The recipient of this year’s Jim Current Professional Excellence Award is Darrell Botts.

Darrell Botts earned the respect of his employees by working harder than they did..

He was a theory y type of supervisor who understood that there is more than one way to get the job done .

He listened and took advice, whether he used it or not, and he gave credit where credit was due.

Darrell worked full-time for the City of Bronson, as a one man show, for years, all the while going to night school to earn his associates degree in environmental technologies.

Not long after earning his degree Darrell went on to earn his class IV state certifications in both water and wastewater.

Darrell then hired on as Water and Wastewater Superintendent for the City of Humboldt where he was one of the first in the state to install and operate a Chlorine Dioxide generator to combat the emerging THM and HAA5 regulations.

Darrell is a self-made man who succeeded in everything he did, but acted like anyone could.

He never took credit or boasted about his accomplishments; instead he empowered his employees and led by example.

For Darrell, no task was to large, every job was taken by the horns and dealt with in the most professional manner, and no matter how complex the problem may have been, Darrell took the time to explain to and seek advice from everyone, including the greenest of the crew.

For his years of exemplary service and for the guidance he offered to anyone and everyone who asked, it is my honor to present Darrell Botts with this year’s Jim Current award.