Montage Enterprises: Surpassing the expectation in mower parts
If there is a constant during the spring and summer, it’s the wave of never-ending mowing. Highways, ditches, right-of-ways, parks and other municipal and DOT properties all require routine trimming to improve motorists’ visibility and the quality of public property. … More from our cover sponsor →
Ferguson, Mo.
The straightforward monochromatic city seal for Ferguson, Mo., contains the town’s name, date of incorporation, motto — “Community of Choice” — and a representation of the railway station that started it all. The tenor of the seal reflects the no-nonsense … Continue reading →
Going out on a limb — Urban forestry takes a serious turn for the betterment of humankind
As more communities go big and go green, the focal point is more in green tech rather than green plants. Technology is sometimes easier to implement than the naturally grown products of the planet, but even trees are gaining rights … Continue reading →
Community Celebration, Fla.
Imagine a place so pristine and idyllic its signal character of perfection is also its most prominent target for criticism. Welcome to the “too good to be true” master-planned community of Celebration, Fla., population 7,427. “Town” is not exactly the … Continue reading →
Internet service becoming extra tool to draw people and businesses in
Municipality-owned internet has its pros and cons, according to Sebewaing, Mich., Light & Water Department Superintendent Molly McCoy, but given the recent governmental battle with net neutrality, the option for cities to provide open internet to residents is appealing. Nationwide … Continue reading →
New growth, stoked excitement
I can think of nothing more exciting than an empty lot being prepped for a new commercial building. It’s usually accompanied by wild speculation on what’s going in, which only builds the brewing anticipation. Of course, that thrill can be … Continue reading →
A “Community of Choice”: What does it take to attract and retain millennials?
There’s no magic bullet when it comes to cities attracting and retaining millennials, but factors like affordable housing, walkability, a vibrant arts scene and tech startups are certainly pieces of that puzzle. Look no further than the examples set by … Continue reading →
The nation’s first whole-community resilience benchmark
The Alliance for National & Community Resilience’s Community Resilience Benchmarks system will provide communities a transparent, practical and commonsense self-assessment tool to quickly and easily gauge their cross-sector resilience efforts.
Continue reading →Live and in real time
Community leaders are always on the lookout for ways in which they can take their social media platform to the next level. While they most likely have accounts on all of the major sites in addition to a central webpage, … Continue reading →
Growing fleets for growing cities: Why some cities are opting out of in-house fleet management
When keeping up with all of the tasks required for public works, organizing and managing fleets of vehicles can be difficult. Some local governments have opted to outsource their fleets while many others are still undecided on the matter or … Continue reading →
St. Augustine concentrates on resiliency in face of sea level rise
With all the topsy-turvy weather and disasters Mother Nature has generously endowed her nations with over the past year, many cities are adapting and, in cases of major flooding, turning their attention to the mostly unseen world of infrastructure. Hurricane … Continue reading →
Curbing a need for speed: How variable advisory speed limits can mean safer roads
A variable advisory speed limit could be an effective tool in reducing the number of collisions and accidents on the road, according to two experts. A VASL is a variation on posted speed limit in which regulatory posted speed limits … Continue reading →
Maybe it’s friendly — Police officers and the paranormal
Police officers already have it tough when handling high stress situations on a regular basis, but what about unexplainable situations they aren’t trained for? Are they really prepared for ghosts whose issues with authority run so deep that they’ll haunt … Continue reading →
Virginia municipality builds new fire station into a sustainability showplace
“Daylight is a human right,” said Seth Warren Rose, founding director of Eneref Institute. Our daytime alertness pattern is mediated by light exposure to our eyes. Melatonin is the hormone that induces sleep. Inhibited by light, and triggered by darkness, … Continue reading →
Helping themselves: Police officers put stress relief techniques and coping mechanisms into practice
By DR. DANNY L. MCGUIRE JR. | Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at National Louis University, Chicago, Ill. In today’s society, with ever-changing technological advancements and social media, law enforcement professionals must be aware of their surroundings and, more importantly, … Continue reading →
Creating a successful dog park
One of the fun activities of working in a city’s parks and recreation department is planning, creating and maintaining a successful playground for its citizens’ furry four-legged family members. Pet parks are growing in popularity all over the nation as … Continue reading →
Parsley carries many skills from her firefighting and skeleton racing days
Just over a month ago, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, came to a close. In the United States, these games will be remembered for how Norway, a small European country, dominated, while American athletes and teams struggled. … Continue reading →
Adapting to the era of alternative fuels
As technology rapidly evolves, firefighters are among those who have to stay on top of the ever-changing landscape, and in this day and age, that means becoming very educated on the ins and outs of electric vehicles. As of November … Continue reading →
Forsyth, Ga.
Given the variegated productivity of Forsyth, Ga., it is hardly a wonder the municipality of 3,788 has one of the busiest city seals in the nation. The seal contains a crowded collage of images, including railway cars, a church, factory, … Continue reading →