Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association

Municipal Authority Community Engagement Awards were presented to three member authorities during the PMAA Annual Conference. North Penn Water Authority (NPWA) was the winner of the Best in Show award for their “Going Viral” campaign. Other winners included: Dormont Stormwater Authority in the categories of both Electronic Communications and Community Events, Schuylkill County Municipal Authority (SCMA) in the category of Partnerships, and North Penn Water Authority (NPWA) in the category of Internal Communications. The PMAA Municipal Authority Community Engagement Awards was renamed this year (formerly the PMAA Municipal Authority Communications Awards, established in 2022) to recognize the successful efforts of authorities who use good management practices and innovative approaches to challenges to demonstrate a comprehensive approach to community engagement while effectively communicating the value of the authority to the community.

Congratulations to David Busch, the recipient of the 2024 William H. Markus Award recently presented by the?Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association?at the annual awards banquet. This award recognizes individuals who instill honesty, integrity, fairness, efficiency and fiscal responsibility in their duties to municipal authorities and the Association.?David’s involvement with the Association as an associate member rises to levels demonstrated by so very few over many years. He has served on numerous committees including legislative, tapping fee work groups, conference planning, and privatization opposition strategies. A subject matter expert in authority financial issues, he has been a frequent and valued presenter at numerous conferences and workshops. As the Associate Member Representative to the PMAA Board of Directors, no board member has served with longer dedicated tenure to the Association’s governing body in the history of the PMAA.

Changes this month! Please join LASA in wishing a very happy retirement to our Executive Director - Michael Kyle. Mike retired on September 6th after 25 years of service. Under Mike's leadership LASA grew from 17,000 customers in 1999 to their current 42,000 customers, becoming one of the largest sewer authorities in the Commonwealth. We wish Mike well with this next chapter! With Mike Kyle leaving, the Authority has hired Michael J. Wolgemuth as the new Executive Director for LASA - Mike comes to the authority with many years of experience in the wastewater field and is eager to share his extensive background and expertise with the board and staff. Please join us in congratulating them both!

Join Mitch Thompson, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), to explore Cyber Security Best Practices for Government and Authorities on October 9.

Offering 4 Water/Wastewater Operator Credit Hours . . . Mark your calendar and join us at the upcoming Region 4 Fall Meeting to be held Thursday, October 24, 2024 at the Penn Harris Hotel. Come out and meet our featured guest speaker, PA State Representative David H. Zimmerman. Registration information and form can be found at: https://lnkd.in/emN_mPY4 If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Purnell or Nate Merkel, GISP., L.O.

PMAA conference attendees shared the closing breakfast with just a few of their local friends from Hershey’s Zooamerica Wildlife Park!

Day 3 - a full day of exhibits, education, and fun!

I am so honored and grateful for Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association’s Future Leaders Scholarship, where I was awarded $2,500 last night. I am grateful to the committee for their belief in me and allowing me so many opportunities not only from the scholarship, but from the networking at the conference itself as well. I’d like to thank Wilkes University for my education, but most importantly my mom, Natalie O'Connor and my grandfather, William Miller for enlightening me and teaching me at a young age how important municipal authorities are.