Breaking the pothole cycle
2018 was the year of the pothole. It seems like every news station locally and nationally had extensive coverage on what they dubbed the “pothole pandemic.” A crumbling infrastructure in combination with dwindling municipal budgets and an extensive freeze thaw cycle has created the perfect storm for potholes and lots of them. Public works departments, county road commissions and state departments of transportation are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to pothole patching. Adverse weather conditions, lack of resources, asphalt plant closures and outdated methods are all factors directly contributing to the ever-challenging fight against potholes.
More from our cover sponsor →Parks the uniter
If there was a charismatic mega-fauna — to borrow a term from conservationists — within city government, it would be the parks and recreation department. While it might not receive giant panda-level funding within city budgets, it is the department … Continue reading →
Go from working on an OPE to a truck in two minutes
With the Turf Rail System, fleet and equipment managers can transition from working on outdoor power equipment to a truck in a matter of two minutes. There are six different Challenger lifts that Turf Rail can fit, ranging from capacities … Continue reading →
A little hamlet with big changes: Chappaqua undergoes massive beautification transformation
A lot of long-awaited goals for the little hamlet of Chappaqua — a part of the town of New Castle, N.Y. — is coming to fruition as the summer draws to its conclusion. In the spring of 2017, Boswell Engineering … Continue reading →
Ferry connecting Iowa and Illinois becomes necessity during bridge reconstruction
An extremely important main thoroughfare, the overflow Highway 52 bridge is “the main way across the river from Iowa to Illinois,” stated Chris Lain, mayor of Savanna, Ill. It is also “the only highway that travels through Sabula,” added Troy … Continue reading →
Is your anchor industry moving out?
Picture it. Your thriving community is on top of the world — low crime rate, busy downtown foot traffic, great diversified schools and a longtime anchor business drawing in not only residents, but also tourist dollars. But what happens when … Continue reading →
Building resilient citizens
Over the years, natural disasters have impacted many areas of the United States: from hurricanes flooding parts of Texas and Florida to wildfires burning up the West Coast. In response to these and other disasters, government bodies have worked to … Continue reading →
Electric in action: Oakland utilizes EVs in four-prong green fleet approach
California is ahead of the ball when it comes to electric vehicles, with the state having directives to lower greenhouse gas emissions. These directives place special emphasis on the use of low-emission vehicles, and the state has particularly championed EVs … Continue reading →
Be prepared: How to survive an audit
Just like it does for the Scouts, the motto “Always Be Prepared” can serve city officials well — before, during and after a disaster — so expenses can be recouped from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Unless you reside in … Continue reading →
Why ‘Horse Town USA’ is among the best places to live
Great weather, location and a high density of amenities and resources for all ages make the village of Wellington, Fla., an attractive spot for young families and seniors alike. Wellington is west of West Palm Beach in central Palm Beach … Continue reading →
Communities navigate storm shelter needs
When faced with severe weather, a checklist of to-dos starts to form: make sure the animals are safe, locate supplies in case the power goes out, fill jugs of water and maybe even head to the basement or lowest level … Continue reading →
Crossville, Tenn.
Crossville, Tenn., is not shy about touting its natural and manmade resources on its city seal. The words “mountain resorts” and “recreation” are prominently emblazoned top and bottom on the circular logo. Included on the busy, colorful seal are a … Continue reading →
Talent Hub designations open doors
Cities across America are facing the same problem: There are ample jobs available for all residents in the community, but residents aren’t meeting the basic requirements to fill the positions. The largest contributor to this anomaly? Lack of education, specifically … Continue reading →
Myrtle Beach banishes flooding with deepwater ocean outfalls
Floods and rising sea levels have been an increasingly difficult issue throughout much of the world. Already in 2018, several cities have experienced floods so bad that they were considered 50-year, 100-year and 500-year floods. “Those seem to come more … Continue reading →
Welcome to Wall, South Dakota – Home of Wall Drug
Dorothy Hustead was hot, tired and trying to stave off the discouragement of a failed career experiment. In December 1931, she and her husband, Ted, had rolled into Wall, S.D., with their 4-year-old son, Ted’s $3,000 inheritance from his father … Continue reading →
Improving communications: Technology upgrades allow agencies to connect
No matter when disaster strikes or where an emergency occurs, the ability to deliver vital information to those who need it can be a matter of life or death. While municipalities have worked tirelessly to create multimedia platforms in order … Continue reading →
Meet the hardest working tree on the street
By Paul Iorio: StormTree provides sustainable stormwater management systems that integrate trees with stormwater runoff collection and pollutant removal. Our open design systems allow for unrestricted tree root growth, promoting healthy tree growth and development. In green infrastructure applications, when … Continue reading →
Connecting readers with ideas and innovative products, coast to coast
Starting with this issue, The Municipal is reaching a bit farther, expanding from 18 states to the entire contiguous United States. In the past, we’ve always been willing to step outside our borders to bring our readers new, innovative ideas, … Continue reading →
Boca Raton streamlines its fleet purchases with cooperative purchasing
City leaders create efficiency with familiar choices and cooperative purchasing source Su Breslow, fleet contract administrator for the city of Boca Raton, Fla., understands the equipment procurement process, working closely with the city’s purchasing division to manage a fleet of … Continue reading →
