City of Fort Morgan issued the following announcement on June 3.
Paul Erickson was 25 years old when he started working for the City of Fort Morgan on August 4, 1980. The city gas superintendent was Paul’s neighbor and asked him one weekend if he was interested in a job at the city.
Paul went to the gas department, filled out paperwork, and was hired on the spot. His beginning salary was a little over $2 an hour.
Paul has continuously worked in the gas department since then – for 40 years, something nearly unheard of in this day and age Paul has done virtually every job possible in the gas department. He dug trenches and holes for new pipe and services, often by hand, and assisted with welding. During installation of gas services, Paul would help carry and lay pipe by hand. It is estimated that half of the existing city gas system was constructed during Paul’s tenure.
He has also worked on meter maintenance and installation, but a large part of his responsibilities has been performing leak surveying of the gas distribution system throughout the entire city. Years ago, when the system was half the size it is now, Paul would walk and check the entire gas system for leaks every year, fixing leaks as they were found. Paul has continued to conduct the annual leak surveys, but now that the system is much larger, every area of town is covered in a five-year rotation. In the last 40 years, the city has never had an explosion or major safety incident relating to a natural gas leak. The safety of the gas distribution system is due in large part to Paul’s diligence in checking for leaks and making repairs.
In 1994, a program was started to replace all cast iron gas mains in the system due to concerns of graphitization of the pipes which can lead to pipe failure. The replacement project was completed in 2004, 10 years after it began. Between the replacement of cast iron mains and the expansion project into the rural areas, Paul assisted in the placement of over 47 miles of PE gas pipe.
A lot has changed for Paul in 40 years. The gas department used to track every new service by hand-writing the details of the pipe, depth and direction on a “service card” maintained in numerous filing cabinets. Maps were drawn on by hand when new gas mains were installed. Today, information is drawn on AutoCAD and kept electronically.
Paul’s favorite part of his job is being with those he works with and interacting with and providing great customer service to citizens. In the past, gas department employees would go to citizens’ homes to turn on pilot lights, work on furnaces and change filters, etc. Often those trips would also include changing light bulbs or moving furniture for elderly citizens. Paul always enjoyed those types of interactions with people and being able to help them.
When residents use natural gas service to heat their homes and businesses, or water heaters and stoves, and everything works perfectly, think of Paul. All his years of hard work ensure that the gas system is safe and operating efficiently. Due to his and other gas department employees’ efforts, you don’t think about the natural gas system because it’s working and safe.
It is truly unfortunate that COVID restrictions on gatherings prevent the city from providing Paul Erickson with a proper retirement celebration. But if you see him around town be sure to wish him well. The City of Fort Morgan thanks Paul for all of his years of dedication and hard work, and hopes he enjoys fishing in retirement.
Original source can be found here.
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