News Release 575

JODY B. MAYES NAMED DECEMBER 2007 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH BY DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Volume 35-575

Contact: Philip J. Tremblay

(For immediate release)

573-751-7629

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 7, 2007 --- Jody B. Mayes, an environmental specialist at the Kansas City Regional Office, is the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Employee of the Month for December 2007. He was nominated for his efforts to help the region's wastewater treatment plant operators understand new regulations protecting Missouri's streams. He also stepped up to serve as unit leader at the regional office when the former supervisor was transferred to another job.

While working in the Northwest Missouri Satellite Office, Mayes took the initiative to develop a comprehensive presentation on how wastewater treatment plant owners and operators might understand important changes in the water pollution discharge permit requirements. In addition to placing new fecal coliform standards on plants discharging to classified streams, or within two miles of such streams, many permits needed to be modified to include the new standards. Because many of the existing permits contained very few requirements, there would likely be confusion about the new parameters.

Mayes took a proactive approach and scheduled dates and times for three presentations of the information. He had developed the program for presentation to plant operators in cities north of the Kansas City region, but owners of mobile home parks, cafes and other small businesses also asked to attend.

James Helgason, the environmental manager who nominated Mayes, said, "Jody wanted everyone to know about the changes, so he told them to come. He knew that many of the people who needed to attend would be working during the day, so he made a concerted effort to select an evening so he could have as many people attend as possible."

After the presentation was made, an individual contacted Mayes to ask if he would consider doing another presentation further south in the coverage area. "He knew that this issue was very important to all wastewater treatment plants so he said he would be pleased to do so," said Helgason. Both the first and second presentations were made to capacity crowds. Mayes was contacted a third time, and the presentation was made again, farther south and to the east.

"Jody goes out of his way to help the citizens and regulated community in the State of Missouri," said Helgason. "He is a person who many in the area rely on to help them understand the state's rules and regulations."

In August 2007, Mayes was asked to serve as unit leader for the compliance section at Kansas City Regional Office. He accepted the responsibility with no increase in pay and for an indeterminate time period. This reduced the workload burden on the environmental manager and ensured that the unit's work would be completed on time.

"If Jody had not taken on this great responsibility," said Helgason, "the unit would have encountered possible delays in addressing citizen concerns, completing inspection reports and dealing with notices of violation. He has kept the unit running smoothly."

Mayes began employment with the department as a soil scientist in June 1990. He lives in Dearborn.

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Editor: Photo is available at /newsrel/eom-mayes-03.jpg.