When disaster hits a community and an SOS call goes out, generally the problem is not a lack of response but rather an overwhelming response of volunteers and donations. For mayors and other city officials trying to put their communities … Continue reading →
In August 2017 a catastrophic Hurricane Harvey left his calling card with the good people of Houston and southeast Texas who hadn’t invited him in the first place. The Category 4 high winds — 130 mph — and a … Continue reading →
Sustainable procurement or “green purchasing” is an initiative that is often driven — and achieved — through municipal purchasing decisions. From buying products made of recycled materials or weighing the energy efficiency of an appliance, to contracting firms with socially … Continue reading →
There is a mountain of misinformation circulating about fifth-generation wireless technology, or 5G. You may have heard the scary things people pick up on the internet. Some of that surfaced in The Municipal‘s December 2018 guest column, “What municipal managers … Continue reading →
As social media continues to be more prevalent in society, municipalities are finding new ways to utilize it to engage with the public. Most people are familiar with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram but Next Door is a social media … Continue reading →
As the mayor of Taylorsville, Utah, Kristie Overson said one of her highest priorities is to plan for the community’s future by building on the successes and lessons of the past. That’s why she met with the city council, city … Continue reading →
By Tom Polera, Emergency Manager and Chief Fire Marshal, Falls Church, Va. The city of Falls Church, Va., Office of Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness, has developed a program called “The First 12 Minutes.” This is an innovative community active … Continue reading →
There are the customary ways to make money — car washes, mowing lawns, babysitting, bake sales, et al. — and then there are the fun ways of bringing the whole community together and raising funds for a worthy cause — … Continue reading →
There’s a favorite saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Municipal police departments across the nation thankfully don’t fall into that category as they’ve been coming up with … Continue reading →
Fire departments are taking matters into their own hands by inviting city leaders and officials to experience a taste of what they go through in their line of work. In demonstrating their duties, firefighters have the opportunity to expose leaders … Continue reading →
Crumbling infrastructure is a weighty problem many U.S. cities face. Yet with reduced funding, some cities are scrambling to pay for necessary repairs and upgrades through alternative means. Santa Fe, N.M., is among them and it is looking to a … Continue reading →
