HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-12-2007-3aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 12, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. 3 '' g
SUBJECT: Steinbeck Award for Tom Konsler
DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rosemary Summers, 245-2411
PURPOSE: To recognize the accomplishment of one of the Health Department's senior staff
members, Tom Konsler.
BACKGROUND: The North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Training Academy confers the Steve
Steinbeck Award each year at the annual On-Site Wastewater Conference. The Award is
named for Steve Steinbeck, a retired North Carolina State University faculty member who was
noted for his cutting edge research in the on-site wastewater field. It is presented to an
individual who has achievements to the profession in the following areas:
® Improving the science behind rules and practice
® Improving the implementation of technology
® Assuring program effectiveness
® Improving the quality of system installations
® Public education
At the 2007 On-Site Wastewater Conference, the Steve Steinbeck Award was presented to Tom
Konsler, Environmental Health Director for the Orange County Health Department. Mr. Konsler
has been with Orange County since 1982 first as an environmental health specialist, then as
environment health supervisor and, in 2006, was appointed as the Environmental Health
Director. Mr. Konsler's nomination enumerates some of his statewide and national
accomplishments:
• Serves on the On-Site Wastewater Section Rules Committee that is developing a
completely revised and new set of state rules for on-site wastewater systems.
• Serves as the Chair of the NC Innovative and Experimental Technology Advisory
Committee that advises the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources on
new on-site technologies that would be appropriate for use in North Carolina.
• Selected to be the only county-level co-author of a national training manual on septic
tanks including their design, operation and function by a national group of on-site
wastewater experts.
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Serves on a select 27- member Wastewater Technology Joint Committee for the National
Sanitation Foundation. This group develops national and international standards for on-
site wastewater technologies.
Chair of the Standard 46 Effluent Filter Task Group that developed and revised national
standards for septic tank effluent filters.
Serves as one of sixteen formal reviewers in the US for a consortium of 24 international
universities and colleges as they developed a comprehensive on-site system wastewater
system operation and maintenance training program.
In addition, Mr. Konsler is actively engaged in bringing pilot research projects to Orange County
. to enhance our current practices and ensure that our residents' water is protected. Even though
he is highly sought after in the state and national arena, he has earned the respect of the staff in
the department and in the broader Orange County community as well. The Health Department
is proud to have Mr. Konsler on the staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board recognize Environmental
Health Director Tom Konsler for his dedication to his field of work 'and to Orange County