Buffalo Grove Manager Receives Public Works Award

BUFFALO GROVE, IL -- The village of Buffalo Grove and a manager with the village both received awards from the Lake Branch of the Chicago Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) at an awards presentation held on January 15, village officials said. Forestry and Grounds Manager Tom Milas received the 2019 Professional Manager of the Year Award from the APWA. Milas was recognized for inspiring excellence, and for providing leadership and dedication to the public good in the area of facilities and/or grounds maintenance.

Among his major accomplishments considered in the award designation included Milas’ successful management of the Buffalo Grove Emerald Ash Borer project, the improvement of general maintenance procedures and programs within the Public Works Department, and for creating ecologically responsible alternatives to traditional landscaping plans, according to a news release.

The village of Buffalo Grove was also honored with the Management Innovation Award for Efficient Service Delivery, which recognizes creative or innovative ideas that improve the delivery of public services. Among the tools utilized by the village considered for the award designation were digitizing daily vehicle checks (which eliminated the need for paper), using interns instead of a consulting firm to inspect storm structures, and for posting benchmark and construction projects information to a publicly viewable map through GIS (geographic information systems).

“The Village is proud of Mr. Milas for his leadership and innovation in the Public Works Department,” said Village Manager Dane Bragg. “In addition to Public Works, all of our departments are consistently striving to innovate and improve service delivery for residents and businesses; these awards signify we are actively succeeding at achieving these goals.”

PHOTO VIA THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE

Photo caption: (left to right) -- Leo Morand, Lake Branch Awards Committee, Greg Summers, Lake Branch President, Buffalo Grove Forestry and Grounds Manager Tom Milas and winner of the Professional Manager of the Year Award and Buffalo Grove Civil Enginner II Kyle Johnson. Photo credit: village of Buffalo Grove