Although Mr. Carpenter oversees the entire
system now, his operating skills remain
stellar. He takes pride in being an operator
and enjoys getting his hands dirty whenever
necessary. “Even when the guys take their
vacation, I will be on call for emergency
repairs,” Carpenter explains. “Or if they are
on the night shift, I will take one of their
shifts for them and operate the plant.” This
servant-leader spirit means a great deal to
the operators working in the plant. “He can
be in his office, and then he can come out
here and do the same thing that I’m doing,”
long-serving Sanitary District operator Rick
Boyd said.
Maggie Valley Sanitary District has been
faced with a number of plights over the last
15 years, compelling Carpenter to serve
as an operator, work long hours, and carry
unfathomable burdens. Along with the
major water system improvements early
in his career, the system has experienced a
devastating employee injury, a crippling two-
year court trial following a tragic mudslide
that killed a resident, and a violent fire that
burned down their administrative office
taking with it all of their records.
These are just some of crises afflicting
Carpenter that people don’t see. All of these
burdens yet the concern is never about
himself. “I’ve only seen him upset twice,” said
Tim Johnson, another long-serving employee
of the Sanitary District, with a chuckle. The
other employees gathered around the billing
desk agreed. Injuries, court trials, office fires.
“Twice.” That’s how many times his staff can
recall seeing him upset since 1990. “I think
it is his Christian faith that helps keep him
grounded,” office manager Karen Barnett
said. “He prays a lot.”
“Whatever it takes.”
For Neil, it is far more than repairing
leaks and sampling water. He exudes true
compassion for the citizens of Maggie Valley
and considers the staff his own family. In fact,
they have lunch together every Friday in the
office. “It’s just tradition,” Carpenter said.
Maggie Valley Sanitary District isn’t just
a career for Carpenter. It is much deeper
than that. The very grounds where the water
treatment plant operates and the elk roam
free are his old stomping grounds. Carpenter
grew up hunting on the lands, fishing in the
streams, and eating Sunday lunch with the
townspeople. “He’s like the deacon of Maggie
Valley,” Ms. Barnett explains. “He cares
about everyone here and is so involved in
the community.”
The compassion for those around him and his
eagerness to help others are the characteristics
that have made Neil Carpenter an exemplary
General Manager and will make him an
outstanding President for the North Carolina
Rural Water Association (NCRWA). “I’m sold
out for it. It’s not about the praise,” he said
speaking of his role as President of NCRWA.
“It’s about not missing an opportunity to
help someone.”
Neil’s experience with NCRWA goes back
to his earlier days as an operator, when the
District was experiencing devastating water
loss, poor financial solvency, and less than
sustainable rates. Neil recalls that it was in
about 1991 or 1992 when a NCRWA Circuit
Rider named Roger Swann “rode into town on
a great white horse.” For three straight nights,
Mr. Swann located leaks, and Neil and other
operators went behind him making needed
repairs the following days. Neil recalled
how Mr. Swann would work all night, while
interfering noise was at a minimum, and then
sleep at the residence of the General Manager
at the time. Once the majority of the leaks
were repaired, Mr. Swann prepared a rate
study and the proposed rates were adopted by
the Board of Directors of the District.
“I’m not President for anything other than
what Roger Swann did years ago,” Neil
explained. “When somebody has come in and
helped you, you need to return the favor if
you can. I would hope that we, as a President,
Board of Directors, and Staff, would have
that same effect on someone else so that in
25 years, another President would share the
same story.
Summer 2013 |
NCRWA.COM
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