Smartt makes big splash as pump station chief
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“I started working for the city when I was 19,” said Smartt. “I started on August 7, 1985. I never dreamed I would make a life-long career out of it but here I am.”
Smartt is over all the city pump stations, which gather sewage from homes and businesses and then pump it toward the waste water treatment plant.
“If a pump goes down, I’m your man,” said Smartt. “It’s my job to check the pump stations every day. I love my job. I have the best and easiest job in the world.”
Having the best job in the world has everything to do with whom you work for, says Smartt.
“Carl Davis is the best boss man you could ever ask for,” said Smartt. “He has faith in us and never rides our backs. It’s a trust system. We have trust in him and he has the same for us.”
Smartt admits that his job used to be very stressful with all the old equipment, but now things are a little easier.
“About 15 years ago, we started to reconstruct all the stations,” said Smartt. “Now, we have two pumps at each station. If one does down, we have the other as a backup until we can fix the one that malfunctioned. This year, we’ve only had three pumps go down. That’s not bad out of the 58 that we have.”
Even though his job is easier than it was 15 years ago, Smartt is still on call 24/7.
“Anytime they need me they will call,” said Smartt. “It doesn’t matter what time of the day or night. Unlike 15 years ago, I can usually handle the situation over the phone and then deal with the problem the next day.”
Along with all the pump stations, Smartt has three water towers and three booster stations he has to oversee.
“We are getting the glitches out of the new water tank,” said Smartt. “It’s working properly. The new water tank will allow for downtime on the other tanks.”
Even though Smartt loves his job, there is one aspect of his duties that he just doesn’t care for at all.
“Paperwork,” said Smartt. “We have a file cabinet jammed full of paperwork. I have to do a daily report, a weekly report, a monthly report and a yearly report. The state has to have their reports done a certain way. I hate paperwork.”
The McMinnville Water Department has been doing so well that the state only inspects it every other year.
“We have to be A+ in every department,” said Smartt, “or the state will inspect us every year. I’ve never dreaded an inspection. If you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, you have nothing to worry about.”