Summer 2022 Newsletter

Company News

Summer 2021

A Letter From the President

President

Summer, 2021

I hope that by the time this newsletter is published we can say that we have "put
COVID in our rear-view mirror". Restrictions are slowly being lifted and more and
more people are getting vaccinated. Even if we don't totally eradicate COVID we
should be able to get back to somewhat of a normal lifestyle.
I once again I want to extend my greatest appreciation for all that every employee
at State Utility has done over the past 15 months to help keep yourself and your
co-workers safe from the virus. You have been able to do this while continuing to
focus on safety and production while continuing to make the company profitable.
We had another outstanding year in 2020 matching the volume of work that we
did in 2019. 2021 has started very strong with a good backlog of work, both in the
Plant and Line Divisions. We should all be able to stay extremely busy for the
remainder of 2021 on into 2022.
I would like to take a moment and recognize a couple of long-time employees
who will be retiring by the end of June. Peggy Taylor who after 18 plus years will
be retiring and beginning her new life as a "Beach Bum" and Scott Harbison will
add his name to the retirement ranks in June after 32 years with State Utility.
These are two employees who have given everything they have to making State
Utility a success. They will both be missed dearly but we hope that retirement
brings as much joy to them as they have brought to us over the years. We Love
You Both and Thanks for Everything!!!!
If you have been here as long as I have, you see the great people who have made
us what we are today. You see them retire and you wonder how we will get by
without them. Though it is hard, it is also rewarding to look at our company and
see the many young faces, and to know that they are ready, willing, and able to
carry this company into the future. AND WHAT A BRIGHT FUTURE THAT IS!!!!
Thank you all for your hard work and dedication!

Project Spotlight Line

Highway 73, S. Ingleside Farm Rd., And Old Plank Rd. Water Line Extensions Lincoln County, NC

Dylan Mascho

Walter Smith Rhyan Johnson Martin Minyard Dave Burnett Charles Moon

Michael Kennedy Kelly Trump

Project Overview Start Date: September 2019
Installation of 532 LF of 24” DIP, 19,100 LF of 16” DIP, 12,395 LF of 12” DIP, and Completion Date: August 2020
80 LF of 8” DIP in NCDOT R/W’s along Hwy 73, S. Ingleside Farm Rd, and Old
Plank Rd. The project included 6 bore and jacks under NCDOT roadways ranging Contract Amount
in size from 36” to 16” diameter casing. Two major open cut creek crossings $7 Million
were also included in the scope of this project under Anderson Creek. The
project also included the installation of 19 air release valves in 5’ diameter Peak Employees : 10
precast vaults, 32 Fire Hydrants, and 22 16” bevel gear gate valves. A booster
pump station was constructed along the route of the new water line to increase Interesting Fact:
pressure for Lincoln County’s system. It included 2 8” booster pumps, chlorine
tanks for hypo fill lines, a pressure reducing valve, and a natural gas back up Project included two major
generator. The booster pump station building was constructed of block and open cut crossing under
brick masonry with steel roof trusses. Anderson Creek

FY-17 Street Main Project Charlotte, NC

Project Spotlight Plant

SGWASA WTP DBP REDUCTION IMPROVEMENTS AND DEWATERING FACILITY

Oscar Rodriguez Anthony Smith Darrick Tyler Manuel Dela Fuente Nicholas Ragin
William Cochrane Jorge Landaverde
Thomas Ward

Brice Cates

Kevin Marshburn

Ronnie Rollings GreCghSrmisitJhackson Arturo Perez

Jeff Dyke Sharyn Edwards Adrian Gonzalez

Rey Garcia Tommy Matthews

Start Date: May, 2020 Impressive Fact: Contract Amount: $13.5 Million
Completion Date: December, 2021 SU Employees : 16
Completed Excavation and Backfill of 14,276
CY for the construction of the Gravity
Thickener and 30ft deep Pump Station

Project Description:

• Construction of a new chemical feed facility.
• Upgrades to chemical bulk storage facilities.
• Installation of new sedimentation basin drain piping and valves.
• Construction of one gravity thickener, a thickened sludge pump
—station, a thickened sludge storage tank, and a dewatering
==facility.
• Upgrades to instrumentation.
• Installation of new PLCs and a new SCADA control system.

Thoughts & Prayers Announcements

After 32 Years Scott Harbison is Retiring

On June 21st, Scott Harbison will hang up his hard hat for the very last time - 32 years to
the day after becoming part of the State Utility Family. Scott will always be known as a
laid back, mild mannered superintendent, that cared about his crews on a personal
level, and always put State Utility’s best interests first. Anyone you ask, well mostly
anyone, will have nothing but pleasant things to say about Scott. He has been a mentor
to all that worked with him over the years, many of which are now part of our team as
Foremen, Superintendents and Project Managers. There is no doubt that Scott has been
instrumental in shaping State Utility into the company that you and I work for today.
Once retired, Scott looks forward to traveling with his wife Beth in their newly acquired 5th wheel, enjoying
more time with their grandkids, and finally shaving off his legendary mustache….well maybe not the last part. In
all seriousness, If you see Scott around over the next couple weeks, please tell him thank you, and wish him safe
travels and a happy, well deserved retirement.

After 18+ Years Peggy Taylor is Retiring

When you work with someone for over 18 years and they become family to you, it’s
hard to think about not having them around. Peggy Taylor started with State Utility in
September of 2002. After 18 plus years together, we are all going to have a hard time
not having Peggy as a part of our everyday lives. However, we all realize that Peggy has
put in her time and is well deserving of retirement.

Peggy has been the rock that we have all leaned on for many years. She always had an
open ear to anyone that wanted to stop by her office and talk about their weekend,

their kids, their accomplishments and their problems. She made us all feel as though what we had to say was the
most important thing to her at that time.

Peggy, your work ethic, your personality, your professionalism and most of all your friendship will be dearly
missed! We have your number, and hope that you will come visit us often. Please don't be a stranger!

I speak for everyone at State Utility in saying THANK YOU for your service, friendship and dedication to our

company, and to all of us as individuals.

We Love You Both!!!! New

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT To

The

Family

Seth Brown Matt Williams

Safety Coordinator Project Engineer - Plant

I started at State Utility in April as a Safety My name is Matt Williams and I am a proud
Coordinator. I am originally from Monroe and Virginia Tech Graduate (Go Hokies!). I studied
studied at Wake Tech. Prior to working at Civil Engineering and have a minor in Green
State Utility I lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand for Engineering. It has been truly wonderful to work
1.5 years. on projects that impact our community as a
whole. I am originally from Raleigh, NC, but now
I am thankful to call South Carolina my home. In
my free time, I love to watch sports, travel, and
explore the Charlotte food scene.

Employee Spotlights

Ricardo Tellez

Ricardo came to work for State Utility 3 years ago after working with another water
utility company. Ricardo started in utility construction immediately after graduating
high school 6 years ago and is working hard to excel at State Utility. He is currently
working on the small diameter services crew under Foreman Jerry Knox.

Ricardo currently is living the bachelor lifestyle with his Shih Tzu named Chewy. He enjoys spending his free
time playing video games with his buddies online, going to cookouts with his family and traveling.

-Ricardo enjoys “EVERYTHING” about working at State Utility!!
“I enjoy working for State because of the great leadership and awesome Foreman that lets me work and not

just be a Sun Dial! Also great pay and benefits”
Thanks for the hard work Ricardo!

Darrik Tyler

Darrik started working for State Utility 6 years ago and has “enjoyed every day of it.”
Before coming to work for State Utility, Darrik was working for Maness Tires in
Rockingham changing 18 wheeler tires as well as providing on call road side assistance
to stranded trucks. Darrik is currently working on the Plant Division’s project in Butner,
NC under Superintendent Thomas Ward. “ I am a helper in all areas that I am needed in
and am trying to learn as much as possible to further my career with State”. It shows
Darrik, thanks for the hard work!

Darrik has been married to his wife Martie for 6 years this April. He has 2 step children Amanda and Derek and
one grand baby Nariah.

In his free time Darrik enjoys fishing, hunting, cookouts and spending time with his friends and family.
- Darrik enjoys working at State Utility because of “The Family environment and team work we have. Family

is always first and I am proud to be a part of the SU family”

New Jobs

Plant Jobs Bid Date Line Jobs Bid Date

Cary/ Aprex WTF Ozone Systems Red Cross Brick Street Rehabilitation 1-23-20
Updates Cary Apex, NC Wilmington, NC $1.11 Million
2.79 Million 9-2-20

Horse Creek WWTP Screen Replacement Steel Creek Force Main Replacement 2-20-20
Design-Build, York County, SC
Aiken County, SC 10-22-20 $1.39 Million

$594,795 Water Transmission Main
Improvements Design-Build, Charlotte 3-17-20
Aerobic Digester Diffused Aeration 1-14-21 NC $800,000
Replacement Butner, NC
$330,000 Yadkin Regional Water Supply
Union & Stanley Counties Design-Build, 4-8-20
Crooked Creek WRF Process Improvements Sub to Garney $18.2 Million

Union County, NC 1-28-21 Disaster Response Emergency/On-Call
$3.9 Million
Construction Services, Brunswick 4-16-20
County, NC $250,000
Franklin Co. 2019 WWTP Rehab
Franklinton, NC 9-9-21 Water Master Meter/Backflow
$9.8 Million Preventer Installations, Charlotte, NC 7-23-20
$1.5 Million

Carolina Trace WWTP Replacement 3-17-21 FY17 Unspecified Water & Sewer 8-3-20
Phase 2 Sandford, NC Repair Renewal #3 , 9-3-20
$976,300 Charlotte, NC $1.5 Million
Aspen Sanitary Sewer Extension
Crooked Creek WRF Elec. System Rock Hill, $1.4 Million
Improvements Union County, NC
$3.3 Million 4-1-21 Depcom Power 6” Fire Line 9-11-20
Brunswick County, NC $107,000

The ladies from our Accounting, Human FY21 Small Dia. Water & Sewer Service
Resources and Administration departments Contract 2, Charlotte, NC $6.42 Million 9-18-20

took a field trip and visited our WWTP Matthews Commons Street Main 12-11-20
expansion project in Indian Land, South Mecklenburg County $1.1 Million 1-14-21
1-19-21
Carolina this past March Mooresville Potable Water Main
Extension Mooresville, NC $250,000 2-25-21
McMullen Creek Tributary @ Quail
Hollow Sanitary Sewer Replacement
Charlotte, NC $868,420
Stockbridge Regional Pump Station
York County, SC $2.2 Million

2021 Water Valve Replacement 3-17-21
Wilmington, NC $282,200

2021 Disaster Response Emergency
Construction Services - Onslow County 4-9-21

The Photo Gallery

Clems Branch PS Phase II Indian Land WWTP Six Mile PS

Lower Reedy WRRF Small Dia. Services Woodruff-Roebuck WTP

Lift Station Improvements Phase II Yadkin Raw Water Project Stevens Creek Project

CAT 345 vs. Our new CAT 390F SUC purchased this machine for the Yadkin Raw Water Line Project - This
machine will better equip SUC to handle large diameter pipe projects.

Safety

STAYING SAFE DURING THE SUMMER HEAT!!

Know Heat Related Injury Signs With the temperatures beginning to rise, it is
important to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated
may require you to do a little more …or…a little
less.

More…
Drink plenty of water

Eat more fruits and vegetables

Wear light, breathable clothing

Less…
Alcohol consumption

Energy Drinks

Heavy foods / Large portions

Sugary foods and snacks

Take the HEAT Seriously!!

Every year hundreds of people succumb to heat
related illness. Our routines and lifestyle can help
prevent us from being a victim of the heat.

If you are not feeling well or you see a fellow
coworker struggling, be sure to get help. Heat
related fatalities are preventable if caught in
time.

COVID - 19

Covid-19 has changed the world. While there
have been advances in vaccines and patient care
the threat remains. Make sure to not let your
guard down and continue to practice safe
behavior. State Utility’s Covid policies are still in
effect and need to be followed. Wear your masks
and avoid being around large groups of people
when you possible. Thanks and stay safe.

Any Safety Questions or Concerns Contact:

Chris Ricketson Jason Walker

Mobile - 980-275-9280 Mobile - 330.316.6565

From The Shop

TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR EQUIPMENT RUNNING DURING THE HOT, HOT SUMMER

Hotter temperatures can mean equipment overheating, engine
problems and unnecessary wear; but routine maintenance and a
few simple steps can combat those issues and more.
Summertime means hotter temperatures, humidity, increased sun
exposure and dry conditions. All of that, combined with a heavy
summer workload, can result in a new set of maintenance and
equipment challenges.
Increased heat and humidity forces components to work harder
than normal and wear at a faster rate. Preventative maintenance
and close monitoring of machines can help prevent breakdowns
Daily Inspections: It is important for operators to make daily checks of hydraulic fluid and coolant to ensure
they are topped off and effective for higher temperatures. Check that the coolant expansion reservoir is to
the full mark.
It’s important to confirm the type of coolant being used in the machines. Newer OAT (organic acid
technology) is used in more recent machines, while a silica-based coolant is used in older machines. DO NOT
Mix the two together because gelling will take place, which will drastically reduce the cooling efficiency.
Proper Operation: It’s important for operators to avoid overworking the equipment during the summer.
Using it beyond its set capabilities could lead to expensive breakdowns and overheating. Also, in order to
avoid damage to the machine’s turbos, operators need to make sure to let their machines idle before
shutting it down.
Service Checks: If everything detailed above looks good, but the machine’s temperature seems to be
elevated, operators should have their service department check the thermostat opening temperature.

Human Resources

New Employee Training is Key to Company Success

Let's be honest here; training new employees is a pain in the grits. It's time consuming, requires the patience
of a saint and can slooooooow the working process considerably - which isn't ideal for construction projects
dependent on a timeline. On the flip side, not taking the time to adequately train your company's new hires is
a huge mistake.

Although it may seem like a no-brainer, employee training is actually one of the most underrated aspects of
workforce management in the construction industry. Sounds crazy, right? An efficient and up-to-date business
will realize that training impacts all the major business goals:

Safety TRAINING PAYS OFF

TRAINING Employee retention You can’t afford not to train. Dedicate at least 30 minutes training
INCREASES employees every week. This only amounts to 2.5% of your total
Recruitment efforts payroll cost. An organized training program will improve your
Workforce quality bottom-line significantly more than 2.5%.

Bottom lines

Ref:<forconstructionpros.com> (How Trainning Your Construction Employees Makes Change Easier Ref:<arcoro.com>(The Importance of Employee Training for Construction)

Throw Back 1996

Throw Back 1996