PCiRoads uses custom equipment for Minneapolis stormwater project
Minneapolis features a busy and lively downtown area that’s home to nearly 57,000 residents along with 216,000 employees each week, per mplsdowntown.com. The city has consistently topped more than $1 billion in new construction permits over the past 11 years … More from our cover sponsor →
Innovation for beautification, efficiency and sustainability
Demands for keeping our communities clean continue to increase with regulatory requirements and expectations of residents. While at the same time, our ability to get the job done gets more and more difficult with diminishing labor availability, increasing costs and … Continue reading →
Hydro Helpers keep hydrants clear during harsh Green Bay winters
In Wisconsin, the Green Bay Metro Fire Department and the Green Bay Water Utility are teaming up to enlist children’s help keeping fire hydrants clear during winter months with the Hydro Helpers program. The program originally was started in 2011 … Continue reading →
Milton, Florida, gives Lucille Johnson Park a much-needed makeover
The Milton, Fla., Parks and Recreation Department keeps a five-year plan of projects the department would like to see started in that time frame. The department surveys each of the city’s parks to make lists of improvements that need to … Continue reading →
Revolutionary wildfires map offers real-time edge against fires
Communities have a new, free tool available to keep their residents safe from wildfires. The Western Fire Chiefs Association, which is based in Wilsonville, Ore., created its interactive online fire map as part of its mission to aid fire and … Continue reading →
Baird finds passion in helping make life better in Lincoln, Nebraska
“Life is short,” believes Leirion Gaylor Baird of Lincoln, Neb. Baird was elected mayor of the city of Lincoln in 2019. She is the third female mayor of the city. “During college, a number of my good friends passed away … Continue reading →
South Carolina confronts diabetes head-on
According to the National Institutes of Health, 23.6 million people — 7.8% of the United States population — have diabetes. The NIH also determined 17.9 million people have been diagnosed, while 5.7 million have not and might not be until … Continue reading →
Anti-theft program protects construction sites
An anti-theft program spearheaded by a police department in Collier County, Fla., has earned national recognition for reducing losses at construction sites. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office Construction Site Watch Program, launched in November 2021, was recently named the Outstanding … Continue reading →
Brockton, Mass., sees a decrease in crime through statewide initiative
To reduce street violence, prevent illegal drug distribution and improve the quality of life for its residents, the city of Brockton, Mass., was part of the statewide summer safety initiative funded by the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant … Continue reading →
The Municipal Top 10: Which U.S. cities are flourishing?
Since 2020, municipalities across the country have been strained by COVID-19 and inflation, a national housing shortage and supply chain hiccups. Cities’ financial spreadsheets remain balanced between these challenges and the advantages of low unemployment and pandemic relief funds. The … Continue reading →
Utah cities draw name inspiration from ancient sources
Utahns are generally unassuming, straightforward folks, but when it comes to their naming the state’s towns and villages — often more than once — they can be a profoundly head-scratching lot. Not surprisingly, given Utah’s history, three significant etymological sources … Continue reading →
How prepared is your city for an active shooter incident?
It seems not a day goes by without hearing of another recent mass shooting. No place is immune. Aside from schools, churches, malls, gyms, clubs, restaurants, workplaces and even grocery stores have all been the scene of an active shooter … Continue reading →
Work faster, safer and smarter with Mr. Manhole
Several years ago, the city of Ames, Iowa, began a large-scale repair and restoration of its sanitary sewer system. The team was warned that with projects such as this, residents can get anxious when their street is shut down and … Continue reading →
Awareness efforts address e-bikes popularity
Electric bikes, or e-bikes, allow people to enjoy the outdoors even if they can’t pedal up large hills or cycle long distances. The motorized bikes’ popularity also creates new challenges for municipal law enforcement agencies. Most problems involve riders traveling … Continue reading →
Riverside named by NAFA as the greenest fleet
We hear the term “green” used for so many things these days that it might not register as the important issue it represents. But Riverside, Calif., sure knows the meaning and definition of “green,” having recently been named by the … Continue reading →
Transportation grant helps reach vulnerable people in rural West Virginia
West Virginia is a largely rural state, meaning many residents are geographically isolated. Some don’t have access to transportation. This can present a challenge to older adults and people with disabilities who need to get to and from appointments. Fortunately, … Continue reading →
On the road again: Assateague Island, Maryland
The world famous celebrities of Assateague Island, Md., should be worshiped from afar. In fact, it is illegal to do otherwise. The strict no-contact rules have been put in place to protect both visitors and residents of the 37-mile-long barrier … Continue reading →
La Crosse, Wisconsin: Beer and fish in the Driftless Region
If all a person knows about Wisconsin is the logging industry, cheese or “That ʼ70s Show,” it’s time to jump into the car and head to La Crosse. Explorer Zebulon Pike named the city after leading a group of people … Continue reading →
Police departments embrace the e-bike
With a top speed of 20 to 28 mph, an e-bike may not rival the horsepower of a patrol car, but for the law enforcement officers who ride them, they have some distinct advantages. “We can navigate the street a … Continue reading →
