Built to Last: 25 Years of Fabric Building Services
“Over the past 25 years, the Fabric Building Division at Greystone Construction has earned the trust of hundreds of cities, counties, municipalities, DOTs (departments of transportation) and private firms, and has covered over 2,000,000 square feet of salt piles with … More from our cover sponsor →
To TIF or not to TIF?
Tax incremental financing is sometimes hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Other times it’s denounced as a poison pill for local government budgets. TIF, a taxing method to entice urban redevelopment, was invented by the California legislature in … Continue reading →
New strengths
“With the new day comes new strengths and new thoughts.” — Eleanor Roosevelt Public building projects include so many different types of construction, including infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, ports, sidewalks, pipelines and public squares. No one who’s seen … Continue reading →
Financial challenges 2014
KNOX ROSS | Guest columnist Mayor, Pelahatchie, Miss. Pelahatchie, Miss., a small town of 1,500 located in the Jackson urbanized area, faces a situation that many other small towns on the periphery of the urban growth pattern face: that is, … Continue reading →
Top Ten Smartest US Cities
The brain training program Luminosity recently conducted an extensive study to determine the smartest cities in the nation. The study found many of the top cities and towns on the list play host to prominent colleges and universities. Ithaca is … Continue reading →
WIU: Developing fire service leaders through a Bachelor of Science degree
By SCOTT WALKER | Instructor, Western Illinois University Through your years of firefighting experience and training, you have become an accomplished fire officer. You’ve earned the respect of your crew and your fellow officers, and you have participated in hundreds … Continue reading →
Minneapolis hosts fleet management
Minneapolis, Minn., Convention Center served as the hub for the largest gathering of fleet managers this year: the NAFA 2014 institute and expo. From April 8–11, they came together to discuss creative ways to reduce municipal fleet spending and distracted … Continue reading →
‘The Magic of Trenchless’
In the battle to extend the viable lifespan of aged water and sewer lines, trenchless technology is gaining ground. At the largest trenchless technology conference in the region, the North American Society for Trenchless Technology’s 2014 No-Dig Show, exhibitors debuted … Continue reading →
Big rigs: the Mid-America Trucking Show
A stadium full of the latest products and services for heavy-duty trucks is reason enough to not miss the annual Mid-America Trucking Show. This year, the cool factor didn’t hurt either. Optimus Prime, a semi-trailer-slash-giant-robot from the popular “Transformers” silver … Continue reading →
Future City Competition
This February found some of the nation’s top middle school students in Washington, D.C., competing at the annual DiscoverE Initiative, the Future City Competition. DiscoverE, a self-described “consortium of professional and technical societies and major U.S. corporations,” chose “Tomorrow’s Transit: … Continue reading →
Driving in Flood Conditions
With so many storms occurring in recent days, particularly in the Midwest and South, now is a good time to review precautions your drivers can take if they ever find themselves driving in an area threatened by flooding. According to … Continue reading →
Port Royal, S.C., relishes its diversity
Founded in 1562, Port Royal, S.C., is believed by some scholars to be the origin of European settlement in the New World. The Spanish first landed in the area around 1514. While the town does not have a continual settlement … Continue reading →
Encouraging economic development: Improve PR and communication
By TROY KIDDER | Kidder and Co. Inc. One definition of a municipality is “a center for the exchanging of goods and services.” In other words, it’s people and money. Chances are you’re already doing a great job serving the … Continue reading →
Pooling resources, reaping benefits
After 20 years the Louisiana Asset Management Pool continues to go strong, with 636 local Louisiana governmental units participating in the program and pooling a total of $1.6 billion in local government funds. Of those participants, 96 are cities, towns … Continue reading →
Citizen-repaired streets
If you had been out in the dead of night in Jackson, Miss., a few months ago, you might have run across Ron Chane’s work. The local resident patched just over 100 of the many potholes that dotted the city’s … Continue reading →
Top five reasons to install an LED-enhanced inroad warning light crosswalk
By DALE STEWART | ITEM Ltd. SAFETY: This reason might seem a bit obvious, but don’t discount the profound and dramatic effect a pedestrian-activated, LEDenhanced in-road warning light crosswalk has on the visibility of a crosswalk — both day and … Continue reading →
Hidden drivers of budgetary expenditures
Personnel costs typically make up the largest expenditure of any municipal budget and regardless of our budgeting philosophy, our approach to these costs as managers and budget directors is often formulaic. We project the personnel hours needed to fulfill our … Continue reading →
Still trending: user fees
States are relying on user fees more than ever: In fiscal year 2011, user fees provided an average of 17.1 percent of revenues raised directly by states. In 1992, that figure was only 5 percent, according to the National Conference … Continue reading →
