The City of Round Rock received a 2022 Municipal Excellence Award in City Spirit for cities over 25,000 in population during the 2022 Texas Municipal League (TML) Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio. The top statewide award recognized the City for its Code Enforcement Resource Program.

Round Rock’s Code Enforcement Resource Program lends residents equipment to tackle tall grass and low-hanging tree limbs. When code enforcement leaves a flyer about a code violation, they also provide information on how to borrow equipment and will deliver a lawn mower or wood trimmer at no charge.

The City’s Code Enforcement Division is part of the Community and Neighborhood Services Department, which recently became its own standalone department after operating under the Planning and Development Services Department for several years. The Department also houses the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Commercial Redevelopment, Neighborhood Services Division and will add a new program in the coming year to focus on cleanup efforts around the City. It is overseen by Director Joe Brehm, who started the division almost a decade ago.

“This department and the resources they provide have increased in scope and importance as our city continues to grow,” said City Manager Laurie Hadley. “Joe Brehm and his staff have done an excellent job in creating something special that the whole community can be proud of.”

TML’s Municipal Excellence Awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Texas cities in meeting the challenge of municipal governance.  Innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, increasing citizen participation, and reaching toward higher service levels are all daily occurrences in Texas cities, and they deserve recognition.  This awards program seeks out the best of these programs to honor.  Awards are given in two population categories (under 25,000 and over 25,000) and five areas (management innovations, communication programs, city spirit, public safety, and public works).

The 2022 TML Annual Conference and Exhibition was held at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio on Oct. 5-7 and was attended by more than 3,300 city officials.