Retiring Madison Water Utility Manager Joe Demorett: Supplying a Legacy of Care & Support

On a warm October day, I sat down to interview Madison Water Utility’s Water Supply Manager Joe Demorett, or as we refer to him at the Water Utility, Joe D, in hopes of writing something meaningful for his impending November 22nd retirement date. As the sun streamed through his office windows, I carefully filled two pages with detailed notes: a reference to his unique Master of Science in Geomorphology and extended length of employment with the City of Madison, including his start as the City’s first hydrogeologist.

As I attempted to turn those notes into paragraphs, I realized, the essence of Joe D isn’t best found in a formal timeline of dates and achievements. Those who know Joe, know his legacy is most authentically honored in the way he leads through caring, both professionally and personally, for his team members and the City of Madison.

It's perhaps no coincidence with Joe’s retirement announcement comes at least two, if not three, additional retirements that might be subconsciously paired to waking up in a world where Joe D is no longer the Utility’s Supply Manager. Change is difficult, especially when Joe made doing what could often be a challenging job—ensuring quality water is continuously supplied to more than 250,000 people every day across 900 miles of various ages and materials of pipe—so navigable, so approachable.

Joe has this way about him that invites conversation. Team members know they can come to him with anything—from something as complex as problem-solving why intake levels may be unexpectedly down at a well site to as simple as taking a minute out of a hectic day for a restorative conversation about any topic under the sun.

Jay Chrisler, Water Utility Control Systems Technician, is grateful for Joe’s investment in him and his family, “He will be engaged in conversation with me and never have to rush off to cut things short. He values your opinion and is open to letting you roll your ideas into action with his support. He cares about your wellbeing.

He will ask about my children by name. He came to my daughter’s graduation party and stayed for the nickel tour of our place. Joe is a kind, easy-going and caring manager who treats you as a coworker. It is weird to never feel any fear that your ‘boss’ is coming.”

Operator Kara Jafferis also feels the pang of Joe’s retirement, “I’m going to miss having him to talk with. I’ve always said he was like my work father. It was comforting knowing he was always there. He laid an awesome groundwork for us.”

Throughout Joe’s career at Water, he made it a priority to focus on efficiency and safety. While the city hums and sleeps, our water system, under Joe’s supervision, is monitored 24-7, 365 days a year, by a rotating team in the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) room.

Joe’s efforts at the Utility ensured the SCADA system transitioned from radio communication to more efficient fiber optic communication. And he determinedly made sure that transition happened in the most cost-effective way possible for the city. Operators can now see in one glance, at any given time, across a set of computer monitors the performance of each well, booster pump, and water storage tower or reservoir in the system to quickly make any adjustments needed to keep each component operating at peak efficiency.

If there is a main break, they can quickly put in a call to action to Utility crews to restore water services as soon as possible to homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals.

SCADA Operator Karmjit Singh, one of the longest tenured employees with the Utility, has been under Joe’s supervision since he arrived in April of 2008. Singh feels great honor in being able to say this about his supervisor and friend, “Joe is a most compassionate soul who cares, listens, and has empathy towards people. He is the finest moral compass I have worked with.”

Chris Wilkins, Control Systems Engineer, may also find the end of Joe’s time at the Utility a bittersweet transition, “Joe has been my manager since I arrived at the utility, and I could not ask for a better supervisor. Joe has always given me the proper resources to do my job. Whenever there were any issues, he was always willing to listen and help me find a way to resolve them, no matter what time of the day or night it was! Joe has always had my back, and I will be forever grateful that I had the opportunity to work with him.”

Joe’s impact at the utility doesn’t stop at the operators he’s supervised. Crystal Dollard, Customer Service Supervisor, noted, “Joe is like family to me. He makes me laugh. He makes work enjoyable.”

In a fast-paced world where stress can run high, having coworkers who make your home-away-from-home a place you have fun, feel heard, and supported is priceless.

This support doesn’t end with the City of Madison, Joe knows that like Madison, most of Wisconsin gets their drinking water from a shared underground aquifer.  “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about how our cities are growing and spreading out and what that growth can mean for our water supply. Are there ways neighboring utilities like Madison, Verona, Mt. Horeb, can meet regularly to share our challenges and successes? How can we plan together now to protect our groundwater resources for years to come? This is what I am wondering.”

Here’s to Joe, who never stops wondering and caring for our water source and for the people who cross his path. He has left his mark both in positive actions for the City of Madison and in the hearts of his coworkers. His endless supply of support and dedication has most certainly left a legacy that runs deep. 

--Written by Jody Berndt, Madison Water Utility