Weedoo Boats: Trusted by municipalities worldwide for eco-friendly aquatic management equipment
Weedoo Boats is a global leader in the manufacturing of aquatic weed management equipment, trusted by federal agencies and municipalities alike. Operating in 41 states and 17 countries, Weedoo has established a proven reputation for innovation and environmental responsibility by … More from our cover sponsor →
Minimum wages on the rise
While the federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since early 2009, a number of employers have pledged to increase their lowest pay rates to $15 an hour. This trend is largely due to public pressure to maintain quality of … Continue reading →
Making a difference: Broken Arrow’s City Manager Michael Spurgeon
No matter if he is updating the residents of Broken Arrow, Okla., about the latest infrastructure improvements, economic developments or upcoming plans and projects, City Manager Michael Spurgeon ends his PSA videos the same way: “I hope to see you … Continue reading →
Disbanding police departments: A rising trend?
For many small towns, a local police department helps instill pride in the community. Residents see a police car with their city’s name on it, and they know that the officer driving is one of them. But in recent years, it … Continue reading →
Belgrade, Mont.
It took 101 years, but the 8,556 residents of Belgrade, Mont., got a city seal. The seal was adopted by a resolution of the city council Feb. 5, 2007, after Heidi Jensen, a newly hired associate planner, discovered the oversight … Continue reading →
An alternative fuel turns heads
Thıs fuel has been on the market ın some quantıty since at least 2010; however, you might not have heard of it yet: renewable diesel. No, it’s not biodiesel, even though it also utilizes organic materials. Offering numerous benefits, renewable … Continue reading →
Lighthouses, Block Island, R.I.
Thousands of ships have averted disaster on the treacherous shores of Block Island, R.I., thanks to the two lighthouses that bookend the Atlantic tourist haven a dozen miles south of the mainland. The historic nautical siblings, simply dubbed the North … Continue reading →
Cities examine recycling practices as China tightens ban on plastic waste
The world is getting smaller every day, which means one singular decision made abroad has the power to affect municipalities domestically and disrupt their day-to-day waste management operations. Look no further than China’s January 2018 decision to implement an import … Continue reading →
Cautious optimism high among cities
Being a midterm year, the news channels have been dominated by numerous mudslinging political ads — at least, that’s been the case on my local stations in northern Indiana. No matter who was elected Nov. 6 — I write this … Continue reading →
Mayors around the country review 2018, look forward to next year
We reached out to mayors and city managers across the U.S. to see how they fared in 2018 and asked them to peek into their crystal balls to see what challenges they expect to tackle in 2019 as well as … Continue reading →
Commitment to mutual benefits turns infrastructure projects from eyesores into assets
By JAY KEELING | POWER Engineers Incorporated Imagine what is becoming a common situation: a municipal utility needs to build an electrical substation in the middle of an urban neighborhood. Substations have a reputation for being unsightly, certainly nothing anyone … Continue reading →
Breaking the pothole cycle
2018 was the year of the pothole. It seems like every news station locally and nationally had extensive coverage on what they dubbed the “pothole pandemic.” A crumbling infrastructure in combination with dwindling municipal budgets and an extensive freeze thaw cycle has created the perfect storm for potholes and lots of them. Public works departments, county road commissions and state departments of transportation are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to pothole patching. Adverse weather conditions, lack of resources, asphalt plant closures and outdated methods are all factors directly contributing to the ever-challenging fight against potholes.
Continue reading →Saluting the Doughboys, gone but not forgotten
Since 1954, the United States of America has celebrated Veterans Day on Nov. 11 to commemorate the men and women who served their country in a military capacity. On this day, veterans are to be treated with the utmost respect. … Continue reading →
Quality of life is Kirkland’s economic development strategy
Kirkland, Wash., is a Pacific Northwest gem that really has it all. A suburb of east Seattle in King County, Kirkland is a community of 88,630 that is consistently ranked as one of the most livable communities in the country. … Continue reading →
Phoenix addresses skills gap with apprenticeship program
Hands-on learning, one-on-one interaction, classroom studies and camaraderie are a few of the keys to an impactful career experience, as demonstrated by the inaugural year of the Phoenix Public Works Department’s Solid Waste Equipment Operators Apprenticeship Program. In recent years, … Continue reading →
Trail networking for health and fun
Leave it to a Cameron County, Texas, physician/city commissioner to come up with a trail network that not only benefits the health of her city, Brownsville, but also its surrounding communities — Los Fresnos, San Benito, Rancho Viejo, Laguna Vista, … Continue reading →
DOT’s connected vehicle pilots look to safer roadways
From a windy interstate highway out West to more crowded urban centers in the East, the United States Department of Transportation is putting connected vehicles through their paces with its Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program. During the course of the … Continue reading →
Cities spruce up their gateways
If you’ve ever had to sell your home, you probably know all the little tricks to close the sale: make a batch of chocolate chip cookies a few hours before the buyers come so the aroma will fill the house; … Continue reading →
Sioux Falls, S.D., looks to tech companies for best practices
Sioux Falls, S.D., recently introduced a department of innovation and technology. And if you ask the mayor, this move is a nod to the direction cities of its size or larger are going or should be going. According to Mayor … Continue reading →
