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 →
The Show for Snow 2016
A celebration of the life of urban analyst Jane Jacobs took place in Hartford, Conn., in May as one of several enriching and educational events that characterized this year’s gathering of APWA snowfighting professionals. Hartford, one of the oldest cities … Continue reading →
Springfield’s patriotic parade
Across the country, fireworks light up the sky July 4 in celebration of the nation’s birthday; but one small town in New York has grabbed headlines for a historic Independence Day celebration all its own. Springfield’s Fourth of July parade … Continue reading →
Calling ‘Code Green’ on mental health
“The sounds of the sirens still make me cringe. I was an EMT for four years, then a medic for four more … I’ve suffered from depression on and off for as long as I can remember and yet I … Continue reading →
Pavement Condition Index
It’s summer again, which means that the Midwest and outlying and coastal states are out in force to repair the damage caused by winter potholes and wear-and-tear on local roads. Before patching or resurfacing, many communities will consult the Pavement … Continue reading →
Aladtec: Employee management, simplified
Supervisor-employee communication has never been simpler or more clear than it is with an Aladtec workforce management system. Aladtec has a solution for staff scheduling, online forms, records management, time/attendance, tracking certifications/licensing and other employee management needs. Visit www.aladtec.com to see how it can work for you.
Continue reading →Centralizing a decentralized fleet
In the world of fleet management, the issue of the centralization vs. decentralization raises its head cyclically. Over the past couple of decades many municipalities have centralized support services, including IT, procurement, finance and accounting — even facilities. Fleet has … Continue reading →
The tip of the water infrastructure iceberg
Flint’s deteriorated water infrastructure is not unique, agreed Tom Hickmann, P.E., director of engineering and infrastructure planning with the city of Bend, Ore., and Eric LaBelle, P.E., Kennebunk, Maine, public services director. Both men are members of the APWA Water … Continue reading →
Flint prioritizes getting the lead out
Infrastructure is a growing source of concern, whether pertaining to roadways or water and wastewater systems. Flint, Mich., became a visual example of the U.S.’s failing infrastructure last year, when it was forced to deal with a major water crisis … Continue reading →
A history of service for youth
Joe Middendorf is the director of security and public safety for a Cincinnati National Historic Landmark, Union Terminal, which houses the Cincinnati Museum Center. His purview also includes the National Underground Railroad Museum Freedom Center and the Geier Collections & … Continue reading →
Acuity Brands Lighting and Controls help El Paso reach sustainability goals, reduce operating costs
The challenge The city of El Paso, Texas, partnered with Johnson Controls Inc. and Acuity Brands Lighting to help support the city’s sustainability goals and modernize its infrastructure. The city’s General Services Department worked with Johnson Controls to comply with … Continue reading →
Dynamic message road signs
Pity the poor Conestoga travelers of the 1800s heading west. They had no way of knowing if a band of renegades was around the next bend, or if a herd of bison was ready to thunder their way down the … Continue reading →
Images of the future
On one particular evening recently, I tried but failed to follow a sloppy “Contagion” story plot on prime time TV; failing miserably, I defaulted to checking the day’s top stories on my phone. Normally I’m good at scrolling past anything … Continue reading →
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad: Audubon, Iowa
Audubon, Iowa, was platted by a railroad, settled through the invaluable efforts of two highly energetic real estate promoters and named after a vaunted ornithologist and artist who may or may not have passed through the area 35 years before. … Continue reading →
‘Magic Capital of the World’: Colon, Mich.
Welcome to a town literally named after a punctuation mark … a town whose charm compels visitors to stay for life, even if they intended only to pass through … a town with more abracadabra per capita than anywhere else … Continue reading →
Accelerated bridge construction
Bridges are vital to the transportation system, but in practically every state, a number of them have received failing grades and need to be replaced. One way that federal, state and local officials are addressing the problem is by knowing … Continue reading →
‘Power’ play Why communities reclaim utilities from private companies
It’s easy to understand why the buzz continues about municipalizing utilities. With environmental concerns, reliability issues, rate increases and the desire to infuse more renewable resources into the power grid, it’s no surprise municipalities are looking to reclaim their electricity … Continue reading →
The value’s in the versatility – Switch-N-Go truck bodies
No one has yet dared to say that state and local governments have pulled out of the recession. After eight long years, municipal bonds remain at a 15-year low. Personnel retirements are still only occasionally being replaced with new hires … Continue reading →
Let there be light – UV disinfection moves from drinking water to wastewater application
The goal of a wastewater treatment facility is to remove visible and invisible material from sewage so that it can be returned to the environment and used again. The elements removed include human waste, food scraps, chemicals, minerals and other … Continue reading →
