May 31, 2023
CONTACT: Lindsey Wiles
Communications Manager
lwiles@mariettaga.gov
770.794.5509
MARIETTA – The City of Marietta’s Public Works Department has recently received full accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA). This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.
Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA is for a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process that builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.
The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs, and its employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in the continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.
“I am extremely proud of our Public Works Department for working tirelessly to achieve this highly coveted designation,” said Public Works Director Mark Rice. “Our crews make it possible for the City to maintain cleanliness, structure, and a good traffic flow for both residents and visitors. We strive to provide services and programs that contribute to making Marietta a wonderful place to live work and play.”
APWA’s accreditation process includes five major steps:
• Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, an internal review of an agency’s practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual;
• Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application;
• Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices into an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices;
• Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
• Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendations from the team, voting to award or deny accreditation.
Formally awarded the prestigious accreditation by APWA’s Accreditation Council, the Marietta Public Works Department is the sixth agency in the State of Georgia. In addition to Marietta, the accredited agencies in Georgia include DeKalb County, Columbus Consolidated Government, and the cities of Atlanta, Covington, and Roswell.
For more information about APWA Accreditation, please contact APWA Accreditation Manager, Nicole Shoemaker at nshoemaker@apwa.net, or (816)595-5294.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization with more than 31,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy, and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, has an office in Washington, DC, and 63 chapters in North America.