Aurora honors new public works facility (APWA project award) and junior sprinter Jacoy Ruff

The Aurora City Council on Feb. 10 recognized the city’s new public works facility as the American Public Works Association (APWA) project-of-the-year in its project-size category and presented mayoral awards to the project leads.

Mayor John Loesch called forward Jason Bauer (director of public works), Kurt Muth (assistant director of public works) and Ian Wade (capital improvement program manager) to accept awards of excellence for the department. Bauer described the new facility as the product of a long effort—property purchased in 2008—and credited both internal staff and external partners for design and construction, naming Kluber and CUNY Architects, RC Wegman, Geneva Construction and Berger.

"We've been working on it tirelessly since we bought the property in 2008," Bauer said, describing decades of planning and interdepartmental collaboration. He thanked predecessor Ken Trofe and the many divisions that supported the project.

Loesch also presented a mayor's award to Jacoy Ruff, a Jewell Middle School student and member of the Aurora Sundowners track club, who won three gold medals at the AAU Northern Indoor National Championships and set a national record in the 11-and-under 60-meter dash. The council invited family and coaches to join Ruff on the dais for the recognition and a group photo.

Background and next steps: council members and staff said the new facility will benefit both employees and residents; no formal action or additional funding was taken at the meeting.