Visionary. Pioneer. Leader. Public Servant. These were some of the words said to describe former Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) General Manager Lindy Farmer, Jr. during the recent ceremony to dedicate the Tussahaw Reservoir in his honor.
Lindy Farmer Reservoir
Approximately 150 guests, including HCWA employees, retirees, and local dignitaries, gathered near the monument placed at the entrance of Tussahaw Island – the Authority’s public use area where anglers and boaters access the newly named Lindy D. Farmer, Jr. Reservoir – to celebrate the career of the utility’s first General Manager and commemorate his dedication to building a world-class water and sewer system for Henry County.
“For over four decades, Lindy Farmer served this Authority with unwavering commitment, exceptional leadership, and a visionary approach that continues to benefit our citizens every single day,” said Carlotta Harrell, Chair of the Henry County Board of Commissioners and former member and officer of the HCWA. “Under his guidance, we transformed from a small, rural operation into one of the southeast’s leading water utilities.”
Harrell went on to list some of the numerous awards received by the Authority while Farmer was at the helm, including Plant of the Year Awards for the best run facilities in Georgia.
“Lindy’s true legacy extends far beyond the awards. It is seen in the peace of mind of countless families who have never had to question the safety or reliability of their water supply,” added Harrell.
“Having known Lindy over the last 40 years, I don’t know of anyone more deserving to have something named in their honor than Lindy Farmer,” said Warren Holder, Chairman of the HCWA Board of Directors. “He was mentored by many good people and was a mentor to many others. He operated the Authority as a team and as a family, and he was able to get everyone to work so well and closely together, thanks to the leadership he continually provided.”
Farmer Reservoir is the Largest Reservoir in Henry County
The Lindy D. Farmer, Jr. Reservoir is the largest of the five drinking water storage reservoirs owned and operated by the HCWA. It is 1,466 acres in size and holds 9.78 billion gallons of water at full pool. This reservoir supplies raw water for finished drinking water production at the HCWA Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant.
The HCWA finished construction on the reservoir and closed its gates in 2005, with the Lindy Farmer Reservoir reaching full pool and opening for business alongside the Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant in 2007.
“The renaming of the Tussahaw Reservoir to the Lindy D. Farmer, Jr. Reservoir is well deserved,” said Gary Mayo, the authority’s former Deputy Manager. “Lindy’s 40 years as the General Manager of the Authority is an unprecedented achievement in the state. His day-to-day leadership and management style made the Authority one of the best run organizations around. We worked as a family, and we were made to feel like our job was just as important as any other. I was blessed to have the best 26 years of my career at the authority thanks to him.”
Present-day GM Carnell Reflects on Farmer’s Leadership
HCWA General Manager Tony Carnell served as the Master of Ceremony during the dedication event. The water authority held the event immediately following the HCWA Board’s May meeting and annual strategic planning session. According to Carnell, it was the perfect time to honor the utility’s past leadership, while he and the current Board and staff look to continue the pursuit of excellence in the future and build upon the foundation Farmer and others have provided.
“Lindy Farmer could have chosen anyone to become Deputy Manager, but he chose me, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity he provided me and for what he has meant to me personally and professionally,” says Carnell, referring to his appointment as Mr. Farmer’s Deputy Director in 2014. “I had the pleasure of serving as his Deputy for seven years, and I consider him to be my mentor. I witnessed many great accomplishments under Mr. Farmer’s leadership.”
Carnell referenced several milestones he attributed to Mr. Farmer’s vision and leadership. They include the following:
- establishing an engineering department and professional standards that lead the industry;
- successful completion of six bond issues or bond refinancing;
- construction of the HCWA Administrative Complex (the headquarters campus in McDonough) in 2000;
- a defined benefits plan for employees; and
- several inter-connections with neighboring utilities or jurisdictions for redundancy and supplemental services, especially in the case of emergencies.
Reservoir is Open on Wednesday through Sunday for Public Use
The Lindy D. Farmer, Jr. Reservoir and its public use area at Tussahaw Island are open to customers on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, through the end of November, with the purchase of an HCWA Reservoir Use Permit. It continues to be a popular destination for anglers, evident in the approximately 2,000 customers who access the reservoir annually.
This article was reprinted from a Henry County Water Authority press release. Featured image shows HCWA General Manager Tony Carnell, former GM Lindy Farmer and HCWA board members. HCWA photo.