Nick Mirage, the Utilities Division leader in Margate, has been crowned the Regional Achievement Champion at the 2025 ACCO Rodeo, showcasing his skills in a thrilling competition that took place on May 21 in Coral Springs. Mirage triumphed over 28 participants from 11 cities, including the Seminole Tribe, to secure first place in the fifth annual Public Works Backhoe Rodeo.

The event featured five challenging tasks designed to test the competitors' abilities, including a hard hat challenge, a rings challenge, and a unique "hole in one" task where participants used a backhoe to scoop balls from a sandbox and place them into a designated hole. Mirage excelled in two categories and clinched the overall title, surpassing his previous year's performance where he won one category.

During the city commission meeting, DEC Director Kirk Kaiser praised Mirage and his team for their dedication and professionalism, highlighting their readiness to respond to emergencies at any hour, regardless of weather conditions. Kaiser expressed gratitude for their hard work, stating, "These guys get out of nice warm beds and come out there on a minute's notice to fix whatever problem we have."

As a result of his victory, Mirage will represent the region in Tampa next April, with the potential to advance to the national competition in Chicago if he wins the state title. The city commission celebrated this achievement, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the hard work of public service employees like Mirage and his team.