happy new year
Magazine For America’s Municipalities
January 2024
Maintenance & Operations
INSIDE: Balancing rates with operational needs Bolingbrook, IL Permit No. 1939
PAID PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
www.themunicipal.com
Hastings gives residents inside look
2 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 3
Contents
January 2024
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VOL. 14 No. 10
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www.themunicipal.com
30
Shutterstock photos
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17 F ocus on Maintenance & Operations 18 Focus on Maintenance & 34 Focus on Maintenance Operations: The balancing act of utility rates
& Operations: Trees, please:
22 Focus on Maintenance
grant to protect tree canopy
& Operations: Municipal publication unitive, informative for Nebraska town
34 26 Focus on Maintenance
& Operations: Fort Worth Parks Department takes over city’s unique alleyway maintenance program
30 Focus on Maintenance & Operations: Cities weigh subdivision maintenance
Egg Harbor to receive $1 million
42 Public Safety: Pasadena EMS subscriptions ease residents’ minds
46 Crisis Management:
Flood warning system positions NCDOT ahead of storms
50 Parks & Environmental Services: Riverfront access regained for Minnesotans
46
happy new year
ON THE COVER For nearly 37 years, Greystone Construction has designed and constructed safe, efficient and cost-effective storage facilities to meet the needs of municipalities, departments of transportation and private firms. Read three city departments’ experiences with their fabric buildings on page 10.
January 2024
Maintenance & Operations
INSIDE: Balancing rates with operational needs Hastings gives residents inside look www.themunicipal.com
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Meet our Staff publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
Departments 8 Editor’s Note: A new year brings continued efforts
editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com
10 From the Cover: Greystone
editor SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com
Construction
12 On the Road Again: Down in the valley
publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com
senior account executive REES WOODCOCK rees@themunicipal.com graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com
38 City Profile: Mount Shasta, Calif. 56 Conference Calendar 57 Product Spotlights 58 News & Notes 60 Top 10: Which are the coldest U.S. cities?
business manager ANNETTE WEAVER aweaver@the-papers.com
director of marketing STEVE MEADOWS smeadows@the-papers.com
mail manager KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com
marketing assistant TAELYNNE OUSLEY tousley@the-papers.com
Contributing Writers Jennifer Barton, Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Lauren Caggiano, Nicholette Carlson, Denise Fedorow, Kevin Kilbane, Dani Messick, Staci Reafsnyder, Julie Young
61 Advertiser Index
from all of us at The Municipal
WWW.THEMUNICIPAL.COM PO Box 188 • 206 S. Main St., Milford, IN 46542 866-580-1138/Fax 800–886–3796 Editorial Ext. 2307; Advertising Ext. 2505, 2408
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The Municipal does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does The Municipal or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication. The Municipal reserves the right to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication and to edit all submitted materials for clarity and space. The Municipal has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has verified no claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products. The Municipal makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by advertisers regarding such products or services. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser regarding any such claims and regarding the suitability of an advertiser’s products. No reproduction of The Municipal is allowed without express written permission. Copyright © 2024.
JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 7
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Editor’s Note
A new year brings continued efforts Sarah Wright | Editor
A
new year means new projects, maybe some operational changes and, of course, the continuation of ongoing maintenance efforts. Though really, one never fully closes the book on these efforts as they go far beyond a calendar year. I read quite a few newspapers from around the country and have seen so many interesting projects taking form. From riverfront makeovers to the continuing efforts to remove the lead from city water systems, municipalities are striving to best serve their residents. Several of these projects have been bookmarked and will hopefully become future spotlights in the magazine as they progress. My widespread reading has also given glimpses into the challenges faced by municipalities. One such challenge is the setting of water and wastewater rates. No one likes a rate increase, and people aren’t afraid to let you know it. However, we all love running water and a working sewer system — no Great
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Stink of 1858, please. Traditionally, cities have underfunded their water and wastewater systems in order to avoid rate increases. Some locales have felt this more than others. Back in 2021, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ infrastructure report card rated the U.S.’s water systems with a C- and its wastewater systems a D+. Pair funding shortfalls with aging systems, and some municipalities are faced with a steep hill to climb. Writer Denise Fedorow connected with a couple of cities about their approaches to balancing rate increases with securing the funding necessary for fully functional water and wastewater systems. Both Edmond, Okla., and Sonoma, Calif., have approved rate increases, and Fedorow outlines their process for the increases, including their emphasis on not overburdening residents. The latter desire led Edmond to pursue a tiered rate. Kris Neifing, Edmond’s director of water resources, said, “This gives customers the most control of their bill. The toughest call to get is from an 85-year-old lady on social security who doesn’t have the money versus someone working with a professional lifestyle who uses a higher amount of water than others. It’s a
choice to have a pool or to irrigate the yard versus needing water to live. It’s trying to balance that discretionary use versus what’s needed to live.” Elsewhere in this maintenance and operations themed issue, we’re shining the light on Egg Harbor City, N.J., which recently received a $1 million boost to its ongoing efforts to revitalize and maintain its tree canopy. Further in the heartland, Hastings, Neb.’s, newsletter “Behind the Scenes” keeps residents connected with city operations while spreading awareness of what each department does and what projects are in the works. In Texas, we’ll highlight Fort Worth’s alley maintenance program, which is now being overseen by its parks department. Finally, we’ll also look at municipalities taking over maintenance in subdivisions and the challenges that can come with it. So what is on your docket for 2024? What projects are you excited to have underway or wrapped up? Share them with us. Until next time, Happy New Year!
JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 9
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From The Cover
Three city departments make their case for fabric buildings from Greystone Article and photos submitted by Greystone Construction
Three public works departments share their insight into working with fabric building expert Greystone Construction in the design and construction of safe, efficient and cost-effective storage facilities for salt, sand, equipment and more. “Across the USA, we are trusted by municipalities, DOTs and private firms for their salt, sand and equipment storage needs,” said Colin O’Brien, Greystone Construction Vice President and Principal. “With every project, we share our best practices to ensure each customer receives an engineered, high-quality product with a layout that best fits their operational needs. Those best practices include engineering to meet local wind, snow, seismic and unbalanced snow loads; designing for capacity requirements and future expansion; using independent foundations and panels; reducing the risk of corrosive damage from the salt with post-production hot-dipped galvanized steel and keeping salt away from building components with independent concrete wall panels with corrosion inhibitors; proper ventilation; and sufficient building clearance. These practices are proven to result in a building that is a return on investment for many years to come.” “Greystone has been in business for nearly 37 years, and since day one, our team has strived to become a long-term partner for our customers. We take pride and are honored by the fact that our customers trust our team to provide a quality product and call on us when they have future construction needs.” 10 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
ABOVE: A 44-foot-by-48-foot engineered fabric building designed and built by Greystone Construction for the city of Minnetrista Public Works department in Minnesota.
Here three of Greystone’s hundreds of public works customers share their insights and experiences: 1. City of Minnetrista, Minn., Public Works (Project pictured above and on cover) Gary Peters, public works director of the city of Minnetrista, Minn., described his experience of procuring a fabric structure and his ongoing partnership with Greystone: “We’ve had our fabric building since 2015. We had originally asked two different companies to provide quotes to furnish and install our salt shed. From the start, Greystone Construction was honest and straightforward. Their sales team came to our council meeting and explained in detail, with examples, as to why the frame material and fabric they used was of superior quality — this was done without ‘spitefulness’ toward any other competitor. “We had a limited budget at the time, and the Greystone team worked with us on ways to save money. They gave us the specs and allowed us to do all the excavation and base preparation. We also did the asphalt
paving ourselves. It’s great to find a contractor that will work with you to get the project completed on time and within budget. “The job was completed in a timely manner. We were updated and kept informed each step of the way. Everyone from the sales force to the onsite crews erecting the shed was professional and easily approachable when we had questions. “We’ve now had our fabric building for over eight years, and the building has been performing great. With Minnesota weather ranging from -20 to 100 degrees — with snow, rain, wind and hail — our building stands strong with no visible signs of deterioration. It looks as good today as it did when it was built. “The building is 44 feet wide by 48 feet long and stands on 2-f00t concrete piers with independent panels to contain our product and protect the building. The design of the building is great, with easy access for end-dump semi-trucks to unload as well as room for wheel loaders, single and tandem trucks. “I would recommend this type of structure to anyone looking for a solid, well-engineered and designed building. The durability has been outstanding, and it is versatile. We store around 600 tons of salt during the winter months and then make room to store 150 yards of pulverized black dirt for the summer. The salt and dirt are protected from the elements, and ready to use anytime. We also utilize the covered space along the sides to keep pallets of different supplies protected from the elements. “We have used Greystone Construction for yearly maintenance checks since the building was erected and would suggest using them for this service. While we could most likely do the inspection in-house, I like the fact that Greystone built our building and is around these structures daily. They know all the building specs and what to look for. They found some minor issues and took care of them that day. The inspection price is not overly expensive, and the service is always impeccable. We did have an incident a few years ago, where a piece of equipment punctured the fabric. I called Greystone Construction, and they were out in a day or two to repair the area. The repair looks good, and we have seen no issues with this area at all. “I would recommend Greystone Construction to anyone looking at a fabric building.” 2. City of Newark, Ohio, Division of Streets & Traffic Buster Prince, superintendent of the city of Newark, Ohio, Division of Streets and Traffic, shared his experience: “Greystone built our 48-foot-wide, 84-foot-long Britespan fabric building to store our overflow of salt supply. The engineered building is installed on 6-foot piers with independent panels. “It all started when we saw Greystone’s salt storage advertisement in The Municipal magazine, and we called them up. From that very first conversation and through project completion, I can’t say enough good things about the Greystone team. “We chose a fabric building over traditional building methods because of price, value and our own operation’s time and space constraints. “I was very pleased with the project manager — he did a wonderful job with communication and logistics. And the on-site crews were great to work with — they wasted no time, were polite and well organized. “We are happy with the end product and Greystone’s process all around.”
The 48-foot-by-84-foot Britespan fabric building installed by Greystone Construction for the city of Newark, Ohio.
The 24-foot-by-26-foot Britespan fabric building installed by Greystone Construction for the city of Dover, Del.
3. City of Dover, Del., Department of Water & Wastewater Bob LaFountain, civil engineer for the city of Dover Department of Water & Wastewater, explained his team’s experience: “Our new 24-foot-wide-by-26-foot-long Britespan fabric building is used to store cold patch material for repairing potholes in city roadways. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) requires this material to be covered. “Our entire experience with Greystone, from start to finish, was smooth and trouble-free. This was the first fabric structure the city had constructed, and Greystone was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. This included assisting us in developing the documents we needed to bid the project out to the final construction of the structure.” “Greystone’s construction crew for this project was a pleasure to work with and very respectful. I stopped by every day during construction, and they gave me updates as to their progress. I appreciated that they were able to work with our schedule to get this project done. “We would absolutely use Greystone for future projects.” Greystone Construction is ready to assist you with your salt, sand and equipment storage needs. Call (888) 742-6837 for a free consultation and quote. Learn more at www.GCFabricBuildings.com. JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 11
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On The Road Again
Down in the valley By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
It is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A 6,800-acre valley roughly 31 miles from Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Cades Cove is known for its rich history, picturesque landscape and plenty of opportunity for adventure — provided visitors are willing to get off the beaten path and explore. “Cades Cove is beautiful,” said Zan Larner of Indianapolis, Ind. “Most people never get out of their car, though. They drive the 11-mile loop through the park, view it from their dashboard and drive on to Gatlinburg. Just getting out of the car will improve the experience of Cades Cove by about 100 percent.”
Wildlife enthusiasts will be thrilled with the opportunity to see black bears around Cades Cove near Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The 11-mile loop offers some of the best scenery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (Photos by Angela Richard)
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A trip through time Although there is evidence to suggest that people lived in the Cades Cove area as early as 6500 BC, prior to 1797 the valley was home to Cherokee Indians. They called the fertile land “Tsiyahi,” which means “land of the river otter.” In 1818, John Oliver and Lurena Fraizer became the first Europeans to settle in the Rich Mountain Loop. The two struggled to survive the difficult winters and often relied on the generosity of their indigenous neighbors to keep from starving. Oliver and Frazier were not alone for long. By the 1820s, more settlers arrived and began installing the infrastructure necessary to create a thriving agricultural community. In 1927, the states of Tennessee and North Carolina began purchasing the land that would eventually become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While some in Cades Cove readily sold their property, others fought to remain on-site for the rest of their lives. By the mid-1940s, the last of the Cades Cove residents had moved on or passed away, clearing the way for the National Parks Service to assume the land at last.
ABOVE & BELOW: Cades Cove has a rich pioneer history. Many of the buildings have been lovingly preserved, including a church that visitors can tour as part of their experience.
Cades Cove is an 11-mile paved loop that can be accessed by vehicles on a daily basis or by cyclists and walkers on Wednesdays from May-November. It is located near Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and is part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
They immediately got to work preserving and restoring the historic buildings to their 19th century aesthetic so that future generations could appreciate them. “There are some amazing historical buildings to tour in Cades Cove,” said Angela Richard, who recently spent a long weekend in the area. “John Oliver’s cabin is there, as well as the Primitive Baptist Church, the blacksmith shop, a grist mill and more.” Adventure awaits While the main loop is accessible by car daily, on Wednesdays from May through September, the loop is closed so hikers and cyclists can explore at their leisure. Jennifer Hudspeth said this is one of the best ways to get the full experience of Cades Cove and enjoy two separate bear stops along the way. There are also several hiking trails that are perfect off-the-beaten-path options for every level of adventurer. The 4.2-mile Abrams Falls and the shorter Cades Cove Nature Trail are perfect for beginners, while the Anthony Creek Trail is a moderate 3.5 miles that can be combined with connecting trails to reach Rocky Top on Thunder Mountain, Spence Field and Russell Field. For those looking for an extra challenge, the Rich Mountain Loop, combined with the Indian Grave Gap and Crooked Arm Ridge, make for an 8.7-mile trek that offers sweeping
mountain views and fragrant wildflowers in the spring and summer. Looking for something a little different? Enjoy Cades Cove on horseback. The Cades Cove Riding Stables offers guided horseback tours from mid-March to November. Trail rides range from 45 minutes to several hours and are conducted at an easy pace. Hayrides around the loop are also available. When it’s time to take a break, the Cades Cove picnic area offers 80 sites to sit and enjoy a bite to eat. It even has flushable toilet facilities. Ready to bed down for the night? The Cades Cove campground has tent and RV camping for $25. These spaces fill up fast, though so be sure to book a spot well in advance. “My go-to place in the Smokies is the top of Mount LeConte,” Hudspeth said. “There is a lodge up there where you can spend the night after hiking. It is amazing.” Communing with nature The open nature of Cades Cove makes it a perfect place to see Smoky Mountain wildlife, including white-tailed deer, black bear, racoon, turkey and woodchuck. Naturally, all of the animals should be observed from a distance, and although it may be tempting to interact with some of the seemingly docile creatures, visitors are strongly encouraged to
leave the animals in peace and to maintain a respectful distance. “The last time I was there, I sat at the base of a tree for about 10 minutes just taking in the water, mountains and essentially ‘forest bathing.’ A small doe walked within 15-feet of me: It was a magical moment I will remember forever,” Larner said. Richard said Cades Cove is the perfect place to visit for those who like to be physically active as well as those with mobility issues. Visitors can even have an amazing experience from the comfort of their car. “I make this trip annually and do a lot of hiking. Cades Cove is always on my to-do list,” she said.
JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 13
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In 2010, Edmond, Okla., started with a 3%-10% annual increase for water and wastewater to fund capital improvements, operations, and maintenance. Read how cities are approaching rate increases to fully fund their water and wastewater operations on page 18.
100 About 100 physical copies go out of Hastings, Neb.’s, “Behind the Scenes” newsletter, which informs residents of city operations, projects and events. See how Hastings is keeping residents informed and engaged on page 22.
600,000 pounds
This amount of debris has been diverted from Minnesota waterways by the 10,772 people who have adopted one or more of nearly 20,000 storm drains in cities across the state during seven years of the Adopt-A-Drain program. Developed by Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education, the program has now expanded to other states.
Maintenance & Operations
focus on
3%-10%
2,000
Of Fort Worth, Texas’s, 2,000 alleyway blocks, about half are in its alleyway maintenance program, which is now overseen by the city’s parks department.
Read about this unique alleyway maintenance program on page 26.
$1 million Egg Harbor, N.J., recently received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help maintain its urban tree canopy. See how Egg Harbor plans to use the grant and what its ongoing efforts to preserve its tree canopy are on page 34.
Source: https://ms4.adopt-a-drain.org/
$1 billion This figure is the price tag of a Walk Bridge project underway in Norwalk, Conn., which will upgrade a 127-year-old, four-track swing railroad bridge over the Norwalk River. The bridge serves as a key link to the Northeast Corridor, the busiest rail corridor in the nation. Source: https://www.thehour.com/news/article/walk-bridge-norwalk-ct-local-impact-18419769.php.
77 A new subdivision of 77 homes is expected to break ground this year in Lakeland, Fla., and become the city’s first solar grid microcommunity. A similar community that already exists near Tampa never lost power during Hurricane Ian in 2022, despite the storm having plunged 2.7 million Floridians into darkness. Source: https://www.lkldnow.com/ citys-first-solar-microgrid-neighborhood-planned-for-nw-lakeland/.
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The balancing act of utility rates
By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal
Most water, wastewater and public works superintendents attest to the fact that no one likes to hear their water and sewer rates are going up, but everyone likes clean water coming into their homes on a consistent basis paired with an operational sewer system. Since most municipalities’ water and wastewater systems receive funding from user fees, it’s inevitable that rates will need to be adjusted to meet the needs. Some city officials put off raising rates to keep constituents happy, but that usually results in the need for a larger rate increase in the future. Others bite the bullet and have regular annual rate increases. One city that’s chosen that route is Edmond, Okla. Kris Neifing, director of water resources for the city of Edmond, said, “We’ve been raising rates for over a decade now, doing it incrementally rather than one large rate increase.” This approach started around 2010 with a 3%-10% annual increase for water and 18 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
wastewater to fund capital improvements, plus operations and maintenance. He shared they did a water and wastewater master plan in 2013 to look at infrastructure to determine what’s required for current and future needs of the city. The first large project is a wastewater plant expansion. One component of the project focuses on growth while the other is primarily regulatory in order to meet the new permit, according to Neifing. Construction cost is $171 million, and it started in 2017. Also included in the project were large diameter sewer lines and rehabilitating other sewer lines. On the water side, the city looked at future water supply, determining where it would come from before developing that plan and
ABOVE: Pictured is the construction of the city of Edmond, Okla.’s, water treatment plant. The city has enacted annual incremental rate increases to help pay for capital improvement projects. (Photo provided by the city of Edmond) implementing it over the past 10 years. This included uncovering how to get the water out of the lake. The planned water plant expansion and upgrades cost $450 million. Neifing said the current water plant was built in the 1980s and went online in 1987. The wastewater plant was built in 1972 and expanded in 1986 and in 1994, “so it’s had three phases of expansion.” Some of the sewer lines date back to the 1900s — especially in the older parts of town. “That’s where we concentrated our efforts because if it’s wastewater, it could be a problem with overflows, and with water, it’s unknown materials — it could be lead or cast iron with lead joints,” he said. It’s something the city has been working on for years. Neifing shared that there was a
building boom in the 1940s and 1950s, and a lot of the old infrastructure was replaced at that time, especially in the downtown area. Neifing said the city spends “a good amount of time educating people about what’s going on with projects, but it’s still a challenge — even when they have information — to get people to look at it and understand it, but they understand rates!” In the ’90s, prior to Neifing’s start, city officials chose not to raise rates for decades and problems were hidden, but they have to be dealt with at some point, so the city has to ramp up efforts to repair lines. To do so, it started increasing rates. “We’ve kept that approach ever since: slowly increasing rates to a point where it’s affordable — which can be an issue for some.” Neifing said the city has tried to keep the base rate as low as possible and has the volume used at a tiered rate. “This gives customers the most control of their bill,” he said. “The toughest call to get is from an 85-year-old lady on social security who doesn’t have the money versus someone working with a professional lifestyle who
This map highlights impending water uses a higher amount of water than others. projects in Edmond. (Photo provided by the It’s a choice to have a pool or to irrigate the city of Edmond) yard versus needing water to live. It’s trying to balance that discretionary use versus what’s needed to live.” been a big one, but also for valves. Some He said anytime the city gets ready to small components, like gears, generators and do a big project it updates the rate study to electrical components, have had a two-year make sure its finances are in order and it also lead time. updates annually “to make sure we’re still on To deal with that, he said, “When we bid track and still in line with what our consul- a project, we offer flexibility to the contractants expect.” tors and offer time extensions, so they have The biggest challenge to Edmond’s system time to get the materials in. We’ve awarded is “the cost of the projects and how much contracts and then delayed the start of conthey’ve increased over even five years ago. struction, especially pipeline projects, and Through COVID and with all the infrastruc- have waited as long as six months in order to ture money out there, prices have risen way give them time to get the materials.” past inflationary numbers. We’re looking at 30-40% increases on projects so the challenge Residents receptivity to rates is keeping costs in control and still build- Neifing said people are generally supportive ing good projects,” he said. “We don’t want of building plans, but not the increases that to build half a project — we want to build it go with them. “I’ve yet to have someone upset about the right and to be able to maintain it. We don’t want to leave any hidden problems for the planning and why we’re doing building projnext person.” ects, but nobody likes rate increases. I tell Lead time for materials has been another them, ‘I agree with you, but we all like to challenge, and not just pipes, which have JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 19
continued from page 19
have water.’ People can budget for a 3-10% increase, but it’s hard to budget for 50% — that’s such a shock.” So, he said in reality, “We still get a lot of pushback. Our mayor and council members get a lot of complaints over it. When we talk to people, we tell the story of why we’re doing it. They like the projects, not the rates.” However, he said small percentage increases are more acceptable. “If we were asking for 25%, there’d be an uproar. So we’ve tried to avoid that by planning out.” He said when there’s a public hearing on rate increases, no one from the public shows up, but they reach out to the mayor and the council members for their districts. Edmond has typically done five-year rate plans, but the most recent was for four years because of all the unknowns on a couple of large projects, and he said if need be, his department would go back to the council. “But we’ve told people to expect a 2% to 3% increase from now on — it’s the only way we can fund our operations,” he said. And that, he believes, is what makes Edmond unique. “The fact that we’re tackling the problem and haven’t shied away from it; we’re doing the right thing and not leaving problems for the next generation,” he said. Neifing noted Edmond city officials are “taking the heat, but they also know we’re not kicking the can down the road. It’s tough politically, but our mayor and council are standing up and saying, ‘We’re doing the right thing.’ They all believe in the projects and the needs and believe we’re being good stewards, so they’re staying on board. It’s not easy. They get a lot of heat, but they keep charging forward.”
Members of the city of Sonoma Water Division strike a pose. The city is preparing to upgrade its metering system. (Photo provided by the city of Sonoma)
Sonoma, Calif. In Sonoma, the recently passed rate increase wasn’t met with much resistance, according to the city’s project manager and administrator of public works, Oriana Hart. When asked if the city got pushback from the recently passed rate increase, she responded, “Less so than other places. We didn’t really hear that. Folks understand where we’re coming from and the need to have a fund — we didn’t get a lot of pushback.” Hart said the city received maybe 50 negative comments out of 5,000 to 6,000 residents. In January, Sonoma City Council approved a contract with Raftelis Financial Consultants to review the city’s water rates. The consultants were tasked to assess the water department’s budget, maintenance The city of Sonoma, Calif.’s, city hall is located in the historic and capital improvements projects. They began in March by assessing Sonoma Plaza. City officials recently approved a rate increase the future revenue requirements that will be needed to fund opera- that will take effect Dec. 1, 2023. (Photo provided by the city of tions and maintenance, capital replacements and refurbishment Sonoma) programs. They also factored in debt service obligations and reserve funding and conducted a cost-of-service analysis and updated the Hart said the council approved the 4% annual increase, which will rate structure. Theresa Jurotich of Raftelis gave a presentation to the council in July. take effect Dec. 1, and added, “With inflation, the 4% didn’t seem so She told the council they were setting rates for 2024-2028, and if they onerous.” The cost of Sonoma’s water is influenced by where the city gets it. did nothing, in the fifth year, they’d drop below the target and be out of money and the debt service would be in default. “Eighty percent of our water is imported, so we don’t have a lot of She was recommending a steady adjustment of 4% beginning on control over it,” Hart said. Dec. 1, 2023. By doing so, the city would be at target by the 10th year. The last rate study was done in 2018, and rates were raised at that If they did nothing now, they’d need to enact a larger increase in five time with the council’s discretion. years. 20 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
“In the middle of the process, the council paused the rate increases during COVID,” she explained. The capital improvement project the city is working on now is upgrading its metering system to an advanced metering system, which is ultrasonic and uses cellular service to provide real-time data every 15 seconds. Customers will also have the ability to log into a portal and see real time usage, which Hart said should help with conservation efforts and help identify leaks. She said the meter system is “pretty old.” The city went to an automated regulatory meter 20 years ago, where the technician can get a reading just by traveling past the meter, but it only transmits if you’re nearby. “In light of state regulations, providing better data of where the system is losing water will help guide other capital improvement projects,” she said. Other than the meters, Hart thinks the system is in good shape. “We have an asset management program that we regularly update.” Currently, the city has in the budget to do one capital improvement project upgrade on a section of the pipeline system. When asked if she believed consumers were more cognizant of the value of water versus other areas of the country. She replied that’s what the city is trying to raise awareness of with its water conservation programs. “Locally, we don’t have the capacity to support our system, so we’re buying our water from another watershed — it’s a valuable resource and we’re protective of our groundwater.”
The lava rock fountain in the historic Sonoma Plaza greets visitors to city hall. (Photo proved by the city of Sonoma)
One piece of advice that Hart offered was something the city didn’t do, but heard another city had: building in a pass-through for inflation. “We built in a pass-through for unknown increases in our water purchase cost. If it goes over a certain amount, we can adjust our rates — but we didn’t think to do that for inflation.” Maintaining water systems while keeping rates affordable is a balancing act, especially with recent supply shortages, and one that more and more communities will deal with as growth continues and infrastructure ages.
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M Focus on: Maintenance & Operations
Municipal publication unitive, informative for Nebraska town
By JENNIFER BARTON | The Municipal
Knowing the goings-on in one’s town can increase a person’s feelings of connectedness and purpose within their community. How does one know when a street project will begin or end? Additionally, who represents various departments within the city and how can one contact them with questions or a problem? These are some of the many reasons that city officials in Hastings, Neb., began printing “Behind the Scenes,” a monthly newsletter that covers various city departments and the work being done within them. City Administrator Shawn Metcalf had pro- that, where they get an email every month,” duced a similar report previously in Rawlings, Metcalf said. Wyoming, and thought this could be a good Tony Herrman, public information way to communicate with the residents of manager for the city of Hastings, puts the Hastings as well. He stated that the once- document together each month and tries to a-month informational paper covers what include beautiful photos or graphics of the each of the city’s 17 departments are work- various things going on within the town of ing on in two categories: current projects or about 25,000 people. The birthplace of Koolachievements from the previous month and Aid, Hastings boasts an active library system, upcoming projects. a natural history museum and regional air“So, if a resident is looking at that and they port, all of which Herrman likes to include in are really interested in any department, they “Behind the Scenes.” “I love the pictures Tony uses here; they’re should have a good idea of what’s going on in that department. People can sign up for very warm and welcoming in appearance. It 22 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
ABOVE: Hastings residents learn about all the latest or impending city projects in addition to local events, such as those hosted at the Hastings Municipal Airport. (Photo provided by the city of Hastings, Neb.)
takes quite a bit of time to grab all of those and come up with new ones, but I think it’s well worth it,” Metcalf remarked. Herrman recently began including a calendar of events in the publication as well — an idea posed by a city council member — so that citizens can have a one-stop location for dates and times of upcoming city council and planning meetings, library and museum events and other happenings, listed the month prior. Right now, about 100 physical copies of the 20-page paper go out to subscribers, but Herrman also includes “Behind the Scenes” in the city employee newsletter and posts it to their social media accounts each month. What Metcalf most appreciates about “Behind the Scenes” is its accessibility. For readers who are only interested in a certain department or area, the library, for example,
Hastings, Neb.’s, “Behind the Scenes” gives residents an inside look at how their city operates. This page from the July 2023 newsletter focuses on what the city’s environmental department is up to. (Photo provided by the city of Hastings, Neb.) they can go right to that section and read about the things going on there. “That’s what I like about it so much. You don’t have to read it all; even if you read a little part of it, that’s great, that’s valuable for someone,” he continued. Each department approaches their section differently and not all are featured in every issue, depending on what information they have to impart. As city administrator, Metcalf has his own section each month, highlighting big, citywide projects such as the renovation of the city hall that was recently approved by the city council. Herrman stated that city utilities alone make up about half of the Hastings government, and he could easily fill an entire issue with that department’s updates alone. Instead, he limits utilities to two pages, “and I’ve worked with our superintendent, directors for those utilities, just on specific things that (they) have going on at that moment. And that way, I could maybe go to that same person two to three months down the road and write about something different.” In their section, human resources began including a photo and bio of a different employee each month. “Some of the departments do that,” Herrman reported, “which is a good way for the city or the city employees to be out there in the public to help the public make that connection with their friends and neighbors working for the city.”
Hastings’ public information department received focus in the September issue of “Behind the Scenes,” with special attention on its video endeavors. (Photo provided by the city of Hastings, Neb.)
“Behind the Scenes” features colorful, interesting photos that tell a story about what departments are up to. In this photo, Hastings Museum moves a vintage Bert’s Drugs sign to a new destination. (Photo provided by the city of Hastings, Neb.) JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 23
continued from page 23
Metcalf reports that the community’s response has been favorable. He said, “We’ve had a lot of good feedback on it, very positive things, the comments that I saw. I have had people come up to me and tell me that they actually love it — they like reading it every month.” Herrman added, “We talk about response from the public. One woman spoke at the council meeting; she was very vocal on her support and praise for BTS, but she wanted something included there, kind of outlining the condition of city facilities.” And with the creation of the maintenance department currently in the works, it, too, will have a monthly section in “Behind the Scenes” “that will probably just relieve a little pressure from other departments,” Herrman said. Metcalf believes that the publication provides a means of helping residents feel more a part of the community. “Local governments are more complex than people know — than the general public understands — so I love this because they kind of get insight into each of those departments, some of those things they wouldn’t otherwise know or think about.” The biggest hurdle for Metcalf and Herrman is simply letting people know about “Behind the Scenes.” Since the publication only began printing in April 2023, both men see plenty of room for growth and increased readership within the city of Hastings.
Each of the city’s 17 departments gets to share current and upcoming projects or achievements from the previous month in “Behind the Scenes.” Pictured is a photo of vintage planes at the Hastings Municipal Airport. (Photo provided by the city of Hastings, Neb.)
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M Focus on: Maintenance & Operations
BEFORE (left) & AFTER (right): Fort Worth, Texas, has a unique alley maintenance program that has recently come under the purview of the parks and recreation department. The city maintains approximately half of the alleyway blocks four times a year,
largely through mowing and the occasional low limb removal and debris removal. One of the largest projects this year was completed in a Wilbarger Street alleyway. (Photos provided by the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department)
Fort Worth Parks Department takes over city’s unique alleyway maintenance program By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
Fort Worth, Texas, has a unique alleyway maintenance program with about half of the city’s alleyways maintained by the city. Previously under Neighborhood Services, the program has come under the purview of multiple departments over the years before coming to the parks department on Oct. 1, 2022. There are over 2,000 alleyway blocks throughout Fort Worth and half are in the maintenance program. Debbie Branch, district superintendent park operations Fort Worth, Texas, Parks and Recreation, oversees contracted grounds maintenance. With over 200 parks, most of them are on maintenance contracts. This program was moved to the parks and recreation department, since her department was already handling mowing services and, this way, all mowing services would be under one department. With the past year being the first year Branch was in charge of the alley maintenance program, she simply ran it the same way it had been run previously under Neighborhood Services. Since the grounds maintenance contractors are landscaping contractors, the maintenance referenced is primarily mowing. However, contractors will also
26 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
do some low limb removal and debris removal from the alley when it hinders the mowing services. Around five to 10 years ago, a group of people from various city departments, such as police and compliance, started a safe neighborhood initiative. If they selected an alley as a part of this initiative, it would get mowed a certain number of times a year. Previously, the alleyways were cleaned three times a year, but after receiving additional funding, they are now mowed four times a year. If someone calls in and states their alleyway needs help, the department has mowed it once for them. The next steps have included meeting with the police department to determine what had previously been the criteria for selecting which
BEFORE (left) & AFTER (right): Contractors are required to use the My Fort Worth app and take before-and-after photographs when performing alley maintenance to provide both confirmation
alleys were included in the program and how neighborhoods were selected. Branch wants to ensure there is a specific selection criteria because “we want to be equitable and make resources go as far as they can,” she states. With a budget of $804,000, the city is only able to have half the city’s alleys in the program. It would take double that amount to include all the city’s alleys. When a contractor is preparing to mow an alley, a flyer is put up on doors throughout the neighborhood saying they are going to mow. However, not all residents want their alley mowed. For instance, Branch has heard some residents state they are using the alley to host pollinator plants for bees. Previously, Fort Worth also had a program that allowed residents to take ownership of an alley, and they could put a gate up to keep others out. While that program did not really take off, there are still gates up on some alleys. Branch mentioned there have been 504 requests documented for the alley maintenance program. The parks department hired someone in a temporary position to perform inspections of these alley requests. Since it takes time to go out and inspect each area, the work order system allows photographs to be attached to the request so staff members can look at it immediately, and it will save time so employees don’t have to go out and inspect it in person. For example, Branch mentioned that in one instance, an individual requested the alley not be mowed since their cable line had previously been mowed over. A photograph of the cable line was sent in with this request, and the parks department could reach out to the cable company about the issue. Many alleys also have utilities that can hide in the tall grass. In these instances, notes are placed for that alley and given to contractors for next time. The city’s My Fort Worth app has also been extremely helpful for the alley maintenance program and is used by both residents and contractors. Residents can send in a request or concern using the app as well as photographs. Contractors are required to use the app to take before and after photos of their work.
of work completed while also protecting contractors against complaints. (Photos provided by the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department)
BEFORE (left) & AFTER (right): Next steps for the alley maintenance project include determining the selection criteria for the alleys to ensure resources are being used to the greatest extent possible. (Photos provided by the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department)
“It creates a dashboard that staff works within,” Branch stated. “I don’t even have to touch it. Contractors use the app to take before and after pictures of their work. The city is big, and it’s hard to be everywhere and verify contractor’s work. We still do physical inspections, but it has been a huge help going through daily reports with the before and after photos. It is the cornerstone of communication with contractors. It is also a protection against complaints against contractors. It is a helpful tool to track and manage.” This has become one of the primary methods of communication for residents to send in photos or requests on alley maintenance. When people call in to the parks department, it is suggested they take a photo and send it in through the app to specify what they want or are talking about. “Fort Worth is a big city with many alleyways to manage,” Branch said. “We try to balance and match different people’s expectations.”
JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 27
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JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 29
M Focus on: Maintenance & Operations
Cities weigh subdivision maintenance By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
When you think of subdivisions, what comes to mind? Well, it’s literally a large piece of land subdivided into parcels meant for individual ownership. William Levitt is credited with the 20th century version, planning and building entire communities after World War II to meet the huge demand for affordable housing when the veterans came home and started the Baby Boom. The houses in Levittown were uniform in design and more than affordable; many of them are still standing today. Subdivisions resemble miniature cities in some ways. They can feature their own form of governance, such as homeowners associations, and each has its own infrastructure from roads to utilities. Like with all infrastructure, maintenance is a necessity, and when it comes to who performs the maintenance, it differs from subdivision to subdivision. In some cases, the HOA may oversee the care of said infrastructure, often working 30 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
with contractors to handle repair tasks. In some cases, developers may handle maintenance for a time. In some locales, cities are responsible for upkeep or later assume that responsibility. Reasons for cities to assume the maintenance of subdivision infrastructure vary as do their methods for rolling them into existing maintenance plans. Each method has its challenges, whether it’s taking over
ABOVE: Some cities are developing requirements for new subdivisions that address topics such as maintenance. (Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock.com)
roads, stormwater, sidewalks and more. All require careful planning and much discussion among the experts in a city government. Last January, during a meeting of the Berea, Ky., City Council, Amanda Haney, who serves as the planning and codes administrator, made a request for the city to accept street and road construction into the Infrastructure Maintenance Program at the Stoney Creek Subdivision. In the year since then, Haney said, “Yes, the subdivision’s infrastructure for this particular phase was accepted at that city council meeting. In our city, once a subdivision reaches 75% built out, the developer is able to request the infrastructure of sewer, water and streets be accepted into city maintenance. At that
An aerial view of Stoney Creek subdivision in Berea, Ky., is seen via the “EagleView” software, alongside its newly paved roads. In Berea, once a subdivision reaches 75% built out, the developer can request the infrastructure of sewer, water and streets be accepted into city maintenance (Photo provided by Amanda Haney, city of Berea, Ky.)
The responsibility for snow removal in subdivisions varies. Sometimes, a municipality may assume the duty, particularly if the road is used by more than just subdivision residents. (Suzanne Tucker/ Shutterstock.com)
“This (the roadway) was just accepted in October. There were some concerns about the asphalt plans not being correct. They were rechecked and recorrected, and everything was found to be okay. It was just a matter for the department of public works superintendent. It’s all good and all correct; all is built according to the subdivision to accept as standing,” said Maksimoski. point, Stoney Creek Subdivision had met all the requirements, and He further explained, “Everyone goes by the same general rules. all infrastructure had passed the inspections for proper installation.” Each town has a unique set of minor rules that have to be in place. And At the same meeting, there was an announcement that turn lanes the state law has guidelines to make minor adjustments as needed, would be installed, lessening any bottlenecks or other traffic issues. but they can’t be ridiculous ones.” It has to make practical sense and Haney noted, “Yes, the turn lanes were installed on time, and that call for a good, workable solution. Fortunately, Hadley had just that, detail was completed in November. We anticipated the residents of and everything proceeded according to plan. Often, having a plan is the best approach for municipalities when the subdivision would be happy to get the turn lanes for safer entrance approaching subdivisions. and exit of the subdivision.” Haney said the project was “funded by the developer of the subDayton, Va., has been working toward creating updated requiredivision and permitted through the state transportation cabinet.” ments for new subdivisions that would, among other assets and No small feat: Kentucky’s Transportation Cabinet is responsible for benefits, help the town maintain a consistent look. Considered plans maintaining and improving the transportation infrastructure of the would require sidewalks on both sides of the road and driveways to commonwealth. According to the Kentucky.gov page, this includes be made of specific materials; this is a good example of foresight for 27,438 miles of roads, 160 licensed airports, 23 public transportation future building projects. The requirements would also set guidelines systems and with the registration of 2.7 million licensed drivers and for who manages stormwater maintenance. In an interview with WHSV 3, Dayton’s Community Development 3.4 million vehicles annually. On the East Coast, Hadley, Mass., received a request from Rocky coordinator Christa Hall said, “We would like to see that it transfers Hill Road, an almost 20-year-old housing subdivision that had been a into a property owners association. So this ordinance will require private way. Residents hoped their private road could become a town that at 75% of the build-out of the lots within the development, the road, which would mean services such as snowplowing and routine storm-water maintenance facility would be turned over to an HOAmaintenance would be handled by the Hadley Department of Public type situation.” Works. At the planning board meeting in January 2023, Chairman In Colorado, the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan provides James Maksimoski noted it would be a challenge to take on the road, guidance on what gravel and paved roads are accepted for maintenance particularly because the as-built plans would be needed and their in unincorporated parts of the county. Boulder County’s website notes, existence was unknown. In fact, several years prior, a contractor using “The BCCP stipulates that funding for major repairs should be prioritized plans to determine where to safely dig struck and damaged utility for the county’s arterial and collector roadways, and that funding of lines when he came across lines that weren’t — according to the plans major repairs for ‘local access roadways’ (aka ‘subdivision roads’) shall used — supposed to be there. be the responsibility of those served by the road. Basically, funding
JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 31
continued from page 31
is focused on roads that serve the most people and provide critical regional connections.” The county’s frequently asked questions section about subdivision paving and local access road maintenance section further notes that while major work won’t be done, its crews will still conduct operations on such roads. These actions could include snow removal; pothole patching; clearing of ditches, culverts and other drainage structures; replacement/repairs of sidewalks; and roadway crack sealing and patching to maintain public safety. In 2014, the county determined that some subdivision roads serve more than just those people who live in the area, particularly those providing access to trailheads, places of worship, schools, etc. The county’s website notes, “We call these ‘Community Use Roads (CUR),’ and the Board of County Commissioners agreed that the county should do more to help with them. There are approximately 25 miles of CUR in the county that benefit the greater community and the county has allocated an average of one to two million dollars annually to the rehabilitation of these roads. Roads we’ve repaired include: Linden Drive, Heatherwood Drive, Twin Lakes Road, Carter Trail, Longview Drive, and Westview Drive, among others. The county plans on continuing to work on repairing these roads as funding allows over the coming years.” With their long history, subdivisions will continue to provide housing across the country — a need in many communities. Building
Some municipalities have guidelines where, as subdivisions build out, their developers can request they add infrastructure, such as roads, to their maintenance plans. (Picture This Images/Shutterstock.com)
relationships with their residents and creating guidelines in advance can smooth future headaches with maintenance. And should a city choose to take over maintenance of some infrastructure, it is vital to have a plan in place beforehand. M
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M Focus on: Maintenance & Operations
Trees, please:
Egg Harbor to receive $1 million grant to protect tree canopy By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Egg Harbor, N.J., may be a small city, but it has big plans for its trees. Thanks to councilwoman and sustainability hero Nannette LoBiondo-Galloway, the community’s tree canopy is getting some much-needed TLC in the form of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to LoBiondo-Galloway, the city’s urban tree canopy is in jeopardy. Many of them are nearing the end of their lifespan. Others have been removed during street reconstruction projects, while major storm events have felled some. “This grant will provide the city with the funding needed to hire a certified tree expert to properly trim our street trees for health, safety and beauty, extending the lifespan of still-healthy trees that were planted in the rights-of-way of our avenues more than 80 years ago,” she said. Deep roots Founded in 1857, Egg Harbor is an old German community known for its wide streets accented by landscaped borders that 34 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
were replanted 100 years ago. Unfortunately, the replacements ranged from the London plane tree, which has roots capable of lifting sidewalks and curbs, as well as invasive species that cause harm to the environment and human health. Over the past eight years, LoBiondo-Galloway has been working with the city’s Green Team to apply for small grants that will help it correct course before it’s too late. In 2016, the city received a $30,000 grant from the New Jersey Urban & Community Forestry Program in order to plant 109 new trees on the public property strips. The trees replaced those that were lost during a freak derecho storm in July 2012. They received a second $30,000 grant to plant 67 new street trees in November 2022 and engage the
ABOVE: The soaring trees in Egg Harbor City’s Lincoln Park have been labeled with pertinent information about the 17 different tree species growing in the park. The project was funded with a $5,000 Sustainable Communities Grant offered by Atlantic City Electric. (Photo provided by Egg Harbor City)
community in the care and maintenance of those trees over a two-year period. The Green Team also received a $5,000 from the Atlantic City Electric Sustainable Communities Grant program for their Lincoln Park Tree Identification Project. The project is designed to educate the public about the 17 different species of trees that reside in the heavily traveled park, some of which were planted over 100 years ago, others in 2017, and some that were planted by the Rudolph Elmer American Legion Post 158 to honor service members who died in wartime. Each tree has a sign that tells a little about the species so visitors can learn which ones are native and which are invasive. This helps visitors make informed decisions about what they choose to plant on their properties; they
Former Mayor Joseph A. Kuehner Jr. stands next to one of two Zelkova trees planted at his Egg Harbor City home in 2022. (Photo provided by Egg Harbor City)
will know which trees might be best suited for them. The department also created a brochure to help guide people on tree care. “We really wanted to get the community involved in learning about proper tree care,” LoBiondo-Galloway said. “I’m really proud of how the community mindset has changed. They get why it’s important and what we are trying to do. Sometimes change takes a while, but I am glad to see the hard work pay off.” A new opportunity When LoBiondo-Galloway learned about the $1 billion Inflation Reduction Act allowing the U.S. Community Forestry Service to distribute funding to plant and maintain urban trees across the country. The $1 million grant the city earned came through the Biden administration’s Justice 40 initiative that reserves 40% of the fund opportunities to go to communities that are overburdened and underserved. “We are an old community, but we are also a poor community. Our street trees have been neglected, and we can’t afford to hire someone to take care of the trees,” she said. “There are only a half-dozen people in the public works department, so I jumped on (the opportunity).” She asked for a lot of money and was granted a lot of money, the contract for which will be signed in the first quarter of 2024. In the
From left, volunteers Joanne Steer and Anita Ford Wagner, both members of the Egg Harbor City Garden Club, turned out one early summer morning to trim suckers growing at the bottom of large trees in Lincoln Park. (Photo provided by Egg Harbor City)
meantime, there is still a lot of work to do to get ready for the windfall, but the city is very excited about what comes next. “We will save the ones that are still happy and take down the ones that are diseased or dead, and we will also do some planting,” she said. “It’s good to do things piecemeal like this and to replace trees on an ongoing basis.” Even though she has current projects to attend to, LoBiondo-Galloway is always thinking ahead to what she would like to do next. With 4,000 residents in the city of Egg Harbor and 1,500 households in the developed part of town, there is surrounding acreage that she would like to get dated by an expert. “I would like to work that into the grant if possible. They can bore a hole into a tree and count the rings to find out how old it is without cutting it down,” she said. “There are some cities that are approximately 300 years old, but when they date the trees, they find out that they go back 600-700 years. Egg Harbor is 170 years old, and the rest is woodlands, so it would be nice to know how old it really is.” JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 35
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City Profile
Making a home for all at Mount Shasta By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal
Mount Shasta, Calif., may be a small mountain community, but its reputation as a departure from the hustle and bustle of life is by no means modest. With a population just under 3,500, the North California community faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Todd Juhasz is the city manager. He’s tasked with handling the day-to-day stuff, working on everything from economic development to wastewater treatment. “I report to and take direction from council and the mayor,” he said. “We have a great relationship in that we try to be in alignment as much as we can to provide a united front.” That’s especially important when faced with criticism and pushback regarding areas like development.
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Juhasz said he and the mayor take intentional growth seriously. The city isn’t expanding just for the sake of expansion. That conservation mindset is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in the Northern California region. The lush landscape and breathtaking views are impressive and captivate residents and tourists alike, Juhasz said. “It’s wide-open spaces — not a lot of density. It’s surrounded by beautiful hiking trails and mountain bike trails, you name it. It’s
ABOVE: Wagon Creek Bridge cuts through the deep Northern California forest as well as meadows and everything else around Shasta Lake.
pretty spectacular going up to the mountain and seeing that view every morning.” It’s not surprising, then that tourism — especially during ski season — and events like the challenging Grinuro gravel road bike race sustain the region economically. According to Juhasz, there’s not much in the way of large employers: rather, the area relies on natural resources as a means to draw people in to spend money. “Mount Shasta and the surrounding areas are pretty wild and pretty beautiful — lots of, you know, streams and lakes,” he said. “They’re very, very pure. In fact, our water supply isn’t chlorinated. It isn’t filtered. It’s
Todd Juhasz, Mount Shasta city manager
The Fourth of July celebration at Mount Shasta is a draw for those who live in the Northern California community. (Photos provided by city of Mount Shasta)
The wild and beautiful environment of Mount Shasta is stunning year-round.
just straight from the lava tubes. It takes a very long time — tens or twenties of years — to get through these lava tubes and into your glass.” That’s not the only reason the city’s moniker, Mount Shasta, is revered. One striking aspect is the spiritual draw of Mount Shasta, considered by some faith traditions to be a sacred site. Per the tenants of the St. Germain Foundation, the mountain is the center of the universe — which presents an interesting dynamic. Speaking of perspectives, Juhasz said the demographic landscape consists of a mix of generations, including former loggers and retirees from the Bay Area. The interests between these groups, coupled with a vocal minority resisting development, adds a layer of complexity to the city’s dynamics.
“What’s interesting about this place is that it’s gotten pretty expensive in comparison to other places in the county, or surrounding counties,” he said. “And, in the last census, the median age here was 57. So, it definitely skews older and fairly monied, unless you were here before and owned your home.” Like many communities across the nation, housing is a challenge he and his team are actively working to address. “One of the issues that we have here is trying to build housing for the next generation that wants to be up here,” he said. “Because there really is a lack of housing in the county. Our sister city to the north lost quite a few homes two years ago due to a fire. So, it’s pretty limited in terms of places to stay. Many accommodations are not affordable. I’m trying to change that.” Current initiatives include leveraging tax increment financing and partnering with the county to accelerate infrastructure development. At the same time, Juhasz said he’s interested in navigating the delicate balance between preservation and progress. The goal is to foster responsible growth, he said, while preserving the unique character of the community.
He offered a glimpse into the intricacies of leadership in the dynamic and ever-changing landscape. “We have 25 units of affordable housing coming to the area,” he said. “I’ve gotten those approved and I’m waiting for the developer to start, but that’s in the pipeline. We have a number of affordable housing units that, based on a recently passed law, I can approve ministerially. In other words, that can happen without going through the planning commission.” Juhasz added that he’s bullish on creative solutions to address the housing shortage. For instance, there’s interest from a manufacturer of materials for college dormitories. The company could build workforce housing, creating what he refers to as “blue-collar jobs,” and offer market-rate housing for the professional class. In the meantime, Juhasz is also looking to the public sector for solutions. “We’re in the process of trying to partner with the county,” he said. “We’re using both of our general funds. Hopefully we’ll be able to harvest our tax increment more quickly and get much-needed infrastructure in place so we can attract the kind of development we want.”
JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 39
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Public Safety
Pasadena EMS subscriptions ease residents’ minds By JENNIFER BARTON | The Municipal
“I’ll never need an ambulance ride; why would I pay for a subscription I’ll never use?” This might be the mindset of millions of Americans, but when catastrophe strikes, ambulance service can leave a person thousands of dollars in debt. The Pasadena, Calif., the fire department, led by fire chief Chad Augustin, is one of many EMS services across the country that have implemented a subscription program to cover unforeseen yet necessary EMS services for residents who choose to participate. In Pasadena’s case, Augustin said, $89 a year can bring peace of mind to residents by waiving whatever fees are not covered by insurance for an ambulance ride for subscribers. Though still in its infancy — the program rolled out Jan. 1, 2023 — Augustin hopes to see continued growth in subsequent years. He called it 42 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
a grassroots effort — “we’re really growing a program from the ground up” — and the fire department does not seek to make money off of it. The welfare of the community he loves remains Augustin’s priority, as seen in his passion for the program. He sees it as a means of benefiting the citizens of Pasadena. Previously, Augustin had lived in the state’s fast-paced capital, Sacramento. But he has been proud to call Pasadena home for the past two and a half years. He loves the city, home of the Tournament of Roses, with its “small-town feel.” During his time in Sacramento, that city and various others in California had launched a similar subscription program. He wanted to bring the idea to his new
ABOVE: Pasadena, Calif., implemented an EMS services subscription program for its residents to reduce the large amount of debt that often goes with ambulance rides. (Photo provided by the city of Pasadena)
home. Sacramento’s program began as a way to cover air ambulance services, which can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000: seeing that, he questioned whether something could be put in place for ground ambulances because “for some people, it doesn’t matter if it’s a $1000 bill or $10,000, if you don’t have the money, you don’t have the money. We were able to do that in Sacramento, so when I came down here and realized Pasadena didn’t have that program, it became an initiative we started working toward.” Fire and lifesaving services are covered with Pasadena residents’ tax dollars, but ambulance rides are not. The subscription program covers ambulance rides only for private citizens, and the person
The subscription program creates a safety net for Pasadena residents, preventing them from going into overwhelming debt to receive lifesaving care. (Photo provided by the city of Pasadena)
being transported must live in the house that an ambulance is dispatched to and not be simply a guest. The city of Pasadena provides its own “dual-role, duly trained firefighter-paramedics,” as Augustin explains it, and does not rely on an outside contractor. It’s able to work with the EMS biller to handle the subscription program in-house rather than through a third party, so membership is automatically noted on a bill. The city’s website gives additional information on the program, including FAQs. Augustin’s team worked hard to get the word out to anyone who might need it, particularly the elderly or those with health issues. Social media posts, pamphlets mailed to utilities customers and being present at town hall meetings helped spread the word. Overall, public reaction has been positive. Public safety and wellness come first for the fire chief. He stated, “In general, most of us don’t think about our emergency plan until it hits us across the face — and now you have a multi-thousand-dollar hospital bill and an ambulance bill, and you aren’t working because you’re injured. So, part of this is education for our community.”
Since Pasadena had its own dual-role, duly trained firefighterparamedics, the city can work with its EMS biller to handle the subscription in-house. (Photo provided by the city of Pasadena)
For residents whose insurance doesn’t There is still plenty of room for growth, cover EMS services, or who have a high he said, both in subscriptions and technoldeductible, it benefits them to add this ogy. The city of Pasadena plans to roll out a additional piece. Participants who have new website for the program so interested no insurance at all see their bills reduced citizens can use a QR code or fillable subby half. scription form to join. It took roughly a year of work to get the Because Augustin wants to ensure that program going. Augustin noted that while anyone can sign up, however, he intends to it took time to organize, it required little offer a low-tech option to those who would expense. rather print and mail the form. The potential benefit, he continued, even The subscription program is one piece if only a small percentage of people sub- of a larger puzzle, explained Augustin. Fire scribe, is worth the effort. “It protects them departments like his exhort citizens to have from losing all their savings or possibly emergency plans for all kinds of disasters, even worse — losing their home. Nobody and the ambulance subscription program wants that. It gives them that peace of mind, is one aspect of that preparedness. He stressed the importance of residents and the safety net is fantastic.” In a difficult economy, that safety net is having an emergency plan in the event of crucial. an accident or illness, when they might “Most people are a couple paychecks become incapacitated and unable to make away from not being able to pay rent or medical and financial decisions. their mortgage. So, I think most of us, you “Just a little bit of awareness and edubudget for your regular expenses, but very cation can go such a long way before few people have an emergency fund. If they somebody has a need,” Augustin said. have medical expenses from going to the “That’s what we’re trying to say to them: emergency room, or they get an ambulance “Get yourself informed and educated and bill, they can’t just write a check for it. We determine if it has value to you.” M definitely want to be aware of that and supportive of our community.” JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 43
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Crisis Management
Flood warning system positions NCDOT ahead of storms
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has an awardwinning flood warning system that gathers data from various state and federal agencies. Already able to access this data and include it in computer forecasts, now NCDOT is adding stream gauges to monitor rainfall and water level as new highways are constructed in order to increase the data available. The system is nationally recognized by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials and was a Top 12 finalist in the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards competition. In 2021, NCDOT won the grand prize in the same category for its Salem Parkway project involving the reconstruction of Interstate 40 in downtown Winston-Salem. According to Andrew Barksdale, NCDOT public relations officer, “The flood warning system is not unique in the country, but it is probably the largest or one of the largest because we have the largest amount of road coverage. Many cities have stream gauges in flood-prone or low-lying areas: We have stream gauges that alert 911 to send police and check the area. It gives us a lot more information for a lot more of the state whenever there is a major storm.” The system is partially modeled after North Carolina Emergency Management’s flood inundation mapping system. It’s operated by the NCDOT Hydraulics Unit. 46 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
In 2018, Hurricane Florence caused massive flooding and devastation throughout the state of North Carolina, leading to deaths and to millions of dollars in damage to the road network. At the height of the storm, travelers were encouraged to avoid North Carolina since moving throughout the state was unpredictable. In such an instance, when Department of Transportation leaders needed to know which roads and major highways were going to flood, NCDOT could not tell them. It was more of a “wait and see” method, with NCDOT waiting to receive reports and calls after the storm to determine where to deploy resources. After that, a $2 million grant was given to NCDOT by the North Carolina General Assembly to update the flood warning system. That system became fully operational in 2022. Once it was phased in, people had to be trained on the program. Now the department is slowly expanding the data network and adding more stream gauges.
ABOVE: In 2018, Hurricane Florence caused massive flooding throughout the state, including a main interstate, I-95. To prevent this in the future, NCDOT has implemented a flood warning system to determine areas that will be most affected. (Photo provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation) The system is made up of a network of over 500 river or stream gauges that monitor over 15,000 bridges and culverts and more than 2,000 miles of state-maintained roads. Critical information comes from the North Carolina Emergency Management network of stream gauges and elevation data, covering over 2,000 miles of roadway. The stream gauges consist of a cabinet, which houses the modem; a battery; and a data logger. A cellular antenna connects the gauge to the cellular network. A solar panel charges the battery, running the modem and data collector. A sensor on the gauge fires an ultrasonic beam into the water, which bounces up, and the system times the amount of time it takes to fire the signal, create bounce back and be received. This determines the elevation of the water, and the data is sent to the data logger. The system is comprised of three main programs. Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network for Transportation covers
The North Carolina Department of Transportation uses three different systems to monitor water level and potential storm damage in their flood warning system. This system shows the rainfall, stream elevation, roads affected and bridges affected. (Photo provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation)
more than 2,000 square miles of statemaintained roads primarily in eastern and southeastern North Carolina; BridgeWatch monitors over 15,000 bridges and culverts throughout the state; and the Transportation Surge Analysis Predictive Program monitors 11,000 miles of roads near the coast vulnerable to storm surge. Information regarding predictive modeling and rainfall forecast is received from other agencies. NCDOT interprets the data to determine if there is going to be a problem. Additionally, the National Weather Service provides information regarding the timing and impact of storms and hurricanes. Since the beginning of 2023, NCDOT now also receives data from the Coastal Resilience Center of Excellence, which helps predict when roads will flood due to tidal surge before a hurricane nears the coast. The department continues to expand the information system to provide better information not only for its programs, but also for its partners. Once information about dangerous water levels is received from the flood warning system, NCDOT will go out and confirm. The public website DriveNC.gov has a map that is then updated with relevant information such as road closings. “It helps us warn the public in real time during a serious storm,” Barksdale said. “We get better, more timely information to the public. It has the potential
to save lives, especially next time we have a major hurricane.” Once a storm has passed, employees on call go out with equipment such as signs, barricades and chainsaws. “All the systems work in concert to provide critical information in real time,” he emphasized. “They’re always on.” This gives officials a better idea of how to better respond, how to deploy resources most efficiently and the best way to warn the public. “Because of Florence, resiliency is one of our policies,” said Barksdale. When Hurricane Idalia came through the state in August 2023, the new flood warning system was up and running. “Some areas of the state received no rain, while other areas received nine inches of rain in 24 hours,” he described. “There were over 100 alerts sent out to staff about potential problems. “Columbus County was one of the hardest hit areas for bridges and major culverts. There we were able to prioritize and tell staff where to monitor flooding the closest. We inspected every alert.” There were probably 30 to 40 roads temporarily closed for flash flooding. “It really allows us to figure out which areas are going to be impacted, prepare better when there is a bigger storm coming and respond faster to close roads. It helps us operate the transportation network more efficiently and respond more quickly.”
This shows a stream gauge on NC 42 over Neuse River in Clayton. The antenna connects the gauge to the cellular network and a solar panel charges a modem and data logger. The gauge’s sensor fires an ultrasonic beam at the water, measuring how much time it takes to bounce off the water and return to the sensor, therefore showing the elevation of the water. This information is sent to the data logger, which is sent to NCDOT via the antenna. (Photo provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation)
Aside from the flood warning system, NCDOT is also focusing on building up previously flooded bridges and roadways with more dirt and gravel. In one instance, a culvert is being replaced with a bridge in order to better protect a roadway on which one side had washed away during a storm. Overall, Barksdale stated, “The flood warning system is a powerful tool to give us critical information ahead of a storm, respond more quickly and warn the public better. We get more information sooner, and it helps us deploy resources better for our road network.”
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Parks & Environmental Services
Sweeping vistas of the Mississippi River and adjacent natural habitats have been a staple in the lives of Cottage Grove, Minn., residents.
Riverfront access regained for Minnesotans By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
Cottage Grove, Minn., sits on the north shore of the Mississippi River, near the confluence of the St. Croix River. From some locations in the city, a person can see sweeping views of the river, Grey Cloud Island and the backwaters of the mighty Mississippi. While the views of the river are spectacular, there has historically been little opportunity to get on the river and enjoy the fascinating habitats that create those views. “We have more shoreline than any town in the state, but there are many large-acre lots there and no public access,” said Zac Dockter. Dockter has worked for Cottage Grove for more than 20 years. For the last several years, he said the city’s administration has been very intentional about gaining land for public access to the river and the ecological and recreational opportunities it provides. Cottage Grove is 10 miles south of St. Paul. The land was platted in 1871 but wasn’t incorporated as a city until 1974, when it became an important part of the southeast portion of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Since then, it has grown from a population of about 13,000 to more than 38,000 in the 2020 U.S. census. It was in 2020 that Dockter and a group of interested individuals undertook a Mississippi River Access Strategy Report and studied nine possible land parcels under consideration for purchase as parkland accessible to the river. “We looked at all the opportunities and created a scoring matrix. It took us four months.” 50 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
In preparing the report, he said, the group examined ways city residents could gain access to the river for high-quality recreation space and to have single and medium-density housing that would be mutually beneficial. The goals included using existing roadways for future development and park access, protecting mature native plants, providing enhanced natural landscape to create riverfront habitats and using existing elevation changes and grades to provide views, stormwater drainage and greenway trails. Dockter believed that the site selected should also provide opportunities for connecting surrounding recreational areas and water trails. Of the nine sites studied, that best option with the highest score was the former Mississippi Dunes golf course, a privately owned public course that closed in 2017. When complete, the riverside park being built on the property will include a nature-based playground, four-season clubhouse, picnic area, tiered seating area for an outdoor classroom, fishing pier, boat ramp, dock for launching canoes and kayaks, and boat trailer parking.
The plan for Mississippi Dunes Natural Reserve outlined the eventual use of about 180 acres located at an elemental turn of the Mississippi River south of St. Paul, Minn.
Dockter said the park will be completed in stages over about three years. “So far, we’ve cleaned up the existing trails and cut some new ones.” The land for the new park was part of several transactions that included about 90 acres for residential development by a commercial developer, 37 acres for the riverfront park and 12 acres for the adjacent Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area. Dockter said the state Department of Natural Resources expects to acquire an additional 38 acres for that area. Cottage Grove purchased the first 20-acre parcel for $1 million, with half of the money coming from a state DNR grant and half coming from Washington County’s Land and Water Legacy Program. That program was a bond referendum passed by voters in 2006 that authorized as much as $20 million in taxes to be spent on parks, land preservation and water protection. Washington County currently has more than 1,000 acres in that program. The riverfront park project gives the city nearly 2,800 lineal feet of shoreline and direct access to a portion of the Mississippi National River and Recreation area, the only national park site dedicated exclusively to the Mississippi River. This, along with the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area that was established in 1976, helps in coordinating planning and management of the resources shared between the communities along this stretch of the river. Dockter said one of the goals in creating the park is to protect and restore the native areas. In the Mississippi River Access Strategy Report, he wrote about the character of the river and the surrounding area. “The river represents one of the most diverse and important natural resources in the U.S., serving as the migratory flyway for more than 40% of all North American waterfowl and shorebirds,” he noted. “The river is also home to at least 260 species of fish, 50 mammal species, 145 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 38 species of mussel.”
A log with nails was part of an intentional effort to engage the public in Cottage Grove, Minn., regarding how to use riverfront land that the city later acquired. Public input and planning started before acquisition and helped the city develop an eventual master plan. (Photos provided by city of Cottage Grove)
Dockter talks enthusiastically and with appreciation about the prospect of the new park. “It took a lot of resources and a lot of willing participants to do the study and to acquire the property.” The result will be that residents of Cottage Grove and the surrounding Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area will have direct access to the Mississippi River. “The cool part about it is being able to get on the water and explore,” Dockter added. “Do you know many people are afraid of the Mississippi River? Hopefully, this will dispel some of that.” M
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J A N UA R Y Jan. 4-7 American Correctional Association Winter Conference National Harbor, Md. https://aca.org/ Jan. 5-9 FPCA Mid-Winter Training Conference & Expo Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, Fla. https://fpca.com/mid-winterconference/ Jan. 8-12 Florida Fire Conference Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. https://www.ffca.org/ Jan. 9-11 SDARWS Annual Technical Conference Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, Pierre, S.D. https://www.sdarws.com/atc. html Jan. 9-11 Landscape Ontario Congress & Trade Show Conference Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, Canada https://sites.google.com/ landscapeontario.com/ congress2023/home Jan 10-12 ELTS Conference Executive Leadership Training Seminar Seaside Civic & Convention Center, Seaside, Ore. https://oracp.memberclicks. net/2024-executiveleadership-training-seminar-january-10-12--2024
Jan. 10-12 Arkansas Municipal League Hybrid Winter Conference Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock, Ark. https://www.arml.org/ Jan. 14-18 FDSOA Main Conference Health & Safety Phoenix, Ariz. https://www.fdsoa.org/ Jan. 17-19 Fire Apparatus, Specification, Maintenance & Fleet Management Conference Gilbert Public Training Facility, Gilbert, Ariz. https://www.fdsoa.org/ Jan. 17-19 U.S. Conference of Mayors 92nd Winter Meeting Washington, D.C. https://www.usmayors.org/theconference Jan. 19-20 Michigan Wastewater Administrators Conference Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth, Mich. https://www.viethconsulting. com/Calendar/moreinfo. php?eventid=72851 Jan. 19-20 MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show Boston, Mass. https://www.mma.org/annualmeeting/register/ Jan. 22-25 HDAW/Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week ‘24 Grapevine, Texas https://www.hdaw.org/
Jan. 23-25 Northern Green 2024 Saint Paul Rivercentre, St. Paul, Minn. https://northerngreen.org/ Jan. 23-25 World of Concrete Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. https://www.worldofconcrete. com/en/home.html Jan. 23-25 PowerGen International Ersest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, La. https://www.powergen.com/ Jan. 24-26 Alabama City County Management Association Winter Conference Embassy Suites, Birmingham/ Hoover, Ala. https://www.accma-online.org/ Jan. 24-26 ACMA Winter Conference Sedona, Ariz. https://azmanagement.org/ events Jan. 25-27 IAPD/IPRA Soaring To New Heights Conference Hyatt Regency, Chicago, Ill. https://www.ilparksconference. com/ Jan. 28-30 NAPO’s 35th Annual Police, Fire, EMS & Municipal Pension & Benefits Seminar Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nev. https://www.napo.org/events/ upcoming-events/35th-annualpension-benefits-seminar/
Jan. 29-Feb. 1 CADCA 34th Annual National Leadership Forum Gaylord National, National Harbor, Md. https://forum.cadca.org/ forum2024 Jan. 30-Feb. 1 NWRA Annual Conference Tuscany Suites & Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. https://www.nvwra.org/2024ac-program Jan. 30-Feb. 1 TFCA Winter Conference Double Tree Hotel, Jackson, Tenn. https://www.tnfirechiefs.com/ conferences
F E B R UA R Y Feb. 4-6 Alabama Recreation & Parks Association State Conference Orange Beach, Ala. https://www.arpaonline. org/event/2024-arpa-stateconference/ Feb. 4-7 Ohio Parks Recreation Association Conference & Trade Show Kalahari Convention Center, Sandusky, Ohio https://opraonline. org/2023/02/08/2024-opraconference-trade-show/
To list your upcoming conference or seminar in The Municipal at no charge, call (800) 733-4111, ext. 2307, or email the information to swright@the-papers.com. 56 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
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News & Notes Landmaster adds over 90 new dealer locations this year. COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — High feature, high value, readily-available product aid in Landmaster being attractive for dealers. American made is a huge attraction. The American-made UTV manufacturer, Landmaster is continuing to grow by adding over an additional 90 new dealers to its national and international mix of dealers. Landmaster’s primary focus this year has been adding dealers in the farm and agriculture segment. “By taking on the Landmaster product, several of our large implement and tractor dealers are starting to see more residential-based consumers stop by their dealership vs the typical farm and commercial user. Prior to this, dealers primarily dealt with commercial and farm customers, now dealers can benefit by selling our UTVs along with their other products to the residential large landowner,” comment, David Piercy, director of marketing for Landmaster. Landmaster only builds-to-order, which benefits their dealers in multiple ways. For one, it allows the dealer to build a fully customized unit that best meets the demands of their customers. Secondly, when a dealer places an order, it ships on average in three to four weeks. Landmaster states that they have the industry’s fastest lead times from order to shipment. “Building to order also ensures we’re not creating excess inventory that we later are forced to push onto dealers. When we build to order, we’re creating product that matches the needs and demand of the marketplace,” stated Dustin Noble, VP of sales and marketing for Landmaster. In addition to adding 90-plus dealers, Landmaster has added on a new VP of sales and an additional three regional sales reps to help manage the added territories. For dealers interested in becoming a Landmaster dealer, they should visit www.Landmaster.com/dealer or contact Dustin Noble, VP of sales and marketing, at (260) 438-1183 About Landmaster: Landmaster has been manufacturing UTVs and related recreational products for over 50 years. It is an Indiana-based company, producing a full line of gas and lithium ion UTVs. They distribute through independent dealers throughout the U.S. and globally, delivering the absolute best combination of quality, value and performance. For more information, visit www.Landmaster.com.
Mary Aufdemberg of Daimler Trucks to present keynote address at Green Truck Summit during Work Truck Week 2024 FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — Mary Aufdemberg, general manager of product strategy and market development for Daimler Trucks North America, will deliver the Green Truck Summit keynote address on March 5, 2024. Held as part of Work Truck Week 2024, Green Truck Summit provides insights, solutions and resources in support of the work truck industry’s drive toward achieving greater sustainability, productivity and efficiency. John Davis, creator, host and executive producer of MotorWeek, returns as emcee and will moderate two new panel discussions, one with fleet leaders at the forefront of
58 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
advanced vehicle technology adoption and another with top chassis manufacturers. More Than a Trade Show, Work Truck Week encompasses Green Truck Summit, The Work Truck Show, NTEA Annual Meeting, Ride & Drive, educational sessions and more. Green Truck Summit is March 5, educational sessions run March 5-7 and Work Truck Show exhibits are open March 6-8. Work Truck Week, North America’s largest work truck event, is produced by NTEA — The Work Truck Association. Register at worktruckweek.com. Green Truck Summit offers intensive programs from industry experts, government representatives, fleets, and vehicle and equipment manufacturers focused on the evolution of the commercial vehicle landscape as the shift toward zero emissions continues to accelerate. “While most of Work Truck Week is focused on commercial vehicles, equipment and technology available now, Green Truck Summit is all about what’s happening in the future, exploring where the industry is moving and how we are getting there,” explains Nikki Wilson, NTEA senior director of member services. “We’re excited to welcome Mary Aufdemberg and all our panelists to share their vision of the industry’s progress over the next five years.” Aufdemberg takes the Green Truck Summit main stage at 8:40 a.m. Her keynote is followed by Fueling the Future: Fleet Perspectives on Advanced Fuel Solutions at 9:40 a.m. In this general session, fleet leaders from DTE Energy; Cobb County, Georgia; and Bimbo Bakeries USA share their experiences and lessons learned across a variety of applications and fuel types so attendees can learn from their successes and challenges in identifying and implementing vehicle propulsion systems that meet their operational needs. Learn more and register at worktruckweek.com, or contact NTEA at info@ntea.com or (800) 441-6832 for more information. M
News releases regarding personnel changes, other non-product-related 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.
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TOP 10 Which are the coldest U.S. cities? January is the coldest month of the year for most of the U.S.; let the vying for coldest city and one-day snowfall records commence.
annual temperature averaged the result for cities that maybe saw even colder temperatures during the winter but had high temperatures in the summer.)
But according to the data, which cities are actually the coldest ones?
Using this method, the company came up with a list of the Top 10 coldest cities in the country. These cities may be worth avoiding during the winter for those In order to make a determination, earlier this year who can’t handle the cold, but hardy hikers and dedithe website RedFin consulted the 2020 Census, the cated skiers may want to make plans to visit soon. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Either way, bundle up! the National Centers for Environmental Information and the U.S. Climate Normals database and looked at The Top 10 coldest cities in the U.S., as calculated by the lowest average annual temperature of cities with RedFin, are: a population of 75,000 or more. (Using the average
Average annual temperature
Average number of days at or below freezing
1. Anchorage, Alaska
37.9
191
2. Duluth, Minn.
40.6
183
3. Fargo, N.D.
42.2
177
4. Saint Cloud, Minn.
42.9
176
5. Bismarck, N.D.
43.1
186
6. Eau Claire, Wis.
44.7
186
7. Missoula, Mont.
45.2
179
8. Green Bay, Wis.
45.7
156
9. Sioux Fall, S.D.
46.6
164
10. Rapid City, S.D.
46.7
171
Source: https://www.redfin.com/blog/coldest-cities-in-the-us/ 60 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
M
Advertiser Index A
I
Air Technical Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Industrial Odor Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
American Shoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 ANP Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
B Bedlock Safety Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 BendPak Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Bonnell Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Brightly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Brondes Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
K KM International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
L LaMotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Landmark Studio & Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK Land Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Lock-N-Climb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Bucher Municipal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
M
Buyers Products Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Microcranes, Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
C
N
Clearspan Fabric Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
National Construction Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
D Double Coin Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Next Filtration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 NTEA Work Truck Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
DR Power Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
O
E
The ODB Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ebac Industrial Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Orenco Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Everblades Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
R
EJCDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
F FCAR Tech USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Flag Shooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Fluid Control Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
G Greystone Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 10-11 GVM Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Rapidview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
S Seica USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Stan Jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Strongwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Switch-N-Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
W Waste Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
H
Wisconsin Surplus Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Henderson Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
WWETT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
This index is provided courtesy of the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions. JANUARY 2024 | THE MUNICIPAL 61
62 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2024
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