The top leadership role at the Henry County Water Authority is changing for the first time in four decades.

Lindy Farmer, who became the authority’s official general manager in 1982, announced recently that he is retiring at the end of this year. Tony Carnell, the current deputy manager, was named Farmer’s successor effective January 1, 2022.

Under Farmer’s leadership, the HCWA has won numerous facility and system awards while experiencing explosive growth in every part of the county. The Tussahaw plant is a three-time selection as Georgia’s Water Plant of the Year. The Authority’s other water treatment facility – the Towaliga plant – also is a past Plant of the Year Award recipient, bringing home this honor in 2015 and most recently in 2019. And all three of the HCWA wastewater treatment plants are past Plant of the Year Award recipients.

“I’m very proud to have been a part of so many accomplishments and to have provided a steady hand during my 40 years leading this Authority while we built something special – from a small rural system that had a dozen or so employees when I started, to a model water utility in the state and region, with some of the best employees in the industry,” said Farmer.

“I was blessed to have worked with great leaders on our board as well, who had a vision and understanding that water and sewer infrastructure is vital to the quality growth of our community. During my time as general manager, I wanted my leadership and presence to provide the consistency and advocacy necessary to create an award-winning Authority.”

A product of Henry County public schools, Carnell has 27 years of experience at the HCWA, beginning as an engineering technician in 1995, and then advancing to staff engineer before becoming the manager of engineering until 2006, when he was promoted to division manager. He served as the head of the Engineering Division until advancing to deputy manager under Farmer in 2014.

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work for this Authority for 27 years now, and for the opportunity that Mr. Farmer provided me to be his deputy manager for the past seven years,” said Carnell. “His mentorship and support have been instrumental in preparing me to take this next step in my career and among the leadership of the authority. He will truly be missed by our staff and the community at large. It’s an honor and a blessing to follow Mr. Farmer as the next general manager, and I appreciate the support and confidence the authority board has in me to lead this organization into the future.”