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 →
Learning to lead
Congratulations! You’ve just been elected to city government. Now what? Your first weeks in office can be intimidating. You have new responsibilities, unfamiliar laws to follow and complicated procedures to implement. How do you learn to effectively serve in your new job? If you are … Continue reading →
Free college tuition for high school graduates
Actually, it’s no pipe dream. The reality is that some cities stand to benefit from local programs that pay for the college education of their high school students, if they attend nearby public universities or community colleges. Janice Brown, former … Continue reading →
Snow and street readiness: Have best practices in place this winter
Though the temperatures may be fair now, we’re betting it won’t be long before a different four-letter word will crop up as a major part of your vocabulary — at least for some members of our readership. Yep, we’re talking … Continue reading →
Finding common ground: Transcending police fleet politics
People tend to use the phrase “playing politics” distastefully; maybe that’s because anytime rank, title and concerns about the “greater good” come up in a conversation, you know the job’s about to become difficult. But managers of centralized municipal fleets … Continue reading →
Blue Ash Police Department reaches out to community
Chief Paul Hartinger wanted to give community members and Blue Ash officers a chance to have positive interactions, so after becoming chief, he helped launch the Citizen’s Police Academy and start an annual open house for the department. Both events … Continue reading →
Living up to core leadership principles
by SARAH WRIGHT and BRUCE RELLER JR. | The Municipal Blue Ash, Ohio, Police Chief Paul Hartinger has been in law enforcement for 32 and a half years; he began his law enforcement career with the Lockland Police Department, where … Continue reading →
Truck Crane Adds Manpower To Boating And Docks In Maine
The Boating Facility Program for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry operates and manages public boat access sites in Maine. Joe Powers, maintenance coordinator, manages approximately 21,000 square miles over six counties. In 2012, Powers needed a crane … Continue reading →
Cities lead the way to building efficiently
One of the best ways to encourage others to do what you want them to do is to lead by example. When it comes to being more energy efficient in a community, starting at the top — city government — … Continue reading →
Cities continue to embrace solar energy
Through various partnerships, the federal government is pushing the use and integration of solar energy in communities across the United States as a means to enhance resilience. David Morley, senior resource associate with the American Planning Association, is well versed … Continue reading →
The greening of the roofs
Roofing considerations for cities According to the earlier-mentioned RoofPoint Guideline, www.roofpoint.org, each section is comprised of components to take into consideration when deciding on a type of roof: Energy Management: high roof systems; best thermal practices; roof surface thermal contribution; … Continue reading →
Big savings expected from retrofitting projects
Several cities are involved in retrofitting old buildings and infrastructure to make them more energy efficient. East Rockaway, N.Y., was involved in several types of retrofitting by partnering with Johnson Controls, a company operating in more than 150 countries that … Continue reading →
Spotlight on sustainability and environmental management
Joy Brown is an expert in sustainability and environmental management, given her title as environmental compliance specialist for the Public Works Department in Berkeley, Calif. Brown shared that Berkeley has a Climate Action Plan that outlines the path the city … Continue reading →
Zackquill Morgan: Morgantown, W.Va.
Several rival factions — including settlers, Native Americans, the English and the French — grappled over possession of the land now known as Morgantown, W.Va., until Zackquill Morgan (1735–1795) literally settled the matter for good. Morgan served honorably in the … Continue reading →
‘Nursery capital of the world’ – McMinnville, Tenn.
McMinnville, Tenn., sits in the eye of a perfect storm of fortuities, meriting the town of 13,605 — and its contiguous five-county area in central Tennessee — the designation as “Nursery Capital of the World.” The “concatenation of circumstances,” according … Continue reading →
“Green” still calls to cities
When I wrote an article on a SWAT armored vehicle back in February 2012, I can safely say I never saw myself where I am today: editor. Some of you might be familiar with my byline; I have written on … Continue reading →
Schwarze takes street sweeping by storm
With a comprehensive sweeper line, Schwarze Industries offers models for parking area cleaning, airport runway sweeping, street sweeping, milling cleanup and stormwater runoff management. Its new A4 Storm is a full-size sweeper in a compact, super-maneuverable package; it is also able to pick up heavy materials like its larger Schwarze municipal sweeper counterparts. Learn more at Schwarze Industries’ website, schwarze.com.
Continue reading →One department’s approach to keeping residents fire-safe
Community risk reduction in the fire service By BRIAN GETTEMEIER | Cottleville Fire Protection District First responders not judged equally when it comes to public safety. Police departments are judged by how few crimes occur in their communities: Few crimes … Continue reading →
Sell assets without the hassle
Where to begin when there’s extra or aging equipment to sell It’s a challenge that every municipal government faces periodically — what to do with trucks, police and government vehicles, special equipment, office furniture and other items that are no … Continue reading →
