The Municipal - April 2023

CORRECTION

In The Municipal’s February article, “Hoboken pushes EV infrastructure forward,” Hoboken, N.J., Deputy Director of Transportation and Parking Diana Aviles was quoted as stating charging stations to all Hoboken residents would be “within a 5-mile walking distance.” It should have said within a “five-minute walking distance.” The Municipal regrets this mistake and any confusion it might have caused.

17 Focus on Public Safety

34 Focus on Public Safety: Anti-theft program protects construction sites

40 Parks & Environmental Services: Myrtle Beach goes to the dogs with third bark park

42 Water & Energy: Troy, N.Y., replaces water transmission lines to serve over 120,000 residents

46 Streets, Highways & Bridges: Reduce accidents with protected bike lanes and ‘bike boulevards’

48 Parks & Environmental Services: Tacoma trains to rehabilitate brownfields

ON THE COVER

No one loves road construction, and manhole repair can leave residents with headaches. Mr. Manhole method, however, uses round cuts, which generate 20% less debris while using 20% less replacement material. This means quick, safe work. Learn more about this manhole technology on page 10.

Public Safety

INSIDE:

publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

Departments

editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com

editor SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com

publication manager

CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com

senior account executive REES WOODCOCK rees@themunicipal.com

graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com

business manager

ANNETTE WEAVER aweaver@the-papers.com

mail manager

KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com

director of marketing STEVE MEADOWS smeadows@the-papers.com

marketing assistant TAELYNNE OUSLEY tousley@the-papers.com

Contributing Writers

Ray Balogh, Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Lauren Caggiano, Nicholette Carlson, Denise Fedorow, Kevin Kilbane, Dani Messick, Staci Reafsnyder, Julie Young Guest Writer Mark Elliott

Meet our writers

Denise Fedorow

Denise Fedorow has been a freelance journalist, feature writer and columnist for 20 years, writing regularly for several local publications. She’s been writing for The Municipal since 2015.

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 © 2023.

A native New Yorker, she’s lived in the Midwest for over 40 years. She has two grown sons, six grandchildren and two shelter cats. She started writing at 11 years old, studied Creative Writing in high school and college and admits her first love is fiction. She’s an aspiring children’s book author and has been published in Scholastic and other national magazines.

Largest US Manufacturer of Traffic Control Products & Crash Attenuators

Backing good planning with good work

communication between the various departments expected to respond?

Sarah Wright | Editor

If you’re not sure about any of those questions, it’s time to put the good work into the good planning.

Dwight D. Eisenhower once noted, “Good planning without good working is nothing.”

It’s true. A person can have all the best plans in the world, but they are pointless with no groundwork.

Across the country, municipalities, alongside their public safety agencies, are planning for active shooter incidents. The FBI’s “Active Shooter Incidents in the United States in 2021” notes, “For the period 2017-2021, active shooter incident data reveals an upward trend: the number of active shooter incidents identified in 2021 represents a 52.5% increase from 2020 and a 96.8% increase from 2017.”

While no one expects or wants such incidents to occur in their hometowns, there is no magical shield to keep them at bay. Most localities have plans in place, but when was the last time they were looked at? When was the last time training was held to ensure everyone was on the same page regarding the plan? How smooth are the lines of

Writer Denise Fedorow spoke with communities doing just that, including Torrington, Wyoming, which recently held active shooter training. But the city doesn’t stop there. It layers related topics into other trainings and works to maintain good communication with the school corporation and other local jurisdictions. Fedorow also writes about how fire and EMS are preparing.

Having recently attended a crowded comic book convention, even with security present and bag checks, the brain instantly begins calculating risks and creating exit plans for different scenarios. I also hope my local agencies have put in the good work, just in case. I encourage everyone, no matter what branch of government you’re in to read Fedorow’s article. It is important for everyone to have awareness. And for police, fire and EMS, if you are not already working closely with your school districts, major employers, or other branches of the city, take the opportunity to do so and make sure their strategies for such a situation are workable.

In this public safety themed issue, The Municipal is also spotlighting the Western

Fire Chiefs Association’s innovative fire map, which will aid departments battling wildfires while also empowering citizens to better evacuate. Writer Kevin Kilbane also shares in his article that the WFCA will add new features in the future, including one that tracks where smoke from wildfires might travel.

Other featured articles include a look at Massachusetts’ statewide summer safety program of 2022, which saw a reduction in crime; Wisconsin’s Green Bay Metro Fire Department and Green Bay Water Utility’s partnership with local children to keep fire hydrants clear of snow; and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office of Florida’s program that seeks to reduce construction site thefts.

Stay safe this April!

On the Web

Find

Work faster, safer and smarter with Mr. Manhole

By MICHAEL CRITES

Several years ago, the city of Ames, Iowa, began a large-scale repair and restoration of its sanitary sewer system. The team was warned that with projects such as this, residents can get anxious when their street is shut down and the sewer is torn up, especially when the repairs drag on and on. Want to see residents upset? Ask them about sunken manholes. They’re not just annoying. They can actually cause damage to vehicles. Level, watertight manholes aren’t a luxury, they’re a necessity.

What’s worse is this doesn’t just affect the morale of residents. It affects a city’s bottom line. If left untreated, the manholes can deteriorate further and damage the manhole structures and start to leak allowing millions of extra gallons of water into the system, costing cities extra money every year.

The old method of using saws and air hammers for manhole chimney repairs was

not only costly, slow and labor intensive, it yielded poor results as well. In an effort to reduce the project’s timeline, materials, labor and overall costs, the city’s engineering team decided to use a Mr. Manhole cutter and chimney rebuild system to complete the work. Engineers agree that round repairs are far superior to square repairs. Instead of using square cuts, the Mr. Manhole method

ABOVE: Cutters can be rented and shipped. They attach to most equipment. (Photo provided by Mr. Manhole)

uses round cuts, generating 20% less debris while using 20% less replacement material.

“The manhole technology is incredibly fast. On a good day, depending on the depth of the rehab that has to be done, our contractor is knocking out eight to 12 a day very easily. Overall, everything has been really smooth. We were kind of warned that sometimes on these projects, residents get a little antsy. You shut down their street, tear up the sewer, and that really hasn’t been a problem here,” Eric Cowles, a civil engineer with Ames, said.

He added, “Nobody else has anything close that compares to it within an industry. And I’m willing to try new things. I have tried competitors’ you know products. Um, this to me, over my five-year run or six-year run, has been the go-to tool.”

Save our Sewers Inc. President Brad Steenhoek has been using Mr. Manhole since 2010. Steenhoek uses the Gold 6 shooter style six arm, adjustable cutting diameter cutting device. The teeth are easily replaceable carbide shark teeth.

He also noted that there is flexibility plus the performance in the full spectrum of needs with depth and diameter. He went on to say that after trying competitor products, Mr. Manhole is his “go-to” system, as nobody else has anything close. A growing number of manhole repair specialists are realizing the amazing benefits and versatility of the Mr. Manhole system. Mr. Manhole says over 100,000 manholes have been repaired using the system as of this writing.

The Mr. Manhole system transformed the way that Ames, Iowa, executed this largescale project. The system is incredibly fast, and on a good day, depending on the depth of the rehab that was being done, contractors completed eight to 12 manholes. Everything was done quickly and efficiently, with minimum impact to the public.

The team estimated the cost at $1.9 million to $2 million and put out the bid for contractors. The low bid was $1.6 million, and the project was finished in under a year. The quality inspector for the project verified that the quality of the repair exceeded expectations and that the manhole chimneys sealed up perfectly. He also stated it was an excellent job.

All-day manhole repairs are now a thing of the past. With the Mr. Manhole system, the entire process is done in about an hour, with about 10 minutes of total cutting and manhole frame removal time. You can drastically reduce your cost and complete more projects within a fraction of the man-hours.

Cities won’t just reap the benefits of reduced labor costs. With the Mr. Manhole Method, material cost is also reduced. The system uses a round cut instead of a traditional square cut, which means 20% less excavation and 20% less material to replace.

An additional benefit aside from the savings on man-hours and materials is improved worker safety, which can sometimes incur greater long-term costs as well. With the Mr. Manhole method, the heavy lifting is done by the tools so workers are better protected from injuries. And because there is less repair time, it also minimizes risks from disrupted traffic, keeping your residents happy.

Some cities may not be ready to purchase a Mr. Manhole cutter just yet. Mr. Manhole has a convenient rental program. Cutters can be rented and shipped to you with everything needed to get to work faster, safer and smarter. The Mr. Manhole transport container attaches easily to skid steer loaders via the universal mounting system for loading/unloading. The transport container can be moved with no forks required.

The rental system also includes access to all the Mr. Manhole training resources, guiding your crews through every step of the repair process.

To set up a demo, visit https://mrmanhole. com/ or contact Mr. Manhole at info@ mrmanhole.com or (833) 242-2221. Also, visit https://mrmanhole.com/mr-manholerentals/ for more details about rentals.

With the Mr. Manhole method, the heavy lifting is done by the tools so workers are better protected from injuries (Photo provided by Mr. Manhole)

With the Mr. Manhole Method, material cost is also reduced. The system uses a round cut instead of a traditional square cut, which means 20% less excavation and 20% less material to replace. (Photo provided by Mr. Manhole)

Elvis Presley Birthplace Tupelo, Miss.

By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal

And most of his fans skip over that first part of his life. They prefer to remember the King of Rock ’n’ Roll as he was after he achieved unrivaled fame as a global icon.

Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis, Tenn., mansion, where his tragically young death occurred Aug. 16, 1977 (he was 42), receives six times as many yearly visitors as the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo, Miss. Second only to the White House, Graceland is the most visited residence in the nation.

But by foregoing a visit to Tupelo, less than 1 1/2 hours away, tourists forfeit insights into Elvis’ beginnings that are equally captivating perhaps even more so, as they reveal the man’s true soul hidden behind the glitter, floodlights and celebrity gossip.

Elvis Aron Presley was born Jan. 8, 1935, to Vernon and Gladys Presley, who scratched out a hardscrabble existence throughout Elvis’ boyhood. His delivery succeeded by 35 minutes that of his identical twin brother, Jesse, who was stillborn.

His birthplace: a bed in a corner of the two-room shotgun house Vernon had built the previous year with a $180 loan. Shotgun houses were common among the impoverished in the South. They were narrow one-story buildings, not more than 12 feet wide, with adjoining rooms in a row, without hallways, and with outer entrances at the front and back. Each room was lit by a single light bulb.

The house was located in East Tupelo just off Pig Trot Trail “in a ragtag, poor-side-oftown district with more outhouses than trees,” according to roadsideamerica.com.

Three years after Elvis’ birth, the home was repossessed when Vernon could not repay the loan. Vernon and Gladys worked a variety

LEFT: This life-sized bronze statue of a 13-year-old Elvis Presley stands front and center at the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo, Miss. Several features of the image emphasize Elvis’ impoverished upbringing. (Shutterstock.com)

Turns out the poor, humble little country boy done himself right good.

of jobs, moving several times in Tupelo during the next decade before moving to Memphis when Elvis was 13.

The shotgun home still stands in its original location as a centerpiece of the Elvis Presley Birthplace, which also includes the plain wood-framed Assembly of God Pentecostal church Elvis attended in his youth, a memorial chapel, museum and several bronze statues.

The most representative likeness of a young Elvis is the impressionistic life-sized bronze statue of a 13-year-old Elvis depicted in oversized overalls, open-collar shirt and plain shoes, highlighting the poverty and humbleness of those early years. He is carrying the guitar his mother bought him at the local hardware store.

The statue was unveiled in August 2002 and remains one of the most popular photo opportunities at the site.

Brother Frank Smith, Elvis’ boyhood minister, said Elvis was always fascinated with music and guitar playing, particularly Southern gospel. Brother Frank taught Elvis the few chords he needed to play “Old Shep,” the song the 10-year-old sang in his first public radio

performance from the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. He took second in the youth talent contest, winning $5 in fair ride tickets.

Another statue depicts Elvis with mussed hair, oversized clothing and a hole in his sock, sitting on a milk crate and playing his guitar.

Elvis never forgot his beginnings. In 1956 and 1957, he returned to Tupelo to perform concerts at the county fairgrounds and donated the proceeds to the city for a new park. The money was used to purchase 15 acres including the house where Elvis was born.

In 2021, Tupelo purchased the remaining land around the museum complex, locking it from modern encroachment and preserving the site’s humble rustic milieu, no doubt the way Elvis would have preferred.

Admittedly, the King wrestled demons, some of his own making, but he remained a humble and well-liked personage throughout his life.

Muhammad Ali, certainly no stranger to contrived bravado, extolled Elvis’ personality. “Elvis Presley was the sweetest, most humble and nicest man you’d want to know.”

Frank Sinatra also feted Elvis’ character. “There have been many accolades uttered about Elvis’ talent and performances through the years, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly. I shall miss him dearly as a friend. He was a warm, considerate and generous man.”

One reviewer on tripadvisor.com recounted a conversation with birthplace docent Nina Holcomb, who met Elvis several times. “There was never anything really sinful about whatever he did,” she said. “He was the nicest person you’d ever want to meet.”

But maybe the King himself said it best: “If you let your head get too big, it’ll break your neck.” He always carried a sense of gratitude and sincerely meant his oft-repeated tagline, “Thank you, thank you very much.”

For more information, call (662) 841-1245, fax (662) 690-6623 or visit elvispresleybirthplace.com.

The humble wood-framed Assembly of God Episcopal church is where young Elvis developed his love for Southern gospel music. (Shutterstock.com)

The Elvis Presley Birthplace is located at 306 Elvis Presley Drive, Tupelo, Miss.

Elvis was born in 1935 in this two-room shotgun house. The porch and swing are add-ons, and the Presleys never enjoyed those amenities. (Shutterstock.com)

A marker on the grounds of the Elvis Presley Birthplace encourages visitors to reflect upon their own childhoods. (Courtesy of Elvis Presley Birthplace)

Big buying power. Local choice.

When it comes to purchasing, city leaders in Nisswa (MN) get the best of both worlds — local dealer access with national buying power. They keep taxpayer dollars in the community while saving time and money during the procurement process by utilizing Sourcewell contracts to buy equipment, office supplies, technology, and other goods.

Sourcewell is your government source for hundreds of cooperative contracts.

sourcewell-mn.gov

70%

Recent studies indicate in 70% of threats the perpetrator made their intentions known, usually on social media.

PUBLIC SAFETY Focus On:

621

grams

3- to 4-foot circle

In the Green Bay, Wis., metro area, Hydro Helpers participants are required to clear a 3- to 4-foot circle surrounding the fire hydrant as well as create a footpath to the street.

2

years

The approximate production lead time for new fire trucks is now two to three years. Combined with the scarcity of good, used apparatuses, this extended time frame is putting some cities in a bind.

Source: alamancenews.com/graham-buys-new-ladder-fire-truck/

80+%

In two counties in California, just over 80% of the 164 private and fire-based paramedics who responded to a recent survey indicated it would be helpful to have more training on identifying and treating victims of sexual assault, including which local hospitals can conduct the standard forensic exam.

Source: jems.com/patient-care/ems-systems-approach-to-sexual-assault-patients/

Massachusetts Summer Safety Initiative saw many cities reduce crime during the summer of 2022. Brockton, Mass., made 62 arrests, seized eight firearms, 621 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 533 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, and recovered nearly $42,639 in U.S. currency.

Read more about this statewide initiative on page 26.

7,577,183 acres

Wildfires consumed 7,577,183 acres nationally in 2022 compared to 7,125,643 acres in 2021, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center’s “Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2022.”

The Western Fire Chiefs Association has created an interactive online fire map designed to increase safety in areas affected by wildfires.

Learn more about this map and its benefits for your community on page 22.

$100

Police in Henderson, Ky., warned residents in February that the area was experiencing an uptick in counterfeit $100 bills being passed. In place of saying “The United States of America,” the bills read “For Motion Picture Use Only.”

Source: tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/henderson-county/henderson-news/ henderson-police-warn-funny-money-isnt-a-joke/

See how municipalities are preparing for active shooter incidents on page 18.

Learn more about the Hydro Helpers program and how it improves safety on page 30.

How prepared is your city for an active shooter incident?

By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal

It seems not a day goes by without hearing of another recent mass shooting. No place is immune. Aside from schools, churches, malls, gyms, clubs, restaurants, workplaces and even grocery stores have all been the scene of an active shooter incident.

These events don’t just happen in major metropolitan areas in fact, increasingly small-town America has been the victim. So how prepared are we?

Multiple day training in Wyoming

Assistant Chief of Torrington, Wyo., Police Department Patrick Connelly spoke about a three- to four-day training his department participated in recently along with several other area departments. Assistant Chief Connelly said several organization put on the training, which was led by an organization out of Texas called ALERRT Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training.

“They’re the nation’s leading expert on active threats; they’re very knowledgeable in the area,” Connelly said.

This training focused on active threats and response at a higher level. He said a lot of active shooter trainings do actual movement with officers entering a building, isolating the threat

and neutralizing the threat. This multiday training still did that but with computer simulation.

“This training focused a lot on response by managing the incident on several different levels managing incident from outside, responding officers, follow-up team and tactical response team,” he said. “We got to play all those different roles.”

Officers also played the role of setting up a tactical command post, directing the resources that showed up after first responders already entered the building. He said on large-scale events agencies will come in very quickly from different disciplines fire, EMS, emergency management and law enforcement from area departments.

The training showed them how to set up command posts on a local and a regional level the regional command post coordinating agencies like FEMA and resources from other areas. It also included what steps to take after the threat is neutralized, such as extricating the wounded,

ABOVE: In Wyoming, law enforcement officers take part in a simulated active shooter threat enter the school building. Officers from the Torrington Police Department, Goshen County Sheriff’s Department and Wyoming Highway Patrol were a part of this training. (Photo provided by Torrington, Wyo., Police Department)

clearing the building, evacuating the building and reunifying victims with families.

“We tend to think of school shootings, but the trend in recent years has been a lot more active threats in commercial areas malls, restaurants or workplaces. The next highest is open spaces parks, roadways, parades, concerts. Statistics show active shootings in schools have dropped dramatically, but there’s been more in commercial in recent years.”

Ongoing trainings

Connelly said Torrington’s department has 17 sworn officers and seven civilian personnel. The department has trainings every month, and he estimates eight out of the 12 months has training somewhat related to the skills needed to respond to active shooter threats. For example, one month they trained on clearing a building. Once a year, they do tactical medical training on providing medical care to victims of trauma.

He said once a year Torrington also does a large-scale training and invites other agencies to participate, including emergency management. It is working to incorporate fire and EMS into the trainings as well. He said they typically hold the large-scale trainings in a school environment. Last year they had a three-day large-scale training two days with law enforcement officers and one day with school staff.

For the law enforcement officers, organizers set up several scenarios, and all officers participated in locating, isolating and neutralizing the threats and coordinating with other agencies. With the school personnel, organizers helped them to have protocols and train on locking down, evacuating everyone, etc.

Connelly said the police department also has a weekly training bulletin that includes trends on active threats. Torrington has not had an active shooter incident in their area, “Thank God, and I hope we never do.”

He said the department also works with school resource officers and with school administration to prevent the threat. “Recent studies indicate in 70% of threats the (perpetrator) made his intentions known usually on social media.”

The department is getting that information to school administration about how to read what is referred to as “leakage.” It is training them about how to document it as evidence so it can be fairly investigated to determine if it’s a legitimate threat. It can also give what to watch for and how to react to it.

“We’re partnering with them to prevent the threat from happening,” he said.

When asked if he feels his community is prepared, he responded, “I hope so. I pray we never have to use it, but we want to be prepared the best we can if it does.”

Connelly was asked if that was the case nationwide. “It’s becoming more and more common. In our area, training is moving up. Last year when we did the full-scale training, we had four other area law enforcement agencies participating, and I read on a national scale most agencies are working on more training.”

He added, “Anymore, we can’t pretend it’s not real, not going to happen here. We have to assume it is going to happen.”

Fire and EMS more involved

In recent years, protocols for many fire and EMS agencies have changed how those services respond to active shooter incidents. In

the past, fire and EMS had to stand back and wait for police to clear a scene before entering. Now many agencies have adopted Rescue Task Force protocols that allow fire and EMS personnel to enter a warm zone with police, allowing them to quickly provide critical medical care.

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor, FireRescue1 and Fire Chief Executive Editor, said, “We as a fire service began learning about this after Columbine. In Columbine, there was no coordinated approach from fire and rescue. Our posture as a service was to wait, and that’s what we did. Until police said it was okay to go in now we know most are dead by then. After Columbine, we began to evolve even from a law enforcement standpoint we can’t wait for SWAT to go in.”

Bashoor served 40 years in emergency services, including as public safety director in Highland County, Fla., and chief of Prince George County, Md.’s, fire and EMS, among others.

Bashoor said they call it active assailant training events, “because we’re not just training our people for shooters, we’re training for stabbings, etc. We have an ever-evolving plethora of opportunities to train our people through local, state and federal classes.”

He said most of the classes evolved from experiences learned from past incidents what worked and what didn’t.

“When Pulse Nightclub happened, a significant number of lessons were learned. The chief from that fire department was able to take those lessons and train others.”

Bashoor said that fire chief “really took the lead on developing the standard we use now NFPA3000.”

The NFPA3000 is the standard for Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) and addresses all aspects of the process from identifying hazards, assessing vulnerability to planning and resource management, incident management at a command level, competencies for first responders and recovery. NFPA3000 was created with widespread support from fire service, law enforcement, EMS, emergency management, higher education and facility management professionals. Committee members included representatives from 46 government agencies, organizations and associations.

Bashoor said, “It’s the standard fire services use now. No other standard in NFPA was developed with police involvement. NFPA3000 is a still-evolving standard on how fire and EMS respond with police to an active assailant. This, like the rescue task force, has become the preferred method to get our EMS trained resources into a warm zone to protect and pull victims. Our folks go through that training on how to be embedded with police.”

He said these are the most “tangible changes.” There are others like unified command posts something that began evolving after Sept. 11, 2001, according to Bashoor. Fire and EMS commands are with the police at the same command post “so there’s no lag time in the capacity to make decisions because the commands are both there.”

Fire, EMS and Police work together at an active shooter event at a Sebring, Fla., bank in 2019. Chief Marc Bashoor was the Highland County public safety director during this event. Fire and EMS are increasingly coordinating training and response to these events with police in order to provide needed medical care as quickly as possible. (Photo provided by Chief Marc Bashoor)

Bashoor said there are still exceptions to these standards either because of local disbelief of fire and EMS being involved with police or because the chiefs determine the situation is too active.

When asked if he feels police, fire and EMS as a whole are prepared he replied, “The short answer is yes, but it’s clear that there’s plenty of work to be done, particularly in small-town America.”

He said in part that’s due to there being large sections of the country still dealing with volunteer fire and EMS departments. Bashoor made a point of saying he respects the volunteers and was once a volunteer himself, “but they’re leading double lives working full-time positions to support their families and also (being) a firefighter or EMT.”

The challenge with smaller towns, according to Bashoor, is “keeping them fresh and current since it may not happen with them for 20 years.”

He feels there are large pockets of America that aren’t as prepared as they could be. “That’s more a fact of reality than a desire not to be prepared.”

He added there’s a big difference where we are today with communication technology versus where we were when Littleton, Colo., occurred with the ability to get messages out.

“With the ability we have now, there’s no excuse,” he said.

Another change happening with fire and EMS is in the area of selfprotection. “Bullet-proof vests used to be unheard of; now it’s pretty standard for EMS units to carry ballistic vests.”

He said when he was chief of Highland County, every ambulance carried two average-sized vests, every chief’s battalion car had 10 vests, and every fire truck had four vests. Ballistic vest training for fire and EMS is now part of their standard procedure. “It’s who we are now,” he said.

Whether fire and EMS should be armed for self-protection is still a sticky discussion. “We’re helpers, not enforcers, but in a future world, that may be the reality.”

Preparing the community as a whole

Having police, fire and EMS trained is critical, but what about the rest of the community? With the increasing frequency of events and places, how does a community prepare its citizenry?

According to “Preparing the Public for Active Shooter Incidents in the Workplace” by Keith Collins, alumni, Fire Science Management at American Military, published in June 2018 on FireRescue1, all organizations including municipal offices should develop an emergency management plan that includes active threat response and everyone should know the layout of the building.

The article suggests visually dividing the building into halves or quarters and naming the quadrants. Doing this can help people know where they are located and what action they should take. For example, during an act of violence, it may be best for people in certain zones to shelter in place, while others may be instructed to evacuate.

The article also suggests a smart system should be installed, and facility managers should coordinate with police and first responders and

participate in regular drills. Employees should be taught how to evacuate certain sections of the building and how to properly shelter in place.

Building relationships with the community is crucial, but Bashoor noted it’s up to communities to reach out to make a plan.

“If law enforcement and fire and EMS are not a part of it, it’s a shot in the dark.”

In different positions where Bashoor has been chief, the departments did visual inspections of schools, pointing out potential hazards like high bushes where people could hide. Doors should be locked for outside access, not inside. “We’d have to go in and explain why chains on doors are a bad idea we put the reality to it.”

As a chief in Prince George County, Md., the department had visited churches for safety checks, and separately, the police would, too. “It was just part of our culture,” he said.

It’s important to get out in the community and make sure people understand what “run, hide and fight” means. Bashoor said when out shopping or eating, citizens should know where alternate exits are located.

As Connelly said, “Everyone accepts natural threats tornadoes and hurricanes but nobody wants to accept there’s a person out there who wants to hurt them. It’s easier to think, ‘It’ll never happen here,’ but we can’t afford to think that way. We can’t be complacent; we have to be prepared for if it does happen.”

On the Web

Read Keith Collins’ full article, “Preparing the Public for Active Shooter Incidents in the Workplace,” at the following link: https://www.firerescue1.com/community-awareness/articles/preparing-the-public-for-active-shooter-incidents-in-the-workplacejcyMCUQWxiU4ujgp/.

This photo shows half of the law enforcement officers from Torrington Police Department, Goshen County Sheriff’s Department and Wyoming Highway Patrol who took part in a multiday training for active shooter threats. (Photo provided by Torrington, Wyo., Police Department)

Revolutionary wildfire map offers real-time edge against fires

By KEVIN KILBANE | The Municipal

Communities have a new, free tool available to keep their residents safe from wildfires.

The Western Fire Chiefs Association, which is based in Wilsonville, Ore., created its interactive online fire map as part of its mission to aid fire and emergency-services personnel with protecting people and property from wildfires. The map at https://wfca.com/fire-map was launched in July 2022 mainly to assist communities in the West, but people can use it nationwide to get details about forest, grassland and other wildland fires.

“This is revolutionary,” said Chief Doug Schrage of the Anchorage Fire Department in Anchorage, Alaska. “There are sources of wildfire data that people can access but they are not easy to find, especially in a stressful situation like when you can see flames or smoke nearby.” Schrage also serves on the WFCA board of directors.

The map operates on as little as one bar of mobile device signal strength, he noted, which allows people to use it even if a wildfire takes down some mobile communications infrastructure.

Wildfires pose a growing threat around the country. The National Interagency Coordination Center’s “Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2022” listed 68,988 wildfires as reported nationally in 2022 compared to 58,985 reported wildfires in 2021. Wildfires consumed 7,577,183 acres nationally in 2022 compared to 7,125,643 acres in 2021, the report said. The statistics are based on tactical data, the National Interagency Fire Center said.

WFCA leaders started discussions at least 18 months ago about building an interactive fire map, Schrage said. Work on the project began about a year ago.

The WFCA set out to create “the absolute, authoritative wildfire map” to give the public the most up-to-date information available, said WFCA senior technology adviser David Blankinship.

ABOVE: In the future, the WFCA’s fire map will offer smoke plume modeling. The feature will show where smoke likely will drift from a wildfire. Pictured, the Caldor Fire sends smoke into the air over the tree covered mountains at Jenkinson Lake in Calilfornia. (Trevor Bexon/Shutterstock.com)

Blankinship further explained people tend to make good decisions about emergency preparedness and safety if they know what’s happening.

“That is a way that we indirectly help the fire chiefs,” he said, “because, if people can make good decisions about self-evacuation or are making wise plans ahead of time, then there are many, many fewer people that we have to evacuate at that time, and it’s not such a shock to the community that that’s happening.”

Supportive partners make it possible for the WFCA to develop and improve the fire map at no cost to users, public safety agencies or communities, Blankinship said.

WFCA fire map features include:

• Free to all users.

• Covers the entire United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

• Loads quickly and functions even with minimal mobile communications service available.

• Shows a fire’s perimeter and hot spots within it.

• Tracks all firefighting aircraft in real-time so the public can see what areas of the fire are of high concern.

• Allows users to zoom in for a 3D view of a fire scene, including landscape and structures.

• Pulls in almost real-time updates based on information reported in 911 emergency calls. This information results from collaboration with the PulsePoint Foundation, which helps people locate an automated external defibrillator (AED) near the site of a cardiac arrest.

• For fires in California, cooperation with the state’s Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System (FIRIS) allows WFCA fire map users to see the projected movement of a fire over the next three to four hours, Blankinship said. Additional Western states are developing similar systems, and their information will be added to the fire map when available.

After opening the fire map on a smartphone or mobile device, people can zoom in on the area around them. Dots or areas colored red mark the newest fire locations. Brown dots or areas pinpoint recent fires, and gray dots or areas show older fire activity. Black icons shaped like airplanes and helicopters and blue dashed lines show the movements of firefighting aircraft.

A pop-up information box reports the type of fire, percentage of containment, fire size in acres and its growth in acres over the past 24 hours. People also can see how many fire personnel are on scene and how recently information has been updated. A 3D button in the upper right corner allows map users to toggle between two-dimensional or three-dimensional views of a fire scene to see topography and structures. Users also can click buttons to share or upload their view of the map to other people.

“It worked really, really well, and especially for a map that arrived mid-season,” Blankinship said. The map received several million user hits on some days during periods of heavy fire activity, he added.

Planned additions to the map include:

• Smoke plume modeling, which Blankinship said will be the most-advanced in the world. The feature will show where smoke likely will drift from a wildfire.

• Real-time, curated information from experts in towns and regions affected by a wildfire. This includes time-and-datestamped photos, local evacuation orders and details gleaned from public-safety agency radio traffic, Blankinship said.

“Once the plume modeling becomes available, it would be beneficial to people who are susceptible to medical challenges because of breathing smoke,” Schrage said. “The smoke also can impede people’s visibility, which can make it difficult for people to exit the area if they need to. One of the bigger problems from an actual fire evacuation is that people wait too long and they can’t properly see where they are going,

and sometimes they end up abandoning their vehicles in a roadway. That impedes the ingress of the firefighting companies.”

Communities and their fire departments can direct people to the fire map from their websites and social media accounts, Blankinship said. They also can send out a

link to the map that shows only their immediate area.

“That clean, beautiful map in 3D will come from them just right in that area of interest,” Blankinship said. “It’s local information that’s really about their jurisdictions. So it’s a great source of help for those public information officers.”

This archived image of the Western Fire Chiefs Association fire map shows the location and path of a firefighting aircraft working on the Mosquito Fire, which burned nearly 77,000 acres last fall in northern California. WFCA leaders believe the map offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date information about wildfires so residents and communities can make informed decisions to protect their safety. (Photo provided by the Western Fire Chiefs Association)

People using the Western Fire Chiefs Association’s fire map can zoom in on a wildfire near them, such as last fall’s Mosquito Fire in northern California. The map shows a blaze’s perimeter as well as new areas burning (red on the map), recent fire areas (brown) and older sections of the fire (gray). Blue dotted lines indicate the real-time flight paths of firefighting aircraft working to contain a fire. WFCA officials hope residents and communities use the fire map to monitor wildfires near them and to protect themselves from fire danger. (Photo provided by the Western Fire Chiefs Association)

Making the season safe: Brockton,

Mass., sees a decrease in crime

through

statewide initiative

By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

To reduce street violence, prevent illegal drug distribution and improve the quality of life for its residents, the city of Brockton, Mass., was part of the statewide summer safety initiative funded by the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The result was an increase in violent offender arrests, a reduction in the number of illegal firearms on the street and an increase in youth programming services, according to Darren Duarte, director of communications for the Brockton Police Department.

“By engaging in proactive street enforcement, we prevented, deterred and disrupted street crimes, including firearm offenses and drug distribution,” he said.

The Summer Safety Initiative

Throughout the summer of 2022, various Massachusetts State Police investigative and patrol units conducted joint operations with five local police departments, including Boston, Brockton, Lawrence, Holyoke and Springfield. Supported by $500,000 in JAG funding, their mission was to enhance community safety by focusing on the enforcement of impact players responsible for drug distribution, firearm violations, street violence and human trafficking.

Several of the Commonwealth’s district attorneys also received nearly $1 million in total JAG funding to address community-based criminal activity related to gang violence, illegal firearms and narcotics. Grant-funded programs focused on prevention, intervention, diversion and enforcement efforts, particularly during the summer and early fall when activity is at its peak.

“State and local law enforcement are instruments in ensuring the safety and welfare of our communities, and it is crucial that public safety officials share a collaborative focus and approach in their

TOP LEFT: A Brockton Police Department officer allows a young resident to test “drive” his motorcycle during a community outreach event. This outreach was part of the Massachusetts statewide Summer Safety Initiative that saw a reduction in violent crime throughout the commonwealth. (Photo provided by Brockton Police Department)

BOTTOM LEFT: The Brockton Police Department uses several methods to track down violent offenders, including four-legged canine officers. As a result of the Summer Safety Initiative, the city made 62 arrests, seized eight firearms, 621 grams of heroin/ fentanyl, 533 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine and recovered nearly $42,639 in U.S. Currency. (Photo provided by Brockton Police Department)

continued efforts to reduce and prevent crime,” said then-Gov. Charlie Baker when assessing the effectiveness of the initiative last October. “I commend this state and local partnership and the collective work to ensure the safety of all Massachusetts residents.”

Based on an assessment of crime data submitted by the local municipalities to MSP crime analysts, the JAG-funded summer initiative successfully reduced violent crime and increased overall public safety. From July through September 2022, specialized MSP units, in collaboration with local law enforcement, made approximately 274 arrests and issued 51 criminal summonses. This effort also resulted in the recovery of 71 illegally possessed firearms and the seizure of nearly 41,365 grams of heroin and fentanyl, 2,895 grams of cocaine and crack, and 3,996 grams of marijuana.

A local lens

The city of Brockton is located in Plymouth County, Mass., and has a population of 105,643 (2020 census). As the 12th most dangerous city in the commonwealth, it has a crime rate of 18.44 per 1,000 people, and the city has been working to decrease violent crimes over the last few years after it spiked at 1,960 in 2020 (up from 782 in 2019). In 2021, violent crimes in the city decreased to 1,841, but with the $30,000 in grant money received through the summer safety initiative, the city felt it could do even better.

Duarte said the Brockton Police Department initiated investigations of priority impact players deemed most violent, influential and detrimental to the community in which they reside or operate. They also conducted directed patrols in high-crime areas during times determines by intelligence-led policing to be the most problematic. Their

detectives ran undercover and confidential informant operations while monitoring and investigating social media posts related to violence, firearm offenses, narcotic distribution, gang activity and feuds. And the police force even performed controlled purchases of guns and narcotics from several suspects and their associates.

“As a result of these activities, our detectives were able to author and execute search warrants to seize contraband (weapons and drugs) and to obtain criminal intelligence and

Brockton Police officers engage with the community during the Summer Safety Initiative, a statewide collaboration between police departments and community partners. (Photo provided by Brockton Police Department)

The Brockton Police Department is always looking to crack down on illegal or illegally owned firearms. (Photo provided by Brockton Police Department)

evidence, prioritizing warrants for violent crimes,” he said.

Compared to 2021, Brockton saw a 100% decrease in the number of gun-related homicides for July, August and September 2022. The city also experienced a 17% decrease in aggravated assaults. Duarte said concerted, proactive law enforcement efforts have positively impacted firearm-related crimes and quality of life issues in the city of Brockton and the numbers speak for themselves.

“As a result of the summer initiative, we have made 62 arrests, seized eight firearms, 621 grams of heroin/ fentanyl, 533 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, and recovered nearly $42,639 in U.S. currency,” he said.

While Duarte is quick to point out that the grant money was a key reason the summer safety initiative was such a solid success, the partnership between Brockton PD, the Massachusetts State Police and other agencies played a big part as well.

“Through collaboration and mutual trust among law enforcement partners and community members, small- and medium-sized communities should be able to obtain results that positively impact their jurisdictions,” he said.

Commonwealth communities see crime reductions

Other Massachusetts communities who saw reduced violent crime through the Summer Safety Initiative:

1. Boston Police Department: A decrease in homicides, homicides by shooting, nonfatal shootings and total shooting victims from January through September 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. From July through October 2022, there were 53 arrests, 38 firearms confiscated and nearly 40,000 grams of narcotics.

2. Lawrence Police Department: A 28.5% percent decrease in confirmed shotsfired calls from July 1 through September 2022 compared to last year. From July through October 2022, there were 70 arrests, eight firearms confiscated and nearly 3,000 grams of narcotics.

3. Holyoke Police Department: A 15% increase in seizures of illegally owned firearms and a 23%t decrease in opioid overdoses from July to September 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. From July to October 2022, there were 70 arrests, eight firearms confiscated and nearly 3,000 grams of narcotics.

4. Springfield Police Department: A 6% decrease in aggravated assaults with firearms, a 28% decrease in confirmed shots-fired calls and a decrease in opioid overdoses from July to September 2022, compared to the same period last year. From July to October 2022, there were 52 arrests, eight firearms confiscated, and nearly 2,000 grams of narcotics.

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Hydro Helpers keep hydrants clear during harsh Green Bay winters

By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal

In Wisconsin, the Green Bay Metro Fire Department and the Green Bay Water Utility are teaming up to enlist children’s help keeping fire hydrants clear during winter months with the Hydro Helpers program. The program originally was started in 2011 so students could assist the fire department in cleaning off fire hydrants that had been buried in snow during the winter to be easily accessible to the fire department in times of emergency.

Meghan Finger, Green Bay Water education and outreach coordinator, mentioned, “The original program became very successful, but due to the rapid growth rate of the program and staff limitations, the program had to come to an end.”

The Hydro Helper program was restored in 2020 when the Green Bay Metro Fire Department reached out to Green Bay Water Utility. “During a time where we were unable to connect with the community face-to-face, this

program was able to get us back out in a nontraditional sense,” Finger emphasized. The program has occurred every year since. Sign up to become involved in the program is between November and January. Typically, a press release kicking off the program is sent out after Halloween, and the fire department and water utility work with various media outlets to get the word out about the program. They also advertise the program on each of their own social

ABOVE: Originally established in 2011, Hydro Helpers had to end due to staffing limitations. However, it was revived in 2020 and has taken place every year since. (Photo provided by Green Bay Metro Fire Department)

media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Additionally, Finger and Lt. Shauna Walesh, Green Bay Metro Fire Department public information officer and life safety educator, have endorsed the program in a video with the Green Bay mayor in 2021 and 2022.

As part of her education and outreach, Finger has visited classrooms to conduct community outreach with the program. Walesh also promotes Hydro Helpers in her interactions within the community. Both departments work together to advertise the program as well as with maintenance. Outreach is also conducted during Kids Day, a local event by the parks and recreation

department and the city of Green Bay. Both the fire department and water utility have booths at this event and promote the Hydro Helpers program along with providing signup sheets.

The Green Bay Fire Department merged with the Allouez Fire Department in 2012 and merged again with the Bellevue Fire Department in 2021, creating the Green Bay Metro Fire Department. Therefore, it is required that those wishing to participate in the Hydro Helpers program live within the jurisdiction of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department, which is within the city of Green Bay or the villages of Allouez and Bellevue.

With the Hydro Helpers program being restarted in 2020, those able to take part were extended from elementary-age children to all youth age 17 and under. After registering, the family will receive a welcome email that informs them which water department to contact if the participant finds the hydrant damaged or leaking.

“Similar to the original program, Hydro Helpers is designed to actively involve our youngest community members in helping firefighters, your neighbors and the community as a whole,” Finger explained. “By agreeing to help care for a hydrant during the winter months, you will help save the fire department precious minutes during a fire.”

When the area receives a large snowfall, an email is sent out to families informing them of the area’s snowfall and to ensure the hydrant area is clear. Participants are required to clear a 3- to 4-foot circle surrounding the fire hydrant as well as create a footpath to the street. It should be done with parental supervision. Participating youth can also report missing caps or hydrant damage when clearing the hydrant.

In the summer, Hydro Helpers participants are rewarded with an ice cream social event.

“After all of their excellent work during the winter, we want to thank our Hydro Helpers with a fun summer celebration,” Finger stressed. “Each participant receives a certificate of completion as well as a goodie bag containing tickets to Bay Beach Amusement Park. This year’s event will be held at a Green Bay fire station. Hydro Helpers are invited to an ice cream social where they can check out a fire truck, participate in fun activities and receive their Hydro Helper certificate

As thanks for volunteering in the Hydro Helpers program, each participant is rewarded with an ice cream social event in the summer. At this event, they receive a certificate of achievement, see a fire truck and participate in fun activities. Each helper also receives tickets to Bay Beach Amusement Park. (Photo provided by Green Bay Metro Fire Department)

of achievement. Green Bay Water hosted last year.”

Photographs of Hydro Helper participants shoveling out their fire hydrant are also shared on social media with parental permission, which creates a great deal of positive community engagement.

The number of participants varies from year to year.

For any cities considering a similar program to keep fire hydrants clear, a partnership between the water utilities

department and fire department seems to be a good place to start.

According to Finger, “The Hydro Helper program is a great way to get kids in your area involved with your community. It gets kids involved and outside during the winter months. We would recommend any fire department in the area to start a program like this. Because Green Bay Water Utilities owns almost 4,000 fire hydrants in the city of Green Bay, this partnership works wonderfully.”

The Green Bay Metro Fire Department and Green Bay Water Utility, including Meghan Finger and Shauna Walesh, promote the Hydro Helpers program at various community events throughout the year, including Kids Day, which is put on by the parks and recreation department. (Photo provided by Green Bay Metro Fire Department)

It Starts with YOU!

BUILDING SAFETY IS...

Week 1 (May 1-7)

Building Safety Starts at Home

PERSONAL

Week 2 (May 8-14)

Building Safety Professionals and You

LOCAL

Week 3 (May 15-21)

Prepare Your Community

Week 4 (May 22-28)

Advocate for Your Community

Week 5 (May 29-31)

Solving Challenges Together GLOBAL Building

Anti-theft program protects construction sites

By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal

An anti-theft program spearheaded by a police department in Collier County, Fla., has earned national recognition for reducing losses at construction sites. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office Construction Site Watch Program, launched in November 2021, was recently named the Outstanding Crime Prevention Program of the Year by the Florida Crime Prevention Association.

This is an area of community engagement Collier County Sherriff’s Office Lt. Brian Sawyer has worked in for some time. Sawyer has worked in the department’s Community Engagement Division for more than two decades. On the job, he and his colleagues have been tasked with creating and maintaining a safe community for everyone.

“Whether it’s identity fraud, home burglary protection, community events, or HOA (homeowners association) meetings, my unit and I are involved with most of those things that occur,” he said.

Speaking of incidents, he said that the year 2008 brought many challenges to law enforcement. The recession brought building to a halt, and many people fell on hard

ABOVE: Homes under construction can attract thieves because of their isolation, lack security and lighting, plus there are usually thousands of dollars of materials and equipment on-site. (Paul Brennan/ Shutterstock.com)

times. However, leading up to this time, Naples the county seat was one of the most booming housing markets in the county.

“One of the things that we saw during that was a notable increase in construction site crimes, (such as appliance theft),” he said. “We did what we could with the circumstances at the time.”

Fast forward to this decade and construction activity has returned to the area. According to Sawyer, they have contractors refurbishing old homes or building new ones

in the east part of the county. As a result, he said they started seeing the same types of thefts as in the 2008 era.

Construction sites often are targeted by criminals because they’re in remote locations, lack security and lighting, and usually have thousands of dollars of materials and equipment on hand, according to a department press release. Add in the rising cost of materials and supply chain issues, and construction sites are even more attractive to thieves.

With this reality in mind, Sawyer and his team developed an effective, long-lasting and significant strategy to reduce construction site thefts. The Construction Site Watch program employs modern technology to address core issues associated with construction site incidents.

Regarding those crimes, Sawyer said they’re perpetrated by a mix of lone actors and organized crime groups who are capitalizing on the chance to steal and resell large constriction equipment. Either way, Sawyer said his team’s approach has effectively prevented or minimized thefts via technology use.

“Our real-time operations center is kind of the hub of reporting,” he said. “So your contractor, subcontractor or homeowner whomever it may be can take a picture of the item. So we know, ‘This is what the skid steer looks like.’ Or we know, ‘This is what the trusses look like.’ Our deputies may not be specifically knowledgeable (about) some of the construction industry items, but they can see it and say, ‘Okay, this item should be here from this time to this time. I’m driving by and it’s here.’”

Sawyer said the holistic element also has been key to the program’s success. The agency did a test phase in one neighborhood with several homes under construction. This allowed it to “work out any kinks” and present the initiative to patrol officers for implementation. In his words, “So that way, it makes it an efficient, effective program, where everybody’s on board and knowledgeable about how it works.”

At the same time, Sawyer said it’s important that his unit does not get complacent or else they’ll see their results diluted. He describes combatting construction theft as a “cat-andmouse game.” That means criminals might respond to the program by changing their tactics. If that happens, Sawyer said they’re committed to counteracting that mentality.

In the meantime, Sawyer said this approach has translated into measurable outcomes beyond a reduction in thefts. The community’s reputation has been elevated, too, on a national scale.

“U.S. News and World Report has named us the safest community in America recently,”

he said. “It’s because of the great cooperation between the community, businesses and law enforcement nobody wants crime in this area. And if it’s going to come here, you’re going to earn it, because we have a great partnership (between these stakeholders).”

Collier County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Jim Spartz checks on the status of a construction site as part of the Construction Site Watch Program. (Photo provided by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office)

The Florida Crime Prevention Association award recognizes the success of the Construction Site Watch Program in identifying, preventing, investigating and minimizing construction site crime. (Photo provided by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office)

Leading the way: Susquehanna Township Lt. Brian Tienter

By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

Lt. Brian Tienter is a true “blue” blood. Born at the 5th Army Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany, to a military police officer who later became a Pennsylvania State Trooper, he knew he was destined to be a soldier or a policeman.

“Fortunately, circumstances worked out that I was able to do both,” he said.

Tienter served approximately six years of active duty in the U.S. Army and another two in the Army National Guard. During that time, he worked in intelligence, as a medic and as a paratrooper, deploying several times to both Central and South America. In 1997, he joined the Susquehanna Township Police Department in Dauphin County, Pa., as a patrol officer, answering calls for service and patrolling to prevent crime. He was promoted to the rank of corporal and assisted a platoon sergeant in his leadership duties before earning the rank of sergeant himself.

“I also graduated with from Penn State in 1999 with a BA (Bachelor of Arts) in criminal justice and from the American Military University in 2008 with an MA (Master of Arts) in disaster and emergency management,” he said.

A community servant

From the very beginning of his law enforcement career, Tienter proved to be a natural leader. He has instructed others in the use of firearms and chemical munitions, as well as less lethal, useof-force and situational training methodologies. He was assigned as a traffic safety and community technical services officer, performing accident investigation, traffic enforcement, community policing duties and bicycle patrol.

“I have also had the honor of serving on the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team, responding to critical incidents for 23 years,” he said. “From 2018 to 2022, I supervised the Community Technical Services Unit as a sergeant, and in March 2022, I was promoted to lieutenant and currently serve in that capacity.”

Tienter said the most exciting thing about being part of the STPD is the eclectic nature of his work. There is no such thing as a routine day. While some calls may be similar in nature, they are also unique. However, the challenge and satisfaction of helping people through issues such as severe weather events, visiting dignitaries, critical incidents, transportation accidents and the myriad of other things that can happen is what attracts so many

people to the law enforcement calling and one incentive for keeping those community servants in the department.

“The biggest challenge to the job is remaining relevant and being adaptable to what the community expects and needs from its police officers as well as what the officers I work with expect and need from me,” he said. “A prime example of this is remaining well-versed in technology, changes in the law and new concepts in law enforcement.”

Lead by example

Tienter understands the need for continued education, and his supervisors see his leadership qualities as something that should be honed and developed. Last year, STPD public safety director Chief Robert Martin suggested Tienter take part in the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute, whose mission is to prepare and empower individuals committed to exercising

Brian Tienter, left, receives a Distinguished Unit Citation alongside three of his colleagues at the Susquehanna Police Department. (Photo provided by the Susquehanna Police Department)

creative leadership to improve conditions in the Greater Harrisburg area. Martin attended a previous cohort and thought Tienter would be a good candidate for the program.

“He (Martin) is well-acquainted with the leadership staff at the program,” Tienter said. “He’s a huge supporter of the program and he nominated me.”

From February to July, Tienter built his professional leadership skills by studying Dr. King’s “Principles of Nonviolence,” including an in-depth analysis of his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” team building, law and justice, community mobilization, decision making and problem solving, implicit bias recognition, conflict resolution and much more. Tienter said some topics covered in the program, such as conflict resolution, included role-playing activities while others, such as community mobilization, asked participants to work in small groups to choose a topic to present and garner support for their initiative.

“The class also involved many guest panels and speakers who were experts in their fields, such as the legislative process,” he said. Not everyone who took part in Tienter’s cohort were law enforcement officers, but they represented a wide swath of the community, including human resource professionals, digital marketing specialists, retirees, social media coordinators, military personnel and more. Despite the diverse participants in various fields, Tienter said all of the training topics covered in the program were essential skills for his work in law enforcement and crucial to building relationships within the community. Not only did they help to further

the community policing mission, but they also went a long way to help establish legitimacy and transparency while building trust between the police and the public. He also said the topics were crucial for his own self-development and dealing with others in the agency.

“It allowed me to further develop my team building and communication skills while giving me the opportunity to work closely with others outside the law enforcement arena,” he said.

When he isn’t on the job or adding to his already impressive skill set, Tienter enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading and visiting his grown children with his girlfriend, and although he has recently retired, Tienter continues to work for the department as the manager of administrative operations.

“No matter what, I hope to continue to instruct others and perhaps work with the department in some other capacity,” he said.

Lt. Brian Tienter greets community members during an event. Tienter is part of the Susquehanna Township Police Department and is a recent graduate of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute, where he studied concepts that help him interact with the public he serves. (Photo provided by the Susquehanna Police Department)

Lt. Tienter works with drone technology to improve the safety of community members. Tienter is the son of a military policeman turned state trooper and has also served in the military and recently completed the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute. (Photo provided by the Susquehanna Police Department)

Myrtle Beach goes to the dogs with third bark park

The city of Myrtle Beach, S.C., welcomed its newest park addition, New Town Bark Park, this past December. This park offers recreation for dogs of all sizes in two separate sections, adding a layer of safety. (Photo provided by the city of Myrtle Beach Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism)

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

Myrtle Beach, S.C., is just one city that has embraced the dog park craze. In December it held a grand opening of its latest, the New Town Bark Park, which has been a hit since “even before construction started,” said Erin O’Hagan, public information specialist for the city of Myrtle Beach.

The park is divided into two separate sections, one for large dogs and one for small dogs. “We have a very healthy mix of both size dogs,”

New Town Bark Park is the third dog park in Myrtle Beach. There are also bark parks near The Market Common and Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA, but this one, as O’Hagan said, “is right smack in the middle. One of the reasons for this park was the redevelopment plan for downtown Myrtle Beach.”

O’Hagan explained that a new disc golf park called Swashbuckler was built across the street from the new bark park’s location to bring more people and more traffic into the area. But it wasn’t being utilized enough, despite lying between a wooded area and the beach.

“It’s near a lot of condos and places close enough that people walk through and enjoy everything, and then walk home. So what could we do to entice more people to the area? Dogs!” With this in mind, Myrtle Beach pursued the idea.

The city’s first dog park opened in 2010 or 2011, she said, and was

“Myrtle Beach is about 12 miles from tail to tail, and the park was so heavily utilized and the public response so outrageous. Then it was, ‘Let’s open one on the north end.’ When we had the plan and space, we wanted to include all members of the community, including the furry ones. For the most part it was done by the city, with equal efforts from the public works department and the parks and recreation department. They decided what needed to be taken out and where the fencing would go, and they determined how to connect the parks since they’re not right next to each other. We worked together as a team.”

The dog parks are well-maintained because the city works hand in hand with the community.

“Of course, it’s required that all dogs are picked up after and trash is removed by those who put it there. We provide the trash cans. On top of that, every week we close the parks for three to four hours while our park staff provides routine maintenance. The grass is cut, leaves raked, sidewalks and walkways are cleaned.

“We have a beautiful park, and we want a beautiful park, and this one and the two others need to maintain those standards. Our parks division is very committed, above and beyond whatever we ask,” O’Hagan

The pleasant surroundings make it equally enjoyable for the walkers and observers, too.

Other improvements to the area continue. “Right up the street at Futrell Park, we are building a splash pad for children about a mile and a half away from the dog park and disc golf. We will be completely renovating and replacing old playground equipment and adding a

Who says dogs don’t like to stop and smell the roses? Thankfully, these gorgeous plants don’t have thorns. (Photo

city of Myrtle Beach Parks, Recreation

bathroom for the public, because you want that convenience, especially with kids. And you want it just a minute away, not blocks down the street.”

At the grand opening of the New Town Bark Park, several dogs had the chance to enjoy the new space along with some doggie doughnuts. And while the new dog park does not offer food, O’Hagan said there are places within the city that cater to dogs and offer treats.

Since the new park opened, “It’s been fun watching everyone, twolegged or four-legged, socialize,” O’Hagan said, “We have 47 miles of multiuse walking and biking trails, and we wanted to give back to the community. We’re not just about tourism. We remember who lives here all the time. We are very committed and rooted deep. And it’s all free – pickleball, disc golf, tennis, the splash pad. It’s for everyone to enjoy, and it’s all within walking, biking or golf-carting range.”

Dog parks were seen as one avenue that Myrtle Beach could use to attract people downtown. (Photo provided by the city of Myrtle Beach Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism)

provided by the

and Sports Tourism)

Troy, N.Y., replaces water transmission lines to serve over 120,000 residents

By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal

A massive water transmission line replacement project was recently completed in upstate New York — one of the most consequential and important infrastructure projects the city has undertaken in a century, according to one mayor.

The John P. Buckley Water Treatment Plant services the city of Troy and portions of Rensselaer, Saratoga and Albany counties and is located just 7 miles from the Tomhannock Reservoir. Flows to the water plant average 20 million gallons a day, with the flow peaking in summer months to approximately 29 million gallons a day. The plant provides safe drinking water to over 120,000 residents in 10 cities, towns and villages.

In Troy, there were two transmission mains that ran in parallel to the reservoir intake: a 30-inch cast-iron main installed in 1906 and a 33-inch riveted steel main installed in 1914. In the 1960s, the water plant was constructed and these two mains were connected to the 60-foot concrete main that feeds into the water plant. They were cleaned and lined with cement in order to increase flow and reduce friction within the pipe. Direct feeds from Troy residents and surrounding communities were also intercepted and became transmission mains to the water plant.

After taking over his post in 2012, Chris Wheland, Troy’s superintendent of public utilities, began to look at the infrastructure of the mains to determine points of critical replacement. “The transmission mains aren’t only critical; the riveted steel main is difficult and time consuming to repair if breached. We started to acquire easements and property in 2014 for the replacement of the original 30- and 33-inch mains.”

However, Wheland continued, in January 2016 the riveted steel main in the distribution system ruptured and severely impacted the towns of Halfmoon and Waterford, limiting flow and pressure for domestic use and fire protection.

“This one mile of distribution pipe was replaced in 2017. It brought attention to the remaining 6 miles of the riveted steel main on the upstream side of the water plant. Much of this raw water line is under pressures of well over 100 pounds per square inch and was installed the same year as the distribution main that ruptured. It quickly became evident that the raw water lines need to be replaced.”

The city of Troy, N.Y., recently upgraded its main transmission lines to ensure they connect to the 60-inch concrete main that feeds into the water plant. This is construction and installation of a 60-inch line stop during the 18-monthlong construction project. (Photo provided by Troy, N.Y., Public Utilities)

Since the city was already in the process of acquiring property for replacement and designing the new mains on a different track, new raw water lines were added to the project.

Design work for the project was granted to CDM Smith. Aspects taken into account for the design of the pipes included construction

materials such as high-density polyethylene, ductile iron or steel, hydraulic capacities and pressures, increasing flow for future expansion and the inability to take the current lines out of service. After the design was complete, the project was bid on and awarded to Luizzi Brothers Construction.

All materials larger than 16 inches, such as pipes, valves and fittings, were purchased by the city. The contractor coordinated with manufacturers on delivery and installation. The next 18 months were spent on construction, much of which took place on abandoned railroad tracks where underground utilities were absent. The tracks were simply removed.

“The project extended the new mains from a location that we could connect to the water plant’s 60-inch main and remove all previous connections of the 30- and 33-inch mains,” Wheland explained. “There were many road crossings and an area where we had to relocate a 12-inch potable water line for the installation of the two new 36-inch mains. The project terminated in a location where the existing mains were able to be intercepted with the new mains.”

The project encompassed about four miles of dual 36-inch main installation.

“Installation was the easy part. Much of the time and stress was spent on tying in the new mains and keeping flow going to the water plant,” he said.

Wheland described planning for the project as critical and nerve-racking.

“On the termination point to the north, we had to rely on early 1900s valves to shut down so we could properly cut and fit the new mains. This process took many days so that we could make sure we operated the valves in such a way to maximize the shut down and minimize the chance of breaking a valve.”

In order to convert the 33-inch steel to a 30-inch ductile iron line, the steel main required a welded fitting and was converted to a 30 by 36 reducer into the new mains. At the south termination point, there were a combination of 30-inch, 33-inch, 48-inch and 60-inch fittings tied together to flow to the water plant. All fittings prior to the 60-inch main were eliminated and rebuilt with new mains. This necessitated a 36-inch bypass installed to the backside of a 60-inch linestop to keep flow to the water plant.

After the linestop and bypass were installed, all previous piping was dismantled and a new welded collar to the 60-inch concrete steel collar was installed. This installation extended to a 60-inch by 36-inch wye pipe, with the 36-inch wye pipe connecting to the new 36-inch main. The previous 30-inch cast iron main also had a reducer and wye pipe connected in order to connect to the 60-inch main; however, the cast iron main was connected as a redundant line via a reducer to the new main since it can be easily repaired and will provide for future opportunities.

“The project is currently at 99% complete and all pipe and fittings are connected and operational,” Wheland stated. “There were only five days where flows were critically low but we were able to manage the distribution system by working with our surrounding communities and managing all flows.

“We still have a northern portion to complete and are currently at 30% design. This portion will include about two miles of pipe where the last mile will be tunneled at a depth of 50 feet to tie into the

The city installs an air vault during the massive main transmission line replacement project. The project is currently 99% complete, with all pipe fittings connected and operational, with the final portion set to begin in spring 2024. (Photo provided by Troy, N.Y., Public Utilities)

The most stressful part of the project was tying in the new mains while ensuring a continued steady flow to the water plant. Installation tended to be a bit easier. This section of construction shows the installation of a 36-inch cross connection and valve cluster. (Photo provided by Troy, N.Y., Public Utilities)

existing rock tunnel. We anticipate this to be out to bid early winter 2023 for a spring start in 2024.”

At one point during the process, Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said the project was “one of the most consequential and important infrastructure projects the city has undertaken since the water treatment plant was built over half a century ago.” He expressed confidence that the monumental undertaking would “ensure a reliable flow of water for at least another 250 years.”

Reduce accidents with protected bike lanes and ‘bike boulevards’

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

Wonder why some bikers don’t always use bike lanes? You might think they would improve safety, but that’s not always true, and for more than one reason. Some bikers choose not to ride in the lane if the traffic is moving slow, and they move into the middle of the lane for better visibility. This discourages drivers from attempting to squeeze past in what could be an unsafe move for the biker. And if the lanes are too narrow, inexperienced riders stay closer to the edge of the road than is truly safe, leading drivers to think they can pass because there’s enough space, when there isn’t.

Pleasanton, Calif., planned a pilot project for a protected bike lane on West Las Positas Boulevard that took all of these scenarios into consideration, partly because the strip of road runs in front of Hart Middle School. Mike Tassano, city traffic engineer, said he was very pleased with how it all came together.

“The crews began work as soon as possible, painting the streets and installing plastic bollards to create the protected lanes and intersections. We had some bollards on hand for another project and knew we could use those if what we ordered didn’t come in on time, because of the supply shortages everyone has been dealing with. We also needed to do some contract reconstructions. We had to fix drainage inlets and issues, and the roadways had some settling issues that had to be built back up to be level. The striping was set for the last of March.”

Tassano said all this wasn’t done solely for school safety, however. “It was kind of like a combined ‘yes.’ The pedestrian bicycle plan, as updated in 2018, had first prioritized the corridors.”

He further explained that besides the school, there are residential and retail areas within a mile, so a person can walk or bike to those destinations as well. Nevertheless, Tassano said the school safety issues were tantamount.

“Biking wasn’t working as well as it could have because the kids were sharing the sidewalks. A lot of sixth, seventh and eighth graders don’t feel comfortable on the roadway. And it was a six-lane roadway, so their parents weren’t comfortable with it, either. Our anticipation was that with a protected bike lane, it would have four lanes nice, wide lanes with those plastic bollards every 30 feet. Cyclists shouldn’t

This finished section will be as pleasant for those who walk as well as for those who ride. Everyone benefits from the careful planning of the pilot programs. (Photo provided by the city of Pleasanton, Calif.)

have to be crowded on the sidewalk and neither should the pedestrians.”

“Our corridor previously had the most collisions, but maybe not the way you might think,” he noted. “It doesn’t carry much vehicle traffic volume, but we were still seeing a number of collisions with pedestrians and bicycles –too many. Las Positas had an equal number, with a larger area and more traffic. So this provided a good pilot. We really wanted to provide the safety.”

Tassano explained, “In nearby Petaluma, a lot of parents have been driving their children to school. Here, this was an effort to increase safe biking and walking, and the parents wanted that improved safety too. It’s interesting, because this corridor goes into a central business district, essentially office and industrial areas: We thought people would have concerns about losing a lane. So we built it as a pilot, because we could make adjustments if they said something to the effect of ‘Oh, we like this, but we don’t like that.’ It’s actually an easier way to do a project like this.”

It didn’t require huge fundraising efforts, either.

“Of our 1 cent sales tax increase in Alameda County, a portion comes back to each city for bicycle projects. We’ve just been stockpiling it. It started in 1986 as a half cent, and then in 2014 it went up to a penny.”

In addition to expanded and protected bike lanes, bicycle boulevards are also gaining in popularity, with benefits for bike riders and drivers alike. Bicycle boulevards use signs, pavement markings, and speed

and volume management measures to discourage through trips by motor vehicles and create safe, convenient bicycle crossings of busy arterial streets. Conversely, in these situations, streets with low motorized traffic volumes and speeds benefit from designated and properly marked boulevards, too, where safe bicycle travel is given the priority.

In November, Petaluma laid out plans to install the area’s first “bike boulevard” on the city’s west side. The intent was to give both cyclists and pedestrians higher priority and safety by incorporating traffic calming elements such as diverters, curb extensions, speed humps, stop sign removal and then installing signage, lane markings and high visibility crosswalks. The plan was to have it completed by spring.

Tassano said other communities can do a project similar to Pleasanton’s protected and expanded bike lanes by researching established bicycling patterns and paths and seeing what’s near residential areas and schools.

“Identify the corridors most in need. We do recommend the pilot approach: Look into ways to repurpose unused spaces. One of the struggles that a lot of local agencies might face is not being focused on alternate means of transportation. Maybe bike lanes aren’t a thing in your town, but jogging paths are. Start there, where cycling isn’t a vision, and fit it back in.”

And after the pandemic and resulting quarantine, a little push to get back outdoors and

The road striping and bollards make the areas for bicyclists very clear to those on bikes, in cars or walking. It was expected that there would be far less bike/person collisions with the implementation of this design. (Photo provided by the city of Pleasanton, Calif.)

active again can only be helped by safer areas to ride.

“We used to have to stay 6 feet apart just for walking. We don’t need to do that when we’re biking; we just need to stay in safe areas and enjoy,” said Tassano.

Here is an aerial view of a pilot project plan, which converts six lanes into four safer lanes. This enables bikers and pedestrians to have safer, more enjoyable times biking or walking, whether to school or to shop. (Photo provided by the city of Pleasanton, Calif.)

With the symbols for turning clearly painted on the pavement, in addition to signage, safety has been upgraded for all. (Photo provided by the city of Pleasanton, Calif.)

Tacoma trains to rehabilitate brownfields

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

Some years back there was a television show set in Seattle about the logging industry, with a recurring line about the bluest skies a person had ever seen and the hills that were the greenest green. And on the show, they were. These days that’s not always true, and not just in Seattle.

The term “brownfields” describes sites of previously developed land, which were or are occupied by a permanent structure. In contrast, “greenfields” refers to any land that hasn’t been previously developed. The terms bring pictures instantly to mind. According to government estimates, there are as many as 425,000 brownfields throughout the U.S., but it is difficult to estimate with any accuracy. There may be as much as 5 million acres of abandoned industrial property in urban areas.

Brownfields can also refer to sites of former industrial buildings and abandoned mines. This may mean environmental contamination, such as old gas stations with their underground tanks, dry cleaning businesses and the chemicals used there, smelters and other places no longer in use. Dealing with them is more complex

than tearing down old buildings, since the contaminants might have leaked into soil and groundwater. Properly dealing with brownfields can be time consuming and costly, but such efforts remain vital to the environment.

Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, formerly known as the INVEST in America Act, funds are being made available to deal with just exactly this kind of environmental issue. In December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected Tacoma, Wash., to receive $500,000 in grants to be used for the city’s environmental job training program, and it will have a double benefit: not just cleaning up problem areas and creating new, healthy areas for better use, but adding employment opportunities to every such selected city.

OSHA’S Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response course takes 40 hours of various essential training. Here, these students try on HAZMAT gear. (Photo provided by Clover Park Technical College)

A different kind of gear is used to protect students in another area of their training. They’re learning how to detect the presence of lead in paint, which is often found in older houses and buildings. There are several ways to remove lead-based paints, and there are grants targeting low-income families with children under the age of six. (Photo provided by Clover Park Technical College)

Rob Healy, senior project manager and remediator in the Port of Tacoma’s Environmental Department, said the city was awarded the Brownfields Assessment Grant from the EPA last year.

“We are still in the very early stages of the project. We’ve had a kickoff meeting with the EPA, and our Environmental Engineering consultant — Anchor QEA — is currently working on a public involvement plan, which is the first project deliverable. Once that is drafted, we form a Brownfields Advisory Committee.

“Anchor has also started inventorying all the brownfield sites in the Tacoma Tideflats,” Healy said. The Tideflats is the industrial area of Tacoma, where the port is located. The Tideflats is about 5,000 acres, of which the Port of Tacoma owns about 2,500 acres.

“Anchor is supporting us in the work for this project,” Healy explained. “We have no plans to hire additional staff. The port put together a good application for this grant, showing there are redevelopment needs in certain areas of the Tideflats, and that the port area is uniquely qualified to lead this effort.”

The port’s grant is for assessment, and the city’s grant is for training, clarified Carol Bua, communications director for the Port of Tacoma. It will support the city’s successful Local Employment and Apprenticeship Program.

Deborah Trevorrow wears several hats for the city of Tacoma: contract and program auditor, workforce programs, community and economic development. According to her, “LEAP is a city program not related to the grant. The staff applied for and received it. It’s for economically depressed areas, and a certain percent, I believe it’s 15%, of the work is performed by residents of that area. The training is focused on brownfield-impacted neighborhoods the Port of Tacoma, Tacoma Renewal Community, Hilltop Neighborhood and Salishan/East Tacoma.

“Our staff has worked with partners in the area,” Trevorrow said. We manage the applications and do the follow-up, while someone from our staff is the grant manager.

This year, we have two partners. Our job placement partner is Goodwill. It’s more than just a store; it’s also the Millgard Work Opportunity Center, a hub that connects people with the services and programs that will serve them best. And our training partner is Clover Park Technical College. They have all the classes set and they’re flexible with the idea of ‘We have to provide this many classes in this amount of time,’ and so on.’”

The classes cycle through some big numbers.

“There’s so many people per class. Our estimate to recruit those who will come in and be tested and interviewed, that’s about 280. After that about 140 will be enrolled and approximately 105 will graduate. Out of those graduates, 79, on average, will be placed in positions. We also have a category for those who were not placed, but we help them with further education and training so they will have better opportunities later. All of these come from areas of low employment and low income, and many of them can apply for aid and receive it for education and training.”

The work they are training for is not just temporary and contractual, Trevorrow said. Long-term environmental careers will be the end result.

The students’ education and training include the following:

• HAZWOPER 40: Prepares graduates to handle solid and liquid contaminants from polluted sites safely and properly dispose of the contaminated material, thereby creating a clean site for new residential, commercial, or recreational use and revitalizing the local community.

• OSHA 10 Construction Safety training: Provides education in safe work practices and use of proper protective gear while engaged in cleanup activities, ensuring the health of the practitioner and safeguarding the area residents some of whom may be employed on the cleanup project.

• First Aid/CPR/AED training: Prepares graduates to deliver immediate and timely care in emergency situations encountered at work sites until professional aid units arrive.

• Forklift Operator Certification: This two-year, portable certification provides the most immediate employment entry.

• Asbestos Worker Certification: Highly valued by employers doing cleanup work at contaminated sites; it is a major credential leading to gainful employment after graduation.

• Lead Renovation, Remediation, and Repair (Lead RRP) Certification: A valuable certification that meets both EPA and state requirements for contractors and maintenance personnel who are involved in any activity that has the potential to disturb leadbased paint.

• Flagger Certification: Approved training by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for flagging and traffic control with hands-on practice.

And after all of this and more, Trevarrow said, “We work with them on job placement. We track them for a year and send them any opportunities that might not have been available when they graduated. We had one graduate who went through all of it, came to the city and got accepted into a pre-apprenticeship program we had at that time

for wastewater treatment. He got into a position, eventually, with Utility Tacoma Water, and he attributed all that to us.”

Trevorrow shared key points in Tacoma’s successful grant application.

“According to the Washington State Department of Ecology July 2022 Hazardous Sites List, there are 1,024 hazardous sites in Pierce County, with 908 of them in the city of Tacoma, either awaiting cleanup or in the process of cleanup. Even though Tacoma has only 25% of the population of Pierce County, it has 89% of the hazardous sites.”

The application further stated, “The American Lung Association ‘State of the Air’ 2019 report found that the Seattle-Tacoma region’s air quality worsened from 15th most polluted in the country last year to ninth for short-term particle pollution. As in our previous programs, recruitment for the brownfields job training developed through grant funds will be focused on the areas of Tacoma to have the higher proportion of hazardous sites, as identified by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and other governmental agencies.”

Trevorrow noted that the EPA releases applications yearly that are due in August.

“We found out in December we were one of 29 entities granted. Then there is a second round, where you put complete more extensive forms that are signed by the city manager. You lay out your work plan and state clearly everything you would possibly do with the money.”

It is clear these grants were sorely needed and will be well put to use. Trevorrow said there are new agencies and sites online to tell

And after all the studying and hands-on work and exams comes the positive affirmation for these students. Now they will be set to move into the fields they trained for, benefiting the surrounding areas and their own personal selves. It’s definitely a win-win situation. (Photo provided by Clover Park Technical College)

interested municipalities about grants that are coming up, plus provide “the ‘when’ and ‘where’ you can apply to the mailing list for your state.”

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.

APRIL

April 3-6 Colorado Rural Water 42nd Annual Conference & Expo

Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland Hotel & Conference, Loveland, Colo.

https://www.crwa.net/ events-2-1

April 3-6 California Park & Recreations Society Conference & Expo

San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, Calif.

https://www.cprs.org/ education/conference

April 4-7 Wisconsin Rural Water Association Annual Technical Conference La Crosse Center, La Crosse, Wis.

https://www.wrwa.org/wrwaannual-technical-conference

April 10-13 Indiana AWWA Annual Conference Marriott Downtown, Indianapolis, Ind.

https://www.inawwa.org/ events/category/annualconference

April 11-13 South Dakota Joint Chiefs & Sheriffs Spring Conference

Deadwood, S.D.

https://www. southdakotasheriffs.org/ conferences/upcoming.html

April 11-14 AASHTO GIS for Transportation Symposium Oklahoma City, Okla. https://gis-t.transportation.org/

April 11-14 TFCA Spring Conference

Park Vista, Gatlinburg, Tenn. https://www.tnfirechiefs.com/ conferences

April 12-14 WASWD 2023 Spring Conference

Wenatchee Convention Center, Wenatchee, Wash.

https://www.waswd.org/ conferences

April 13-15 WRPA Conference & Trade Show

Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue, Wash.

https://www.wrpatoday. org/2022-conference

April 13-14 Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association

62nd Annual Spring Conference

Le Meridien Hotel, New Orleans, La.

https://www.lma.org/Shared_ Content/Events

April 16-19 APWA North American Snow Conference CHI Health Center, Omaha, Neb. https://snow.apwa.net/

April 17-19 NAFA 2023 Institute & Expo Baltimore, Md.

https://www.nafainstitute.org/

April 18-21 MSTPA Annual Conference & Trade Show

Hyatt Regency, Savannah, Ga. https://mstpa.org/annualconference

April 18-20 Navigator 2023 Denver, Colo.

https://navigator. emergencydispatch.org/

April 19 ORWA 53rd Annual Meeting

Renaissance Hotel & Conference Center, Tulsa, Okla.

https://orwa.org/wp-content

April 23-25 Fire Department Training Network Live-Fire Training Camp

Indianapolis, Ind.

https://fdtraining.com/training/ courses

April 24-29 JEMS FDIC International

Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.

https://www.jemscon.com/

April 24-29 FDIC International Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.

https://www.fdic.com/

April 24-28 Midwest Leadership Spring 2023 Seminar

Northern Illinois University’s Naperville Campus, Naperville, Ill.

midwestleadershipinstitute.org

April 25-27 City Vision Annual Conference

Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa, Concord, N.C.

https://www.nclm.org/eventstraining/CityVision

April 25-27 MSAWWA & MWEA 2023 Joint Conference

Copper King Hotel & Convention Center, Butte, Mont.

https://www.montanawater. org/joint-conference/2023joint-conference

April 26-28 Colorado City & County Management Association Annual Conference

Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Springs, Colo.

https://coloradoccma.org/ annual-conference/

April 30-May 3 AWW & WEA 2023 Conference Hot Springs, Ark.

https://awwwea.org/

April 30- May 4 NASTT No-Dig Show

Portland, Ore.

https://www.nodigshow.com/

May 1-4 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo

Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif.

https://www.actexpo.com/

May 3-5 Labor Relations Institute

Yakima Convention Center, Yakima, Wash.

https://wacities.org/eventseducation/conferences/laborrelations-institute

May 8-11 Maryland Rural Water Association 31st Annual Conference

Fontainebleau Hotel, Ocean City, Md.

https://www.md-rwa.org/ annual-conference/

May 9-11 Community Risk Reduction Leadership Conference 2023

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

https://www.iafc.org/events

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Northfield PD tests electric squad car against Minnesota’s winters

In an effort to meet the city of Northfield’s Strategic Plan and Climate Action goals, the Northfield, Minn., Police Department purchased a 2022 Ford Mach-E for use as a patrol vehicle. Like all things over the past year, we experienced delays in the supply chain for the vehicle and equipment, but in January 2023, we finally have the squad in service. We undertook this project as a test vehicle. In researching electric vehicles and the pros and cons compared to vehicles we currently use, we have questions on whether it will meet our needs of a police service vehicle here in the far northern climate we have in Minnesota. Our plan is to run a two-year test cycle to fully evaluate the vehicle. As a side note, we run a mix of gas and hybrid Ford police Explorer vehicles in our patrol fleet.

As we searched our options for electric vehicles, we specifically chose the Ford Mach-E for the all-wheel drive capabilities to handle the snow and ice of Minnesota winters, the SUV style for carrying capacity for our emergency response equipment and the fact that we have a Ford dealership in town should we need dealer support for service. For a rural department of 26 officers, driving

an hour each way for service on a vehicle to another dealer can impact our ability to serve our community.

Northern Safety Technology (NST) in Apple Valley, Minn., did the upfitting build for us. They came with many years of squad building experience and research into how they could help this build meet our needs. Chief among our concerns is the vehicle battery range. We ordered the California model, as that was the only model on the state cooperative purchase bid with the extend range battery (315 miles). We know that Minnesota temperature extremes and 10-hour patrol shifts may test this range limit operationally. Frequently, we find our patrol officers making a 60-mile one-way trip to a detox or juvenile housing facility. This trip at the end of a shift could be concerning, depending on range capacity.

NST built an isolated separate battery system for all emergency and police equipment used in the squad, leaving the Mach-E’s original equipment battery to just run the car systems. An Ultimate Power lithium-ion battery is at the heart of the system with a 100 amp hour battery. This is an iron-phosphate design that holds its charge longest among LI batteries, and it has a built-in warmer. The battery has its own Victron Energy Orion DC-DC charger. The

Mark Elliott, M.A. | Guest columnist Police Chief, Northfield, Minn., Police Department

ABOVE: Northfield, Minn., Police Department added an electric 2022 Ford Mach-E to its fleet as a pilot vehicle. (Photo provided by the Northfield Police Department)

charger runs when the main car charger is plugged in and when the car ignition is off, to ensure that the vehicle batteries only run the vehicle and not the police equipment or auxiliary battery. This system runs the squad computer, emergency lighting, Axon Fleet 3 squad camera system and Cradlepoint router. Initial testing shows we can run an entire shift on this setup, and when running the emergency lighting for a six-hour test, it showed a 20% draw on the battery. An app allows monitoring of the battery and charging condition.

Whelen provided the emergency lighting. With the glass roof as the only option on the California model, a traditional roof mounted light bar was not an option, so front emergency lighting were accomplished with the Whelen Inner Edge WeCANX mounted on the interior top of the windshield and ION lights on the push bumper. Rear lighting was accomplished with three levels of Whelen ION lighting: two on the top and bottom of the rear window; and a third hidden under the rear hatch lid, with a down flash off the reflective 3M rear warning trim. The lights are controlled through CenCom Core. The operator’s cab portion is smaller than the Explorers, and even though the inner light bars are low profile, our taller officers do have some upward vision obstructions. There is no spotlight, although there is a very bright takedown light from the inner edge; the movement capabilities of a hand-directed spotlight are missing. We may add a remotecontrolled spotlight in the future.

Setina provided the push bumper and rear seat and half cage with front and rear dividers. Setina just put these in production in the last few months. We did have an issue with the glass roof being higher than the standard roof on the GT model, and NST had to fabricate an extension to fully enclose the prisoner partition for safety.

The vehicle was wrapped by Advanced Graphix in Vadnais Heights, Minn. Like all things, the new model style meant there was not a standard wrap program, and they had to custom measure

To achieve the best operating conditions, an isolated, separate battery system was installed for all emergency and police equipment used in the squad, leaving the Mach-E’s original equipment battery to just run the car systems.

and build the wrap in their design studio. They matched the wrap styling to our other fleet for consistency in design and recognition as a police squad with the traditional black and white styling.

Charging of the vehicle is handled through a level 2 JuiceBox 48-amp Wi-Fi-enabled charger. The charger was hardwired into a 60 amp circuit in our fleet garage. The charger gives us app connectivity to monitor charging rate and performance. We have found the JuiceBox 48 charges our squad’s battery at a rate of about 10% per hour.

We are only a couple months into this test, and so far, the officers are impressed with the vehicle’s performance. It is fast, quiet and so far the traction control has worked well in slippery conditions. The battery life has met our needs, although temperatures have been mild for a Minnesota winter and call volume has been slow. Having the officer’s plug in the squad when they are back in the office for lunch or reports has helped top off the charge and ensure the car can go a full shift. With no level 1 chargers in the city, and no chargers at all at other places officers go think jail, court, detox, hospital, etc. we are concerned about range. Until charging infrastructure improves, range will be a limiting factor for this squad. For these reasons, we have not attempted to push the limits yet.

About The Author

Mark Elliott is the police chief in Northfield, Minn., a rural city of 20,000 just outside of the twin cities metropolitan area. He has a bachelor’s degree in police science and a master’s in organizational leadership from St. Mary’s University. He has been in law enforcement for 31 years and served with four different departments, with six years as police chief in two different departments. He has over 15 years of fleet management experience and has managed squad acquisition, up-fitting and fleet rotation at three agencies.

One of the upfitters the police department worked with had to fabricate an extension to fully enclose the prisoner partition for safety since the Ford Mach-E’s glass roof is higher than the standard roof on the GT model. (Photo provided by the Northfield Police Department)

Rhode Island, a cornucopia of fascinating names

By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in land area, but it packs a surprising number of features within its diminutive borders.

Rhode Island is home to more than a million residents, making it second in population density only to New Jersey. It boasts a greater population than six other states, including Alaska, into which 425 Little Rhodies could fit.

Woonsocket, the northernmost municipality in Rhode Island, is the sixth largest city in Rhode Island. It hosts the corporate headquarters of pharmacy services provider CVS Health. (Shutterstock.com)

The state is not a singular island, but is bounded by nearly 400 miles of shoreline and maintains more than 100 beaches. It hosts more than 28,000 millionaire households.

It even boasts the longest name of any state in the U.S., officially dubbed “the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.”

Given its history, including a Native American presence for nearly 13,000 years, add weird town names to the list of fascinating facts about the state. Many of those names are attended by head-scratching etymological alternatives where the actual origin of the name is unknown.

Quonochontaug (con-a-QUAN-tog)

Actually, that’s just one spelling of the village of 422 residents. Other legitimate spellings include Quanacontaug and Quanaquataug, a casualty of inexactitude occasioned by deriving a name from a language with no previous written form.

The name’s meaning is anyone’s guess, but leading contenders include:

• Extended deserted place.

• At the long beach.

• Two long ponds in succession.

At least one fact is established beyond dispute, however. X-Files agent Fox Mulder spent his childhood vacations in this beach town locally known as “Quonnie.”

This marker commemorating the purchase of land for the town of Pettaquamscutt presents a speller’s nightmare of Native American chieftain names.(Courtesy of reallyweirdplacenames.blogspot.com)

Aquidneck

There actually is a tiny island within the geographical confines of the state. It is referred to by its Indian name, Aquidneck. Its original meaning is unknown, but some suggestions have been proffered:

• Floating mass.

• At the island.

• Isle of peace.

Pettaquamscutt Lake Shores (pet-uh-KWAHM-scut)

This unincorporated area is on the shore of Lake Pettaquamscutt. The name is confusing enough, but the real challenge comes in pronouncing the names of the Indian chieftains who sold the land to settlers in 1657: Quassaquanch, Kachanaquant and Quequaquenuet. Annawamscutt (ann-uh-WAHM-scut)

This town doesn’t have much going for it: a road, a beach, a creek and an early textile mill. What it does have is the longest list of possibilities where its name derived:

• Rock summit.

• End of the rocks.

• Ruler’s hill.

• Commander’s rock.

Woonsocket (woon-SOCK-it)

Woonsocket, one of Rhode Island’s largest cities, boasts a population of more than 41,000. The name was mercifully simplified from what it might still be called if the original spellings were kept intact:

• Woonksechocksett (“fox country”)

• Wannashowatuckqut (“at the fork of the river”)

Other befuddling town pronunciations:

• Usquepaug (US-ka-pog)

• Tiogue (tie-OAK)

• Chepachet (chuh-PATCH-it)

Which U.S. cities are flourishing?

Since 2020, municipalities across the country have been strained by COVID-19 and inflation, a national housing shortage and supply chain hiccups. Cities’ financial spreadsheets remain balanced between these challenges and the advantages of low unemployment and pandemic relief funds.

The website TheCreditReview. com wanted to know how large cities specifically, those with more than 1 million residents were weathering the current financial climate. It looked at 11 factors in the economic categories of metro financial health, business financial health and resident financial health to

determine which metropolises were on strong financial footing at the beginning of 2023, because when a city’s businesses create more jobs, residents can pay their expenses and contribute to its coffers. That benefits cities, the site says, because they spend less on services for needy residents and reap a stable income in property taxes.

Although some cities ranked particularly high in one area compared to the others, the results were averaged to compile a list of metropolitan statistical areas that have emerged from the storms to find themselves on stable financial ground. Those areas are: