Centennial, Colo., Celebrates Opening of City's First Public Works Department

Services Provided Through Partner CH2M HILL OMI

Sporting "City of Centennial" safety vests and hard hats, city officials today celebrated the launch of Centennial's Public Works Department -- a new city-managed organization that will provide a complete range of services including traffic engineering and operations, permit processing, inspections, administrative services, and street and roadside maintenance.

Led by Dave Zelenok, Centennial's public works director, the new department began operations with a brief ceremony including city officials and CH2M HILL OMI, the company contracted to provide all public works services. Then the team got to work around the city, patching potholes, mowing weeds, marking roads and crosswalks, and more.

"As our city has grown, so has our ability to effectively and efficiently manage a broader range of services for Centennial citizens. We're excited to add full public works management under the city's leadership," says Jacque Wedding-Scott, Centennial city manager. "Our partner CH2M HILL OMI will operate just like an extension of the city, serving people around the clock, every day of the year."

In April, Centennial selected CH2M HILL OMI as part of its aim to enhance levels of service to citizens. The city previously obtained public works services through Arapahoe County. Under the new contract, Centennial now directly controls public-works operations, relying on CH2M HILL OMI to implement services, meet high performance standards, and provide Centennial with a single point of contact for all public works issues. "We have an experienced, passionate, thoughtful team of people who are committed to and excited about delivering excellent service to Centennial citizens -- not only for today's department launch but also for years to come," says Don Howell, program director for CH2M HILL OMI. "It's a privilege for all of us to partner with a progressive city like Centennial."

The partnership will be guided under a five-year contract -- worth about $4 million for the remainder of 2008 and about $8.6 million in 2009 -- that the city must review and re-approve annually.

July 1 also marks the beginning for the new Centennial Call Center, a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week center to answer all questions and requests for the city, including public works. The new telephone number for all city services is 303-325-8000.

The City of Centennial is the seventh-largest city in the Denver metro area with just over 100,000 residents. Centennial was the largest incorporation of its kind in U.S. history when it was created in 2001. Centennial officially became a city on Feb. 7, 2001.For more information, visit www.centennialcolorado.com.

Clients in government and industry rely on CH2M HILL OMI to provide a range of custom-tailored operations and maintenance solutions. The company's services include water and wastewater system optimization; contract O&M of water, wastewater and other utilities; and complete municipal operations, including administration, public works and community development -- all backed by a commitment to safety, quality, innovation and customer service. Founded by CH2M HILL in 1980, the Englewood-based company serves clients in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.omi.ch2mhill.com.

Headquartered in Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, management and operations for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. With more than $5 billion in revenue and 24,000 employees, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2007). The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of energy, water, transportation, environmental, nuclear and industrial facilities. The firm has long been recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer, including being named by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For and one of America's Most Admired Companies (2008). For more information, visit www.ch2mhill.com.

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