Champaign’s Public Works Director Dennis Schmidt has announced his pending retirement after more than 23 combined years of service to the City of Champaign. Schmidt’s last day of employment with the City will be July 10, 2020. Upon making his announcement Schmidt said, “I have served as the City’s Public Works Director for almost 16 years and I have been a Civil Engineer for more than 45 years. I have never been part of a better team than the City of Champaign Public Works Department. Every member of this team is professional, dedicated, and hardworking” Schmidt was appointed as the City’s Public Works Director on November 15, 2004. Prior to that he worked seven years as the Executive Director of the Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD), seven and one-half years as an Assistant City Engineer with the City of Champaign, seven and one-half years as Director of Engineering Services for UCSD, and seven and one-half years as Associate-Senior Design Engineer for Daily & Associates Engineers, Inc.
“It would be difficult, if not impossible, to enumerate all the positive contributions Dennis has made to our City over his many years in Public Works,” said City Manager Dorothy Ann David. “He has always been a model of customer service, a skilled problem-solver, and a loyal and supportive colleague. His leadership of the Public Works Department will have a longlasting impact as his high standards have pushed us to be a better organization and his legacy will live on through the staff he has mentored during his tenure. I congratulate Dennis on a wonderful career full of accomplishments and wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.”
During his years as Public Works Director, Schmidt collaborated with elected officials and staff to implement several City projects and initiatives. Some of his proudest accomplishments
include:
- Stormwater drainage improvements throughout the community, including the Boneyard
Creek Second Street detention basin project, the Glenn Park detention basin project, the
Preservation Pond (Robinson Court) detention project, and other major drainage projects
in the Washington Street and John Street Watersheds. - The successful implementation of a Stormwater Utility Fund, providing a funding source
to maintain and improve the City’s stormwater infrastructure through user fees. - The extension of South Fourth Street connecting St. Mary’s Road and Windsor Road
through the University Research Park - The completion of the Olympian Drive extension connecting Mercury Drive with Lincoln
Avenue in Urbana. - The Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project (MCORE), which has improved mobility
between our communities’ cores connected through the University of Illinois campus. - The construction and opening of the Hill Street Parking Deck, which provided expanded
parking capacity in the heart of Downtown Champaign. - The successful implementation of the Municipal Electric Aggregation program, providing
electricity to the community while saving residents money.