DuPage County officials on Aug. 12 celebrated four National Association of Counties (NACo) achievement awards for county programs that county leaders said improve mobility, water quality work, access to the courts, and digital government services.

Chair Conroy announced the honors and asked committee chairs and department heads to describe each program and the work that led to the awards. The four programs recognized were the Hinsdale Lake Terrace Rideshare Access Program, the Stormwater Management Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP), the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court Guardianship Help Desk, and the county's information technology practices (a NACo digital county award, produced with the Center for Digital Government).

On the rideshare program, Mary Ozog, transportation committee chair, and John Loper, senior transportation planner, noted the pilot began in January 2025 to address mobility gaps in a transit‑poor area. Ozog said the program targets households with few or no vehicles and provides vouchers for rides within a local service area for medical care, groceries and employment. Loper said the pilot was budgeted at about $100,000 for the year but "we blew through that in about 2 and a half months" as takeup grew, and he said usage increased each month as word‑of‑mouth spread.

Sarah Hahn and Marybeth Falsy of Stormwater Management described the Water Quality Improvement Program, a competitive grant that funds up to 25% of eligible construction costs for projects that improve regional water quality. Hahn said WQIP has existed since 2000 and the county has awarded approximately $6,600,000 to 112 projects to date, which staff said leveraged about $64,000,000 in total project value across municipalities, businesses, homeowners' associations, schools and park districts.

Chief Judge Bonnie Wheaton and Judge Craig Belford described the Guardianship Help Desk, which operates each Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. to assist self‑represented litigants with guardianship matters. Belford said the help desk provides volunteer attorneys who review filings and offer guidance to help reduce return trips to court and to streamline cases for families and caregivers seeking guardianship.

Sadia Covert, technology committee chair, and Anthony McPherson of the county's IT department explained DuPage County's recognition under the NACo/Center for Digital Government digital county survey. McPherson credited staff including Deputy CIO Richard Berson for compiling the award submission, noting the recognition highlights the county's resident‑focused digital services, cybersecurity and innovation.

County leaders said the NACo awards reflect multi‑year work by staff and partners and underscore ongoing county efforts in transportation access, water‑quality investments, court assistance for families, and digital government services.