Join us in recognizing Jim Wetzel, Sewer Department Operations Supervisor, on his retirement this month after 36 years of steadfast service to Lower Paxton. When he joined the department as a maintenance worker in 1989, there were only four employees. Jim then progressed to inspecting sanitary sewer systems and became the first crew leader for the Infiltration & Inflow (I&I) Replacement crew, which was established as a cost saving strategy for replacing private property sewers. The I&I crew expanded into an essential skilled team that also replaces storm sewers, retention basins, and any other projects requiring excavation. At present, 17 crew members maintain four pump stations and 260 miles of sewer lines.
In addition to overseeing maintenance for all Sewer Authority assets including the fleet management of vehicles and equipment, Jim has expertly managed several critical projects. He supervised the new construction for the $1.1M sewer pole building located at our Locust Lane site which is used to store large scale sewer equipment. Further, he assisted in the design and construction of the $140M PA Department of Environmental Protection Consent Decree sewer rehabilitation project. The primary benefits of this project were the elimination of frequent sanitary sewer backups into private residences and overflow of sanitary sewer manholes throughout the Township due to excessive infiltration from heavy rain overloading defective, old pipes.
As he embarks on retirement, Jim plans to travel with his wife on his motorcycle to explore new places. His favorite pastimes include spending time at the beach and attending activities in support of his five grandkids. He plans to learn how to fly fish and to eventually relocate to sunny South Carolina. In the meantime, you’ll likely see Jim volunteering at the local animal shelter and food pantry.
Jim proudly shared, “The staff at Lower Paxton are top notch and care about what they do!” Working for the Township has been a fulfilling job for Jim, and he advises anyone interested in municipal work to seek our current staff to ask questions, listen, and learn. He stated it’s satisfying knowing your day-to-day efforts help build a better community for all.
