Editor
The Union Township Service Department’s re-accreditation was announced at the Trustees meeting on September 24.
The American Public Works Association first accredited the department in 2011.
To be accredited, the department had to work through a manual of best management practices, of which there are over 500, said Matt Taylor, service director.
“It’s easy to say you do a good job but when you bring in an outside organization to examine everything and they say you do a good job that’s the transparency and that’s our report card to the residents, basically,” said Trustee John McGraw.
Not all of the practices apply, but Taylor had to go through all the practices that do apply and show proof that the department is doing what they say they are to give to the APWA, he said.
“It forces you to be efficient,” Taylor said.
When a department decides to try to become accredited, it signs a contract for three years, but many departments end up asking for extensions. Union Township’s department was ready in 15 months, Taylor said.
The service department did not need as much time to prepare as other departments have because employees were doing most of the practices, the department just didn’t have policies in place, Taylor said.
An APWA team comes in to review all of the department’s practices and at the end of their review either recommends the department for accreditation or not, Taylor said.
The accreditation lasts for four years. When a department is reaccredited, it goes through the same process, Taylor said.
“It obviously continues to solidify the fact that we are official and we are adhering to the best management practices,” Taylor said.
The APWA has 29,000 members and 104 accredited agencies, said Ann Daniels, director of accreditation.
“Four years ago when I was here I said wow, you’re just really wonderful. And you were. Then when we came back for re-accreditation, you’re just super wonderful,” Daniels said.
Daniels feels there has been a lot of growth in the service department and that the department is continuing to meet the highest level of service.
“Congratulations on a job well done,” Daniels said.
Ken Geis, Union Township administrator, said he was honored that Daniels presented the service department’s re-accreditation in person.
Trustee Matthew Beamer complimented the department on how well they’ve done and how much they’ve accomplished over the past four years.