MVSD Water plant's chief tells board he's retiring Sept. 1

The chief engineer has been with the district since 1976.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- The head of the plant that supplies water to more than 300,000 residents and businesses in the Mahoning Valley is leaving.
Dave Tabak, chief engineer at the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, announced his retirement, effective Sept. 1, to the board of directors during Wednesday's meeting.
Tabak, 49, declined to give details on what he plans to do after retirement, saying only that he's recently been presented with several opportunities.
"It wasn't an easy decision, but it's a decision I had to make," he said. "You would question my sanity if I didn't jump at some of these opportunities."
Directors said they were sad to see Tabak leave the MVSD but thanked him for the "top-notch job" he's done.
Tabak has worked at the MVSD since 1976, when he was hired as an engineering draftsman. He became acting chief engineer in October 1986 and was appointed chief engineer in February 1987.
Tabak earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Youngstown State University, and he is a Youngstown native.
He said his plans are to stay in the Mahoning Valley.
Tabak earned about $69,000 annually.
Few employees
In other personnel matters, Tabak informed directors of the need for more employees in several departments.
Recent retirements in the field maintenance department leave that area with only six full-time employees, Tabak said.
Other departments are also short-staffed, with employees working several hours of overtime each week to make sure all shifts are adequately staffed.
He recommended directors hire four full-time and two part-time workers in field maintenance, one full-time and two part-time patrolmen for the security department, and three assistant operators in the purification department.
Tabak said hiring additional employees would cut down on the "exorbitant amount of overtime" the district is now paying.
Directors took no action on the recommendation.
slshaulis@vindy.com