CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced the nomination of Cole Stallard to serve as the next Commissioner of the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS). Stallard, who began working with the City in 2001, will take over the lead role in the department after serving as Acting Commissioner since July of 2021. 

"Cole's leadership has gotten our city through a number of tough times and one of his most impressive accomplishments was managing an entire season's snowfall in less than three weeks," said Mayor Lightfoot. "With over two decades of experience, as well as a wealth of firsthand knowledge about our streets and sanitation system, it's clear that Cole is the right person to lead the Department into the post-covid world.” 

DSS is one of the largest City departments and one of the largest non-emergency departments with a team of over 2,000 employees and a $283 million annual budget.  DSS responds to an average of one million service requests per year making a difference in communities across the city.  DSS services range from sanitation and recycling, rodent control, traffic services, forestry, and graffiti to snow removal.   

“It is an honor of a lifetime to be asked to serve in this capacity.  The team at Street and Sanitation is hardworking and dedicated to keeping Chicago clean and healthy,” said DSS Acting Commissioner Cole Stallard.  “I look forward to bringing a refreshed vision to the role that focuses on equity, diversity, and modernization.”  

Stallard has served the City of Chicago for over 20 years, most recently serving as Deputy Commissioner for the DSS since 2014.  In this role, Stallard has managed over 20 inches of snow within two weeks in 2021, the Department’s efforts to support the City’s COVID-19 response and streamlined the City’s graffiti removal strategy to cut response time in half.   

Stallard was born and raised on the southeast side and currently resides on the southwest side. His appointment is subject to City Council approval in September.   

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