Evanston Public Works, Utilities Departments Could Be Changed

The city of Evanston’s Public Works and Utilities departments could be combined, eliminated or realigned.

City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz announced in a city memo Tuesday both departments will report directly to Assistant City Manager/CFO Marty Lyons, who will temporarily leave his role as Director of Administrative Services to work full-time on “an examination of the services provided by the Public Works and Utilities departments.”

Lyons will work closely with Directors Dave Stoneback and Suzette Robinson on both day to day operations and to examine how the services provided by both departments can better align with City goals and community standards, Bobkiewicz said.

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“ I believe this examination will result in the elimination of both departments and the creation of a new department or departments to better deliver these core services,” he said. “I have asked Mr. Lyons to evaluate the value of bringing in outside experts if needed to best measure resources and efforts used in providing existing services. These evaluation efforts are primarily focused on to how best leverage the outstanding efforts of the men and women working every day in the field in these departments rather than identify alternative outsourced ways to provide these services.”

The city manager added he believes the Fleet Services function “no longer fits the mission of these departments,” transferring the division to the Department of Administrative Services.