The City of Carrollton's commitment to excellence in Public Works has been recognized with three distinctive awards by the American Public Works Association (APWA) Texas Chapter, a demonstration of how local government can have a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of residents. The recognitions were announced last week during the APWA State Awards in McAllen, where Carrollton's effective responses to infrastructure challenges and community engagement stood out among peers.
A noteworthy achievement for Carrollton was receiving the Exceptional Performance Award in the Adversity category, acknowledging their responsive action during the May 28, 2024, storm that brought destruction reminiscent of an EF-1 tornado or Category 1 hurricane the city's preparedness and reactive measures resulted in quickly cleared roadways and repaired critical infrastructure enhancing safety for Carrollton residents. The "Exceptional Performance Award honors the department’s emergency response efforts and ability to provide excellent service while protecting the health and safety of Carrollton residents," as detailed in a City of Carrollton press release.
The Management Innovation Award highlights another area where Carrollton excelled, specifically its proactive approach to the Lead Service Line Inventory of 2024. Tasked with a federal mandate to identify lead and copper pipes in the water system, the Public Works Department integrated efforts across city departments and with a private contractor to eliminate uncertainty in their service connections, reducing the number of unknown lines from over 17,000 to zero in a mere two weeks, this initiative limited potential lead pipe notifications to residents and showcased the city's dedication to public health and environmental protection.
In addition to departmental honors, individual recognition was bestowed upon Joshua Cohron, Carrollton’s Public Works Manager, who took home the Drahn Jones Award for Excellence in Education for his influential role in fostering professional development and managing talent within the sector Cohron’s integral contributions include the establishment of the Public Works Apprentice Program, which pays individuals during an eight-week training period with the department and also involves mentoring by Cohron himself whose efforts to engage with the community include local hiring events and educational collaborations with schools and universities. "We were honored to be recognized at this year’s APWA Texas Chapter State Awards," Jody Byerly, Director of Carrollton’s Public Works, said in reflection of their achievements, as conveyed by a city press release.
