Throughout the country, municipal public works departments have found themselves doing more than just wearing masks and social distancing to keep their operations running during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether the city has two public works employees or 200 the last … Continue reading →
With heavy rainfalls a normal part of life in the Pacific Northwest, one of Washington’s largest cities recently completed a roughly $190 million project to protect the health of its river. As part of an initiative to clean the Spokane … Continue reading →
With water in the Great Lakes at or near record levels and rainfall in the Midwest well above normal this winter, it’s not surprising that cities around the region are facing erosion issues on lake shores and riverbanks. According … Continue reading →
For decades, the public works department in the city of Lancaster, Pa., has been held back by having too many of its bureaus located under multiple roofs. This prevented effective communication between the bureaus from taking place, but that’s recently … Continue reading →
When Bloomington, Ill., Public Works Director Jim Karch watches his pennies for a whole year, he saves on average $250,000. But it’s not really his money; it belongs to Bloomington because Karch, PE, MPA, oversaw a successful merger of the … Continue reading →
In 2017, Lewis County in Washington faced a difficult task. A road along the Cowlitz River was experiencing extreme erosion thanks to the body of water’s wild and unpredictable nature. As the road began to wash away, multiple cabins in … Continue reading →
In becoming environmentally aware, cities are taking steps in every department to minimize the negative impact they can make on the planet. Moscow, Idaho, in particular, has uniquely supportive government when it comes to taking risks with new things that … Continue reading →
With China no longer importing plastic from the U.S. and environmental awareness spreading, states are experimenting with ideas to cut down on the garbage piling up. Last year the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned the rest of … Continue reading →
The existence of fats, oil and grease buildup in sewer lines can be disastrous for both individuals and the city when it comes to short- and long-term consequences. Consequences can range from a costly and pungent inconvenience to an expensive, … Continue reading →
Attractive cities would boast such enviable characteristics as sparkling, clear streets sans potholes; neatly trimmed trees; neighborhoods free of unsightly debris, overgrown weeds and rundown empty houses; regular trash pickups; contained pests; and traffic lights and signs in good repair. … Continue reading →
As the city of Santa Clarita, Calif., looks toward its future, the department of public works knows that transportation needs to be at the forefront. Last year, the city finished several different award-winning projects, all related to a different type … Continue reading →
