February 1, 2008
Features
Mapping the vote
Thousands of people move every day in America, which presents unique challenges for cities and counties before any election. Election agencies must ensure that voters are accurately assigned to districts, polling locations are properly sited and ballots are customized to reflect each special district....
Miles to go
Alan Kies always plans for truck prices to increase. It is pretty much a fact of life when you run a fleet for a living, he will tell you. But what is catching him and many other city and county fleet managers by surprise is how fast truck prices are climbing — at almost triple the typical rate....
Hidden fees
As in most retirement plans, Oakland County, Mich., employees pay fees to the investment companies that manage their retirement funds. And, those fees are listed in quarterly statements that Oakland County sends to its retirement plan participants. “We don't hide any fees from the participants,” says Doug Williams, the county's retirement administrator. ...
Award-winning cities improve their communities
Winners of the 2007 National League of Cities Awards for Municipal Excellence were chosen for their effective collaborations, strategic outlooks, economic...
Issues & Trends
Digital tools rush aid to children in need
In December, following the death of four young girls in a family that fell through the cracks of Washington's social services network, Mayor Adrian Fenty...
States seek a truce in the water wars
The need to share water from rivers that cross state lines has been a constant source of contention in the desert West and, now, in the drought-stricken...
Transit development's chicken-or-egg hitch
Transit systems, such as light rail, often attract new mixed-use developments and open up urban infill sites for revitalization, boosting local tax bases....
Conservation creates green collar jobs
As local governments pass policies and create programs to encourage building and sustainable development, they also are fostering the development of jobs...
New book documents monumental efforts
Monuments are critical to local communities, bringing residents to public areas and capturing characteristics of cities and towns. In his newly published...
Have a drink?
Water reuse the introduction of treated wastewater back into the environment for use as drinking water is becoming more popular. In January, Orange County,...
Dotted Line
Plugged in
The New York State Office of General Services has contracted with Denver-based Qwest to provide telecommunications services to state agencies and city...
Getting there
Fort Myers Beach, Fla., has contracted with Fort Washington, Pa.-based McMahon Associates to analyze and design improvements on Estero Boulevard. The...
And the winner is
Alexandria, Va., with the Washington-based National Association of Home Builders (NAHB); and Wichita, Kan., with Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America...
ROLL CALL
Earth Tool Co. Brian Metcalf, vice president International Sales and Business Development for the Oconomowoc, Wis.-based company, has been named president...
Extra, Extra
Black tupelo is the Urban Tree of the Year
For 13 years, members of the Watkinsville, Ga.-based Society of Municipal Arborists have selected the Urban Tree of the Year, recognizing one tree annually...
Birmingham says, Don't trash my hood.
Birmingham, Ala., Public Works employee Cortney Benson and his friend Carlton Pippen wrote a rap song, Don't Trash My Hood, to promote Birmingham Mayor...
Report outlines security at water facilities
A new report from the Alexandria, Va.-based Water Environment Federation (WEF) and other water and public works organizations outlines the legal and policy...
Pasadena recycles most Rose Bowl waste
Playing host to the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif., made sure to comply with its own rules to divert 50 percent of its waste from landfills....
Columns
A murderous attitude
I had a dream last night about writing my thoughts to you today, not knowing that the topic was going to serve as the backdrop of the lead story in this...
Healthy perspectives
For public health officials, knowing where in the community people are contracting diseases or viruses is just as critical as knowing who has symptoms,...
New beginnings
On Aug. 1, 2008, Chesterfield, Mo., will mark the 15th anniversary of the Great Flood of 1993, an event that left Chesterfield Valley a district the city...
Setting a new course
Local officials are optimistic a national commission's ideas for reforming and funding the nation's transportation system will play a significant part...
Ways & Means
Equipping road warriors
Project: Highway equipment replacement Jurisdiction: Martin County, Minn. Agency: Highway Department Vendors: Caterpillar Date: Fall 2006 Cost: $45,000...
Path with less resistance
Project: Open Road Tolling Conversion Jurisdiction: Illinois Agency: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Consultants: Burns & McDonnell's Downers Grove,...
Cool use for wastewater
Project: Water reclamation Jurisdiction: Mankato, Minn. Agency: Mankato Public Works, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Companies involved: San Jose,...
Buyer's Index
Construction Wheel loader Dressta The 555C Extra features a six-cylinder, 319-hp Cummins QSM111 engine and has a torque of up to 1,235 lb.-ft. Measuring...
Across America
The talk of the towns
Each May, Holland, Mich., resident John Karsten dresses in 17th century-style attire and walks ahead of a Dutch parade during the town's Tulip Time Festival,...
A winter wonderland
In St. Paul, Minn., the bitter cold of winter is something to celebrate. For decades, a winter carnival has brought residents from the warmth of their...
postcards
Acts of kindness When Stow, Ohio, Law Director Brian Reali discovered that he would be deployed to Kuwait with the Ohio National Guard, he volunteered...
