Best practices for hydrant maintenance
With any waterworks device that will be buried in the ground for long periods, regularly exceeding 50-plus years, proper maintenance is essential to ensure they perform as needed and fulfill their expected life. But unlike many of these devices, a … More from our cover sponsor →
Sioux Falls, S.D., looks to tech companies for best practices
Sioux Falls, S.D., recently introduced a department of innovation and technology. And if you ask the mayor, this move is a nod to the direction cities of its size or larger are going or should be going. According to Mayor … Continue reading →
Eclectic mix makes Missoula great place to live
If you haven’t ever been to Missoula, Mont., you might want to pay the city and its 66,000 residents a visit. After all, it’s one of the American Planning Association’s five Great Neighborhoods of 2017. A decade ago, the APA … Continue reading →
Microgrids harness resilient, local energy
Thanks to Hurricane Florence, the coastal areas in the Carolinas and surrounding states spent a significant amount of time underwater and without modern resources such as heat, gas and electricity. This includes fairly populated cities such as Wilmington, N.C., where … Continue reading →
Eureka, Calif.
Eureka, Calif., population 27,177, is the only municipality in the nation to adopt the state’s seal as its own. Befitting, perhaps, because the city bears the name of California’s motto: “Eureka” — the Greek word meaning, “I found it.” The … Continue reading →
Purdue University creates unique pothole detection system
Any municipality that experiences harsh winters has at least one common enemy — potholes. Purdue University is working with West Lafayette to help identify this problem. “Potholes are a very significant issue in many municipalities, particularly in West Lafayette Ind., … Continue reading →
Ark Encounter Williamstown, Ky.
Atop one of the scenic rolling hills of Williamstown, Ky., population 3,931, rests a boat — a really big boat. Hailed as the world’s largest timber-frame building, the life-size replica of Noah’s ark towers seven stories above the ground and … Continue reading →
Vision meeting the science to back it up
Oftentimes, I am reminded of one of Arthur C. Clarke’s three laws: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” This is especially true, at least, for the general populace who might not have the most cutting-edge understanding of technology … Continue reading →
Keeping on track with technology
Trying to keep up with technology these days can be a full-time job for anyone, and municipalities, in particular, have so many factors to consider, including the different technology needs for various city operations, how often that technology needs updated … Continue reading →
Technology streamlines realtime, two-way communication
As technology continues to evolve, Magellan and MiTAC Digital Corp. President Pierre Parent spoke with The Municipal on the subject of standouts and how these technologies are making the lives of fleet managers and administrators easier while also encouraging fiscal … Continue reading →
The preserve-play relationship with nature: Creating community opportunities in nature
Land management ıs one of those terms that causes a bit of head-scratching from the general public, especially when the land being managed is considered “natural habitat.” Managing natural lands should be simple and straightforward — leave it alone, limit … Continue reading →
On field or off — Anuvia Plant Nutrients meets sustainability challenges
Anuvia Plant Nutrients is the catalyst that helps groundskeepers implement sustainable practices while, at the same time, improving and beautifying greenspaces. Our technology serves the unique operations of turf and lawn care management, enabling professionals to use a U.S. Department … Continue reading →
Hood River reaches out to Latino residents
What does Hispanic outreach look like? If you ask Hood River, Ore., Mayor Paul Blackburn, it’s a very active, engaged and dynamic activity. Blackburn has seemed to crack the code when it comes to reaching this group in an effective … Continue reading →
Sustainable playing fields for cities and towns
As open space continues to be developed and metropolitan areas creep ever outward from big cities, there is a lot of talk about “smart growth.” Land management is a key component of this “smart growth” process; planning where development should … Continue reading →
Making salmon migration simpler
Life is about to get a lot easier for migrating salmon in Whatcom County, Wash., thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s tied ruling last June, which means that a 2013 lower court ruling that favors the Northwest tribes in a … Continue reading →
Parks departments summon ‘macabre’ events to lure visitors
Things that go bump in the night fascinate and frighten a wide demographic, resulting in several parks and recreation departments crafting events that revolve around the paranormal. Some don’t even have to try, thanks to local folklore and historic landmarks. … Continue reading →
Niles and MWRD recognized for flood relief project
The village of Niles, Ill., and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago earned the Public Works Project of the Year award through the American Public Works Association Chicago Metro Chapter for their partnership on the Cleveland Corridor sewer … Continue reading →
Cities tapping in to benefits of outdoor gyms
Taking steps toward physical fitness can happen anywhere, and cities across the nation are capitalizing on that notion. Gone are the days of having to get an expensive gym membership or learn to use confusing equipment — residents are able … Continue reading →
Ballistic protection growing in leaps and bounds
The world has never been a safe place, but nowadays, threats are emerging in places that decades ago would have been unthought of: schools, movie theaters, clubs, boardwalks, malls and anywhere people gather. Law enforcement officers have also found themselves … Continue reading →
