City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz announced that Dave Stoneback has been appointed the Director of the Evanston Public Works Agency. Mr. Stoneback has served as Director of the City’s Utilities Department since 2010 and before that as the City’s Water Superintendent beginning in 2003. He will lead the newly created agency responsible for water treatment, infrastructure maintenance, engineering, capital planning, refuse, recycling and forestry services. He work to complete the reorganization of the City’s public works operations into four bureaus by the end of the calendar year, said Mr. Bobkiewicz in a prepared statement.
During a career in Evanston that started in 1985, Mr. Stoneback has overseen numerous critical projects at the water treatment plant as well the operations of both the treatment plant and the field employees. Among his many accomplishments, Stoneback was the primary architect of the City’s Long Range Sewer Improvement Program, which was completed between 1996 and 2008. This $210 Million dollar project is the largest public works project ever undertaken by the City and dramatically improved the lives of the residents, virtually eliminating property damage due to backups in the City’s sewer system, which used to happen several times a year, said Mr. Bobkiewicz. He has also been instrumental in dramatically reducing the City’s energy costs through long-term contracts and in improving the City’s relationships with ComEd and Nicor. His most recent focus has been on spearheading the City’s negotiation with potential new wholesale water customers, Mr. Bobkiewicz added.
Stoneback graduated from Pennsylvania State University with an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Engineering and Bachelor’s Degree in Water Resources Engineering.
“Dave Stoneback brings a unique mix of engineering, management and infrastructure experience to this new position,” said Mr. Bobkiewicz. “He is the right person to lead the City’s public works operations as we begin a new chapter in our service to the residents of Evanston.”