Weedoo clearing the way: Why more municipalities are turning to mechanical harvesting for waterway health
Public works departments are under growing pressure to meet environmental regulations, manage costs and maintain community trust. Nowhere is that balancing act more visible than in aquatic maintenance. From stormwater canals to retention ponds, municipalities face persistent challenges: invasive weeds, … More from our cover sponsor →
Citizen-repaired streets
If you had been out in the dead of night in Jackson, Miss., a few months ago, you might have run across Ron Chane’s work. The local resident patched just over 100 of the many potholes that dotted the city’s … Continue reading →
Top five reasons to install an LED-enhanced inroad warning light crosswalk
By DALE STEWART | ITEM Ltd. SAFETY: This reason might seem a bit obvious, but don’t discount the profound and dramatic effect a pedestrian-activated, LEDenhanced in-road warning light crosswalk has on the visibility of a crosswalk — both day and … Continue reading →
Hidden drivers of budgetary expenditures
Personnel costs typically make up the largest expenditure of any municipal budget and regardless of our budgeting philosophy, our approach to these costs as managers and budget directors is often formulaic. We project the personnel hours needed to fulfill our … Continue reading →
Still trending: user fees
States are relying on user fees more than ever: In fiscal year 2011, user fees provided an average of 17.1 percent of revenues raised directly by states. In 1992, that figure was only 5 percent, according to the National Conference … Continue reading →
Flag Day is nationally recognized June 14, 2014
Flag Day is nationally recognized and celebrated on June 14, the day that the Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted a resolution that gave the new Republic its first emblem, the flag of the United States of America. What does the … Continue reading →
Time to come together
Is anyone not tired of the same unanswered questions about municipal finance? We’re all far past the “doing more with less” mantra, which has gone the way of the 100-year-old sewer system and the comfortable pension plan. In 2014 we’re … Continue reading →
Executive suite
This issue of The Municipal magazine broaches some of the issues that occupy the waking hours of municipal administrators, both elected and appointed. Those include general management, the purchase of a major piece of maintenance equipment and, perhaps most interestingly, … Continue reading →
Don’t let a good crisis waste you
Don’t let a good crisis go to waste,” a phrase coined by Rahm Emmanuel while he was White House chief of staff, has become a point of discussion among crisis communications experts and enthusiasts. Is there such thing as a … Continue reading →
News & Notes
Ashburn, Va. — In February, the National Recreation and Park Association announced Commit to Health — a campaign to get kids healthy that’s supported by the Partnership for a Healthier America. Commit to Health will bring healthy eating and physical … Continue reading →
Top Ten Best Run Cities in America
Last year 24/7 Wall Street evaluated the nation’s largest cities in terms of how they’re run. The site’s researchers took into consideration the local economy, crime, job market and gave weight to the general welfare of the population as they … Continue reading →
Make a statement National EMS Week
No matter where you are when a physical emergency happens, help is usually just a few minutes away. For the 40th year, the American College of Emergency Physicians has coordinated an effort to bring to the public consciousness the dedication … Continue reading →
Revised and Improved: The Municipal
Starting with our June 2014 edition, we want to welcome you to the revised and improved version of The Municipal magazine. After conducting market research, we found that our readers and advertisers preferred a combined North and South edition. We … Continue reading →
The Work Truck Show 2014
They were bigger, badder and greener this year than ever. With emissions standards going up again and mileage expectations rising even faster, it was reassuring to see at The 2014 Work Truck Show that manufacturers aren’t sacrificing size or power … Continue reading →
Maximum Memorial Days
Memorial Day, which falls this year on May 26, will witness special celebrations in a variety of patriotic ways. In fact, some cities observe the holiday all month long. In Myrtle Beach, S.C., Military Appreciation Days are May 1–31. For … Continue reading →
A close second: the life of a vice mayor
Meet Stephen Shelley, Homestead, Fla.’s municipal equivalent of the backup quarterback. Shelley was elected last year to a two-year term as the city’s vice mayor, on the same ballot by which he was also reelected for another four years as … Continue reading →
Long-distance leadership
Municipal leadership in all but the smallest cities is more than a full-time job. It’s a hands-on, calls-during-dinner, working vacation kind of commitment. Stepping away from that responsibility, especially for seven months, isn’t usually an option. But occasionally there’s no … Continue reading →
