City departments earn rare national reaccreditation

The city's departments of Public Works and Environmental Services earned a reaccreditation from the American Public Works Association.

The departments met all requirements of the best management practices established by the association. A news release indicates only 1% of communities nationwide have attained this distinction and that Springfield is one of eight in Missouri to do so.

“Especially during this challenging time with the pandemic, this is a phenomenal achievement for the city of Springfield and the community you serve,” said Joe Johnson, Region 6 director for the national board of APWA, in the release. “By obtaining accreditation, it improves the trust and accountability of the city and reflects that these public works agencies are well managed and operate proactively."

Initiatives from the departments that were highlighted by the APWA include the city's emergency operations manual, capital improvement programming and a citywide recycling program.

“Our APWA reaccreditation recognizes our departments’ continuing efforts to go above and beyond national standards to provide the best possible services to our citizens," Public Works Director Dan Smith said in the release.

The city's Public Works Department manages more than 1,700 lanes of roadways, 140 traffic signals, 38,000 traffic and street signs, and Hazelwood Municipal Cemetery. Environmental Services oversees around 1,200 miles of sanitary sewers and the guidance of wastewater to the city's two treatment plants, which process 40 million gallons daily on average.