Ever driven by an overgrown, weed-filled, debris-strewn vacant lot and thought, “That field’s a huge blight on our neighborhood. Wish I could afford it; I’d buy it and really fix it up.” Well, in Akron, Ohio; Memphis, Tenn.; Beatrice, Neb.; … Continue reading →
In “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the immortal words appear: “Water, water every where/nor any drop to drink.” Thanks to entities such as the California-based Wyland Foundation, cities all over the nation are doing their part … Continue reading →
With the largest firefighting show in the world coming up this month, The Municipal has public safety — particularly firefighting — on the brain. We’ve been intrigued lately by the invasion of wildland urban interface into practically every community in … Continue reading →
Public transportation played a critical role in expanding the United States of America. Once upon a time it was the stagecoach that helped people go from point A to point B, followed by rail lines, trolley services, bus routes, subways, … Continue reading →
It’s a question that vexes communities whenever a natural disaster occurs: Why do residents ignore repeated warnings to leave? Unlike man-made disasters, which tend to be unpredictable, natural disasters are often cyclical. In the cases of Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, Isaac … Continue reading →
Why should cities, residents and utility companies work together to encourage energy conservation and efficiency? “If people are spending less on energy bills, they have more money to spend in their community,” explained Charles Grawe, assistant city administrator of Apple … Continue reading →
Kansas City, Mo., has taken a new approach to a challenge many cities face—outdated sewer systems that overflow due to stormwater. The city’s green solutions pilot program is designed to not only reduce overflows and improve water quality but also … Continue reading →
Intelligent traffic systems, Facebook, Twitter, websites, online bill paying are just a few of the ways municipalities are interacting with their residents electronically. Residents desire more transparency and access to greater electronic data from their local governments, and municipalities have … Continue reading →
Gone are the days when composting was regulated to rural areas. Major cities across the U.S. are becoming serious about decreasing the amount of waste in their landfills and incinerators. Some cities, like San Francisco, have gone as far as … Continue reading →
Bayfield, Wis., may be tiny, but the lakeside community of 500 leads the nation in terms of eco-friendly practices and citywide sustainability efforts. “We have worked really hard to be as green as possible,” said Mayor Larry McDonald. “We believe … Continue reading →
By VICKIE MAYER The Municipal Venedocia’s official website proclaims the village to be the smallest in Ohio to have its own web page. The site sprang to life in 1996 and, at that time, did establish the municipality as the … Continue reading →
