Ray Abbott, who has served as a plant maintenance mechanic for the Dare County Water Department since September 7, 2021, has been named Dare County Employee of the Month for March 2026. The prestigious award was presented to Abbott by Public Utility Director Jessica King during the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026. 

As a plant maintenance mechanic, Abbott is tasked with a variety of complex, technical duties, which include repairing equipment at Dare County’s water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations; inspecting and performing preventative maintenance on generators; repairing and maintaining equipment ranging from pumps, backhoes and excavators to tractors, mowers and trailers; as well as repairing or replacing large water meters, valves, fire hydrants and actuators; and fabricating parts that are no longer available.

During her Employee of the Month presentation, King noted that Abbott plays an integral role on the Dare County Water Department team and highlighted the fact that he has been instrumental in the completion of numerous off-season projects the department has undertaken in recent months. 

Public Utility Director Jessica King presents the award to Plant Maintenance Mechanic Ray Abbott.

“Ray proves himself every day to be a vital part of the water department team,” said King. “The area we live revolves around the tourist season, and water is no different. During the season, the focus is on water production. The off-season is the time for projects. This off-season has been full of critical infrastructure projects—and Ray has played a vital role in all of them.”

King went on to emphasize that Abbott’s contributions extend well beyond technical execution, underscoring the consistency, urgency and ownership he brings to each assignment—qualities that have proven especially critical given the time-sensitive nature of the department’s infrastructure initiatives.

“He goes above and beyond on every project to get the job done efficiently,” said King. “The majority of these projects come with a ticking clock. Ray’s ability to understand the importance of the task at hand allows him to get the job done.”

As she continued her presentation, King noted that, in addition to completing projects efficiently and effectively, Abbott also has the skills and experience to tackle complex and highly technical projects that frequently present unexpected challenges in the field—all while remaining calm and composed under pressure. 

“Each project also comes with unforeseen challenges; Ray is able to pivot with each challenge to make sure the job is completed correctly,” she said. “This winter, without Ray, we would not have been able to complete the projects that we did. His knowledge, skill and dedication are an incredible asset to the department and the county.”

Dare County Water Department Plant Maintenance Mechanic Ray Abbott holds his Employee of the Month certificate.

As she concluded her remarks and presented Abbott with the Dare County Employee of the Month award for March 2026, King praised him for his dedication to his duties, as well as the knowledge he imparts on his colleagues while working on the wide array of complex tasks he is responsible for completing on a daily basis.  

“His work ethic is admirable; every day he leaves work having accomplished something that is to the benefit of the department, whether it is a small task, such as cleaning up around a facility, or something larger, such as repairing a critical piece of infrastructure,” said King. “I personally have been able to spend time out in the field working one-on-one with Ray. I am grateful for each of those opportunities as it allowed me to learn so much. Working with Ray has shown someone who genuinely cares about the job they are doing, and someone whose goal is to leave a place better than they found it.”

For more information about the services provided by the Dare County Water Department, please click the button below or visit DareNC.gov/Water.