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 greening of the roofs
Roofing considerations for cities According to the earlier-mentioned RoofPoint Guideline, www.roofpoint.org, each section is comprised of components to take into consideration when deciding on a type of roof: Energy Management: high roof systems; best thermal practices; roof surface thermal contribution; … Continue reading →
Big savings expected from retrofitting projects
Several cities are involved in retrofitting old buildings and infrastructure to make them more energy efficient. East Rockaway, N.Y., was involved in several types of retrofitting by partnering with Johnson Controls, a company operating in more than 150 countries that … Continue reading →
Spotlight on sustainability and environmental management
Joy Brown is an expert in sustainability and environmental management, given her title as environmental compliance specialist for the Public Works Department in Berkeley, Calif. Brown shared that Berkeley has a Climate Action Plan that outlines the path the city … Continue reading →
Zackquill Morgan: Morgantown, W.Va.
Several rival factions — including settlers, Native Americans, the English and the French — grappled over possession of the land now known as Morgantown, W.Va., until Zackquill Morgan (1735–1795) literally settled the matter for good. Morgan served honorably in the … Continue reading →
‘Nursery capital of the world’ – McMinnville, Tenn.
McMinnville, Tenn., sits in the eye of a perfect storm of fortuities, meriting the town of 13,605 — and its contiguous five-county area in central Tennessee — the designation as “Nursery Capital of the World.” The “concatenation of circumstances,” according … Continue reading →
“Green” still calls to cities
When I wrote an article on a SWAT armored vehicle back in February 2012, I can safely say I never saw myself where I am today: editor. Some of you might be familiar with my byline; I have written on … Continue reading →
Schwarze takes street sweeping by storm
With a comprehensive sweeper line, Schwarze Industries offers models for parking area cleaning, airport runway sweeping, street sweeping, milling cleanup and stormwater runoff management. Its new A4 Storm is a full-size sweeper in a compact, super-maneuverable package; it is also able to pick up heavy materials like its larger Schwarze municipal sweeper counterparts. Learn more at Schwarze Industries’ website, schwarze.com.
Continue reading →One department’s approach to keeping residents fire-safe
Community risk reduction in the fire service By BRIAN GETTEMEIER | Cottleville Fire Protection District First responders not judged equally when it comes to public safety. Police departments are judged by how few crimes occur in their communities: Few crimes … Continue reading →
Sell assets without the hassle
Where to begin when there’s extra or aging equipment to sell It’s a challenge that every municipal government faces periodically — what to do with trucks, police and government vehicles, special equipment, office furniture and other items that are no … Continue reading →
News & Notes August 2016
APWA applauds U.S. House formation of public works and infrastructure caucus WASHINGTON, D.C. — In June The American Public Works Association applauded Congressman Ryan Costello (PA- 06) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) on their formation of the U.S. House Public … Continue reading →
Public design process cultivates buy-in for road project
Taking it to the streets The people living near Charleston, S.C., rely heavily on Folly Road. It connects the islands to the mainland, it’s the route to the beach and it’s a destination for shopping and other businesses. So why … Continue reading →
Greensboro’s pilot pipe bursting program
In the early morning hours of July 18, 2007, a 15-foot-by-24-foot sinkhole opened on Wendover Avenue in Greensboro, N.C., swallowing a Honda Accord. The sinkhole was caused by a 12-inch cast-iron water main that broke, eroding the earth beneath the … Continue reading →
Flint, Michigan – Pursuing a ‘parallel narrative’
Despite bad press about the water debacle, Flint is making a comeback; and its supporters have been vocal about their city’s progress. The University of Michigan, Flint campus, has been instrumental in the city’s struggle for transformation. Chancellor Susan Borrego … Continue reading →
Can residents’ faith in Flint be restored?
While getting the lead out of Flint, Mich., remains the No. 1 goal of Mayor Karen Weaver, she has been clear her second goal is to obtain the financial and other important resources the city needs to recover from its … Continue reading →
Back-to-basics communication during disaster
Amateur radio operators, also known as ham operators, can provide an extra layer of communication during emergencies. Two volunteer organizations and local government entities illustrate precisely how private-public amateur radio partnerships serve as a means to an end for public … Continue reading →
Support piling up for traffic enforcement caps
Cities use traffic fine income to help balance their budgets. In some cases, this has led to state capping legislation — laws that govern the percentage of the the municipal income that can come from traffic citations. Typically, fines taken … Continue reading →
Keep calm and be vigilant Helping the public remain aware of emergencies
Be prepared. The motto that scouts live by — trying to anticipate all possible scenarios and how to respond — is not only a good motto for them, but for municipalities as well. Having an emergency preparedness plan in place … Continue reading →
Celebrating parks and recreation in July
By ROXANNE SUTTON | Guest columnist Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, National Recreation and Park Association Parks and recreation — it means a lot of things. It’s a municipal department, a field of study, a TV show, a public service, … Continue reading →