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 →
Rhode Island, a cornucopia of fascinating names
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in land area, but it packs a surprising number of features within its diminutive borders. Rhode Island is home to more than a million residents, making it second in population density only to … Continue reading →
Not a handout, but a hand up for small business owners
Cities across the country take varied approaches to creating better lives for their citizens. Using Department of Housing and Urban Development and Community Development Block Grant funds, the city of Hickory, N.C. is trying to help low- and moderate-income individuals … Continue reading →
Pompeys Pillar National Monument Billings, Montana
But for the signature and date William Clark etched on a sandstone pillar in Montana, we would have no physical evidence that Clark and Meriwether Lewis took their iconic exploratory journey. That legendary 28-month expedition (May 14, 1804 to Sept. … Continue reading →
Chicago suburb balances charm with stable economic development
Crystal Lake, Ill., ticks several boxes for livability. The city, which is named for a nearby lake, has a vibrant recreational scene, ample shopping amenities, quality schools and more. Heather Maieritsch serves as the economic development manager for the city … Continue reading →
An urban oasis: Reprieve in the middle of Dutch Country
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country and known as one of the oldest inland cities in the United States, Lancaster, Pa., is reported to be a great place to live, work, stay and play. Rich in history, heritage … Continue reading →
San Luis Obispo uses hard work, collaboration to rebound
Rain from storm after storm saturated the soil. When on Jan. 9, 2023, an atmospheric river dumped several more inches of rain on the city of San Luis Obispo, Calif., rushing water swelled creeks and submerged streets. Floodwaters piled debris … Continue reading →
Cambridge, Massachusetts, designs its sidewalks with residents’ poetry
Residents of Cambridge, Mass., can design some of the city’s public sidewalks during the annual sidewalk poetry contest. The city is currently in its eighth year of the contest. In the first year, the city received approximately 130 poems, and … Continue reading →
Reduce accidents with protected bike lanes and ‘bike boulevards’
Wonder why some bikers don’t always use bike lanes? You might think they would improve safety, but that’s not always true and for more than one reason. Some bikers choose not to ride in the lane if the traffic is … Continue reading →
Calling on the sun to improve trail safety
Trail safety is paramount in Paragould, Ark., and city officials proved it again in 2022 by installing trail cameras as part of the improvements along 8 Mile Creek trail. This trail is 4.2 miles long and paved 10 feet wide; … Continue reading →
Suffolk, Virginia, conducts a Public Works Citizens’ Academy
The public works department is a multifaceted, ever-evolving municipal department that few fully understand. It is responsible for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of a city’s infrastructure, including its roads, transportation system, bridges, water, waste disposal, pest control, etc. … Continue reading →
The Municipal Top 10: Most-searched GIF by state
Since the early 2000s, American culture has embraced the GIF as a way to express emotion online. A moving picture or character catches the attention of digital readers, momentarily drawing them in to share the joy of good news or … Continue reading →
Personality Profile: Susquehanna Township Lt. Brian Tienter
Lt. Brian Tienter is a true “blue” blood. Born at the 5th Army Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany, to a military police officer who later became a Pennsylvania State Trooper, he knew he was destined to be a soldier or a … Continue reading →
What’s in a name: Medical Lake and Soap Lake, Washington
Two municipalities in Washington share nearly identical historical and legendary parallels that touch at several tangents. Medical Lake and Soap Lake are both named for the respective eponymous bodies of water around which they once thrived. The water and mud … Continue reading →
Re-accreditation leads Norman, Okla., to continuous improvement in public works
Shawn O’Leary, Norman, Okla., director of public works, joined the team in 2007 and his primary goal was improvement of his department. “I was looking for a tool to help me fix that,” he explained. He had been watching the … Continue reading →
Communities planning for the future
When an opportunity arises, it’s best to take advantage of it while you can, and that is especially true with municipalities planning for the future. The city of West Hartford, Conn., had such an opportunity and could take advantage of … Continue reading →
VMAC empowers municipal work truck fleets to work better than ever
VMAC is a world-class air compressor and multi-power system manufacturer specializing in mobile air solutions for modern fleets. In addition to being the only provider of UNDERHOOD and Direct-Transmission Mounted air compressors, VMAC produces a full suite of abovedeck air … Continue reading →
How to succeed by flailing – Montage Enterprises
If there is one constant during the spring and summer, it’s the wave of never-ending mowing. Highways, ditches, right-of-ways, parks and other municipal properties all require routine mowing. This improves safety and also maintains a manicured appearance that pleases visitors … Continue reading →
What’s in a name: Chilhowie and Farmville, Virginia
Virginia, they say, is for lovers. Apparently, the state is also for sadists judging from the litany of awkward and sometimes unsavory town names it has bestowed upon its citizens. Welcome to the state where you can visit Chilhowie, Fries, … Continue reading →
