MERRILLVILLE — The Merrillville Stormwater Utility has received one of the highest honors, the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. This award recognizes Indiana’s leaders who have implemented outstanding environmental strategies into their operations and decision-making processes. The Governor's Awards recognize only exemplary efforts which demonstrate significant, measurable results and are innovative, comprehensive and thoroughly documented. The 54th Court Bioremediation and Roadway Runoff Control project was recognized in the “Greening the Government” category and was a joint effort of the Merrillville Stormwater Utility, the Arsh Group, Blade Cutters Landscaping and Robinson Engineering, as well as supported by the surrounding residents, the Town Council and the Merrillville Environmental Resource Committee. A special review committee which included representatives from industry, academia, environmental organizations and government selected the Merrillville Stormwater Utility for this honor.
The award was received during the Assn. of Indiana Solid Waste Management District’s annual conference in Bloomington, where the IDEM invited Merrillville Town Councilman Richard Hardaway and Executive Director Matt Lake to the awards ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the town. This is the first time that a stormwater utility has received a governor’s award.
