City of Baytown takes control
Baytown’s smart investment in concrete pays off Submitted by Cemen Tech By taking concrete production into its own hands, the city of Baytown, Texas, found an innovative way to improve infrastructure, increase productivity and achieve a full return on investment … More from our cover sponsor →
Veterans welcome in fire equipment ‘family’
Not every veteran who fills out an application is hired to work on the team of Finley Fire Equipment Co. Inc. But owner John W. Finley has learned over the years that more often then not, military service, fire service … Continue reading →
When the fish — er, new year — drops
Visit the small Lake Erie town of Port Clinton, Ohio, on New Year’s Eve and the last thing you’re likely to see for the year is the steady plummet of a walleye from the sky. Not just any walleye: It’s … Continue reading →
What the manager expects of the snow crew
It’s always easier to make the boss happy if you have a clear understanding of what it is he or she wants. If you’re a snowplow driver, the road to meeting expectations starts with first knowing why you’re doing what … Continue reading →
Buy education and goodwill with a public works/public safety open house
The time involved in putting together an open house for public works or public safety departments can be daunting, not to mention that there are costs associated with such acts of public awareness and goodwill. Is the effort worth it? … Continue reading →
This is where we need to be
By REBA HULL CAMPBELL The reasons entrepreneurs choose to locate their businesses in a particular place are as diverse as the businesses themselves. Human capital, access to transportation, quality of life or just the human touch from local officials could … Continue reading →
Encouraging success: The village of Vernon Hills, Ill.
Vernon Hills Public Works Department Open House took place this year from 4–7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.15. Vernon Hills has a population near 26,000 residents. Holding the public works open house on a weekday evening worked well for the city, and … Continue reading →
Detroit suburb’s agenda – business development and high tech
For a city with a population of 73,002, Southfield has a lot going for it. According to its website, www.cityofsouthfield.com, it is Michigan’s undeniable business center, boasting “… more office space than the central business districts of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, … Continue reading →
A look at data breaches
Different types of data breach yield different examples. Here are a few notable ones from the recent past: Unintended disclosure: In Port Clinton, Ohio, letters were mailed between May 25 and July 5 and contained protected health information of individuals … Continue reading →
Training and policies slash risk of data breaches
There’s no such thing as too much action when it comes to preventing data breaches at municipalities, according to one expert in the field. For more than three decades, NW3C has worked to support the efforts of state and local … Continue reading →
Investing in broadband brings benefits to rural cities and communities
High-speed Internet access has become as much of an indispensable infrastructure as roads and transportation systems were viewed years ago, according to Michelle Riley, community and economic development specialist at the Minnesota Initiative Foundation, in an article titled “Wired—MN Backbone.” … Continue reading →
Adding perspective – 3-D modeling
Not so long ago, the notion of applying the principals of threedimensional concepts to a world ingrained in two-dimensional thinking seemed abstract and counterproductive. These days, an enhanced sense of perception has been infused with greater means of education to … Continue reading →
Evolving toolset It’s all about that technology and bandwidth
An unstoppable juggernaut, technology is growing by leaps and bounds. Its onward march has forced law enforcement agencies nationwide to think long and hard about what technologies they adopt, in addition to how and when. Chief Bradley Wentlandt, with the … Continue reading →
Speedway expands ability to fuel municipal fleets
When it comes to retail and fleet fuel services, Speedway LLC (Speedway) already walked among giants. But a significant acquisition means the Ohio-based company can now respond to an even wider market and meet the fuel program needs of many … Continue reading →
The blessings and blunders of high tech
The ways in which technology has changed how we all work over the last couple of decades amounts to nothing less than a paradigm shift. We do almost everything differently now than we did back then. On most days we … Continue reading →
Des Moines, Iowa
Settled: 1843 Pop: 207,510 (2013) Government type: Mayor, city council, city manager www.dmgov.org It was the same chief characteristic that made Des Moines a desirable place to settle — the convergence of two major rivers — that gave rise to … Continue reading →
50 Miles of Art
What makes them unique is their collaboration in highlighting each others’ artistic attractions along a 50-mile corridor of Missouri Route 79, the scenic asphalt umbilical cord that connects the municipal siblings. Twice a year, during the last full weekend in … Continue reading →
Top Ten Best City Zoos
There are dozens of travel blogs out there touting where the best this and the best that are to visit, especially for readers who are planning a vacation. Zoos are one of the top medium-range travel destinations for families, in … Continue reading →