New York Rural Water Association

Well, a little about myself. I am 54 years old and have been married to my high school sweetheart, MaryLee, for over 35 years now.We have two lovely daughters, both happily married, and five of the greatest grandchildren we could hope for. With the exception of a short period, we have lived our lives in the heart of the Finger Lakes in the Village of Penn Yan. In March of 1970 I began working for the Penn Yan Municipal Board, a public utility providing water, sewer, and electric service to a village of approximately 5400 people at that time.A few months later, I assumed the position of working foreman for the water and sewer departments and so began an interesting career that spanned the next sixteen plus years.My crew was primarily involved in the maintenance aspect of the systems, but we were also actively involved in new construction of the water and sewer systems as the village grew and expanded the service area.Some day-to-day operations included: leak location and repair, wet taps from ¾" thru 12", fire hydrant maintenance-repair-replacement, valve and service box location, system mapping, transit operation, water and sewer plant maintenance, shop work including electric and oxyacetylene welding for steel fabrication, vehicle maintenance.We maintained a very healthy inventory, which even included an assortment of adapters for the old lead corps we encountered. A lot of you folks know what a nightmare those things are, I'm sure! Whoever came up with that strong, extra strong, double extra strong idea anyway?Among other things were the ever-present PAPERWORK involved and the operation of equipment and tools required in the performance of the work.During my time with Penn Yan Municipal Board, a new sewage treatment plant was built and put in service and since then, a new water treatment facility has served the community. The pristine Keuka Lake was, and continues to be, the water source for the village.In 1986, I began working for Loretta Simmons, an icon in the water industry, at Blair Supply Corp., accepting a sales position as she opened her branch office in Watertown, NY. While living in Sackets Harbor and Evans Mills for the next 4-½ years, we developed a sales territory covering upstate New York. As well as servicing existing accounts, I opened new accounts and developed relationships, which are still fondly regarded today. Boy, does a sales job ever broaden your horizon when it comes to availability of products, applications, and most of all - people!Due to circumstances beyond our control, we found it necessary to move back to Penn Yan but eventually continued my sales career with Blair Supply serving the Southern Tier and part of Pennsylvania from their branch in Avoca, NY. Following a brief period with RAMSCO, I went back into the construction industry where I enjoyed operating backhoe, excavator, and bulldozer, as well as driving trucks ranging from dump truck to triaxle and including tractor trailer.So, enough about me. It's time to be about the business of ME getting to know YOU!! Lookin' forward to that!

Dan Tousley, Circuit Rider III