Thursday, November 03, 2005

Joe Liles – a longtime general manager of the Simpson County Water District – retired Sept. 30.

Liles worked for the Simpson, Warren and Butler county water districts for 38 years. He was responsible for a service that began with a small number of customers in rural areas and grew to 30,000 water and 2,700 wastewater users.

“To serve this community, work with great people and work to make sure our customers have access to safe drinking water and wastewater service has been unbelievable rewarding,” Liles said. “The future of our community is bright thanks to strong cooperative relationships we have in place.”

Alan Vilines, who is a former assistant general manager of the Simpson County Water District, was named general manager Oct. 1. Vilines has been with the area rural water districts for 25 years.

Liles was one of seven original organizers of the Kentucky Rural Water Association and served as its president. For the past 19 years, he has held the position of treasurer of the state rural water association. He also serves as the secretary of the 24,000-member National Rural Water Association, which addresses regulatory, environmental, legislative, technical assistance and training challenges that face America’s water industry.

Liles plans to stay active in the state and national rural water associations and assist local organizations in community and governmental relations.

The Simpson County Water District provides water service to about 3,100 residential, commercial and industrial customers. The Warren and Butler county systems service 27,000 water and 2,700 sewer customers.

“Joe worked hard over the years serving this community,” said James Snider, the chairman of the Simpson County Water District board of directors. “He has played a big part in the progress we’ve made in providing water service in Simpson County. We plan to continue to build on his efforts.”