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 →
National Public Works Week May 15–21
About the Artist The artwork for the 2016 National Public Works Week poster was done by British-born artist Michael Crampton. After studying at the Art Center College of Design, Crampton went on to become the art director at Neiman Marcus … Continue reading →
Engineers challenged to think creatively to solve infrastructure crisis
“We actually know that our crumbling pipelines, roads and bridges are ticking time bombs. That is why President Obama and Congressional Democrats have pushed to fund jobs that repair our roads, runways, and railways — we can’t have first rate … Continue reading →
‘It’s called occupying your own space’
Charleston, W.Va., turns urban flight problem around The city of Charleston, capital of West Virginia and hub for government, education, banking, health care and commerce, hugs the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers. A valley town that prospered from … Continue reading →
Unifying font freshens image
Some products are known by their logo colors and designs, even if the name is omitted — think Coca-Cola, Arby’s, MasterCard and Chevrolet. And how about those Bears, Colts and Packers? But fill in the names and consider what a … Continue reading →
Citizen self-service portals
Customizability, demand offer good fit for any size locality Americans encounter customer self-service portals in dealings with banks, hospitals and doctor’s offices. At the municipal level such interactions are becoming almost as common. Leesburg, Va., has a population of approximately … Continue reading →
A mayor/administrator city management model
A council-manager form of local government can yield great rewards, according to one Iowa mayor. Within this type of framework, the city administrator, or manager, is the chief administrative officer and appoints all officers other than the attorney and municipal … Continue reading →
Are unions a hindrance to city budgets?
Do public employee unions hurt city budgets? Do union employees receive higher pay and benefits than their nonunion counterparts in the private sector? The answers seem to depend on who you ask, as studies on the topic conflict. But for … Continue reading →
Theodore Koch: Clara City, Minn.
Theodore Koch, founder of Clara City, was born in the Netherlands in 1854. An exemplary student, he mastered four languages before his formal education was cut short for lack of funds. After that, the energetic and frugal entrepreneur schooled himself … Continue reading →
Spreading the love of peanuts
Suffolk, Va. Though the status of Suffolk as the nation’s leading producer of peanuts has waned in the last half century, the role the popular legume played in the city’s history is beyond question. Suffolk was first hailed as “The … Continue reading →
Emerson Manufacturing Corporation: Listening to the heavy-equipment customer
No job is too big for an Emerson jack. Emerson Manufacturing Corporation’s air-operated and air/hydraulic jacks feature lift capacities from 14,000 to 60,000 pounds. Find one that works for you by visiting www.emersonjacks.com.
Continue reading →Research disagrees on advantages of public vs. private sector employment
The grass is perennially greener on the other side of the fence, so it’s little wonder that much thought — and even more indignation — has arisen regarding who has it better: employees of state and local governments, or those … Continue reading →
Snowfi ghters head to Hartford 2016 APWA North American Snow Conference
“The Premier Event in Snow & Ice Management,” APWA’s North American Snow Conference, will bring its focused and relevant educational opportunities and snowfighting products to Hartford, Conn., this year. On May 22–25, plan to learn from and shop alongside others … Continue reading →
Water, sewer professionals gather at WWETT
The 36th annual Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport show, held Feb. 17–20 in Indianapolis, Ind., delivered all the expected opportunities and more to water utility professionals in the public sector. WWETT has emerged as the premier venue for … Continue reading →
Park program decreases juvenile delinquency
A trip to the local park is a beloved and relatively frequent outing in most children’s lives. From the slides and swings to the monkey bars and merry-go-rounds, parks departments offer youngsters both fun and the opportunity to socialize with … Continue reading →
News & Notes
APWA Announces 2016 Jennings Randolph International Fellows KANSAS CITY, MO. — Th e American Public Works Association, in association with the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College, announced recently the 2016 Jennings Randolph International Fellows. APWA’s Jennings Randolph International Fellowship program … Continue reading →
Go Orange
“Ask local leaders what are the conditions of their roads, and the majority will tell you that roads in their jurisdictions, having been built back in the ‘50s or ‘60s, are in need of improvement or repair.” James Baron, director … Continue reading →
Ohio to host 2016 NWZAW kickoff
An international trade association established in 1969 and headquartered in Fredericksburg, Va., the American Traffic Safety Services Association leads the nation in work zone safety training and education. With over 1,600 members nationwide and the core purpose of advancing roadway … Continue reading →
Predicting repair staffing, maintenance needs with VEUs
In maintaining and managing a municipal fleet operation, fleet managers can take a page from the private sector’s use of vehicle equivalency units to calculate the ratio of technician-to-vehicles. Put simply, using VEUs means adding up how many sedans and … Continue reading →
