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 →
Maximum Memorial Days
Memorial Day, which falls this year on May 26, will witness special celebrations in a variety of patriotic ways. In fact, some cities observe the holiday all month long. In Myrtle Beach, S.C., Military Appreciation Days are May 1–31. For … Continue reading →
A close second: the life of a vice mayor
Meet Stephen Shelley, Homestead, Fla.’s municipal equivalent of the backup quarterback. Shelley was elected last year to a two-year term as the city’s vice mayor, on the same ballot by which he was also reelected for another four years as … Continue reading →
Long-distance leadership
Municipal leadership in all but the smallest cities is more than a full-time job. It’s a hands-on, calls-during-dinner, working vacation kind of commitment. Stepping away from that responsibility, especially for seven months, isn’t usually an option. But occasionally there’s no … Continue reading →
When size doesn’t matter
When it comes to mayoring a municipality, bigger doesn’t always mean busier. Meet Don Farmer, mayor of Van Wert, a city of about 10,700 in northwest Ohio. Self-described as a “young 75 years old,” Farmer stays on the move and … Continue reading →
Editor’s Note: 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 →
Improving communication and PR with the community you serve
By TROY KIDDER | Kidder and Co. Inc. If there wasn’t enough to do already as a municipal manager, the list just got longer. There is one issue quickly jumping to the top: improving communications and public relations with the … Continue reading →
Geese-B-gone: One-two punch sends lake pests packing
You build pavilions, groom beaches and employ lifeguards only to watch fowl intruders chase residents out of their own lakeside park? It was 2012 when employees of Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority, north of Detroit, Mich., decided to put … Continue reading →
Gobbling up diversity
Surveyed in 1871 and platted in 1872, Worthington, Minn., has a long history. It was first tied to the railroads and the women’s temperance movement before evolving into a melting pot of diversity, both in business and community, over the … Continue reading →
Planning to preserve parks
Civil engineering efforts in local, state and national parks are as wide and varied as the parks themselves. Civil engineers lend their expertise to campsites, picnic areas, roadways, water systems, fish and wildlife management, the preservation of historic sites and … Continue reading →
Project Lifesaver
Bringing loved ones home A 10-year-old autistic boy is in the backyard playing on his jungle gym. Mom frequently checks on him, but then the phone rings. Ten minutes later she glances out the kitchen window to find him gone. … Continue reading →
Wildland Urban Interface:
Is your community at risk? California is plagued by wildfires, but little is it known that every other state is at risk for them as well. Every year thousands of wildfires burn millions of acres across the United States. It’s … Continue reading →
Southeast Apparatus Trucks built for firefighters, by firefighters
By ANGELA MOORE and JONATHAN WISE | Southeast Apparatus Southeast Apparatus is a Kentucky-based manufacturer of custom fire and emergency apparatus that is dedicated to a “service first” approach when building new or refurbishing existing apparatuses. All of the employees … Continue reading →
Public safety headlines
With the largest firefighting show in the world coming up this month, The Municipal has public safety — particularly firefighting — on the brain. We’ve been particularly concerned lately by the invasion of wildland urban interface into practically every community … Continue reading →
News & Notes
Philadelphia, Pa. — Eneref Institute announced the launch of its National Interior Daylight initiative in January. The campaign is tailored to advance the specification of daylighting as a significant light source in commercial and residential facilities. Multiple lighting studies have … Continue reading →
Meeting the needs
CHIEF JOHN POPE III | Guest columnist Fire chief, Collins, Miss., Fire Department President, Mississippi Fire Fighter’s Association Chief Pope is a 17-year veteran of the municipal fire service. He has served as an instructor chief at Louisiana State University’s … Continue reading →
Snow conference destination: Ohio
Two events aimed at snow professionals are slated for separate Ohio cities in coming weeks. “The Show for Snow” On May 4–7, the Cincinnati chapter of the American Public Works Association will host its annual winter weather show and conference … Continue reading →
Crowds pack Pumper and Cleaner Expo
The largest environmental trade show in North America lived up to the hype in February, when the Pumper and Cleaner International Environmental Expo opened in Indianapolis, Ind. The Municipal Account Executives Ashley Adamaitis and Chris Smith were there and had … Continue reading →
