Why your municipality should place more focus on energy management
By Jessica Wimmer, Government Marketing Writer, Dude Solutions Energy is a top budget line item for local governments, and according to ENERGY STAR, 30 percent of it is wasted. Energy management is an essential operation for any municipality, but when … More from our cover sponsor →
Cliff Dwellings Manitou Springs, Colo.
Dismantling an entire village piece by piece and relocating it more than 300 miles away is no easy task — especially by oxcart, railroad and horse and wagon. Yet Virginia McClurg, a local resident of the Manitou Springs, Colo., area, … Continue reading →
California wildfires bring new fire behavior and fire safety issues to light
The United States Forest Service’s Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, Mont., has been providing the forest service with research and development since 1960. As the only federal research lab focused on wildfires, its research directly aids in the management of … Continue reading →
Finding the public safety personnel of the future
Not everyone can rush into a burning building or confront armed robbers. It takes a special sort of person to enter the public safety arena. Finding those people is proving to be a challenge for departments of all different sizes … Continue reading →
Alabama county workers clear roads more quickly with cooperative purchasing
Equipment operators in a rural Alabama county are using a new wheeled excavator to turn difficult road work into a cakewalk, and residents are actually thanking them with sweet treats. Looking at a map, you can find Covington County, Ala., … Continue reading →
Building codes contribute to more resilient communities and economic growth
Mitigation efforts, such as building code adoption and enforcement, are the strongest strategies jurisdictions can take to protect a community against the effects of natural disasters. Learn how building codes can save billions of dollars when faced with natural disasters
Continue reading →Gogh-ing the creative route for common problems
Art can create and transform a city’s identity or revive it by drawing in the eyes of visitors. It gives residents a sense of home and culture that is unique to them and memorable to others. It can solve issues … Continue reading →
Kirksville launches its own asphalt mixing plant
Kirksville, Mo., a rural city in Benton Township with a population of 17,536, serves as the county seat of Adair County. For years it had contracted out for the laying of asphalt, including for repairs. One day in 2016, Ray … Continue reading →
Santa Fe uses bond to undertake infrastructure projects
Crumbling infrastructure is a weighty problem many U.S. cities face. Yet with reduced funding, some cities are scrambling to pay for necessary repairs and upgrades through alternative means. Santa Fe, N.M., is among them and it is looking to a … Continue reading →
Blair divides and conquers snow and ice
The city of Blair, Neb., is no stranger to snow, and its efficient approach to handling inclement weather and ensuring the safety of residents is evidence of its familiarity. The city has 15 pieces of snow equipment that are available … Continue reading →
Leasing fleet vehicles provides a cost-effective method for timely replacement
A newer trend seen in some municipalities is the process of leasing fleet vehicles as opposed to purchasing them. Cities decide to lease for a variety of reasons. Out of necessity For the city of Rockford, Ill., its leasing initiative … Continue reading →
Utilizing technological advances: Police departments use podcasts to reach the public
The Newport Beach, Calif., police department is testing out unique methods for reaching out to the public for assistance in cases. Jennifer Manzella, administrative assistant to the chief of police, stated that coming up with new ways to reach the … Continue reading →
Preventing a skills gap in fleet technicians
As more and more modern technology is introduced into the fleet management industry, new and potentially unfamiliar skills become a necessary part of a technician’s job. While experts such as Katherine Vigneau, NAFA’s director of professional development, said it’s unclear … Continue reading →
The charm of Dorset: Vermont community offers a respite from city life
No matter if you are looking for a great place to visit or a sweet spot in which to settle down and raise a family, it’s not hard to fall under the spell of Dorset, Vt. Chartered in 1791 and … Continue reading →
Preparation key for fleet management during natural disasters
Although it’s difficult to be completely prepared for the variety of natural disasters that might hit your community, there are things that can be done to keep your fleet on the road and able to respond. No matter where you … Continue reading →
Aiken, S.C.
The central features of the city seal of Aiken, S.C., represent prominent facets of its history and community life. They include a building with traditional antebellum pillars, a golfer, a horse head and a molecule. Strangely, one symbol not included … Continue reading →
Algae tapped as potential feedstock for renewable biofuel
The search for a reliable, sustainable and fiscally sensible alternative biofuel has been long in the making, and Professor Brad Cardinale of the University of Michigan, along with a team of researchers from universities across the country, believe they’ve almost … Continue reading →
Bavarian Village Leavenworth, Wash.
With apologies to Plato and Frank Zappa, sometimes necessity is the mother of reinvention. In the 1930s, Leavenworth, a picturesque hamlet of 2,000 residents nestled in the Cascade Mountains, began to die. The tracks of Great Northern Railway Company, the … Continue reading →
Realizing a well-rounded fleet
Fleet managers face a variety of demands from drivers, council members and taxpayers. It is no easy feat to meet them all. Technology is proving helpful in the endeavor though, monitoring vehicle usage, driving habits and more. Our cover article, … Continue reading →
