Excellence Award Program

Background___________________

The Maine Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA), in conjunction with the Institute for Municipal Engineering (IME), established an annual state wide Public Works Excellence Awards Program to recognize projects which demonstrates quality, innovation, value, and community satisfaction. The program began in 1997 with Mike Paradis and his fellow IME Board Members designing and developing the program with the financial support of the Chapter.

The APWA Awards Committee makes every effort to make the program fair to all APWA members regardless of size. All APWA members are urged to submit an entry. While only a few projects will ultimately win awards, there are truly no losers in this contest. Participation in the program boosts public works morale, improves community relations, promotes a positive image, and provides state-wide publicity.

Any State of Maine Municipality is eligible to enter the contest.

1. Projects entered in competition may have been built anywhere in the state and must have been substantially performed by, and under the direction of, the municipality. Construction of projects must have been substantially completed and in use between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004.
2. Entries may deal with any category for which it is eligible. Municipalities may enter any number of projects in the APWA competition.
3. Each entry must be accompanied by a one page description of the project, before and after photos, and an explanation of how the work was accomplished, by who, when, and at what cost as indicated under the section on "How to Submit an Entry".
4. Submission materials will be returned following the awards presentation. Winning submissions will be incorporated into display panels and will be retained by APWA for publicity purposes. Entrants will be notified where their panels have been exhibited and when their panels may be reclaimed.
5. Follow this link for help on how to submit and entry form.

Category A is for projects from communities with 20 or more public works employees.

Category B is for projects from communities with between 5 to 20 public works employees.

Category C is reserved for projects from small municipalities with less than 5 employees.

The Public Works Excellence Awards will be judged by a panel of five people, chosen by the Maine Chapter of American Public Works Board of Directors, after all applicants have submitted their applications.

Entries will be judged on the basis of overall excellence. Three awards will be given for first, second and third place. All entries will receive a certificate of appreciation for participation at the awards presentation.

Entries will be judged on the basis of the work performed by the entering municipalities only, and in accordance with the rating guidelines listed below. Winners will be notified by telephone upon completion of the judging. Public announcements will be withheld until the awards presentation. Municipal officials of winning projects will be invited to the awards presentation.

Two plaques will be given to the first place winner of the APWA Excellence Awards Program in each of the three categories, one to be displayed at the public works office and one for the municipal office. The second and third place projects will receive framed certificates. No more than one award winner may come from the same municipality.

Entries submitted must be postmarked no later than April 30th of the entry year. Judging will take place the in May and the winners will be notified in late May. Awards will be presented to each winner at the Annual Highway Congress on the first Thursday in June. Winners are urged to bring their project team to the show so they may all take part in the recognition and awards ceremony.

Rating guidelines for judging.

1. Originality/New Applications of Existing Techniques

2. Meeting the Community Social/Economic/Environmental Expectations

3. Complexity /Technical Value

4. Quality and Workmanship

All rating system categories are equally rated.

DEFINITIONS OF RATING GUIDELINES

1. Originality/ New Application of Existing Techniques:

- Does the entry represent any new approach or provide the general public a different perspective or awareness of their environment?

- Does the entry represent a unique mix of different techniques, materials, or equipment?

2. Meeting the Community Social/Economic/Environmental Expectations:

- Does the entrant’s solution provide unforeseen benefits?

- Does the entrant’s role provide the municipality with any useful advancement of social environmental or economical needs?

- Are public health, safety, or welfare enhanced as a result of the entrant’s role in the project?

- Does it appear to be an economical and cost-effective solution?

- How closely does the entrant’s solution meet the total goals of the community?

- Does the entry meet and justify its original concept?

3. Complexity /Technical Value:

- Does the entry involve very complex criteria or types of problems to be addressed?

- Were extraordinary problems of site location, hazardous conditions, project requirements, or similar elements present?

- Does the entry require out-of-the ordinary technology and ingenuity for achievement?

- Does the entry advance the state of the Public Works Community?

4. Quality and Workmanship:

- Does the project reflect the quality and workmanship the community expects?

- Does the project convey a positive image to the public?

- Was the projects completed mostly by in-house personnel?

Entry Form___________________

2006 Entry form and information  (click here). Print out this form and send it in with your supporting documentation.

2006 Excellence Awards_______________

The winners of this year's Maine Chapter APWA Public Works Excellence Award are as listed below. The annual Excellence Award program is our attempt to identify outstanding municipal public works projects in Maine. The Chapter is proud to have these projects represent the public works profession and our association. The 2006 winners by category were:

Category A - Large City

1st Place: City of Augusta Public Works: Hatch Hill Landfill Upgrade

2nd Place: City of Lewiston Public Works: Utility Coordination

3rd Place: City of Portland Public Works: Woodford St and Marlow St Sewer Separation and Street Reconstruction

Category B - Large Town or small City

    No Projects Submitted

Category C - Small Town

1st Place Town of Richmond Public Works: Beetle Road Reconstruction

2nd Place Town of Monmouth: Mills Street Rip Rap Proje

Congratulations to all for a job well done!

2001 Excellence Awards_______________

Category A

1. City of Waterville - Mayflower Hill Road Culvert Relining

1. City of Portland - Forest Avenue Emergency Construction Project - The Other Big Dig
2. City of Lewiston - Webster Street @ Alfred A. Plourde Parkway Intersection Improvements

Category B

1. Town of Brunswick - Hillside Road Reconstruction

1. City of Saco - Spring Street Storm Drain Project
2. City of Westbrook - Revitalization of the Presumpscot River Footbridge

Category C

1. Town of Fryeburg - Sanborn Estates Road Rehabilitation

1. Town Monmouth - Norris Hill Road Reconstruction (Phase III)

2000 Excellence Awards_______________

Category A

1. City of Portland - "Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Program"
2. City of Lewiston - "Downtown Riverfront Bicycle and Pedestrian System"

Category B

1. Farmington - "Baily Hill/Cascade Brook Multi Plate"

Category C

1. Town of Corinna-"Bridges Project"
2. Town of Turner - "Lower Street Reconstruction (Phase I)
3. Town of Monmouth - "Ridge Road Phase II"

1999 Excellence Awards_______________

"The 1999 Winners"

Pictured (front row, left to right), Mark Pinette, City of Portland; Dan Burr, Town of Cumberland; Eric Dudley, City of Lewiston; Mike Delaware, Town of Dexter; Herb Whittier, Town of Monmouth.
(back row, Scott Lamb, Roger Malone, Norm Bracy and Kevin Noyes, all City of Portland)

Category A.
1. Portland - John Ford Monument Project
2. Lewiston - Grove Street and Crowley Road Rehabilitation

Category B.
1. Dexter - Lincoln Street Bridge
2. Cumberland - Town of Cumberland Municipal Building Category

Category C.
1. Monmouth - Ridge Road Reconstruction