City of Augusta renames building, honors memory of longtime respected employee

The building that houses the city of Augusta's utilities department will be named for perhaps the department's most admired leader.

Former Utilities Director Tom Wiedmeier died in August 2020 from COVID-19 at age 59. A ceremony will unveil the building's new sign at 452 Walker St. at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20.

“Tom Wiedmeier’s legacy is one of dedication, innovation and a profound commitment to serving all residents of Augusta-Richmond County," current Utilities Director Wes Byne said. "It is only fitting that this building, which continues to be at the heart of our water operations, bears his name."

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Wiedmeier, a graduate of Augusta's Westside High School and Georgia Tech, had been the city's assistant utilities director in the late 1980s and 1990s, but left for a private-sector position before returning in 2009 as the new utilities director.

Wiedmeier earned a reputation for reliability and professionalism while spending years coaxing the best performance out of the oldest parts of Augusta's municipal water system.

"He was a warrior to the end – just like he was a warrior for the environment and for helping conserve natural spaces throughout his tenure," then-District 8 Augusta Commissioner Brandon Garrett said shortly after Wiedmeier's death. "Tom's compassion spilled over in the way he treated each individual he encountered."

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta's city utilities headquarters to bear former director's name