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News & Notes
NRPA recognizes a park and recreation professional going above and beyond to serve their community
ASHBURN, VA — The National Recreation and Park Association, the nation’s leading advocate for parks and recreation, in partnership with Merrell, the world’s leading outdoor footwear brand, is proud to announce the first-ever Changing Nature of Work Award winner. This annual award recognizes an individual or team that has responded to natural disasters with a spirit of teamwork, community and perseverance to clean up, rebuild their park for usable enjoyment, and to support and advance resilience and well-being for their community.
The 2022 Changing Nature of Work Award has been presented to Michael P. Cimprich, an arborist for the city of Marion, Iowa.
In August 2020, the city of Marion, along with many other communities across the Midwest, experienced heavy thunderstorms and hurricane force winds up to 140 mph as part of the devastating “Central Severe Weather-Derecho.” Known as the “costliest thunderstorm event in U.S. history,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the derecho caused widespread power outages and damages to homes, trees, businesses and powerlines. More than 40% of public trees were lost and many others on private property also were destroyed.
Once the storm subsided, Cimprich and his team worked to cut a path for emergency personnel and quickly began working on cleaning up the debris. Over the course of a few months, more than 1.2 million cubic yards of tree debris had been cleared, thanks to the work of Cimprich and his team.
Cimprich was crucial in leading the coordination effort between the city, contractors and other members of the community. Since the event, he has replanted more than 1,500 trees and secured more than $110,000 in grant funds to help support the effort. Cimprich has been a fundamental part of the response, cleanup, replanting and reforestation effort within the city of Marion and demonstrates how essential park and recreation professionals are.
In his nomination, Marion Parks and Recreation Director Seth Staashelm noted, “It has been said, ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,’ and Mike Cimprich is living proof of this. His passion for the outdoors and commitment to leaving Marion in a better place than he found it is unmatched. He embodies Merrell’s purpose to share the power of being outside with everyone.”
This is the first award presented by Merrell in partnership with NRPA and will highlight the essential role of local park and recreation professionals and contribute to NRPA’s workforce development goal of stewarding the next generation of diverse local park and recreation professionals.
“We are so excited to celebrate the excellent work that Mike Cimprich has provided for the community in a time of crisis,” said Kristine Stratton NRPA president and CEO. “We are proud to honor that work with the Changing Nature of Work Award and are grateful to Michael for being a community hero, proving that park and recreation professionals are essential.”
“We are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate Mike Cimprich as a community leader, hero and outstanding professional,” said Elizabeth Czachorski, brand marketing manager at Merrell. “Merrell exists to share the simple power of the outdoors with everyone and awarding Mike with our first Changing Nature of Work Award is a great opportunity for us to recognize the work being done in communities across the country.”
Cimprich will be sponsored by Merrell for one year and receive $2,500 in gear. He also will receive a cash prize of $10,000 to support a project in the City of Marion and has indicated he intends to use the funds to support ongoing replanting efforts.
NTEA supports U.S. Senate catalytic converter anti-theft legislation
FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry announced support for legislation to combat the rise in catalytic converter theft. The Preventing Auto Recycling Theft (PART) Act (Senate Bill 5024) — introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) — is designed to help law enforcement more effectively trace stolen converters and address these thefts.
A companion bill (H.R. 6394) was introduced by U.S. Representative James Baird (R-IN) in the House of Representatives earlier this year.
“Theft of catalytic converters and other precious metals is widespread in our country and is costly to victims of such theft,” said Steve Carey, NTEA president and CEO. “This legislation is a step in the right direction in addressing this problem. NTEA applauds the efforts of Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. Wyden, as well as Rep. Baird, and encourages industry companies to support this important effort by contacting their legislators.”
NTEA joins the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the American Truck Dealers (ATD) in endorsing S. 5024.
In a press release, Sen. Klobuchar notes that catalytic converters are used to reduce the potency of toxic emissions from an internal combustion engine and required for vehicle compliance with the Clean Air Act. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts rose by over 325% from 2019 to 2020. Replacing these parts imposes significant financial costs to vehicle owners, and can even result in a total loss to the vehicle.
The PART Act would: • Require new vehicles to have a vehicle identification number (VIN) stamped onto the converter to allow law enforcement officers to link stolen parts to the vehicle from which they originate; • Create a grant program through which entities can stamp VIN numbers onto catalytic converters of existing vehicles; • Improve recordkeeping standards for purchasers of used catalytic converters; and • Establish enforceability of laws around catalytic converter theft by codifying these crimes as a criminal offense.
For additional details, visit ntea.com/partact.
News releases regarding personnel changes, other non-productrelated company changes, association news and awards are printed as space allows. Priority will be given to advertisers and affiliates. Releases not printed in the magazine can be found online at www.themunicipal.com. Call (800) 733–4111, ext. 2307, or email swright@the-papers.com.
Ergonomic Safety Ladders Prevent Accidents and Increase Productivity
Municipalities across the United States have been receiving praise from both mechanics and management for their decision to bring LockNClimb ergonomic safety ladders into the maintenance shop. Mechanics like them because their work is faster, safer, easier and they work in more comfort to reach service points than by any other method. Management likes them because they help prevent accidents and injuries which means more productivity higher morale, faster vehicle maintenance turn-around and lower costs. Using these ladders is a win-win-win for the mechanics, management and the municipality. Features include:
• Rated as 300-lb. 1-A Special Purpose Ladders. • Meet OSHA and ANSI specifications. • 6061-grade aluminum patented support frames. • Commercial grade wheels for easy rolling. • Yellow safety handrails on both sides. • Protective rubber padding on railbacks and treads. • Rubber drop bumpers on sides of ladders. • Slip-resistant extra wide comfort treads. • Replaceable brass and rubber feet. • Less than .1% repair rate after 3 years. • 100% made in the U.S.A.
LockNClimb has designed ladder systems to serve the needs of work vehicle maintenance personnel in most all segments of the trucking industry including redi-mix, utility, solid waste, and dump trucks in addition to passenger buses. Web links to videos showing LockNClimb ladders in use are included in the descriptions below the photos. For more information and to save by buying direct from the manufacturer call (620) 577-2577 or visit www.truckingladders.com.
The LNCEXTTRKFIBER is the ladder of choice to reach high service points on dump trucks, class 8 trailers, solid waste and redi-mix trucks video: https://vimeo.com/656212576 LockNClimb ladderstands provide ergonomically safe methods for mechanics to reach service points on all types of vehicles including school buses. https://vimeo.com/441633959 The LockNClimb platform ladder slides easily around 42-inch or 44-inch tires on many types of work trucks. Video: https://vimeo.com/422945982
www.truckingladders.com (620) 577-2577
“Ladders designed by mechanics, for use by mechanics.”
