 the awards were given virtually.