The City of Carrollton’s Public Works Department was recognized in three different areas at the American Public Works Association (APWA) Texas Chapter State Awards last week in McAllen.  

The APWA State Awards honor the contributions of Public Works professionals who promote excellence in the industry.

Carrollton earned the Exceptional Performance Award, specifically in the category of Adversity, for what judges thought was an outstanding response to the straight-line wind event and debris removal effort from the May 28, 2024 storm. The windstorm was one of the most severe Carrollton has experienced in 40 years, with heavy rain and straight-line winds equivalent to an EF-1 tornado or Category 1 hurricane. When responding to the storm, crews mobilized for swift mitigation of roadway hazards and restoration of critical City infrastructure. 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.

Carrollton’s submission for the Lead Service Line Inventory conducted in 2024 received the Management Innovation Award, which recognizes the development, management, and implementation of a creative process or system that serves the public and protects the environment.

Federal mandate required public water systems assess and inventory all service lines within their distribution system for lead and copper pipes. As a result, Carrollton Public Works coordinated City departments as well as a private contractor to gather relevant historical data for identification. Thanks to the expertise and investigative efforts of Public Works staff, the number of unknown service connections in the City went from more than 17,000 to zero within two weeks. This significantly reduced the number of customers who would receive notices about potential lead pipes in service lines.

The Drahn Jones Award for Excellence in Education recognizes individual public works professionals for their work in engaging people of all skill levels with opportunities for professional development. Carrollton’s Public Works Manager Joshua Cohron received the award for his notable efforts to educate, recruit, and retain talent within the department.  

One of Cohron’s most impactful initiatives in Carrollton is the Public Works Apprentice Program, an opportunity for individuals to get paid while training with the department for eight weeks. Cohron has been directly responsible for mentoring program participants and expanding Public Works’ presence at local hiring events to recruit new apprentices. Additionally, he has formed relationships with local school districts and universities to attend events where he educates students of all ages on the importance of Public Works in the community.

“We were honored to be recognized at this year’s APWA Texas Chapter State Awards,” Jody Byerly, Director of Carrollton’s Public Works, said. “From the May 28 storm to the Lead Service Line Inventory, we had to rise to the challenges of 2024 while continuing to provide excellent service to customers. These three awards demonstrate how Public Works achieved exactly that for the Carrollton community.”

For a complete list of City accolades, visit cityofcarrollton.com/awards-accolades.