City of Ironton employees are mourning the death of one of their own. On Sunday, Mike Shaw, superintendent of the wastewater department, died at an area hospital, according to Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship.

Shaw came to Ironton three years ago following an almost 30-year career for the city of Portsmouth.

“He came to us retired from Portsmouth and we were in the process of hiring someone for that position,” Blankenship said. “He really took over. He did a tremendous job for the city. His knowledge of that type of work was unbeatable. More than that, his personality and person were outstanding.”

Shaw, who had a class 4 operator’s license, oversaw a department of seven employees.

“He was very close to his workers and they liked him and he liked them,” Blankenship said. “They are really taking it hard.”