One month after a perfect storm slammed into the eastern seaboard, I think we’re all still taking in the staggering extent of the disruption and devastation. The scope of the storm was enough to grab attention all by itself. Rain … Continue reading →
A political paradigm has shifted, and 24 towns in St. Louis County are reaping the benefits. Fragmentation and self-imposed isolation have long been norms in the countryside that rings St. Louis city. The city itself set that tone in 1876, … Continue reading →
Technology has changed the details of how we do our jobs, and most of those changes have been for the better. They’ve certainly made us more efficient. But even while we’re learning to rely on some amazingly-capable new technology, … Continue reading →
Times are tough. Personal income is still clawing its way back to an upward trend, according to information released by the U.S. Commerce Department this month. Among the things that people can’t afford these days are gym memberships and comprehensive … Continue reading →
It’s intimidating, as a reporter, to write about subjects that your audience might already be more familiar with than you are. This month I had that feeling while researching the development of bullet-resistant body armor. That’s why, here at The … Continue reading →
What most water system operators call hydrant flow or fire flow testing is giving way to a more accurate name for the same process: Line capacity testing. “That’s because this is what you’re doing: The hydrant is like a vessel … Continue reading →
For about a decade now, revitalizations have been the rage in municipal redevelopment. In most cases, demolishing a site that’s fallen into disuse and putting up a low-cost pole building, a warehouse or modular construction is more cost-effective than restoring … Continue reading →
“Consolidation may have to happen, but at the end of the day it’s your people who matter.” That point, made by Robin Nicoson, health and safety division chief of the Indianapolis Fire Department and former Perry Township Fire Department chief, … Continue reading →
Even though many states use fine-graded hot mix asphalt for their Interstate paving projects. Illinois defers. For 10 years Timothy Murphy, president of Murphy Pavement Technology, has pounded the –er, pavement — trying to chip away at that reluctance. He … Continue reading →
Is it the physical challenges? The danger? No. The biggest frustrations volunteer firefighters encounter involve interpersonal relations. In April, Municipal Fire Protection Consultant Harry Carter polled several dozen volunteer firefighters from around the country who gathered in Indianapolis for FDIC. … Continue reading →
People like to complain. Maybe it gives us something to do. No matter what anyone does for a living, or how well they do it, someone else will feel at liberty to question why and how the job was completed. … Continue reading →
