Outsourcing municipal street sweeping
Outsourcing any public works function can be an economical solution for a municipal government. Utilizing a third-party contractor such as Sweeping Corporation of America for street sweeping and jet-vac service can provide a range of cost saving options for a … More from our cover sponsor →
Get out: Managing evacuations in the event of an emergency
When disaster strikes, or is on the way, communities have a small window of opportunity to notify the public of impending peril and encourage them to “get out of Dodge” before it’s too late. In order to provide … Continue reading →
Help Part I: Handling resources during recovery
When disaster hits a community and an SOS call goes out, generally the problem is not a lack of response but rather an overwhelming response of volunteers and donations. For mayors and other city officials trying to put their communities … Continue reading →
Cog Railway Bretton Woods, N.H.
It is the rare and special dreamer who can scan the choppy waters of a mile-long strait in San Francisco and say, “We can build a bridge over that.” Or to peer at a mountain range and envision an asphalt … Continue reading →
Texas applies lessons from Harvey toward recovery and flood mitigation planning
In August 2017 a catastrophic Hurricane Harvey left his calling card with the good people of Houston and southeast Texas who hadn’t invited him in the first place. The Category 4 high winds — 130 mph — and a … Continue reading →
Weathering life’s disasters
We always like to think disasters won’t happen to us, but they can and do. Local to me — but still distant enough to dull concern — the weather has been a bit more exciting this spring. A confirmed tornado … Continue reading →
Leveraging your parking and curb assets
As recently as several years ago, managing the curb meant ensuring parking rules were followed, bus stops were clear for your mass transit system and delivery trucks were in the proper loading and unloading zone. A municipal agency only had … Continue reading →
Procurement sits in driver seat for sustainability
Sustainable procurement or “green purchasing” is an initiative that is often driven — and achieved — through municipal purchasing decisions. From buying products made of recycled materials or weighing the energy efficiency of an appliance, to contracting firms with socially … Continue reading →
El Paso works to construct innovative facility to conserve water
The city of El Paso, Texas, will soon be repurposing treated wastewater to usable drinking water through a process called advanced purification. The project is designed in an effort to conserve precious water resources in the desert environment, as well … Continue reading →
Kidding around: Pembroke Pines recognizes importance of its youngest citizens
When it comes to showcasing and promoting the interests of its youngest citizens, the city of Pembroke Pines, Fla., doesn’t “kid” around. Not only does the mayor’s office host an annual all-day party to celebrate this special constituency, but the … Continue reading →
Beautifying your city: Trading trash for pride
Though the time for “spring” cleaning is long past, there are still debris-littered hedgerows and various items of refuse and trash in municipalities that periodically will need to be cleaned up. Two cities featured here have taken the lead and … Continue reading →
Keeping parks cleaner and healthier with no-tobacco policies
There was a time when smoking was promoted as being glamorous and “everybody” did it — before we realized the health consequences for smokers and those in their proximity. It’s the dangers of secondhand smoke as well as the litter … Continue reading →
Reexamining solid waste
David Biderman, SWANA’s CEO and executive director, said the East Coast is, in particular, grappling with such an issue. In the Boston area, for example, decision makers have significant concerns about whether there is sufficient landfill capacity going forward and … Continue reading →
‘Cooking with Fire’ spotlights good food, life as firefighter
The thoughtful firefighters in the Shreveport, La., firehouses are putting their delicious talents to work for an appreciative, ever-widening audience. “My wife, Jeanie, and I love travel cooking shows,” said Captain Allen Dantes, a 31-year firefighter at Central Fire Station … Continue reading →
Funding solid waste services
When it comes to funding municipal solid waste services, two types of accounts appear to be the most common throughout most of the United States: an enterprise fund account or general fund account. Whichever account a city or county … Continue reading →
Ely dedicated to getting job done at wastewater treatment plant
Sometimes we get where we are going in unexpected ways. Back in her undergraduate days, if someone had told Paula Ely that she would one day work as an operator at a wastewater treatment plant, she wouldn’t have believed it. … Continue reading →
International restrictions force changes to local recycling programs
As one of the world’s largest processors of recyclables, China placing new restrictions on what recyclables it will allow to be imported has forced cities throughout the U.S. to make changes to their recycling programs. Deltona, Fla. The city … Continue reading →
Mystic Seaport Museum Mystic, Conn.
Some municipalities pride themselves in looking far into the future. Mystic, Conn., etched its place on the map by ushering visitors way into the past. The town of 4,205 residents is ideally situated to have served as a thriving seaport … Continue reading →
Rethinking solid waste and recycling programs
Since the enactment of China’s tougher solid waste imports policy, there has been a lot of soul-searching in regards to how the U.S. manages its solid waste. It is a common theme seen in this issue of The Municipal, and … Continue reading →
