'A Positive Will Always Beat A Negative'- Julius Trapp Retires

A Positive Will Always Beat A Negative

Julius Trapp White Cloud/Sherman Utilities Authority Manager Retires

Story and photos by Charles Chandler
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On February 5th, a cold and blustery afternoon, many friends, family, and co workers gathered in the banquet room of the White Cloud Eagles #4170 at 461 N Evergreen to celebrate our own Julius Trapp’s retirement.

For the past 16 years Julius a good friend and family man has served as manager of the White Cloud/Sherman Utilities (WCSUA).  Julius, along with Office Manager Becky Freeman, Senior Operator Stan Stroven Jr. and Maintenance Technician Josh Frantz operating with oversight from the five person board of the White Cloud/Sherman Authority serves over 1100 customers and maintains our complex sewage treatment facility and... 

...collection network. The extensive WCSUA service area includes customers in the City of White Cloud, Sherman Township and others around Robinson Lake, Long Lake and Crystal Lake.

Julius has been the perfect man for this job, a dedicated professional always representing the best interest of his customers and finding the best solutions for the many problems associated with maintaining an aging sewage treatment facility and system. One that included a central pumping station, settling ponds, lift stations and about 30 miles of main collection lines and a large irrigated grey water field.  

The physical side of his job was demanding, sometimes dangerous and required him to be on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week year in and year out, good weather of bad in order to respond to a failing lift pump, plugged collection line, or some piece of worn out equipment that up and died at an inappropriate time.

His management responsibilities were not as dangerous but often continuous as he maintained certifications and met system requirements from regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, OSHA, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and the Health Department.

In addition, Julius often worked with engineers to develop asset management plans for the WCSRA, stood in board meeting and public hearing and defended his recommendations for necessary refurbishments and upgrades that would keep our sewage system operating.  After these plans were finally approved he helped secure equitable financing for those recommendations.

An example of this dedication was in his last week of work he was able to complete an important technology project by getting the WCSUA incorporated into the Newaygo County GIS system for easy public access and viewing.  All done with a positive attitude and even temperament, his byword was “a positive will always beat a negative and it is my honor to serve our customers.”  

It may have been cold outside on that Sunday afternoon but it was certainly warm inside the Eagles banquet hall as between 150 and 200 folks gathered to share stories and a tasty meal and to thank Julius for his professionalism and years of dedicated service.  Becky, Stan, Josh, Niece Annie Trapp and other family members helped organize the surprise retirement celebration for Julius.  

​On Sunday afternoon they called him and pretended that there was a problem with the sewage system and as always he was soon there in work clothes ready to deal with the problem.

​The only problem that afternoon was finding a parking place and a seat in the overflowing Banquet hall.

Julius, from all of us, the best to you. We are going to miss your smile, infectious laugh, easy wave and dedication to keeping everything running down hill.

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