Staying on top of the weather with ‘eyes’ on the road
Forecasts are seldom infallible with unexpected atmospheric shifts changing expectations and plans. One must also factor in microclimates, which can see some areas more affected by winter storms than others. However, imagine having a personalized, real-time weather forecast, not just … More from our cover sponsor →
Cities reach across borders
U.S. cıtıes have been reaching across international borders for more than 60 years, since President Dwight D. Eisenhower first launched Sister Cities International. A nonpartisan nonprofit, the organization counts more than 500 U.S. cities, counties and states as members and … Continue reading →
Engaging the community where they are — Facebook
Twenty-first century policing calls for embracing 21st century methods of communication. The Ellisville, Mo., Police Department has adopted such an approach. Patrol Officer Joey Nickles, serving in the newly created social media coordinator role, acts as a liaison between the … Continue reading →
South Carolina undertakes revitalization of its downtowns
Mix small-town charm with big-city accessibility and you’ve got Sonya Crandall’s dream come true. Crandall is the executive director of Envision Williamston, a program housed under the Main Street South Carolina initiative, which works to empower local communities with the … Continue reading →
Firework tax offers some relief to West Virginia volunteer fire departments
Beginning in 2016, West Virginia decided to allow the sale of fireworks past the simple novelty items like snakes and sparklers. Along with the ability to purchase fi reworks within the state came a 12 percent tax on all consumer … Continue reading →
Bardstown, Ky., stands among the ‘best’
Bardstown, Ky., rests among the “best” in a number of different lists. Expedia selected Bardstown as one of the “18 Most Interesting U.S. Destinations”; Fodor picked it as one of “America’s Best Small Towns”; and AARP named it one of … Continue reading →
Cities explore green roadway alternatives
Pervious concrete has gone by quite a few different name. Porous, green, permeable or “thirsty” concrete is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional concrete for parking lots, driveways, parking lanes, alleys and roadways. It has been used primarily where water … Continue reading →
Private forecasters: Should your city be using one?
With winter here, some cities want to be even more prepared for snow and ice by using private meteorological services, which hone in on specific needs and increase lead times for cities so they can respond quicker to changing weather. … Continue reading →
Holland, Mich., heats up its sidewalks
It’s part of the season for northern and Midwestern states: mounds of snow piled up at the corners of city streets, icy sidewalks and salty slush. It can be a drain on city resources and a problem for business owners. … Continue reading →
Diverging diamond interchanges gain traction
Gilbert Chlewicki of Fulton, Md., deals in diamonds — the bigger the better. And in some cases, the cost runs around $3 to $4 million. The diamonds Chlewicki, professional engineer and director of Advanced Transportation Solutions, works with are outdoor … Continue reading →
Josiah White: Jim Thorpe, Pa.
Josiah White and Jim Thorpe never met; White died 37 years before Thorpe was born. Yet the confluence of the two men’s impact forged the town of Jim Thorpe, Pa. White (1781-1850) was an industrialist and entrepreneur with a staggering … Continue reading →
‘Hog Capital of the World’ Kewanee, Ill.
Secessionists in the antebellum South invoked the slogan “King Cotton” to advocate establishing the Confederacy as a separate nation. Kewanee, Ill., population 12,676, and its surrounding Henry County, use the phrase “King Hog” to summarize the role hog farming has … Continue reading →
February 2017 Issue of The Municipal Available Now
In this Digital Issue: Page 16 – Focus on Streets & Snow Page 18 – Focus on Streets & Snow: Diverging diamond interchanges gain traction Page 22 – Focus on Streets & Snow: Holland, Mich., heats up its sidewalks Page … Continue reading →
Innovations cutting costs, overtime
Another season of snowfighting is underway, with most of those in our readership — those of us who receive snow, anyway — having received some decent snow events already. And with winter’s return, so too comes the long hours spent … Continue reading →
An attachment to tackle any job
Having the right tool available can make every difference at the end of the day. Horst Welding is comprised of three divisions: HLA Attachments, HLA Snow and Horst Wagons, all of which specialize in providing attachments and other equipment that … Continue reading →
Amanda Edmonds, mayor and food systems champion
While Amanda Edmonds might be mayor of Ypsilanti, Mich., she is also the full-time executive director of the nonprofit Growing Hope, which came out of her work on beginning an educational garden at Ypsi’s Perry Child Development Center in 1999. … Continue reading →
Municipalities using GPS system monitoring for fleet management
One of the most important parts of running any business is assessing the risks and finding ways to manage said risks. When it comes to managing an entire fleet this can become even more difficult. Many cities have begun to … Continue reading →
Municipalities bring light to ‘dark store’ strategy
It’s a trend that seems to be sweeping the nation — Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Alabama and Florida are among the many states that have found themselves in a battle with the “big box stores” over property tax revenue — … Continue reading →
Oakwood, Ga.: More than 30 P3s and counting
Oakwood, Ga., City Manager Stan Brown, who has been with the city for 13 years, has accomplished a great deal in the area of public- private partnerships within the last five to 10 years. More than 30 such partnerships have … Continue reading →