What’s eating away at your vehicle
De-icing chemicals: A growing threat Motor vehicles face a constant battle against the elements, with one of the most insidious threats being corrosion. In colder climates where snow and ice are prevalent, it’s not uncommon to see traditional road salt … More from our cover sponsor →
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 →
Flag Day is nationally recognized June 14, 2014
Flag Day is nationally recognized and celebrated on June 14, the day that the Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted a resolution that gave the new Republic its first emblem, the flag of the United States of America. What does the … Continue reading →
Time to come together
Is anyone not tired of the same unanswered questions about municipal finance? We’re all far past the “doing more with less” mantra, which has gone the way of the 100-year-old sewer system and the comfortable pension plan. In 2014 we’re … Continue reading →
Executive suite
This issue of The Municipal magazine broaches some of the issues that occupy the waking hours of municipal administrators, both elected and appointed. Those include general management, the purchase of a major piece of maintenance equipment and, perhaps most interestingly, … Continue reading →
Don’t let a good crisis waste you
Don’t let a good crisis go to waste,” a phrase coined by Rahm Emmanuel while he was White House chief of staff, has become a point of discussion among crisis communications experts and enthusiasts. Is there such thing as a … Continue reading →
News & Notes
Ashburn, Va. — In February, the National Recreation and Park Association announced Commit to Health — a campaign to get kids healthy that’s supported by the Partnership for a Healthier America. Commit to Health will bring healthy eating and physical … Continue reading →
Top Ten Best Run Cities in America
Last year 24/7 Wall Street evaluated the nation’s largest cities in terms of how they’re run. The site’s researchers took into consideration the local economy, crime, job market and gave weight to the general welfare of the population as they … Continue reading →
Make a statement National EMS Week
No matter where you are when a physical emergency happens, help is usually just a few minutes away. For the 40th year, the American College of Emergency Physicians has coordinated an effort to bring to the public consciousness the dedication … Continue reading →
Revised and Improved: The Municipal
Starting with our June 2014 edition, we want to welcome you to the revised and improved version of The Municipal magazine. After conducting market research, we found that our readers and advertisers preferred a combined North and South edition. We … Continue reading →