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 →
The Municipal Top 10: Ten safest cities in America
Upon 2019’s end, WalletHub released its annual list of the “Safest Cities in America.” The website compared more than 180 cities across 41 key indicators of safety to create it. These indicators are across three key dimensions: 1) home and … Continue reading →
Cities work to raise awareness of mental health programs available to first responders
Suicide prevention and mental health awareness are becoming increasingly important topics, particularly among first responders. Many municipalities are now encouraging first responders to participate in available programs, training and therapy. Central Ohio Technical College held a First Responder Mental … Continue reading →
Natchez Trace Parkway, Natchez, Mississippi
Real estate entrepreneur John Bourthoumieu recently migrated from northern Indiana to a waterside home on the Tennessee River about a dozen miles northwest of Florence, Ala. He found out about the Natchez Trace Parkway from “the guy who sold me … Continue reading →
The city seal of Wahpeton, North Dakota
The city seal of Wahpeton, N.D., is rather busy. It has a lot to say. The black and white circular seal, designed in 1979, features several images depicting the history of the city, population 7,766. According to the city’s website, … Continue reading →
Stormwater inspections are only the tip of the iceberg with MS4web
Stormwater management already requires several pokers in the metaphorical flame all while striving to comply with changing regulations, lack of funding and increasing responsibilities. Why not make the load simpler? The right software can reduce the number of hours spent … Continue reading →
The Municipal Top 10: Best small cities in America
No two small cities are made equally, as WalletHub noted in its annual “Best Small Cities in America” rankings, which it released October 28, 2019. WalletHub compared more than 1,200 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000-100,000 based on 42 key … Continue reading →
Westbrook establishes state’s first municipal veteran services office with city’s first electric vehicle
Westbrook, Maine, is focusing on a series of firsts as the city recently opened the state’s first municipal veteran services office, and that office has leased the city’s first fully electric vehicle. The idea to start a veteran services office … Continue reading →
Crew resource management promotes culture of safety
Humans, by their nature, are prone to error and deficiencies, but when the stakes are high, you can’t leave anything to chance. Crew resource management in the fire service — and really any industry — is an approach that attempts … Continue reading →
Pocatello, Idaho, bids silos farewell with new fleet services department
The 10 fleet services people are tasked with maintaining and repairing everything from sedans and light trucks to garbage trucks, dump trucks and road construction equipment like backhoes, loaders, graders and asphalt pavers. In addition, police cars and lawn mowers … Continue reading →
City seals: Roswell, New Mexico
The city seal of Roswell, New Mexico, is probably the only one in the country to feature an alien. The green extraterrestrial is shown looking down upon an idyllic rustic scene from outside its boundaries. The alien is holding a … Continue reading →
Keeping Sanitation Workers Safe In This COVID-19 Era
America’s first responders; our police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and more are all to be commended during this unprecedented time for our country, and the world as a whole. In this list, it’s important that we don’t forget the everyday … Continue reading →
Communication is key: How fleet managers must keep information flowing
With more than 260 pieces of equipment to coordinate ranging from portable signboards to big tractor-trailer vehicles, Jeffery Rousseau has his work cut out for him. As the director of the Fleet, Facilities and Communications Program for the city of … Continue reading →
Boardwalk Ocean City, Maryland
The small town of Ocean City, Maryland, with about 7,000 residents, opens its doors — or rather its boardwalk — to 8 million visitors every year. The 2.5-mile traditional wooden plank walkway stretches north and south along pristine sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast. … Continue reading →
Going electric with public transit: Is it for your municipality?
Smaller cities might like hybrids For smaller municipalities with less ridership or those who just want to stick their toes in the pool of electrification, a hybrid shuttle bus like the ones offered by XL Fleet may be the way … Continue reading →
Taylor Wing leads the competition
Based in Northern California, Taylor Wing is driving innovation in the after-market truck industry when it comes to truck tool boxes, tool/fuel combo boxes and fuel tanks. For 40 years, the company has set out to do one thing: build … Continue reading →
Leawood, Kansas: Growing with distinction
Picture it — a vivid display of growth that propelled Leawood, Kansas, to the top of WalletHub’s Top 20 Small Cities of America for the second year in a row for cities with a population of 25,000-100,000. Leawood is home to a … Continue reading →
A wall failure repairs case study
A reinforced concrete block wall, originally constructed 40 years ago for the Hiawassee Highlands, a single-family residential subdivision, showed rotation of instability that may impact the walking residents adjacent to a busy highway. The existing concrete block wall is positioned … Continue reading →
Lancaster welcomes public works under one roof
For decades, the public works department in the city of Lancaster, Pa., has been held back by having too many of its bureaus located under multiple roofs. This prevented effective communication between the bureaus from taking place, but that’s recently … Continue reading →