SOURCE
mIDWEST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, iNC.
Serving rural communities since 1979 www.map-inc.org
MAP, Inc. Impact in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming
your source for community solutions
annual edition 2024
solutions for rural utilities
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Charles Shapiro, Nebraska - Chair Craig Barsness, Wyoming - Vice Chair Margot Gillette, South Dakota Nathan Copeland, Kansas Craig Pozega, Montana Tami Madsen, North Dakota Rob Green, Missouri Jill Quaid, Missouri CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Christopher Jewett, CEO DIRECTORS Kerri Jewett, Finance/HR Director Pete Smith, Area Director Erinn Zindt, Area Director LeAnn Kerzman, Programs Director STATE FIELD MANAGERS Kristina Hartley, Missouri Mike Obal, Iowa Brian Day, North Dakota Shelly Underwood, Kansas Jason Towne, Minnesota Tyrel Owens, Wyoming Devin Beal, Montana Jackie Luttrell, South Dakota Monte Kerchal, Nebraska ADMINISTRATIVE Jesse Campbell, Private Well Coordinator Karen Thomas, Training Coordinator Ron Vanderpool, GIS Coordinator Erin Miller, HR/Communications Coordinator Shayna Kernen, External Programs Manager Casey Burrus, Internal Programs Manager Kelli Fika, GIS Technician Rhiannon Niemeier, Administrative Associate TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS Dave Akins, MO Lee Allen, WY Curt Bigge, KS Hope Block, SD Jessica Casey, SD Garrett Clark, ND Lonnie Kevin Clark, MO Kevin Coldsmith, SD Jay Colson, NE Tom Finger, KS Lance Goodman, MT Tim Hardesty, MT Nancy Janssen, IA Derrick Luebbe, NE Reuben Martin, KS Chris McKee, IA William Meyer, MT Belinda Nelson, KS Andrew Olson, MN Marty Ostransky, NE Stephanie Ross, MO Chris Sokolowski, IA Steve Shope, MT Eric Teegerstrom, NE Chad Thompson, MT Chris Ziegler, MN
Phone: 660-562-2575 Email: map@map-inc.org
Design and Editor: Erin Miller Contributors: Kristina Hartley, Erinn Zindt, Shayna Kernen, Casey Burrus, Ron Vanderpool, LeAnn Kerzman, Pete Smith, and Chris Jewett
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) is an approved vendor by the General Services Administration (GSA).
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MAP SOURCE is funded through a grant from the HHS/Office of Community Services and prepared by Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) Material not otherwise attributed was written or redacted by the editor. MAP is an equal opportunity provider and employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the organization or funders. The content contained in this material is for informational and educational purposes only. MAP is a charter member of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP). Printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper.
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contents
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4 Letter from CEO and Rural Needs Survey 6 MAP Impact - By the Numbers and MAP Impact by State: 7 Nebraska 8 Kansas & Missouri 10 Iowa & Minnesota 12 North Dakota & South Dakota 14 Montana & Wyoming 16 Disaster Assistance & Tribute to Joshua Jabalera 18 MAP Staff Highlight: Stephanie Ross & Upcoming Training
Do you have a capital improvement plan?
Do you need assistance funding infrastructure projects?
Pictured rural Midwest town.
by Chris Jewett, CEO
During my first year as CEO, I set a goal for Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) to focus on making an impact in all things related to our mission. This endeavor required an initial assessment of our programs, approaches, and the needs of the communities we serve. Based on these assessments, we made adjustments while providing continuous service to our communities in a devoted and conscientious manner. When we strategize and discuss the impact we aim to achieve, we consider how MAP can influence a community or a system. We also account for the impact that laws, regulations, climate, and society exert. This proactive stance necessitates constant vigilance, enabling us to fine-tune our approaches, allocate resources, and intensify our advocacy to achieve the desired outcomes. Our advocacy efforts for rural America and the region we serve begin at the local area and simultaneously continue throughout the regional, state, and national web. Our Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) partners provide additional resources and impactful voices as we seek to increase awareness of and offer solutions to the numerous daily challenges that rural and Indigenous communities face. Our rural and Indigenous advocacy efforts are one of our most important missions, and we continue to be a recognized and sought-after voice when drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste discussions arise. It is easy to find communities and systems that need assistance. What is not easy is finding the resources, mitigation, and solutions to resolve the numerous challenges. It is not always easy to measure the actual impact of a program outreach. Was the impact short-term, a sustaining solution, or did it create additional issues a system must address? Was there a true impact, or was it influence? Through MAP's continued efforts, advocacy, storytelling, and focus, I can confidently say that we have beneficially impacted citizens in our region through continued work with our funders and the communities. This edition of the Source accounts for some of the impact we have made. I am proud of the RCAP partners and especially proud of MAP staff at all levels and positions for the dedication and passion they show daily to achieve the most significant impact. Please take a moment to complete a brief Rural Needs Survey on the next page. Your insights are valuable and help share the real issues facing small, rural, and tribal communities with congressional leaders.
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP), is seeking information on your community's needs. Through your response to this survey, you have taken part in shaping the future of your rural America. Why is it important? Your opinion matters. This is not your average survey! The results will be shared with your representatives and senators in Washington D.C. It is important they know the real issues facing our small, rural, and tribal communities. The survey is also easily accessed on the home page of our website: www.map-inc.org
rural needs survey
Is your community population shrinking?
Chris Jewett, CEO Midwest Assistance Program, Inc.
your opinion matters! rural needs survey
Do you have high staff turn-over?
SCAN QR CODE TO ACCESS THE SURVEY BY 12/15/2024 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.MAP-INC.ORG
Letter from the CEO
Jay Colson, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
121,212 Minority Residents Served
Nebraska
High levels of manganese in drinking water systems, poor water quality for residents, and concerns about long-term quantity for the water supply system. Flooding of the water source created an elevated level of trihalomethanes (THMs), which can be a potential public health risk. Wastewater treatment facility out of compliance with permit levels for ammonia. Water systems must develop an inventory to identify the materials of service lines used on both water system and private connection materials to the public water distribution system or demonstrate the absence of lead service lines by October 16, 2024.
Monte Kerchal State Field Manager
Provide training workshops for community members and leaders, communicating the need to create a safe, permanent solution for the residents' drinking water system. Mediation with engineering firms, community leaders, and funding sources to plan, develop, and implement a regional water supply system to provide safe affordable water for the public. Work with engineers to develop an engineering report to develop a nitrox system that allows bacteria to eliminate the ammonia in the oxidation ponds to the extent it can be directly discharged to the wetlands. Assist the village in applying for funding for a grant and loan to complete the project. Conduct a Lead Service Line Inventory and create a Lead and Copper Sampling Site and Replacement Plan for communities. Increase financial and managerial capacities through educational efforts, assisting with budgeting, utility rate management, asset management, loan servicing, meeting United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Letter of Conditions (LOC). Preparing an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to protect the system from vulnerabilities, unexpected disasters, or emergencies.
172 Meetings with State and Federal Partners to Advocate for Small Communities
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP), is dedicated to helping rural communities, tribal nations, water and wastewater districts, homeowner's associations, lake associations, and other small utilities find solutions to sustain infrastructure safely, improve their environment, and revitalize communities. MAP, Inc. serves Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
29 Trainings
With a combined population of 651,070 Residents
UTILITY CHALLENGES
132 Lead Service Line Projects
81,454 Low-Income Residents Served
With an Average Median Household Income of $47,347
128 Trainings provided to 2,619 municipal, water or wastewater professionals
217 New Projects Initiated
IMPACT REPORT FY23
*Statistics based on Fiscal Year 2023.
255,874 Households Served
37 Federal Projects
32 GIS (Geographic Information System) Projects
Marty Ostransky, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Data compiled from 9/2022 to 7/2024
22 State Projects
61 Private Wells Assessed
Eric Teegerstrom, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
541 Communities Served
Helped secure $90,025,327 for 30 water and wastewater infrastructure projects
MAP, INC. SOLUTIONS
Derrick Luebbe, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
MAP staff assisting with a smoke test to identify infiltration & inflow (I&I testing) into the sewage system.
utility CHALLENGES
Missouri
Assisted the city in revising the water operator job description and suggested contacting local technical schools, job centers, and veteran organizations. This led the city to hire a veteran who obtained their drinking water distribution license and water treatment certification within 3 months of employment. Worked one-on-one with the operator to find the cause of significant water loss in the distribution system by creating a valve isolation plan and narrowing the search area. MAP worked with the city and used a subsurface water leak detector to locate leaks and identify water lines for repair. Assist with updating the city’s standard operating procedures and provided training and assistance in completing a Lead Service Line Inventory. Work with the new city clerk to report the prior and current year Community Confidence Report (CCR) to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Develop short and long-term planning with city staff to pursue capital improvements as needed for the water distribution system and wastewater lagoon. Helped the campground owner to determine the issues and correction steps required to repair the lagoon. MAP worked with the owner to find an engineering service to bring the utility into compliance.
23 Trainings
Kristina Hartley State Field Manager
81 Federal Projects
Work with the rural water district to convert an antiquated distribution system to a modern pressurized system, extending service to 81 residences, farmsteads, and businesses. Assist with updating GIS (geographic information systems) mapping to support asset management planning, sampling, and infrastructure inventory. Create an Environmental Assessment, Emergency Response Plan (ERP), Vulnerability Assessment (VA), conduct a rate analysis, and update outdated policies. Identify grant assistance and favorable financing terms to keep affordable user rates. Assist the city in creating an RD (Rural Development) Apply account and completing a SEARCH (Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) to help pay the costs associated with developing the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) that outlines the wastewater collection system’s deficiencies. Help to navigate the action items outlined in USDA’s Letter of Conditions (LOC). Locate funding sources to repair collection lines, rehabilitate lift stations, lagoon piping and structures, and line manholes to significantly reduce the amount of I&I and meet discharge limits. Assist with smoke testing to reveal numerous locations where I&I can occur. Facilitate communications between the project engineer, service contractor, agency, and city to advance project development.
Belinda Nelson, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Dave Akins, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Shelly Underwood State Field Manager
Flooding manhole in Missouri, backflow through lid.
Pre-construction of a wastewater lagoon in Missouri
Lonnie Kevin Clark, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
A community uses a drip system (small diameter lines and pumps constantly running to provide continuous flow) for their water supply. The age of the system is causing concern with potential contamination at the cisterns, increasing line leak frequency, difficulty locating leaks, lack of expandability at the pump station, and no centralized storage. The current public water system cannot service rural homes, farmsteads, and businesses. Outdated infrastructure maps and are unprepared to handle disasters or emergencies. Infrastructure upgrades are needed to the wastewater collection system because significant inflow and infiltration (I&I) of groundwater and rainwater runoff are entering the system. The volume causes the wastewater to pass through the ponds too quickly, resulting in the city violating discharge permits.
Helped secure $65,193,201 in leveraged funds.
The city needed to hire a new employee to operate the water district system. The job description for this position was outdated, and it is often difficult to fill this critical role. The city was experiencing significant water loss from the distribution system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires community water systems to deliver an annual drinking water quality report called a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to their customers. The city failed to complete this requirement. High turnover of city employees due to improper training and challenging job responsibilities and budget concerns. A campground owner received an Abatement Order on Consent (AOC) for a failing lagoon system on a campground just purchased. Aging infrastructure systems and the need for funding to continue operating.
Curt Bigge, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Stephanie Ross, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Kansas
64 Federal Projects
Reuben Martin, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
17 Trainings
Tom Finger, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Minnesota water tower construction
11 Trainings
Chris McKee, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Elected officials and new city employees did not understand fund accounting and financial management principles. A community had a delinquent submission of the required United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) financial reporting over multiple years. Water meters were outdated, not working, or not taking accurate readings, which made billing impossible or inaccurate. Challenges finding contractors for inspections, repairs, and maintenance of decentralized wastewater systems.
15 Trainings
Train city staff and elected officials on required financial management practices, filing reports, completing state-required forms, budgeting, billing for water and wastewater services, and recommending new financial software. This software implementation allows the city to collect financial data efficiently and accurately for all the necessary reporting. Assist the city employees in completing all required USDA reporting and update the system's Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and Vulnerability Assessment (VA). Work with elected officials on ways to finance water meter replacement. Help bid the expense of replacing water meters and upgrade software and technology to ensure accuracy in reading and billing. Assist in conducting a rate study to ensure future water rates remain affordable while sustaining the current system. Collaborate with city officials and wastewater professionals to develop a strategy for inspecting, repairing, and maintaining decentralized wastewater systems. Project development and assistance with securing funding for small rural communities and water districts for the rehabilitation of their water and wastewater systems.
Iowa project site of wastewater collection and treatment system
Nancy Janssen, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Chris Ziegler, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
52 Federal Projects
36 Tribal Projects
Helped secure $27,648,300 in leveraged funds.
Mike Obal State Field Manager
Jason Towne State Field Manager
27 Federal Projects
Iowa
Several new water and wastewater operators needed support learning their job duties and training to receive the proper licensing. Due to outdated or missing infrastructure maps, there is difficulty locating water and sewer mains for maintenance and repairs. Unorganized documentation system for recording components, repairs, and maintenance.
Chris Sokolowski, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Andrew Olson, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Provide technical assistance to new staff to help them be self-sufficient and comply with agency requirements, such as creating a site sampling plan, collection of water samples, testing of water quality, flushing program to maximize water quality throughout the infrastructure, data logging of chemical usage, water meter reading to calculate gallons used, review of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sampling schedule, communicating with EPA, and assist with submitting results. Provide new operators with study guides and resources to work towards obtaining their required licensing. Conduct Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of the water and wastewater system to create a current map of infrastructure components. Having a current map allows the operator to log maintenance and repairs, document the age of system components, and allow a lead service line inventory to be completed. Assist with project readiness and budget processes in both tribal and non-tribal areas.
Minnesota
Maintaining an aging infrastructure and having updated procedures in place for operations. Lack of a certified water operator, which could result in a violation. Lacking an Emergency Response Plan (ERP), Vulnerability Assessment (VA), or a current Disinfection By-product plan (DBPs). System facing a violation for failing to post Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Utilities have outdated infrastructure maps or no maps at all.
Hope Block, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
18 Trainings
35 State Revolving Funds Projects
Worked with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality to develop a Standard Operating Guideline Manual for Small Community Drinking Water Systems. Provide water operators guidance, exam preparation materials, and training to attain certification. Assistance in completing the Disinfection By-product plan (DBP) and Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Develop an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and Vulnerability Assessment (VA) to protect against potential threats. Assist with sampling techniques, measuring total chlorine levels, and the documentation process. Provide guidance on accounting software, bank reconciliation, budgeting, generating financial reports, and fulfilling required financial reporting. Assist rural communities and tribal nations in locating water and wastewater infrastructures and providing static maps.
Jessica Casey, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Jackie Luttrell State Field Manager
Aging solid waste compactor trucks experience frequent breakdowns and require maintenance, disrupting the effective disposal of solid waste. Limited funds for the utility to replace outdated equipment. Landfill lacking engineering design compliance requirements. High turnover of staff and board members. Balancing the cost of maintaining the system and setting aside funds for unexpected repairs and expenses.
Tri-County Landfill Crow Creek Sioux Tribe pictured with MAP, Inc. Kevin Coldsmith
(Top) MAP staff assisting operators locate missing valves and curb stops in North Dakota. (Below) Old ND gas station, photo by Brian Day
96 State Revolving Funds Projects
South Dakota
75 Federal Projects
Garrett Clark, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Assist in developing an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. Assist with completing a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) funding application, State Revolving Fund application, and Environmental Report. Navigate action items in USDA’s Letter of Conditions (LOC). Assist with developing a recycling program to prevent recyclable and hazardous materials from entering the landfill. Provide on-site training to operators to gain skills for necessary job duties and obtain certification. Work with finance officers to accurately record financial information and file required long-term debt reports. Provide board members with training to read financial reports, pass a budget, and run a legal meeting. Create an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and a Vulnerability Assessment (VA). Conduct rate studies for the water and wastewater department to ensure long-term capacity for rural communities and tribal nations. Evaluate options for regionalization between communities and the sharing of resources.
Photo by Brian Day.
83 Federal Projects
Kevin Coldsmith, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Helped secure $58,707,252 in leveraged funds.
Brian Day State Field Manager
North Dakota
Tyrel Owens State Field Manager
Steve Shope, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Helped secure $50,506,523 in leveraged funds.
138 State Revolving Funds Projects
Montana drinking water system, photo by Chad Thompson
45 Federal Projects
Assisted in locating funding to finance the purchase of a new well and maintained regular communication with the state to get the project permit awarded to the community. Provided guidance on Rural Development (RD) borrowing conditions. Assist communities and tribal nations develop the data and skills to use a Geographical Information System (GIS) in daily operations to record maintenance, manage assets, and related functions. Work with the city to meet the capacity development requirements of the Office of State Land Investments to receive application approval for the necessary funding. Some of the capacity development requirements included implementing new accounting software, separating water and sewer into enterprise accounts, rate analysis, and creating GIS-centric operations and a maintenance manual outlining the city’s new infrastructure.
Lance Goodman, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Helped secure $7,158,000 in leveraged funds.
Montana
Yellow flowers in Wyoming landscape. Photo by Tyrel Owens
William Meyer, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
42 Well Assessments
Lee Allen, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Devin Beal State Field Manager
Wyoming
Help to secure funding for a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the wastewater system upgrade. Assist with completing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Apply application for system funding. Conducted an income survey to verify the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) level. The survey determined that the LMI found in the census was inaccurate, which opened up additional funding options for the system upgrade. Assist with the renewal of the discharge permit and provide training on new system operation and maintenance. Complete an Emergency Response Plan for the system and provide updated GIS maps. Provide study materials for new operators to prepare for certification exams. MAP examined the treatment system with the operator and found the water softener set too high, causing excessive corrosion of the copper pipes. The system followed recommendations, and the copper levels remain in compliance. Facilitate regionalization projects allowing systems to share resources. Assist solid waste systems on tribal and non-tribal lands conduct rate studies, review operations, and apply for funding.
33 Trainings
Wyoming landscape photo by Tyrel Owens.
Chad Thompson, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
Degrading lagoon system, with lagoon cells leaking into nearby wetlands. Costly upgrades and repairs the system cannot afford. A school's drinking water had elevated copper levels and faced various violations. Outdated maps, procedures, policies, and unprepared for a disaster or emergencies. Poor drinking water quality. Illegal dumping of trash. Lack of staff and resources for solid waste systems.
10 Trainings
Tim Hardesty, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider
60 Federal Projects
39 State Revolving Funds Projects
Water system out of compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for exceeding the minimum contaminant level (MCL) for radium in the well they were using and exceeding the MCL for arsenic in the well they previously used. Challenges developing a documentation method to record water system asset type, location, repairs, and maintenance. A city’s infrastructure was installed in the 1900s and needed significant repairs. The community population is primarily comprised of residents with fixed incomes, and the city’s application for funding an infrastructure project was denied.
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) lost a dear colleague and friend in November of 2023. Josh held a Montana Class 4AB Certified Water Operator and Class 4C Wastewater License. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree from Rocky Mountain College and then served as a Water and Wastewater Systems Operator in Huntley, Montana ensuring both high quality drinking water for the community as well as maintaining wastewater operation and maintenance. Josh Jabalera became a member of the MAP team in March of 2015 as a Technical Assistance Provider in the state of Montana, with the responsibility of providing training, guidance, and technical assistance to water and wastewater systems. Josh has helped small communities and tribal nations to regain and maintain compliance on water and wastewater issues. Josh was experienced in operator training, public safety, sampling procedures, construction oversight, security, flood preparedness, disaster mitigation, and environmental issues that affect public health. Josh cared passionately about the utilities he served, was an energetic trainer and always eager to lend a hand to operators. He was a consummate professional and team player who exuded compassion, loyalty, competence, humility and commitment. Josh played a vital role in MAP's success and growth, as well as making an immense impact with communities and tribal nations in Montana. Josh's passing is a tremendous loss to all who knew him.
Brandon, South Dakota water tower with wind damage in 2022.
Josh pictured during various trainings, with MAP colleagues, and an impromptu airport run-in with famous actor Henry Winkler.
Wall of dirt from a derecho, straight-line wind storm, which hit in Toronto, South Dakota.
march 4, 1982 - November 27, 2023
Disaster Assistance
Technical assistance for disasters
"While natural disasters capture headlines and national attention short-term, the work of recovery and rebuilding is long-term." - - Sylvia Mathews Burwell
Preparing for emergencies and natural disasters is essential to managing any water, wastewater, or solid waste system. Each crisis has a unique effect on different parts of the system. By thoroughly planning and preparing for these emergencies, a system can explore vulnerabilities, make improvements, and have planned procedures in the event of a disaster. Responding to an emergency effectively will lessen safety threats to drinking water and prevent widespread bacterial contamination. Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) staff can work one-on-one with a system to identify emergency events and outline response steps and guidelines to return to normal operation by conducting a Risk and Resiliency Assessment and preparing an Emergency Response Plan (ERP). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates 18 weather-related disaster events occurred in 2022 and 15 in 2023 in the United States, costing at least 2 billion dollars. Through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), MAP, a Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc. (RCAP) partner, offers free training and technical assistance services to rural communities impacted by federally declared disasters. Who is eligible? Water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste systems in rural areas with populations up to 35,000 may be eligible for assistance if they were damaged by Presidentially declared disasters in calendar year 2022. Eligible program activities include on-site technical assistance to support post-disaster mitigation, emergency preparedness, recovery assistance, identifying and evaluating solutions to address disaster-impacted systems' challenges, helping communities develop and prepare applications for water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater loans and grants, and delivering critical disaster and resilience training and resources to system personnel.
Tribute to Joshua Jabalera
Water operator TRAINING
www.map-inc.org/training.html
Upcoming Training
MAP Staff Highlight: Stephanie Ross
"Stephanie Ross understood that we were new at the water industry so she came to us to help keep our water system in compliance. Stephanie has been timely in communication and understanding about gathering data. She was very accommodating in coming in to help us when needed. After a site visit and collecting data and information on the Warsaw R-IX School water system, she has provided us in support in every way. We were able to resolve our current concerns and she has helped us look into future options and towards the bigger picture." – Mr. Snider, Director of Maintenance and Mr. Gemes, Superintendent of Schools, Warsaw R-IX School District
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) offers on-site and virtual training each month at no cost to attendees throughout Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The training benefits utility operators, board and council members, clerks, elected officials in the areas of water, wastewater, solid waste, and management. Water operations training is designed to educate operators on topics including mathematics, hydraulics, pumps, motors, safety, and regulations. This training provides guidance on maintaining the distribution system operation, maintenance, repair and replacement techniques. Wastewater Operator training to help wastewater operators identify Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) causes, the effect on the wastewater system, methods to identify I&I, and provide hands-on experience with smoke testing equipment. MAP staff provide training to city staff, clerks, finance officers, and auditors for completing financial reporting, bank reconciliation, budgeting, setting utility rates, preparing for an audit, grant and loan requirements, and record keeping. Private well educational seminars provide an overview of water well best practices and procedures including: well system components, wellhead management, contaminants, and testing. Virtual training is provided throughout the year on topics such as: Lead and Copper Rule/Lead Service Line Inventory, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Updates, and many more!
by Kristina Hartley, State Field Manager, Missouri
Wastewater operator
virtual training
Various equipment displayed and demonstrated during a MAP training.
WELL Owner training
clerk/finance training
Check out upcoming training!
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) is proud to feature Stephanie Ross, Project Manager/Technical Assistance Provider, in Missouri. With over fifteen years of dedicated service in technical assistance, Stephanie Ross has left an indelible mark on the landscape of sustainability at local, state, and federal levels. Her journey, rich with experience and expertise, has been nothing short of extraordinary. From her early days as a Conservation Technician to her current role as a Technical Assistance Provider at MAP (Midwest Assistance Program), Stephanie has consistently demonstrated a passion for protecting Missouri communities and our environment. Her diverse background, ranging from positions at the United States Department of Agriculture to roles in engineering consulting and public works management, has equipped her with a unique skill set and deep understanding of environmental issues. At MAP, Stephanie is a beacon of knowledge and guidance, utilizing her extensive education and experience to assist rural communities in navigating the complexities of water and wastewater infrastructure. As a licensed water operator and a certified solid waste technician in Missouri, Stephanie brings a wealth of technical expertise to her role. One of Stephanie's greatest strengths lies in her ability to bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and community development. She works tirelessly to ensure that rural communities meet regulatory standards and thrive economically. Stephanie's dedication extends beyond the technical realm; she plays a pivotal role in organizing citizen support for community projects and fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents. Stephanie's impact reverberates through her creation of essential environmental reports, risk management plans, and owners' management oversight manuals for water and wastewater utilities. Her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to excellence set her apart. Stephanie Ross is not just a colleague but a mentor, trailblazer, and friend. She is an advocate for a sustainable future. Her contributions to environmental conservation inspire us all to strive for a greener, healthier planet. We are honored to have Stephanie as a part of our team and look forward to witnessing the continued impact of her work for years to come.
find us online!
MAP's nine-state region
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. 309 E SummIT Drive Maryville, mo 64468
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP), the Midwest RCAP, assists rural drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste utilities in finding solutions to their infrastructure needs. Since 1979, MAP has been helping rural utilities and tribal nations in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to build financial managerial and operational capacity. Through MAP's individualized support, rural communities, tribal nations, water and wastewater districts, homeowner's associations, lake associations, and other small utilities find solutions to sustain infrastructure safely and efficiently while revitalizing the communities. MAP's professional and competent staff are committed to rural America's strength and future vitality.
Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. Phone: 660-562-2575 Email: map@map-inc.org Website: www.map-inc.org Source Mission: To provide information for the clients of the Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) to better understand the programs and services offered, help improve their communities and tribal associations, and showcase the expertise of MAP employees.
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Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) is a member of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP).