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 →
New Haven examines its food system
What does it mean to have a secure and robust local food system? The city of New Haven, Conn., along with other progressive municipalities around the country, are exploring such issues in an innovative way. Enter the Food Systems … Continue reading →
What a waste — or is it?
What does it mean for the future? And for cities? On a municipal level, incorporating plastic into roadways is a plausible route to pursue. Iowa DOT works with the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications group, which works with … Continue reading →
Route 66 – Various locales, Oklahoma
Route 66, that iconic 2,448-mile asphalt ribbon of quintessential Americana, was known by several names, including the Main Street of America, the Mother Road and the Will Rogers Highway. Stretching from Chicago to the Pacific shore in Santa Monica, Calif., … Continue reading →
Hats off to public works
Few departments are as multifaceted as public works, tackling a large swathe of jobs that often go under-appreciated by the general public until something goes wrong — such as a water main breaking. Which is a shame, especially since life … Continue reading →
Fighting the F.O.G.: Tyler, Texas, passes new ordinance to combat sewer buildups, backups and overflows
Consequences of noncompliance There can be a wide range of negative consequences when it comes to pouring F.O.G. down the drain and not following the city’s ordinance. When fats, oil and grease enter the drain it clings to the … Continue reading →
Getting ahead of potential public works employee shortages
What other cities, if any, are you aware of, that are facing the same problem? “Honestly, I haven’t talked with any of my counterparts that aren’t dealing with this at some level,” said Shuler. “My colleagues at the county and … Continue reading →
Flying high: Enid Woodring Regional Airport gets new terminal
When a plane lands at the Enid Woodring Regional Airport in Enid, Okla., director Dan Ohnesorge wants passengers to know that they have arrived. “The airport terminal is the first thing people see when they get here and the … Continue reading →
Santa Clarita comes up with award-winning transportation solutions
As the city of Santa Clarita, Calif., looks toward its future, the department of public works knows that transportation needs to be at the forefront. Last year, the city finished several different award-winning projects, all related to a different type … Continue reading →
Stump grinding helps Ontario Park turn over a new leaf
Across North America, the emerald ash borer is infesting ash trees, leaving behind fields of dead and dying trees. In wooded lots, the dead trees can be a vital part of the ecosystem, providing nesting branches for birds and vital … Continue reading →
Municipalities debate merits of red light cameras
A main point of contention among those opposed to red light camera programs is the finicky nature of a piece of technology enforcing the rules of the road, which can call for a human eye due to the situational … Continue reading →
Cities amend laws to support self-sustainability with backyard chickens
Beaverton, Ore. “The conversation around urban chickens hit its peak in the city of Beaverton in 2010,” Dianna Ballash, public information coordinator, revealed. “And there were comments both for and against the code change during the public process.” Volunteer … Continue reading →
Giant hogweed is on watch lists nationwide
There is a real monster out there, growing to heights perfect to brush against passers-by. It can grow to 15 feet tall and its arm spread is an envious 2-3 feet wide. It sports innocently disguised white “flowers” on its … Continue reading →
Kirkland tackles health care challenges with innovative solution
Affordable health care remains at the forefront of our national discourse, serving as a daunting challenge for employers who want to provide employees with cost-effective options that don’t reduce the care aspect. Employers with 100 employees can expect to pay … Continue reading →
All about attitude — the mindset of saving energy and cutting costs
When it comes to being a green, energy conservative city, success is split down the middle between choosing the right company to partner with and changing the behavior of city employees. Thankfully Montgomery, Ala., has figured out a way … Continue reading →
Departments examine K-9 programs as marijuana laws change
As a growing number of states have legalized recreational marijuana or decriminalized it, some police departments are having to ask themselves some tough questions in the face of an uncertain legislative climate. That’s because the highly trained dogs some … Continue reading →
From lawbreaker to policymaker
Jermaine Wilson of Leavenworth, Kan., knows there is no such thing as a perfect politician. However, rather than hide his mistakes from the voters, he parlayed them into a story of redemption and a life of public service that culminated … Continue reading →
Community microgrids save lives, money and time
Natural disasters — hurricanes, mud slides, monster winds, heavy rainstorms, blizzards, tornadoes, wildfires and the resulting utility power shutdowns — are just a few of the calamities that have upended lives, rendered people homeless, bankrupted or sent victims to the … Continue reading →
City seals: Circleville, Ohio
Circleville, Ohio, is named for its original shape, which was in turn crafted around a Hopewell earthwork erected between 100 B.C. and A.D. 500. Earthworks are manmade geometric elevations in land level and can memorialize the burial place of ancestors … Continue reading →
