City of Baytown takes control
Baytown’s smart investment in concrete pays off Submitted by Cemen Tech By taking concrete production into its own hands, the city of Baytown, Texas, found an innovative way to improve infrastructure, increase productivity and achieve a full return on investment … More from our cover sponsor →
Police debit card program provides immediate relief
Brian Spracklen said the idea for the Blue Bridge Alliance came from the 2011 shooting death of a respected San Diego, Calif., police officer just after performing a random act of kindness. The officer had been on patrol in … Continue reading →
A feral cat solution with community buy-in
Feral cat populations are often worrisome for municipalities, and animal shelters have seen a larger-than-usual number of animals surrendered or even dumped since the pandemic began. That seems especially cruel in the coldest months of the year. Cedar City, Utah, … Continue reading →
New York water project highlights pros of communities working together
We are seeing more and more examples of sharing among communities. In the last few years, some smaller towns moved on to the idea of a shared space for police, fire and EMT; this concept is called a safety center, … Continue reading →
The Municipal Top 10: Best kid-friendly cities for family vacations
Family vacations are the stuff of which memories are made. Whether a road trip to grandma and grandpa’s, a week by the ocean or getting hands-on with a fossilized T-Rex at the history museum, children often treasure far into adulthood … Continue reading →
Santa Maria implements commercial recycling program
In an effort to help businesses and multifamily complexes comply with state recycling mandates and improve the community’s environmental footprint, the city of Santa Maria, Calif., has implemented programs to educate the public and give them the tools they need … Continue reading →
Massachusetts communities turn to municipal energy aggregation
Lancaster, Mass., has been an early-adopter with energy programs. The town of about 8,500 people moved quickly to join Massachusetts’ Green Communities program, which encourages municipalities to reduce energy consumption by 20%. Lancaster likely was the first community statewide to … Continue reading →
On the road again: Walt Disney Hometown Museum
Disneyland did not start in Anaheim, Calif. Nor was Disney World first established in Orlando, Fla. Such unrivaled world-renowned family attractions are the manifestations of myriad plans, measurements and prototypes, themselves the products of initially intangible ideas. And those ideas … Continue reading →
PFAS is lining up to be the biggest and costliest environmental hazard in history
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the first-ever proposed regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The proposed maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS are 4 parts per trillion (ppt), and the EPA is proposing that PFNA, PFHxS, … Continue reading →
Improve water operations with an all-purpose, highly configurable engine controller
Huntington Beach, Calif., is an epicenter of activity and entertainment with wide, sandy beaches, ideal weather and a charming community. The city offers residents a diversified economy overflowing with good jobs, a wide variety of housing, an excellent educational system, … Continue reading →
On the road again: Plimoth Patuxet Museums
Henry Hornblower II, who lived 1917-1985, was made for just this. The Harvard-graduated investment banker, stockbroker, history buff and archaeologist fulfilled his lifelong dream by spearheading the creation of a popular living history museum complex near Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. … Continue reading →
Knoxville drives development with Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes program
Businesses are considered economic engines in cities and towns. That’s why city leaders look to programs to attract and retain industry as promising tools for growth. To that end, the city of Knoxville’s economic development office strategically uses public resources … Continue reading →
East Lansing residents ‘Round Up’ for parks and recreation scholarships
The East Lansing, Mich., Parks, Recreation and Arts Department recently started a new Round Up for scholarships program for residents who wish to participate in parks department programming but don’t have the financial means to do so. Catherine DeShambo, East … Continue reading →
Janesville holds nationwide search for city manager
When it is time to look for new leadership, communities across the United States cast a wide net to attract top talent. In 2013, the city of Janesville, Wis., conducted a nationwide search to find a city manager. Mark Freitag … Continue reading →
High-tech training with simulation in motion — SIM-IA
Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel in Iowa are singing the praises of the new Simulation in Motion-Iowa training program. SIM-IA brings mobile, lifelike clinical simulation to healthcare providers in their clinical settings instead of requiring staff to travel to … Continue reading →
Parks department and hospital team up to create healthier community in Georgia city
No study has ever shown that physical wellness decreases a person’s happiness and productivity, but many have demonstrated the opposite. Parks and recreation departments across the country promote healthy lifestyles within their communities, and Alpharetta Parks and Recreation Department in … Continue reading →
Vermont rail trail promises economic rewards
The Lamoille Valley in northern Vermont once bustled with trains hauling passengers and freight through the scenic, rural countryside. Towns along the route and the state of Vermont now believe a trail built on the former railroad bed will be … Continue reading →
On the road again: Red Wing Museum
With apologies to Ed Sullivan and every comedian who tried to imitate him, “We have a really big shoe …” Well, boot, actually. But it is really big. The size 638 1/2 D model 877 work boot was crafted in … Continue reading →
What’s in a name: Woodstock and Stowe, Vermont
When contemplating towns and villages in Vermont, a series of comforting adjectives usually nudge their way front and center. Words like “picturesque,” “charming” and “quaint.” Municipalities in The Green Mountain State invariably capture the attention of travelers seeking a bucolic … Continue reading →
