Dustin Moises and Warren Rita were recognized as the Department of Water's Outstanding Employees of the Year during the Board of Water Supply's monthly meeting. From left: Raymond McCormick; Michael Dahilig; Randall Nishimura; Roy Oyama; Moises; Lawrence Dill; Rita; William Eddy; David Craddick; Darryl Kaneshiro; and Val Reyna.
By Staff Reports
(Kauai)– Department of Water Manager and Chief Engineer David Craddick and the members of the Kaua‘i Board of Water Supply, for the first time, recognized two Outstanding Employees of the Year during the Board’s monthly meeting. Warren Rita received honors as the department’s Outstanding Field Employee of the Year and Dustin Moises was recognized as the department’s Outstanding Office Employee of the Year.
Rita has devoted 24 years of service to the department beginning his career in 1988 as an entry level laborer. Over the years, Rita worked his way up and in 1998 was named lead pipefitter, a position he currently holds. He is also a certified Grade 2 distribution system operator.
“Warren has regularly received above-average job performance reports throughout his 24 years. He is very dependable, has a positive attitude and always strives to get the job done for the benefit of the department, its employees, and the people of Kaua‘i,” said Val Reyna, the department’s Chief of Water Operations. “He is readily available 24/7 to lend a hand and ensures that the task is completed and water service is restored before he leaves the jobsite.”
This kind of work ethic has resulted in Rita receiving numerous letters of commendation and letters to the editor in the newspaper throughout his years of service.
Rita attributes much of his success to his upbringing, training and support from home.
“I was taught that no matter how hard the job is, we have to do our best to complete the task and also do it right,” said Rita. “I am especially grateful to my wife and family for being supportive and understanding when I am not with them due to “after business hours” calls at any time of the night or day.”
Rita was also voted Employee of the First Quarter for 2011 and leader of the crew that was voted Employees of the Fourth Quarter for 2011.
Moises is the Waterworks project manager and acting Special Projects division head who oversees the design and construction of all capital improvement projects outlined in Water Plan 2020.
“Dustin has gone far beyond past Department performance in moving a full complement of source, storage, and pipeline replacement construction projects from design through completion,” said Craddick. “His consistent, high-paced work ethic was the key to infusing over $45 million of projects into our economy last year that involved replacing infrastructure that had outlived its usefulness.”
Craddick also noted that the projects required archaeological inventory surveys and monitoring plans, environmental assessments and impact statements, as well as permitting such as national pollution discharge elimination system permits and all associated procurement, which are extremely important technical matters for DOW projects.
Among the projects managed by Moises over the last year were the following:
Design:
- $349,000, Wailua Houselots Main Replacement
- $292,000, Waipouli Main Replacement along Kuhio Highway
- $242,000, Waipouli Road and Olohena Road Pipeline Replacement
- $907,000, Lîhu’e Baseyard Improvements
- $1.9 million Kahili Directionally Drilled Horizontal Well
- $750,000, ‘Anini Pipeline Replacement
- $332,000, Wainiha Well 2, Drill and Test
- $362,000, Kapa‘a Homesteads Well 4, Drill and Test
- $757,000, Kapahi 1.0 MG Tank and Connecting Pipeline
- $964,000, Kalâheo (Yamada) 0.5 MG Nursery Tank, Clearwell, Booster Pumps and Pipeline Improvements
Construction:
- $2.1 million project, 12-inch waterline along Kaumuali‘i Highway and Waimea Canyon Drive
- $3.3M, Waimea main replacement
- $2.54M, Piwa‘i storage tank and connecting pipeline
- $2.94M, Kapa‘a Homesteads pipeline replacement
- $2.07M, Wainiha booster pump stations and Hâ’ena steel tank renovations
- $2.68M, Kapa‘a water system pipeline replacement, Vivian Heights and Kana‘ele Road.
- $1.95M, ‘Ele’ele twin steel tanks rehabilitation
- $1.34M, Pipeline replacement along Wailua, ‘Ohana, Anolani and Kuamo‘o roads and Lehia Lane
- $2.25M, Waipouli main replacement, county roads
- $2.71M, Main replacement along Eiwa, Umi, Akahi, Elua and Hardy streets, and Alohi, Uiki and Lalei Place
- $3.2M, Nâwiliwili, Niumalu, and Kupolo pipeline replacement
- $2.35M, Maka Ridge renovation
- $560,000, Waimea well “A” renovation
“The funding sources for these projects include: the $60M Build America Bond issued in 2010, an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant; State Revolving Fund loans; appropriations form the State Legislature; and state Department of Health energy efficiency grants, each having complexities of their own to manage.” said Craddick. “With regards to the Build America Bond, Dustin has been essential in overseeing DOW projects and due to his diligence; we anticipate encumbering the remaining funds by next year.”
In addition to managing the department’s capital improvement projects, Moises has also been instrumental in revamping DOW’s general provisions for construction contracts and took the lead in creating the request for proposal document that will be used as the template for the procurement of all future DOW construction projects.
Further, Moises has been involved with developing training workshops with the Contractors Association of Kauai for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and trench excavation safety.
He has also assisted the Operations Division with emergency design and construction projects such as the ones that occurred last year in Anahola and Hanapçpç Valley.
“Dustin has engaged other divisions to work together in their efforts, and has done this without increasing staffing levels,” said Craddick. “He has accomplished all of this while delicately balancing his home life even with project completion demands.”
“I am fortunate to have a supportive wife and daughter in Kristi and Shealee, which has allowed me the time to focus on getting these projects through the various phases of design and construction completion, as well as, focus on other professional goals and community activities away from the office.” said Moises.
While grateful for the honor, Moises attributes much of his success to the team he works with. This includes: DOW Board members and management; fellow employees; other government agencies; and construction contractors and design consultants that have assisted him with moving Water Plan 2020 projects forward.
Moises initially joined the Department of Water as a student intern in 2001 and became a staff engineer in 2005 after graduating from the University of Hawai‘i at Mânoa with distinction.
He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in civil and environmental engineering, a Grade 3 – water distribution system operator license, and is a licensed professional civil engineer in the State of Hawaii.
Moises is also active in leadership at All Saints Church and participates in a community basketball league.