Congratulations are in Order

Congratulations are in order for Jerry Byrne, director of Maintenance for the Kent County Road Department. Jerry's name is familiar to us as we have heard his road reports on both radio and TV. Jerry was recognized for dedicating his time and service to the advancement of the Michigan County Road systems by the County Road association of Michigan. This Association (CRAM) represents 83 county road agencies. Jerry is an Alpine Township resident and serves our community as a member of the Alpine Township Planning Commission

Also receiving an award recently was the Grand Rapids based engineering firm of Prein and Newhof for the PARCC Side Clean Water Plant.

The plant, located between Coit Avenue and the Grand River in Plainfield Township, was recently honored for its engineering by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan. The council honored Prein and Newhof, the Grand Rapids-based civil engineering firm that designed and oversaw construction of plant, with the Eminent Conceptor award. The award, part of the 2010 Engineering & Surveying Excellence Program, is given for the state’s best engineering and surveying accomplishments.

The plant also received the 2009 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Mark Prein, (left) with Prein and Newhof, and Larry Campbell, Manager of the PARCC Side Clean Water Plant, proudly displaying their award.

The North Kent Sewer Authority operates the $48 million plant, which opened in 2008. The plant processes about 4 million gallons of waste-water each day from Alpine, Plainfield, Cannon, and Courtland townships. The state-of-the-art facility uses bioreactors, membrane filters, and ultraviolet disinfection to produce water cleaner than many of the waste-water treatment plants in the area.