Buffalo Grove and its forestry manager honored for innovation, leadership

Buffalo Grove and Forestry and Grounds Manager Tom Milas were honored this week by the Lake Branch of the Chicago Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Milas received the 2019 Professional Manager of the Year Award for inspiring excellence and providing leadership and dedication to the public good in the area of facilities and/or grounds maintenance, according to the village. Among his major accomplishments were managing the Buffalo Grove Emerald Ash Borer project, improving general maintenance procedures and programs within the Public Works Department, and creating ecologically responsible alternatives to traditional landscaping plans.

The village received 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 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," Village Manager Dane Bragg said in an announcement of the awards. "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."