The head of Oakboro’s utilities department was honored recently by a state non-profit association.

At Monday’s meeting of the Oakboro Town Board, utilities director Reggie Bowers and his staff received an award from the North Caorlina Rural Water Association. The association operates under the authority of the North Carolina Secretary of State office to advocate for local water systems.

Jordan Jackson, a technical assistance program administrator and source water protection specialist, presented the award to Bowers and the staff.

Jackson said the town’s staff had “completed, updated and implemented their well head protection plan for the town.”

She added the plan is not required by the state.

“That’s what makes it awesome Oakboro went through the process to get their plan approved by the state. It’s all in the effort to protect the groundwater that the town used for their water supply,” Jackson said.