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Correction
In the July article “Newport News simulator helping with new hires and maintaining equipment,” photo captions on page 23 were switched. The photo on the left features Newport News City Manager Alan K. Archer, while the photo on the right is Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones. The Municipal regrets this error and apologizes for any confusion.
18 Focus on Waste & Recycling: Recycling centers: Bane or boon?
22 Focus on Waste & Recycling: New waste management facility benefits small towns
26 Focus on Waste & Recycling: A greener future: Frederick hopes to expand residential compost program
30 Focus on Waste & Recycling: Chattanooga addresses hard-to-recycle items
34 Focus on Waste & Recycling: Community members step up to adopt Valley roads
40 Public Works: Bend to bring art installation to new public works campus
ON THE COVER
44 Streets, Highways & Bridges: Windsor highlights safety in award-winning intersection and pathway project
46 Building & Construction: New Bern combines historic elevator elegance with accessibility
50 Water & Energy: Memphis water strategy rests on aquifer
54 Streets, Highways & Bridges: Lake Oswego increases safety for pedestrians
58 Municipal Management: Huntsville internship program encourages solution-oriented thinking
Recycling waste into mulch and energy is expensive and time-consuming. Grinding, chipping, hauling and sorting also takes time and money. The self-contained FireBox uses a natural burn that can eliminate up to 20 tons of biomass waste in just one hour without harming public health or contributing to climate change. Learn more about Air Burners’ FireBox on page 10.
publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com
SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com
publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com
senior
executive REES WOODCOCK rees@themunicipal.com
graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com
Americans generate a lot of waste. I speak from experience as an American who is currently doing a summer cleaning. From cardboard boxes hogging up space to odd ends-and-outs that I question where they came from, I’ve filled up my trash and recycling bins like crazy. With this latest round of cleaning, I’m hoping better shopping habits will take root because waste is, well, a waste.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes on its website, “The total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 was 292.4 million tons (U.S. short tons, unless specified) or 4.9 pounds per person per day.”
This amount has likely grown post-pandemic, as American shopping habits have shifted more online.
In May 2024, BadCredit.org noted, “Every month, Americans estimate they’re spending
$628 online shopping. But when asked to check their most recent bank statement or online accounts, the actual monthly online shopping spend was $513. This discrepancy highlights the disconnect between perception and reality that many American online shoppers have, as they overestimate their total monthly spending by $115.”
Tied to that $513 is a lot of cardboard and plastic that jurisdictions are left to manage.
The National Renewable Energy Lab found that piles of cardboard and paper litter U.S. landfills and represent $4 billion in lost economic value. This analysis relied on 2019 figures, and I can only imagine that the figure has grown since the pandemic. So how do we capture that lost economic value and divert unnecessary waste from being added to our limited landfills?
In August 2022, The Recycling Partnership’s Center for Sustainable Behavior & Impact released its Recycling Confidence Index. One takeaway from the study was that the highest levels of recycling confidence existed where individuals received recycling communications and support, including convenient bins, recycling knowledge and information, and motivational messages.
The Center noted, “Our research shows that only 1 in 4 people recall receiving a communication from their local recycling program within the past year. However, our data shows that among those who recall communications, nearly 70% report above average knowledge of recycling versus 37% among those who did not recall such communications.”
In this issue of The Municipal, we are spotlight several cities that are engaging residents and educating them on the waste stream. These cities are getting active participation, whether it comes to recycling or picking up litter along adopted roadways or establishing a new landfill. There’s also Frederick, Md., which is getting residents to capture organic waste for composting.
Recycling remains a challenge for many municipalities, with the market not being there for some. In this issue, writer Denise Fedorow reached out to a few municipalities about their current circumstance some going to curbside recycling while others are offering recycling centers.
As we enter the dog days of summer, I hope you all continue to stay cool!
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Recycling is not a waste of energy — it’s a power source
Wood waste is a worldwide problem. It accounts for up to 30% of all waste. The U.S. collects 70 million-plus tons of urban woody debris each year but recycles just 48%. The “leftovers” go to the landfill, wasting landfill space and “throwing away” recyclable, renewable energy.
So, with all the waste piling up around the planet, why aren’t we recycling more? The simple answer is that the market can’t handle much more. Plus, there are additional costs involved that eat into operation budgets. Recycling waste into mulch and energy is expensive and time-consuming. Grinding, chipping, hauling and sorting also takes time and money.
What about open burning? Wouldn’t that help get rid of the massive tons of waste? The short answer is yes. But that’s a shortsighted solution to eliminating biomass waste. Open burning causes immediate and lasting damage to our health and our environment. A typical open burn takes 48 hours to destroy 20 tons of biomass waste. That burn releases smoke, damaging our health and the planet. The self-contained FireBox allows wood to burn naturally without any hydrocarbon based fuels. Up to 20 tons of biomass waste can be eliminated in just one hour without harming our health or contributing to climate
change. The air curtain creates a secondary burn chamber to trap the air and produces a clean burn with opacities below 10% per EPA Method 9 Testing. Compared to an open burn’s 80% to 100% opacity, you can see why Air Burners’ pollution-control technology helps reduce particulate matter and improves the air we breathe.
Air Burners® has been around for more than 27 years. During that time, it has pioneered climate-friendly methods to help eliminate waste and generate economic solutions.
New technology for an old and growing problem
The bad news is that we’re running out of landfill space for biomass waste. The good news is that Air Burners is leading the charge to turn that waste into energy and recycled biomass products like biochar, which you can return to the soil to raise pH and improve moisture and health.
ABOVE: The BioCharger turns vegetative waste into energy during the workday, and charges your battery-operated equipment and trucks. (Photos provided by Air Burners)
The future has arrived — on grid power
The wait is over. Now, there’s a machine proven to efficiently and environmentally turn wood waste into energy. The PGFireBox® is an on-grid system that recycles biomass waste into energy, which generates power to recycle even more waste. We call this Closed Circle Recycling. The pioneering process eliminates biomass waste and creates electricity that is tied into a net metering system.
Capturing hearts, minds and energy
The typical biomass waste-to-energy system requires a lot of extra work. The preprocessing adds more time and cost, including diesel fuel to sort, chip and grind. The PGFireBox involves none of that no presorting, chipping or grinding. The system generates electrical energy without preprocessing and puts the energy back into the grid. The PGFireBox requires no permanent facilities.
BRIAN O’CONNOR | CEO & Founder of Air Burners
The FireBox eliminates wood and vegetative waste 40 times faster than open burning, reducing smoke by 98%.
Another first for Air Burners — off grid power
The BioCharger is the most advanced portable biomass energy system available on the planet today. Now, you have the power to eliminate wood waste and produce all the energy you need, over 550kWh, to keep your EV fleet charged and ready to work off-grid.
The BioCharger® delivers a powerful offgrid performance. Take the road less traveled and go off the beaten path into remote forests and wild woodlands. Go anywhere to get rid of waste off-grid and generate power onsite. The BioCharger accepts nearly all biomass debris and produces a clean, fast burn up to 10 tons of waste per hour. There’s no grinding or hauling, so you’ll save on transportation and labor costs. Plus there are no fuel costs. You may save even more with landfill waste diversion credits. Put all that stored energy to work. Plug your EVs and battery-operated equipment into the standard electrical outlets and recharge. Always ready to go whenever and wherever you are.
Air Burners collaborated with Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Volvo CE to develop the BioCharger and close the energy loop to reduce waste-to-energy costs. We’re happy to report that the innovative design is helping to reduce waste and generate power and savings.
If making power is not your concern: Think FireBox
If your goal is to eliminate vegetative and wood waste without generating electricity, the FireBox is the ideal solution. The FireBox is the world’s No.1 proven vegetation waste burner. The technologically advanced design eliminates biomass waste while helping the environment and your bottom line. The S330 FireBox has tons of advantages that leave grinding and hauling in the dust. The S330 eliminates biomass waste for $5 a ton versus the typical $57 to $67. The selfcontained FireBox uses 3 gallons of diesel an hour, compared to the 30 to 60 gallons grinding consumes. You’ll reduce fuel costs and save on maintenance, labor, hauling and
The BioCharger converts wood and vegetative waste into nutrient-rich biochar while generating power to charge your electric vehicles, equipment and tools onsite.
landfill tipping fees. Not only will you boost your bottom line, but you’ll also improve our planet’s health. The air curtain burner leaves approximately 2% biochar and ash that you can sell or mix into the soil on-site.
Turning over a new leaf
We can turn the tide against climate change, but we all must do our part and work together. Turning biomass waste into biomass energy is a step in the right direction.
The future is here today.
Visit AirBurners.com and learn how the company’s machines recycle waste to help reduce costs for your operation.
Ghost town lifestyle: Old Trail Town preserves the past
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Located near the east gate of Yellowstone National Park and situated on the spot where Western scout and showman William “Buffalo Bill” Cody laid out the town that would be named in his honor, Old Trail Town in Cody, Wyo., is an authentic adventure into America’s storied past. Featuring original buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well as thousands of artifacts, Old Trail Town preserves the Wild West lifestyle in a carefully curated ghost town.
Protecting the past
Old Trail Town was the brainchild of Bob Edgar, a local archeology and history buff who dismayed by the disappearance, due to decline and decay, of vintage structures that used to dot the Western landscape. In 1967, he began scouring rural Montana and Wyoming in search of period edifices, which he carefully dismantled and transported to Cody. They were reassembled, restored and staged with period furnishings, when available, and other accoutrements.
Edgar died in 2012, but the 6-acre complex he began now holds 26 buildings including a general store; a 1901 carpentry shop once operated by George Taggart; the 1884 “Coffin” School, named in honor of Alfred Nower who died of gangrene in the cabin after accidentally cutting his leg while hewing logs; an 1885 Bonanza Post Office; and an 1898 blacksmith shop, as well as the 1883 “Hole in the Wall” cabin, which served as a rendezvous point for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Each building has been thoroughly researched to
ABOVE: Old Town Trail in Cody, Wyo., is an authentic Wild West experience for tourists and history buffs alike. (Shutterstock.com)
give visitors plenty of information about the people who lived or worked in the structures as well as those who frequented the establishments as patrons.
The most recent addition to the Old Trail Town collection is Rosie’s Roadhouse and Brothel, which opened in Arland, Wyo., in 1890. Earning a rough reputation in addition to its racy one, the cabin was lost over time only to be rediscovered in 2018 and transported to Old Trail Town a year later. In 2021, the crowd-funded restoration work on the cabin began and in May, the space was opened to the public.
According to Larry Edgar, Bob’s brother and treasurer of the Old Trail Town organization, the only buildings missing from the site are a church and a jail. Rest assured, if either of those two structures can be located, he will happily make room for them.
Town Trail in Cody showcases a variety of frontier-era cabins, businesses and
Plenty to peruse
In addition to the historic buildings, Old Trail Town also boasts an Old West Museum that includes prehistoric tools, Native American beadwork and a horse-drawn hearse from the late 1800s. The site also contains the gravesites of six men and one woman associated with the area.
The most famous person among the deceased is Jeremiah “Liver Eatin’” Johnston, 1824-1900, a trapper who returned from a routine trip to find that his wife and unborn child had been murdered by a group of Crow Indians. The loss led to his personal revenge war against the tribe, which lasted for approximately 12 years before he enlisted in the cavalry to fight in the Civil War. His story was chronicled in the 1972 movie “Jeremiah Johnston,” in which Robert Redford played the titular role.
Folks enroute to Yellowstone call Old Trail Town a must-see for history buffs and a great place for the whole family to spend an hour or two. Heather Craige, a teacher at Burnsville Elementary School in Burnsville, N.C., visited the site in 2021 and said in a review that she enjoyed the opportunity to walk through the antique structures, see the various artifacts and learn more about the men and women who made up the Old West. “I loved the experience of feeling like I was walking through a ghost town.”
Chad Newton visited the attraction during its 50th anniversary celebration in 2017, and although that wasn’t his first time, he said he always enjoys going back to inspect the buildings and learn a little more about the local history.
“The people that run the place are very nice people indeed. I hope it remains around for a very long time. A must-stop if you are visiting Cody,” he wrote on the Old Trail Town website.
Bob Elwell of Blue Ridge, Ga., stumbled upon Old Trail Town while driving through Cody during a road trip with his wife. In his 2023 post, he said he appreciated the level of detail included in the displays. “It’s worth the time and the small entrance fee.” M
Dry Creek Homestead cabin dates back to 1900 and features a number of period accessories.
If you go …
Old Trail Town is located at 1831 Demaris Drive in Cody, Wyo., just off U.S. Hwy 16-20-14 near the east gate of Yellowstone National Park.
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. May 15-September 30
Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $11, children 6-12 $6 (Children 5 and under as well as active military are free.) For more information, call (307) 587-5302 or visit www.oldtrailtown.org.
The
(Photo provided by Old Town Trail)
Antique wagons give the frontier town a unique touch at Old Town Trail. (Photo provided by Old Town Trail)
Old
barns. (Photo provided by Old Town Trail)
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574,000
Frederick, Md.’s, residential compost program boasts over 1,100 participants and has diverted more than 574,000 pounds of organic refuse from landfills.
1,400 of 5,500
In 2019, approximately 1,400 of Pell City, Ala.’s, 5,500 households participated in its curbside recycling program. After not receiving bids for curbside recycling in 2022, the city had to shelve its program and instead offer a consolidated recycling point, thanks to a partnership with Calhoun County.
Recycling centers continue to be influx nationwide. Find out how different cities are using or shelving them on page 18.
75-80
McLean, Texas’, new landfill is expected to last between 75 to 80 years.
Waste & Recyclingfocus on:
40 tons
Chattanooga, Tenn., has participated in the Hefty ReNew program, with its residents recycling more than 40 tons of hard-to-recycle plastics during the first year.
24.1%
In the U.S., food is the single most common material sent to landfills, comprising 24.1% of municipal solid waste. The alternative, residential composting, builds healthy soil by adding organic matter and increasing the nutrient content and biodiversity of microbes.
For more information, visit https://cleantechnica.com/2024/06/17/ lets-change-the-food-waste-we-send-to-landfills-reduce-methane-emissions/.
Find
TerraCycle in Aurora, Ill., receives up to 1,000 boxes a day of household waste that used to go to the local landfill. The company is able to recycle items previously thought to be unrecyclable, including chip wrappers, shopping bags and any mixed flexible plastic.
Flint, Mich., is partnering with Cascade in the hopes of increasing its recycling rate from 624 tons per year to 5,400 tons annually — an increase of 750%. To achieve the goal, more than 30,000 trash and recycling carts will be given out free of charge to city residents.
Read more at https://midmichigannow. com/news/local/flint-to-distribute-30000-freerecycling-and-trash-carts-to-residents.
Learn about Chattanooga’s experiences in the program as it embarks on its second year on page 30.
Read more about Frederick’s program on page 26.
Read about McLean’s process for creating a new landfill on page 22.
Recycling centers: Bane or boon?
By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal
Municipal recycling centers, in theory, are a good thing — they make recycling convenient for residents and keep things out of the landfill that can be repurposed; however, several cities have had to remove their recycling centers because of problems, while others have expanded their recycling areas.
The Municipal spoke to city officials from cities that are doing both to see what their experiences have been.
Two cities that have removed their recycling centers include League City, Texas, and Nappanee, Ind.
Nappanee Mayor Phil Jenkins shared the history of its recycling program. He said it started a recycling program in the 1980s with mainly newspapers. In 1989-1990, the city added glass and aluminum. The recycling
center was at the street department’s property. In 2001, as a result of a Leadership Academy project, Nappanee investigated curbside recycling but “decided it wasn’t financially feasible for the company at that time.”
Additionally, a local grocery store had some recycling bins in its parking lot, but wanted to remove them. During 2012, Ben Leavitt, who is now a city council member, worked as an intern in the former mayor’s
ABOVE: This sign informs residents and others that the Nappanee Recycling Center has closed. The mayor said the city is considering making this area a trailhead for the nearby Art Path. (Photo by Denise Fedorow)
office. One of his duties was to propose a site for the construction of a recycling facility. It was decided on Oakland Avenue, which was close to where the grocery store was located.
“Fast forward 10 years and the Elkhart County Solid Waste District consolidated and went from 15 recycling centers down to five,” he said.
Around that same time, two adjacent counties Kosciusko County and Marshall County closed their recycling centers.
“We were inundated at our site,” he said. This caused problems because people were
These sculptures with the theme of love have been placed in a Tunnel of Love area along the Art Path in Nappanee. Each year, downtown art sculptures have a theme, and at the end of the year, they are moved to a permanent location along the Art Path.
(Photo by Denise Fedorow)
abusing it, not keeping the recyclables clean and not being responsible when the dumpsters were full. Instead, they kept dumping until the dumpsters overflowed or began dumping outside the containers.
“It’s unfortunate we weren’t able to keep it,” Jenkins said. “We know we were getting recyclables in from a three-four county area. We want to provide opportunities for our residents.”
So, earlier this year, Nappanee closed the recycling center down and instituted curbside recycling for residents.
“So far, it seems to be going well. We’ve had a lot of participation, and it’s eliminated some trash. People, when given a choice, will do the right thing. They’ve been keeping the recyclables clean and not intermingled with trash,” he said.
The city is currently picking up the extra cost of curbside recycling. “We’ll see how long we can maintain that we may have to gradually shift it to the residents,” Jenkins said. “We received a grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to do this as a pilot program, and it’s helped to offset some of the cost.”
This pedestrian-bike path near the dog park in Nappanee connects to the Art Path, and the recently closed recycling center area may become a trailhead. (Photo by Denise Fedorow)
The mayor said even before the counties closed their recycling centers, there were problems. Goodwill had a container that had to be pulled because people were not respecting the rules and requirements. He noted, “It’s unfortunate because it’s a good organization trying to do the right thing.”
Jenkins added, “Society has gotten to where we collect more junk, and we don’t know what to do with it, so we dump it.”
While offering convenience, online shopping sites like Amazon have created more cardboard.
Jenkins said, “I’d like to explore expanding recycling for things that have a value like electronics, for example, but I’m not sure how we’d fund it or staff it and what happens when the market demand goes down?”
As for the site of the former recycling center, Nappanee is considering possibly making it a trailhead for the nearby Art Path.
Jenkins summed it up: “It’s all about being sustainable and trying to do the right thing for the environment and the economy and trying to make it all balance.”
League City, Texas, also had to close its recycling center for similar reasons. Communications Director Sarah Osborne said
the city was dealing with illegal dumping and trash being intermingled with the recycling, contaminating the whole bin.
“It wasn’t working. We were getting hazardous materials like paint cans, motor oil and TVs.” She said workers set up surveillance to find out who was dumping the hazardous materials and realized the bins were getting items in from other cities.
League City also has curbside recycling, which had been offered even before closing the recycling center. Osborne said the city spends a lot of time educating residents about what can and cannot be recycled so they’re not contaminating the whole bin.
“Dirty pizza boxes, for example, can’t be recycled. We’ve placed stickers on the bins,” she said.
And because League City was getting so much hazardous materials, it began curbside recycling for hazardous materials four times a year, saying residents just need to call the trash vendor to set it up. In addition, the city has two big events a year where residents can drive through and drop off hazardous materials.
The city is picking up the cost for the curbside recycling, and she said League City
This is part of the pedestrian-bike path in Nappanee. (Photo by Denise Fedorow)
has two trash collection days a week once for just trash and the second time for both trash and recycling.
Expanding services
A couple of cities have expanded portions of their recycling programs, including Sioux City, Iowa, and Pell City, Ala.
Arah Montagne, environmental services manager for Sioux City, said the city has curbside recycling for its residents but recently decided to add recycling bins to eight locations downtown. She explained this was a new pilot program that was supposed to start last July, but actually started this April.
Getting the contract in order was the holdup. “It sat in legal limbo for a while,” she said.
Montagne explained, “The idea was we have so many more new downtown living in lofts, we wanted to try giving them more recycling opportunities as well as the downtown businesses with their shipping boxes.”
Since the downtown lofts are mainly rentals, some don’t have recycling bins, and Montagne said, “There’s been a large outcry from people who want it.”
Glass recycling is different, and Sioux City has six separate purple ripple bin locations for glass recycling. The rest of the recycling is collected in single-stream
containers. Montagne said she thinks the city pays a little more to have it sorted out at the recycling facility.
The pilot program is a collaborative effort between Downtown Partners, the city of Sioux City, the Environmental Advisory Board and Gill Hauling to install eight new recycling containers. They can be found at: Tyson Events Center; Fifth and Water streets; Pearl Street Park; Third and Pierce streets; Convention Center on Jones Street; Fifth and Court streets; Fourth and Iowa streets; and the STF Expo Center parking lot.
The containers are brightly colored and designed by local artist Jessica Hammond of Brutal Doodles. Gill Hauling donated the bins and the wraps Hammond designed.
So far, Montagne said there have been no issues like the previous cities were reporting except for the containers filling up before they were scheduled to be picked up. She said they were scheduled to be picked up once a month, and by the third week, they were full and had to be picked up.
Montagne said Downtown Partners, a community action group that works with the chamber of commerce and local businesses, helped find the locations for the bins.
“A lot of them are on city property, but if they were privately owned, they got permission,” she said.
This recycling container trailer in Pell City, Ala., has taken the place of its curbside recycling program after officials couldn’t get a company to bid on the program.
(Photo provided by Pell City, Ala.)
“Jessica did the artwork pro bono (although) we gave her a gift card for helping us out. She does all the artwork for Alley Art Festival, and it’s great to have something like that on the containers,” Montagne said.
Sioux City is hoping the beautiful artwork on the containers will discourage graffiti. The pilot program is for a year, and officials will re-evaluate at that time. She said if the city has issues in certain locations, it can pull those containers or move them. If they’re damaged or have graffiti on them, they can be replaced.
“We hope none of those things happen,” she said.
She shared that one of the purple ripple glass containers keeps getting vandalized, but it’s only one location.
One lesson learned in her 20-plus years of working in municipalities, according to Montagne, is: “If you don’t try it, you won’t know if it’s working or not. I didn’t have high hopes going into this I thought we’d get all co-mingled, non-usable recyclables, but it’s all been good waste. I’ve
been pleasantly surprised with how well it’s going. We just collected 3 tons this month and all good waste. It’s working so far, and I hope we can keep it up, but if we hadn’t tried it, we wouldn’t know.”
Pell City, Ala.
Contrary to the other cities, Pell City switched from curbside recycling to a centralized recycling site, but not totally by choice. City Manager Brian Muenger explained his city’s history with recycling, stating that in 2008, the city offered curbside recycling through a thirdparty waste contract. He said residents used an 18-gallon tote for their recyclables until 2016 and then switched to a 64-gallon can in 2017.
“In 2019, approximately 1,400 of the city’s 5,500 households were participating, and that number stayed steady through the end of the contract,” Muenger reported.
The city issued a competitive bid in 2022 that included curbside recycling, but no companies provided a compliant bid to continue it. Muenger said, “They cited a limited market for recyclables in the Greater Birmingham area and an increase in non-recyclables being deposited in bins.”
Since then, the city has been exploring options to return the service to residents through a consolidated recycling point. Within a year, Pell City formed a partnership with its neighbors in Calhoun County, and in 2023, they signed a cooperative agreement.
“Currently, Calhoun County provides the city with a recycling trailer free of charge through state grant funds. The city is responsible for staffing and monitoring the recycling point and for transporting collected recyclables to the Calhoun County MRF,” Muenger related, adding the city staffs the sites Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Citizen can access them at the same locations as the bulk waste roll-off dumpsters, which already had good utilization.
Muenger stated, “We’ve found that a consolidated site works very well for our residents. Since our centralized recycling is staffed and monitored, we have experienced fewer instances of misuse. While we do hope to return to curbside recycling when market conditions are more favorable, spoilage due to improper materials placement in recycling bins was problematic during curbside service.”
This Pell City, Ala., resident is using the recycling trailer to recycle her plastic water bottles. The recycling site at Pell City is monitored and staffed, which has stopped many problems experienced by other municipalities. (Photo provided by Pell City)
The recycling trailers are sorted with separate bins for cardboard, plastic, mixed paper and aluminum.
He said about 25% of the community was active in the city’s recycling program when the new solid waste contract took effect. So, they really wanted to continue to provide the service to their residents.
Muenger said, “No matter what type of recycling service you provide, educating the public about proper use of the program is vital, especially if recycling sites are unmonitored. Providing residents with convenient options for disposing of bulk waste is also an effective means of limiting spoilage and illegal dumping.
“Our usage has been growing steadily, and we are applying for additional trailers to support expansion,” he said.
New waste management facility benefits small towns
By JENNIFER BARTON | The Municipal
Waste management is as simple as dropping a garbage bag in the can and rolling it out to the curb for its respective pickup day, right? For most people, that is where waste management ends, but for others like Mike Story, town manager for McLean, Texas, that involves a great deal more work. Landfills have life expectancies and become too full to continue using. The process of opening a new landfill is costly and complicated. McLean looks to open their new one in a month or so.
Story has been city manager for 11 years in a town reminiscent of the movie “Cars,” with roughly 660 residents. The town declined in the 1980s with the building of Interstate 40, which replaced the need for travel on U.S. Route 66. However, the town has potential to grow with new business investors eyeing
the area. With new residents comes increased waste products, however.
Story noted that the town is currently in its fifth year in the process of opening a new landfill. “I went to the city council six years before we ran out of space” in the current one, he stated. The old landfill only has a small amount of space remaining, and that space is
set aside solely for emergency use. Like some other small cities, McLean uses its own two garbage trucks and presently hauls its waste products to landfills in a nearby town at the cost of around $5,000 per month.
Unfortunately, the pandemic hit around the same time that he pointed out the need for a new landfill, which slowed the process further, yet other roadblocks stood in the way. A parcel of land was chosen, but with pushback against it, the city bought a different, 131-acre property half a mile from the old landfill. Then the paper trail began.
Working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Story brought in geologists and paleontologists to test the soil and ensure that it was not a potential archeological dig site. As the finishing measures are put into place, the last step will be the final
ABOVE: A town of roughly 660 residents, McLean, Texas, is situated along old Route 66. To best serve its community and other nearby towns, it is creating a new landfill. (Photo by Barbara Brannon via Wikimedia Commons; https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/2.0/deed.en)
inspection by a local TCEQ representative. Story hopes to have that completed in the next two or three months.
“I try to do my best to make sure we’re following everything by the book,” he continued. “It’s a lot of time, a lot of planning. This new landfill should last us between 75-80 years.”
Under Texas regulations, the new landfill will be allowed to accept more than the typical household waste. Construction demolition debris and certain appliances like washers and dryers can be taken to the new landfill. However, it cannot accept medical waste nor automobile tires, which tend to float to the surface even after burial. But Story explained that the nearby town of Shamrock is slated to open a tire-shredding facility soon.
The new landfill would benefit not just McLean. “I’ve already been contacted by a couple other small towns,” Story said. These towns could resume their own trash collection if they were able to dump this
ABOVE and BELOW: Heavy equipment stands ready to begin work on the new landfill for McLean and surrounding small communities. (Photo provided by McLean, Texas)
waste into McLean’s new landfill. “Us little towns, we have to scratch each other’s back because money’s tight we help each other out.”
This could bring additional revenue into McLean as well, though it wouldn’t be a long-term solution for these small towns. Story expressed interest in signing five-year contracts that charged by the cubic yard, eventually funding certified truck scales to weigh and charge for the trash going into the landfill.
Three workers at minimum are needed to run a landfill — a gatekeeper, a worker to bury the trash and another to police blown trash, he pointed out. At the new site, the city will be able to dig 20 feet deep, 60 feet wide and 120 feet long. “If you’ve got a landfill, you’re doing good for a little town.”
Residents of McLean are eager for their new landfill to open, as many of them look forward to spring cleanup of houses and yards. And Story was an excellent person to lead the project. In addition to his time as city manager, he had spent much of his career in
contracting, waste management and other municipal functions in other cities. Years ago, he urged the McLean city council not to contract their garbage collection to an outside company, demonstrating that the city would save thousands by handling the task themselves. “I have to be a good steward of the taxpayers’ money. That’s part of my job.”
Most of what his job consists of when opening a new landfill is paperwork. There are government tests and regulations that must be followed, and engineers who lay out the framework for the new site, with barrier markers put into place. Once the new landfill opens, the old one will be closed, meaning more paperwork for the longtime city manager.
Story takes it in stride, knowing that all the manhours he puts into his work are an investment in the small town and its people. When the day comes that he chooses to retire, he won’t sit still. Perhaps he will begin a consulting company, advising other towns in the process of opening their own landfills. “I like to help people,” Story concluded.
• Minimize/Eliminate rod scoring
• Extend the life of cylinder seals
• Protects cylinders from the elements
• Prevent pitting due to chemical washers
• Reduce particle contamination of hydraulic systems
• Minimize dings and dents associated with falling debris
McLean is recognized as having one of the first Phillips 66 stations in the Panhandle. It officially closed for business in 1977, but the structure remains a popular Route 66 tourist stop. (Shutterstock.com)
A greener future: Frederick hopes to expand residential compost program
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
The city of Frederick, Md., is not one to “waste” an opportunity. When its citizens pushed for a residential compost program to help reduce municipal waste and encourage environmental stewardship, community leaders worked to create a program that, to date, boasts over 1,100 participants and has diverted more than 574,000 pounds of organic refuse from landfills.
ABOVE: Lauren Paulet, sustainability outreach coordinator with the city of Frederick, left, poses with a compost bucket after helping a group of girls learn what can be composted and what can’t. (Photo provided by Frederick, Md.)
“It is a very popular program, and most people are super happy about it. I am thrilled that it is working and that we have the participation we do, but how we move forward is up to our leaders,” said city sustainability manager Jenny Willoughby.
A pilot project takes flight
In June 2022, Frederick launched its residential compost project in Neighborhood Action Council areas 5 and 11. Folks were invited to sign up for collection services that would be paid for by the city for the duration of the program, which was expected to last six months and include approximately 800 households. The program proved so successful that the city added two more NACs to the project in order to determine what the uptick might be before expanding the program citywide in August 2023.
All households that receive municipal trash services are eligible to participate in the project at no cost thanks in part to a $200,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant as well as $100,000 from the city’s operating budget. Those living in multifamily buildings or in neighborhoods that utilize a private trash collection service may opt into the curbside compost program for a monthly fee. Willoughby said starting the program as a pilot project has allowed her to collect the relevant data that she needs to advise community leaders about how to scale the program in the future and seek additional funding for administrative and promotional purposes.
“Some of the money is being used for pickup services while some of the money is being used to create a marketing campaign so that we can reach more households,” she said.
Willoughby added one reason that Frederick’s residential compost pilot program has been so successful is the partnership with Key City Compost, a local firm that helps keep costs down. Unlike its trash, which is hauled to Pennsylvania and dumped, the compostable materials collected by Key City do not leave the county. The organic materials that come in are composted on-site and then recycled back to residents as rich, fertile soil nutrients that can be used in garden and landscaping projects throughout the community.
“Key City takes some things that you are not able to compost at home, such as greasy pizza boxes, meat, dairy, 100% paper plates, seafood and more, so we relied on them to educate people on what can and cannot be
Frederick, Md.’s, residential compost pilot project began in two Neighborhood Action Councils but has been expanded citywide thanks in part to the city’s outreach efforts to educate citizens about what they can compost and how it makes a difference for everyone.
(Photo provided by Frederick, Md.)
Lauren Paulet, sustainability outreach coordinator with the city of Frederick, spends a lot of time helping to educate the public about the importance of composting so that they can sign up for residential curbside pickup and build a better community. (Photo provided by Frederick, Md.)
composted. In addition to a yes/no column on their website, they have a great customer service team that can help answer any questions that residents have,” Willoughby said.
A ‘weighty’ issue
According to the company website, the concept for Key City Compost came from the 2016 Frederick County review process to study the state of solid waste in the county. That process highlighted the fact that the county had no stakeholders for food waste collection and disposal. Eager to fill that need, Key City began diverting waste from landfills in order to reduce total atmospheric carbon, create jobs and strengthen the local food system with high-quality soil products.
By removing compostable materials from the waste stream and recycling them, the city of Frederick is reducing its overall amount of trash going into landfills by about 30%. This not only saves the city money in terms of tipping fees which are based on weight but also helps reduce the community’s carbon footprint because those materials do not have to be transported out of state to a dumping site where they will emit harmful greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane.
its residential
helping kids learn what can go into a household’s
Willoughby said it is not easy for communities to replicate their residential compost pilot program unless the infrastructure is in place.
Prince George’s County, Md., offers composting pickup to all households receiving county services while the Baltimore Compost collective is a local service that collects food scraps from residences in neighborhoods and then composts the material in urban gardens where it is used to grow fresh produce and build food security. It also serves as a youth entrepreneurship program that employs local teenagers and gives them hands-on experience in managing a small-scale composting operation as well as its expansion.
“Unfortunately, our landfill is quite full, which is why our trash is shipped out, and we can’t afford to create a new spot,” she said. “It’s great that we have a local vendor who has that space set aside and can create a facility so if you are going to start a compost project, have a contractor on board who can serve as a partner and help get it going.”
As for where Frederick’s program goes from here, it’s anyone’s guess.
“We are going to have to make a decision soon about funding, and I hope to present some information soon to the mayor and the board that will give them something to mull over because I am going to run out of money, and I will need a decision to be made.” M
RIGHT: A little girl enjoys a snack while also learning how her peelings can be composted and used to grow more food as part of Frederick’s residential compost pilot program. To date, the program boasts over 1,100 participants and has diverted more than 574,000 pounds of organic recyclable material from landfills.
(Photo provided by Frederick, Md.)
Sustainable Frederick spotlights
compost pilot project at a public event,
compost bucket. (Photo provided by Frederick, Md.)
Chattanooga addresses hard-to-recycle items
By JANET
Chattanooga, Tenn., is adding a fourth R to the eco trio of reduce, reuse and recycle with recovery.
That recovery R has been sparked by the Hefty ReNew program that started in October 2022 and is now in its second year in Tennessee’s fourth largest city.
The project collects hard-to-recycle items and turns them into a variety of materials, some of which are used in construction.
“We actually started hearing about the program from our residents. The residents were sent postcards about the Hefty program, which sparked our interest,” explained Roshonda Woods, solid waste manager for Chattanooga’s Department of Public Works Solid Waste and Recycling.
When the Hefty team approached the city about a partnership, Woods said her department researched and then tried a pilot program that was successful. “So, we fully implemented the program.”
She said the city has been recycling for about 15 years. Chattanooga has used a single-stream system in which recyclable items do not have to be sorted, and both curbside
G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
ABOVE: Graphics were used to educate Chattanooga residents on how to participate in the Hefty ReNew program, which uses special orange bags for hard-to-recycle plastics. (Graphic provided by Chattanooga, Tenn.)
TOP PHOTO: The Chattanooga community has gotten onboard with the Hefty ReNew progam. In the first year, they recycled 40 tons of hard-to-recycle plastics. (Tim Childers/ Shutterstock.com)
pickup and collection sites. “We have a household hazardous waste (HHF) facility that receives paint and other hazardous material and a wood recycle facility (WRF),” Woods added.
The ReNew project does not replace the existing recycling but adds to it with special collection bins at the city’s five recycling centers. Residents purchase special orange Hefty ReNew bags at local retailers like Target and Walmart. The hard-to-recycle items must be dry, clean and free of any aluminum foil before going into the bags and being deposited in the special roll-off bins at the collection centers.
Orange ReNew bags identify they contain hard-to-recycle items to prevent contaminating other plastic recycling streams. The bags of recyclables are baled at the processing site and sent to approved end market conversion facilities. There, the orange bag and its contents are processed into new materials.
Woods said examples of the hard to recycle items are paper plates, take-out containers, food storage containers, grocery bags and plastic wraps from paper towel and toilet paper packages. Also included are candy wrappers, cereal, dry mix and cracker box liners, as well as plastic straws and stir sticks.
The goal of the hard-to-recycle program is to keep these items out of landfills and give them new life as building supplies, such as plastic lumber, concrete blocks, cement kiln fuel that is a coal replacement for making cement. Referred to as end of life solutions, recycled plastics can also become park benches, roofing cover boards and drainage materials for agricultural and stormwater applications.
In its first year of the program, the city of Chattanooga collected more than 40 tons of hard-to-recycle plastics.
The city’s mayor Tim Kelly congratulated local residents for their participation in the program in a recent press release announcing the continuation of the program into a second year. “Localism and leadership in the green economy are at the core of the One Chattanooga plan and our climate plan. The Hefty ReNew Program is an example of how we are putting those plans into action.”
One Chattanooga is the city’s vision for the three years from 2022 to 2025. It is composed of seven goals, including early learning for all families, economic vitality for the Black community, affordable housing for all residents, infrastructure and public transit improvement, a competitive regional economy, racial and economic equality in public health
ABOVE: This graphic highlights how the Hefty ReNew program works in Chattanooga, starting with customers using the orange bags to capture hard-to-recycle plastics before dropping them off at one of five dropoff locations. The city then delivers the bags to its material recovery facility, where they are sorted and baled to be sent to approved end market conversion facilities. (Graphic provided by Chattanooga, Tenn.)
outcomes and an effective and responsive local government.
The plan is intended to be reviewed and updated regularly to include new developments, such as the Hefty ReNew program.
Since its beginning in Omaha, Neb., in 2016, the ReNew program has been implemented in cities, such as Boise, Idaho; Lincoln, Neb.; Atlanta, Ga.; Covington, Ky.; as well as Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio.
While new recycling programs can be slow to become part of a municipality’s standard practice, Woods said that Chattanooga residents have received this opportunity with enthusiasm. “It shows that we’re doing our part in diverting items from the landfill. We’re getting valuable feedback from our residents.”
CITY DECISION-MAKERS LOVE THE MUNICIPAL
Being a new mayor in a small borough in Somerset Borough, Pennsylvania, I read your magazine for the first time and found your articles of importance and helpful reading.
Focus on Public Safety, “How prepared is your city for an active shooter incident,” electric squad car and the advertiser index information were full of statistical areas for Borough Managers.
Thank you for sending us a copy of your magazine and please keep us on your mailing list. We also thank you for any additional information you may wish to share.
With respect and appreciation,
Mayor, Frederic A. Rosemeyer
Community members step up to adopt Valley roads
By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
“Public works” is a term we’re all familiar with, but what does it encompass? According to the city of Valley, Neb., the department is responsible for a wide range of duties — maintenance of streets, parks, baseball and softball fields, the swimming pool, cemetery and the list goes on and on. With five full-time employees, more are added during the summer months, because mowing and other such regular tasks must be accomplished, too.
The department is also enlisting help from the community. A new program was recently launched called “Adopt-a-Road,” and it’s just what it sounds like: community members and organizations commit their time to picking up litter, which is something almost anyone can do. And Doug Eggen, who serves as the public works superintendent, was happy to explain more fully.
“The program was modeled off of Douglas County, but the real inspiration has come from a group of concerned citizens. The 2010 census indicated a population of 1,875 residents, and the 2020 census has 3,037. There is plenty of industry in the Valley area, but the main attraction is the availability of land for building close to the Omaha metropolitan area. The growth is continuing, and it will for quite some time,” Eggen said.
Any time there’s construction, whether houses or businesses, even with dumpsters in place, trash can accumulate. A good windy day
sends it all over the place, as well. As crews build new houses and businesses, the trash gets left behind, or otherwise scattered. And roadside litter has been a problem for many years, though people are more aware of it these days.
“The project is going well. Of the 21 areas that have been identified, 13 have been adopted already and have been patrolled. The public has been very receptive and appreciative of the program. The project hasn’t been too expensive to implement. There were start-up costs for supplies and signage, but we are funding the project through our KENO funds, which are designated for community betterment,” Eggen stated.
When this project was first proposed, it was clarified that everything would be provided for those who wanted to take part all the supplies, including safety vests, signage, trash bags and gloves.
As often happens, we wondered if this had inspired other public works and programs to further beautify the town, such as landscaping or other plantings? Eggen said, “Valley is a pretty small city, so I’d consider the organizations that have adopted roadways as inspired. We really don’t have any civic organizations to speak of, but the feedback has been very positive from the residents. Our city tree board has done a lot of landscaping and tree planting in the city.”
It’s always interesting to see what age groups participate in programs like this. Would it be students? Clubs or organizations? Scouts? Eggen laughed and said, “Actually, it’s been retirees more than students who have gravitated toward the program. We are working on a program that we can present to the school students that will encourage them not to litter.”
There is a theory that once a space is clean, it will stay that way unless and until someone “breaks” it. The program will bring this thought home while encouraging students to take personal pride in keeping their community clean.
How much of what is picked up can be recycled? After all, items could potentially be sorted, with participants recycling what they can, whether they be cans, bottles, cardboard, etc.
But Eggen cautioned, “The city of Valley does not offer one trash service. It’s up to the residents to contract with the independent
Valley community members spend a beautiful day devoted to picking up trash along their adopted road. (Photo provided by Valley, Neb.)
Valley is proud to share information about those who contribute to its Adopt-a-Road project. (Photo provided by Valley, Neb.)
Pictured is downtown Valley, Neb. (Ammodramus via Wikimedia Commons/public domain)
trash hauler of their choice on their own.” That being said, Valley offers multiple recycling services.
Valley is in this for the long haul, so to speak. “The program will continue indefinitely, but the organizations have to commit to a minimum of two years for patrolling their adopted roadways,” explained Eggen. “At this time, there are no plans in place for program expansion.”
As for where other interested towns would start with a program like this, Eggen said, “I would tell other towns that the benefits far outweigh the costs of the program. Our hope is to get to the root of the litter issue so that the roadway pickups are minimal.”
And though the costs are lower than many other public works projects might be, there are expenses nevertheless. “Like any program there needs to be resident buy-in and funding available for an AdoptA-Road program to succeed,” said Eggen.
Depending on the size of the towns considering this kind of program, fundraisers or budget line items would need to be considered. And it could be a “go big or go home” kind of thing, with endless possibilities for improving not just the adopted roads, but the surrounding towns, as well. One thing leads to another, after all. M
RIGHT: The more the merrier is true when it comes to working with friends and family who share a common goal of keeping Valley, Neb., beautiful. (Photo provided by Valley, Neb.)
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Q&A with FlagShooter: Revolutionizing Utility Locating
Q: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind FlagShooter and how it came to be?
A: Paul Carrette, the inventor of FlagShooter, initially stumbled upon the idea while observing a locator at work. Struck by the inefficiencies of traditional flagging methods, he decided to pursue a better solution. With a background in mechanical engineering, Paul began experimenting in his shop, leading to the development of the FlagShooter.
Q: How does FlagShooter enhance efficiency and safety for locators?
A: FlagShooter streamlines the flagging process by allowing locators to insert flags and spray paint with just one hand, eliminating the need for bending over or juggling multiple tools. This not only saves time but also reduces strain on the back, especially when dealing with hard or frozen ground conditions.
Q: Who are FlagShooter’s primary customers, and what industries benefit most from its use?
A: FlagShooter serves a diverse customer base, including municipalities, pipeline companies, telecom and power utilities, and contractors. The tool’s versatility and efficiency make it invaluable for any industry involved in underground utility locating and damage prevention.
Q: What are FlagShooter’s plans for future development and innovation?
A: FlagShooter remains committed to meeting the evolving needs of its customers and the industry as a whole. While prioritizing customer satisfaction and loyalty, the company continues to explore new opportunities for innovation, such as improving marking flags and expanding product offerings. We have several new innovations that we are expecting to release later this year, and have expanded our
product portfolio to include marking paint in preparation for our new product release. We are excited about the expanded product offering at FlagShooter to address the needs of our customers and offer a more complete service.
In conclusion, FlagShooter’s journey from a simple idea to a revolutionary tool exemplifies the power of innovation and perseverance in transforming traditional industries. With a commitment to efficiency, safety and customer satisfaction, FlagShooter continues to lead the way in utility locating technology, shaping the future of damage prevention. M
Locator using a FlagShooter to mark utilities.
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Bend to bring art installation to new public works campus
The 35.5-acre Juniper Ridge site will include administrative and employee work spaces, fleet maintenance, shop and warehouse facilities, vehicle wash and storage accommodations, community meeting rooms and more. (Photo provided by Bend, Ore.)
By DANIELLE LUND | The Municipal
Earlier this year, the city of Bend, Ore., commissioned a large-scale work of art for the new Headquarters Building on the city’s new $130 million public works campus at Juniper Ridge. The city has worked closely with its partner, Art in Public Spaces, and the general public to narrow down the selection process to two finalists. In the upcoming months, members of the public and a selection committee will work together to determine which art installation will be chosen to occupy the massive space.
In February 2024, the city of Bend determined that its new Headquarters Building, which is to be the gateway for the new public works campus, would be the perfect spot for a new art installation that will showcase the native history of the city and the importance of the public works departments housed within.
The Headquarters Building in Juniper Ridge will be home to five public works departments: utilities; transportation and mobility; fleet maintenance; facilities; and engineering and infrastructure planning. The 35.5-acre site will include offices, meeting spaces, storage facilities, specialized workshop areas and the city’s water lab.
The size of the piece needs to be quite large in scale, as it will reach from the main floor lobby wall, which can be viewed from the exterior drop off area, to the main lobby on the third floor, and then carry out onto the third-floor terrace.
Due to the immense size of this project, the city has partnered with a local nonprofit organization that has donated public art throughout Bend since 1973. For over 40 years, Art in Public Places has created an enhanced visual environment for Bend residents and promoted tourism and economic vitality through the artistic design of public spaces.
To gain some further insight into the collaboration process between the city of Bend
ABOVE: This artist rendering showcases what the Bend Public Works Campus will look like. The campus will be home to a massive public art project. (Photo provided by Bend, Ore./Hennebery Eddy Architects)
and Art in Public Spaces, Romy Mortensten, president of Art in Public Spaces, discussed the partnership with the city, “We have partnered and contracted with the city to administer the art selection process. We have worked with the building architects and project managers from the city standpoint and created a call to artists. We managed the selection criteria, coordinated the meetings, reviewed the applications and facilitated discussions surrounding the project.”
When asked in an interview about what the city is looking for when considering applications, Mortensten said, “We are really looking for a concept that resonates with the public and the employees that are working within this campus. The concepts could be abstract or literal, but they should consider the work of the public works employees within their planning. Also, the artists should consider the topography and the native history of the location.”
John Flemming’s “Water Tapestries” would use repurposed traffic signs attached to mirror-finish stainless steel reflectors. It is inspired by the Deschutes River as it flows from Benham Falls, through Bend, and down toward the new public works campus. (Photo provided by Bend, Ore.)
A call for artists was placed and the city received over 40 artist proposals. A selection committee consisting of a local student, a city councilor, a project manager, the architect’s representative, a representative from the city who is in charge of diversity and equity, another public member and two representatives from Art in Public Places collectively worked together during the intensive process to consider each proposal and narrowed the selection down to a solid 13 proposals for the next round.
Mortensten told of their selection process, saying that, “We selected the artists based on their body of work that was submitted. We were also able to look at their existing works. We wanted to be sure that we selected a team that could work well with both indoor and outdoor materials. We wanted finalists who were very thoughtful in consideration to the employees and the community, as well as the fact that this installation would be going in a public works building. Ultimately, the artists we selected needed to demonstrate the ability to complete meaningful structures.”
As of May 2024, Art in Public Spaces has released the names of the two finalists that will move forward to the next part of the process. Mortensten said, “We have selected two finalists: John Flemming from Seattle, Wash., and FreelandBuck, which is an artist team of David Freeland and Brennan Buck, from LA.”
FreelandBuck’s piece, called “Below the Surface,” “celebrates the unseen innovations that keep the city flowing, transforming the invisible into a luminous network that celebrates the unseen work of Bend Public Works.”
FreelandBuck’s “Below the Surface” celebrates the unseen innovations that keep the city flowing. It brings forward the invisible as a luminous network that celebrates the unseen work of Bend Public Works. (Photo provided by Bend, Ore.)
Their structure will be painted stainless steel and LED lighting and will “serve as a vibrant, bold core a molten, crystalline interior that energizes the headquarters. It’s strategically positioned to be visible from the exterior drop-off area, inviting curiosity from the moment one arrives.”
John Flemming’s piece, called “Water Tapestries,” “illustrates the course of the Deschutes River as it flows from Benham Falls, through Bend, and down toward the new public works campus.”
Flemming’s piece, made of repurposed traffic signs (aluminum with prismatic film) attached to mirror-finish stainless steel reflectors, will be “inspired by this water system and the maps that help to illustrate it.” Flemming’s proposal also considers the city’s environmental concerns, as he “proposes fabricating my ‘Water Tapestries’ from the city’s castoff aluminum traffic signs. Their colors and graphics create a rich mosaic and their prismatic film surfaces provide a surprising glow for nighttime illumination.”
In the upcoming months, both art installations will be showcased in the local library and parks and recreation building, where all members of the community can go to vote for their favorite piece. Mortensten said that while the public’s perception will be extremely important in the selection process, “Ultimately, the city has the final say.”
The final decision is scheduled to take place in late August 2024 and will be viewable on the Art in Public Spaces website. M
Providing: Signs Trailers Data
Windsor highlights safety in award-winning intersection and pathway project
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
With its Windsor River Road and Windsor Road intersection improvement and multiuse pathway connector project, the city of Windsor, Calif., was the overall winner of the Cal Cities 2024 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards.
The improvement project became a priority because of the upcoming arrival in Windsor of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit. The city was aware that existing conditions for the Windsor River Road and Windsor Road intersection would not meet the requirements of the California Public Utilities Commission for a signalized railroad crossing. This caused the city to begin taking steps to improve the intersection.
“In March 2018, Windsor approved an agreement for preliminary engineering,” Alejandro Perez, Windsor senior civil engineer, stated. “The preliminary design phase of the project included evaluations of a signal modification alternative and a roundabout alternative, environmental review and public outreach. It was determined that at the end of the public outreach phase and alternative evaluations phase, staff would return to the
council and ask that a preferred alternative be selected.”
On Feb. 6, 2019, after extensive public outreach and meetings with SonomaMarin Area Rail Transit, California Public Utilities Commission and local safety experts, Windsor Town Council chose the roundabout alternative to be constructed.
In June 2021, the council approved a construction contract with Ghilotti Construction to build the roundabout, railroad safety improvements and the multiuse pathway at the intersection.
The primary concern surrounding the road improvement project was pedestrian and traffic safety. The intersection is close to Windsor High School, which would cause major delays during peak hours in both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
“During the preliminary engineering, using traffic simulation software, it was discovered that a roundabout provided greater pedestrian and traffic safety as
ABOVE: Improvements to the intersection were deemed necessary after complaints of traffic during peak hours and the decision of Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit to come to Windsor. The intersection did not meet requirements for a signalized rail crossing and needed improvements. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.)
well as better flow of vehicles through the intersection,” Perez said. This alternative would help reduce traffic delays and greenhouse gas emissions and help with necessary major improvements for the intersection to meet current rail safety standards for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit.
“The improvements have been in place for just about one year, and we have seen a significant reduction in delay,” Perez said. “During off-peak hours, vehicles flow through. During peak commute hours, there is still a delay, but nothing close to what we used to see with the signalized intersection. Vehicles move through the intersection, albeit at slower speeds. However, they keep moving. And vehicles moving at slower speeds means that potential collision impacts are greatly reduced for both drivers and pedestrians.”
The main concern in improvements was to promote both vehicle and pedestrian traffic safety. With new sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, realigned crosswalks, a refuge median and slower vehicle speeds, the intersection became safer. Vehicle traffic also flows better during peak hours. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.)
The improvements included new sidewalks, ADA-accessible curb ramps, realigned crosswalks, a refuge median and a 760-foot connector segment.
It was a great honor for Windsor to be nominated and then named overall winner at the Cal Cities award ceremony. It was also a great personal honor for Perez to be involved with the project, he said.
“It’s always an honor when your project is recognized for an award. As an engineer and public servant, I do my work because I believe it is the right thing to do and best for the community at large. Working on this project has been the highlight of my 20-year career in public works. Meeting and working with new people from public outreach to design and finally to construction was a pleasant experience. Taking a project from early inception that began years ago to finally seeing it constructed and working as expected is a great feeling.”
While the community had some concerns regarding the project when it was first announced, residents now seem to enjoy the benefits that come along with the improved intersection.
“With every project we do, there is negative feedback from those in the community who don’t like change. And they are always the most vocal,” Perez admitted. “This project was no different. Before the project design began, we would get lots of calls to improve the intersection due to the peak hour delays. After the town council decided to build the roundabout option, we heard a lot of complaints that it would not work, and that it would cause more problems for young drivers going to the high school.
“Since it was built, we have heard from residents who did not think the roundabout would work. But they have told us that they are pleasantly surprised with how the intersection is working.”
Windsor is currently directing its attention toward another road improvement project, the downtown pedestrian and bicycle crossing of U.S. Hwy. 101, located within a priority development area.
Following the Connecting Central Windsor study, the need for such a crossing was identified and is currently in the design phase.
While there was some concern within the community regarding a roundabout, now that residents have seen it in action many have been pleasantly surprised by how well the traffic flows. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.)
This project earned Windsor the prize of overall winner at the Cal Cities award ceremony. Its design, collaboration, public outreach and construction earned it the recognition from the state. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.)
“U.S. Hwy. 101 runs north-south through the center of Windsor and bisects into east and west sides,” Perez explained. “With only three crossing locations along the three-mile corridor, the highway limits access between the eastern and western sections of the town. The highway interchange at Old Redwood Highway is heavily traveled and challenging for pedestrians and bicyclists. This project proposes to improve active transportation facilities through the existing U.S. Hwy. 101 underpass by widening the space under U.S. 101.
“The project proposes to widen the space under U.S. 101 using Caltrans Standard retaining walls and adding Class I paths with separated pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including two-way bike only paths and widened sidewalks,” Perez noted. Further improvements will include landscaping, new lighting and artwork.
New Bern combines historic elevator elegance with accessibility
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
An historic city hall building in New Bern, N.C., recently became more accessible because of a new elevator annex that was constructed with an eye toward taking nothing away from the historic majesty of the building.
New Bern City Hall was built in the late 1890s and also used as a federal courthouse, customs office and post office. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. As Colleen Roberts, New Bern public information officer and brand manager, described, “It’s an iconic feature of the downtown New Bern landscape.”
The question of city hall’s accessibility was frequently brought up for discussion, however, along with concern over how to make changes while maintaining the historic value of the building.
“City hall’s accessibility has been a discussion for decades,” Roberts mentioned. “As a welcome and meeting place for the public, quasi-judicial and governing boards, visiting dignitaries and more, it lacked the opportunity to allow everyone to participate in local government.”
As discussion progressed, historians and enthusiasts alike were concerned about how an elevator could be implemented within the current footprint of the building, especially given its age.
“The city considered several options and ultimately decided an annex would be best. It would include storage, accessible restrooms, a lobby area and stairwell,” Roberts said. City leaders carefully considered the architectural, construction and other contractor support in order to marry the look of historic city hall with the design and facade of the annex.
The most important goal when building the elevator annex was that it look like a seamless connection to city hall. The best brick-and-mortar company was chosen so the brick laying and color of the mortar would match. Windows and gutters were also chosen to match city hall. (Photo provided by the city of New Bern, N.C.)
As part of the National Register of Historic Places, these updates had to be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. The lack of accessibility issues had been an ongoing debate for years.
Construction began May 2022, and a ribbon cutting was held October 2023. (Photo provided by the city of New Bern, N.C.)
After deciding to construct the annex, the city had to make a presentation to the Historic Preservation Commission and receive approval before moving forward. The architectural firm chosen was selected due to its specialization with historic properties.
When building the annex, the construction team had to first build it self-standing and then build on the connections. On the first and second floor, the connections were made through a restroom; on the third floor, connection to the annex went through a spare office in the information technology department.
“Chief among what we wanted was a seamless look with the likeness of the two buildings,” Roberts stressed. The brick-and-mortar company chosen ensured that the color of the mortar would match and the brick laying would look the same as on the annex as city hall. It was even possible to find gutters with fascia to match the historic construction.
Having accessible restrooms was a necessity, so multi-stall restrooms were incorporated on both floors of the annex along with wide hallways and stairways and additional storage space. “It gives us the wiggle room we desperately needed,” Roberts admitted.
There were only a few delays in construction. Windows in the same shape as the city hall’s existing windows were difficult to find, and due to summer construction shortages, the expansive electric panel for the elevator was delayed.
Some excavation was necessary on the site before construction could begin with the removal of old pieces of concrete below the surface. A bust of Baron Christoph von Graffenreid and a plaque commemorating the first printing press in North Carolina had to be relocated. However, thanks to close collaboration between the companies, the number of challenges and setbacks were minimal.
Roberts also believes that the benefit of being a small town with its own architectural firm and construction company helped as well.
A groundbreaking was held on May 10, 2022. The project took 16 months to complete. And during construction of the annex, New Bern had a special visitor.
“The mayor of Bern, Switzerland, was in the United States for an educational opportunity, and he included a trip to New Bern as part of his travel itinerary so that he could visit city hall and see the new annex,” Roberts said. “We had a good time showing him all the improvements to date.”
The elevator annex had to be built self-standing and then connected to the historic city hall at certain points at the end. The connections to city hall go through old restrooms on the first and second floors and a spare office on the third floor. (Photo provided by the city of New Bern, N.C.)
Cost for the annex project was $4.1 million. A ribbon cutting for the new building took place Oct. 10.
Maintenance and upkeep of a building that is both historical and functional can have its challenges, though. “As with any historic structure, city hall requires TLC from time to time,” Roberts explained. “Recently the city undertook a brick repointing project to repair and replace the brick mortar joints. Decades of weather, tropical storms and hurricanes had taken their toll and water and wind had begun penetrating the exterior walls. Simultaneously, we had the windows reglazed. Combined, it was about an eight-month project.
“Since the building has a basement, we faced a challenge with Hurricane Florence, too. Several inches of water flooded the basement. But the area is mostly used for storage, supplies and our employee breakroom. It has since been renovated and repaired.”
Residents and visitors to New Bern alike appreciate the historic appeal of city hall.
“The clocktower is an unmistakable part of the city landscape,” Roberts mentioned. There are also bear statues, which were gifted to the city, above the portico of city hall. The only other location of such statues in the city is at the oldest chartered fire department in the state, which is now a museum.
The overall shape and historic look of city hall and the annex are faithfully reminiscent of the 1800s. “It’s the perfect place to take a stroll back in time,” she said.
Since the annex has opened to the public, New Bern has received an overwhelmingly positive response.
“Residents are amazed at how much the two buildings look alike,” Roberts stated. “And visitors to New Bern comment that they never would have known the two weren’t constructed at the same time. We’ve noticed the annex getting more and more foot traffic, especially when quasi-judicial and governing board meetings are scheduled upstairs in the courtroom. It’s a remarkable feat of historic preservation.”
A WINNING LINEUP
Memphis water strategy rests on aquifer
By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
Memphis, Tenn., bears the nickname the “Home of the Blues.” And, while the history of the blues may date back to the early 20th century, the water that comes from the aquifers beneath the second largest city in Tennessee is pulled from geologic strata believed to be 40 million years old.
With this in mind, it was with a great deal of pride that Memphis was recently recognized as having the purest drinking water in the United States.
“Memphis is the largest U.S. city to rely 100% on groundwater for its water supply,” noted Chandrika Winston Rosser, vice president of Gas and Water Engineering and Operations for Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
Other U.S. urban areas that use aquifer water include Dayton, Ohio; Miami and Jacksonville, Fla.; Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York; San Antonio, Texas; and Spokane, Wash.
The purest drinking water distinction was awarded by the Environment Working Group Tap Water Database. Launched in July 2017, the online resource spreads awareness about drinking water quality in the United States and gives users the lowdown on what’s in their tap water.
ABOVE: The 100-trillion-gallon aquifer that provides water to MLGW’s 257,000 customers is the size of Lake Ontario and is believed to be the result of a shift in the continental plates 100 million years ago.
(Shutterstock.com)
Responding to the accomplishment, Rosser said, “We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful natural resource. We work very hard every day to preserve its integrity.”
The 100-trillion-gallon aquifer that provides water to MLGW’s 257,000 customers is the size of Lake Ontario and is believed to be the result of a shift in the continental plates 100 million years ago. According to scientists, wind and erosion shaped the impression that became the aquifer, and a river that was the predecessor of the nearby Mississippi River deposited sand that forms the aquifer and filters the water to remove impurities and solids.
The water in the aquifer is estimated to have fallen as rain about two to three thousand years ago, estimates the University of Memphis Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research. Newer water continues to enter the aquifer at recharge points outside Shelby County, where Memphis is located, Rosser said.
MLGW technicians perform about 100 tests a day to monitor water quality. (Photo provided by Memphis Water Gas and Light)
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation have developed standards for contaminant levels in drinking water. While all water contains slight levels of contaminants, Memphis water has especially low levels of fluoride, nitrate, lead and copper. In fact, a 2015 MLGW report noted that Memphis had no “detectable lead” in the source water.
What that means is the Memphis water treatment process is much simpler and less expensive than the average urban water system. Rosser explained that the water is aerated and filtered to remove naturally occurring iron, disinfected with sodium hydrochloride, and finished off with toothstrengthening fluoride and phosphate to prevent pipe corrosion.
In addition to exceptionally pure drinking water, Memphians benefit from their underground resource with residential water rates that are among the lowest in the United States.
The Memphis water supply story dates back to the decades after the Civil War, when the area was ravaged by a yellow fever epidemic. After determining that the deadly illness originated in the water, city officials determined that the open cisterns and shallow wells that provided water to residents were breeding grounds for bacteria and mosquitoes that spread the illness.
In 1886, while drilling a well that still supplies water to Memphis, the drill punched through a layer of clay, releasing the ancient water that was below. Clear, cold water sprang out in a geyser, and the city’s sweet water supply was born.
MLGW performs approximately 100 tests each day to monitor the water quality in its 10 pumping stations and 175 wells.
“We work very hard to ensure that the water remains clear of contaminants from urban, industrial and agricultural runoff,” Rosser said. She noted that MLGW was founded in 1939 and is not only the largest three-service municipal utility in the country but operates one of the largest artesian well systems in the world.
In addition to the municipal wells, there are also private wells that supply residences and local businesses. These include several country clubs, some industrial sites and a few breweries that have capitalized on the pure drinking water.
Rosser said the county’s Groundwater Quality Control Board oversees permitting for wells to ensure the continued safety of Memphis water. Additionally, public policies have been put in place to protect water quality. She added that education of the public is also an important piece of maintaining the safety of the water supply.
According to scientists, wind and erosion shaped the impression that became the aquifer under Memphis, and a river that was the predecessor of the nearby Mississippi River deposited sand that forms the aquifer and filters the water to remove impurities and solids.(Shutterstock.com)
Memphis Light, Gas and Water operates one of the largest artesian well systems in the world. (Photo provided by Memphis Water Gas and Light)
In addition to water quality, there is always the question of depletion of the natural resource. Rosser said the U.S. Geological Survey monitors water levels in the aquifer. In the decades after the first wells were drilled, as the population of Memphis grew, the water levels in the aquifer began to drop, but since the turn of the 21st century, the water levels have started to rise. While climate change has been blamed for water levels rising around the world, Rosser said modern household plumbing and appliances have also helped keep plenty of water in the aquifer. Low-flow toilets now use about 25% of the water per flush as opposed to older models. New faucets and washing machines contribute to the reduced demand for household water not just in Memphis but throughout the country. And while some companies are bottling water to sell, Memphis residents are happy to enjoy water straight from the tap. Rosser noted, “Among my colleagues, we talk about how we can tell the difference when we’re away from here. We can’t wait to get home to have Memphis water.”
MLGW has 10 water pumping stations in Shelby County, Tenn. (Photo provided by Memphis Water Gas and Light)
Lake Oswego increases safety for pedestrians
ABOVE (After) and BELOW (Before): At the intersection of Bryant, Boones Ferry and Firwood streets, the street was widened to add an extra turn lane. A longer left turn lane was added as well as a crosswalk to the north. (Photo provided by city of Lake Oswego, Ore.)
A massive road improvement project has made vehicle and pedestrian traffic safer in Lake Oswego, Ore.
A Lake Grove Village plan was formed in 2008 by neighbors and business owners and headed by a project advisory committee. The area is a major arterial roadway made up of primarily commercial buildings, with an average of 20,000 daily trips.
The goal was a roadway improvement project that promoted safety, accessibility and mobility. The city wished to switch the utilities underground, create a more attractive streetscape and minimize the impact to local businesses.
The project was approximately 20 years in the making. From 2008 to 2016, much of the core planning took place. Construction took three years, with a cost of approximately $38 million. It took two years to acquire all of the necessary right of ways due to negotiation with 54 property owners.
Everything was finalized in early 2019. The city worked with nine utility companies to underground all their assets in the limited right of way space, and only one business had to be relocated when acquiring the right of ways. Construction began in summer 2019 and was completed in 2022.
Previously, the area featured small, 2-foot-wide sidewalks engulfed by overgrowth. The sidewalks needed curb ramps and were not ADA compliant. The four-lane roadway had long distances between crosswalks, and there were no left turn lanes into business driveways, which caused a high collision rate. The roads also had almost no stormwater infrastructure, which led to frequent flooding.
New landscaped medians and dedicated U-turn lanes were installed, along with three new traffic signals. Before, there were no bike lanes: Now, there are 5-foot-wide lanes on both sides of the street.
Two mid-block pedestrian crossings were added, with beacons and artwork. These crossings allow pedestrians to cross two lanes of traffic, wait safely at the median and then wait for a signal to cross the other two lanes of traffic. More street lighting and highly visible road striping was also installed.
At Bryant, Boones Ferry and Firwood streets, the intersection was widened in order to add another turn lane. A crosswalk was added to the north. A longer left turn lane was also included. A small turn lane at the Oakridge, Boones Ferry and Reese streets intersection allow access into a busy post office for which there is only one way in and one way out. An additional traffic signal was added to allow U-turn access in order to get to the post office, instead of the small left turn lane.
A safe crossing was added to the intersection near a local school. The driveway coming from the school was realigned so that it lined up with the light signal. A new signal was also added at Madrona and Boones Ferry streets, allowing nearby businesses more opportunity to redevelop.
In order to help with flooding, over 40 stormwater planters were installed to treat runoff and clean the water before it enters the city’s
ABOVE (After) and BELOW (Before): One of three new traffic signals was added at the Madrona and Boones Ferry streets intersection. Five traffic signals were involved in construction, all with dedicated U-turns and left turn lanes on both sides of the street included. (Photo provided by city of Lake Oswego, Ore.)
creeks. In order to move water to these median planters, the roadways were rebuilt and re-graded with additional stormwater piping.
Once the pandemic hit, the city encountered problems with the project. Supply and equipment delays altered the project timeline. Contractors and subcontractors experienced staffing issues, and the city had to ensure everyone involved was properly adhering to all safety protocols.
There were also bad wildfires in the area, ice storms and challenges with coordinating power shutoffs to ensure businesses had electricity during business hours. However, the city was also able to take advantage of some of them temporarily closing and get construction completed in that area without worrying about driveway access or impacting the business.
The reduction in traffic the first few months of the pandemic also made it safer for the road crews to work. Since school was out, the
city was able to do all the work around the school and have that area reopened by the time in-person schooling resumed.
“Originally we had it phased to complete one section then move on to the next,” Katy Kerklaan, project manager and Lake Oswego Public Works engineering communications specialist, explained. “That didn’t work. Utility companies had to work in one section while construction was working in a different section. We really had to expand the work area to ensure everything still stayed on schedule. There were multiple crews working on an area at once, day and night, in multiple areas.”
The entire project was split into two phases. Phase one is complete. Phase two will extend all of the improvements to Kruse Way.
Dividing the project into two phases was done due to reduce the cost as well as impact to local businesses in regard to construction time.
Funding for the project came from a combination of sources. The village center plan was brought before the council and adopted. As part of this plan, two phases were established. The majority of the funding came through the Urban Renewal District.
A general application bond for $5 million was also used. The city then received a $4 million grant from the federal government through the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The city’s efforts won 2023 Project of the Year from the American Public Works Association Oregon chapter and the 2022 Award for Excellence by the League of Oregon Cities for Shop Lake Grove.
“We spent a lot of time working on the project and, after so many years, it was nice to be recognized by peers and these organizations and to know we did a good job,” Kerklaan stated.
It has also been deemed successful by the community. “Everyone loves the new sidewalks,” she continued. “It was great to connect with the community and community members. People can get to and from the businesses easily and safely, and many bicyclists are happy to have dedicated bike lanes. Overall, it has been a huge stimulus for the area.”
Landscaped medians were installed in intersections to beautify the area and make it safer along with dedicated bike lanes on both sides of the street. Two mid-block pedestrian crossings were also added with beacons and artwork. This artwork helps with beautification of safer pedestrian crossings. (Photo provided by city of Lake Oswego, Ore.)
This massive roadway project was about 20 years in the making, with major planning taking place from 2008 to 2016. Construction lasted three years, with a cost of approximately $38 million. The goal was to create a safer, more attractive streetscape in one of the city’s major arterial roadways. (Photo provided by city of Lake Oswego, Ore.)
In the limited right-of-way space acquired by the city during this major road project, the decision was made to underground all assets. This involved working with and coordinating nine utility companies. (Photo provided by city of Lake Oswego, Ore.)
Huntsville internship program encourages solution-oriented thinking
By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal
For students, internships in the private sector can offer a glimpse into a potential career path. That’s equally true for government roles, though the experience often looks a bit different.
Huntsville, Ala., has a successful internship model that other cities might look to for inspiration.
Kenny Anderson, director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is the city official behind the initiative. His office currently runs the internship program, though that wasn’t always the case.
“I’m a mayoral appointee,” he said. “I serve in the capacity of this office to provide representation for the many residents of our community, to make sure that everyone’s voice is affirmed. And in those instances where a person’s voice needs to be elevated, we try to do that as well.”
The DEI office took over the internship program two years ago, and Anderson began by emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in their approach. Students are enrolled in higher education and come from diverse institutions, so it was important to him to develop an internship program that can be meaningful, substantive, engaging and interactive for everyone.
Another key element is how these temporary roles reflect and touch on all areas of city government.
“We think about the city as one unit,” he said, “but there are 25-plus departments in the city. Everyone should have an opportunity to have access to an internship, an intern, or more opportunities, if they’re interested in doing so. We basically put out a call to all department heads and based on whatever responses we get from those departments, we kind of know what we’re working with.”
This year, nearly half of the city’s departments participated, Anderson noted. Somewhere between eight and 10 departments expressing interest. In his words, “that gives us a chance to have representation across the spectrum of our municipality.”
The program traditionally runs during the summer. However, Anderson’s previous background in higher education has challenged him to consider the bigger picture.
ABOVE: The city’s summer internship program teaches interns how to collaborate in a solution-oriented way for the benefit of the entire community. (Shutterstock.com)
“I actually solicit interns year-round,” he said. The significant change this year was the introduction of paid internships, a first for the city. “We thought it was really important that if we were going to move this process forward, that we request funding for the program. It’s the first year we did that.”
City of Huntsville’s Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kenny Anderson. (Photo provided by Huntsville, Ala.)
Huntsville, Ala.’s, college-level internship model is a flexible and inclusive program that encourages young people to consider how they might engage with community problem-solving.
(Shutterstock.com)
Kentrell Bone, an incoming senior at Jacksonville State University majoring in finance, is among the cohort of students who’ve benefited from exposure to city government.
“You learn how to collaborate and problem-solve in a way where we’re not just directly focusing on issues, but we’re more solution-oriented in our way of thinking,” he said about his time on the job so far.
Bone is currently involved in planning the annual North Alabama Health and Wellness Fair, gaining valuable insights into event planning and community engagement.
Anderson said he’d love to have more students like Bone. Every student represents limitless potential, in his estimation.
“I hope the future will hold more opportunities for more students to experience city government from the inside,” he said.
The internship provides invaluable connections to leaders who can provide insight and opportunities to diverse students with a variety of different majors. Ultimately, the hope is that this exposure will lead some of them to pursue work for municipalities or be involved in municipal work as elected officials or members of boards and commissions.
Anderson highlighted the importance of such civic engagement.
“Being a member of a community involves finding ways to invest in that community that result in a return on investment that benefits all people,” he said.
The program is open to all students, regardless of their major or year in college.
Anderson believes the program’s flexibility and inclusivity are key components of its success. For instance, staff does not necessarily look at area of study when placing students in a certain department. Instead, he wants to keep it open for people to decide “how they want to engage.”
Speaking of engagement, Anderson said the program’s success will come from the positive experiences that people have heard about from interns or first-person accounts.
“We hope that we’ve expanded their ability to succeed, but we don’t necessarily see ourselves as causing their success,” he said. “We just see ourselves as one step in that whole process.”
Huntsville intern Kentrell Bone has an interest in diversity, equity and inclusion and in community development work. (Photo provided by Huntsville, Ala.)
Huntsville intern Kentrell Bone poses in the city council chambers. (Photo provided by Kentrell Bone)
things you must know BEFORE buying a STREET SWEEPER
AUGUST
Aug. 1-3 Louisiana Municipal Association 87th Annual Convention
Sept. 24-26 Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police Hot Springs Convention Center, Hot Springs, Ark. https://arkchiefs.org/ registration/
Sept. 24-26 WASWD Fall Conference
Northern Quest Resort Conference Center, Airway Heights, Wash. https://www.waswd.org/ midconference
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Registration opens for 2024 NTEA Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit
FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. Leading chassis manufacturers will gather Oct. 15-16 at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio, to share the latest chassis and technical updates at NTEA’s Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit.
“NTEA’s Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit is the place for vehicle upfitters and OEMs to connect on important technical updates that impact their businesses,” said Kevin Koester, NTEA managing director. “In addition to the OEM technical sessions and vehicle displays, there are educational sessions and industry resource displays to engage attendees.”
This annual event provides an important opportunity for the technical community to preview commercial vehicle updates and engage with OEM engineers on critical upfitting issues. Industry professionals can learn about important changes to powertrains, electrical systems, chassis structures and other vehicle systems. Having the ability to speak directly with chassis OEM engineers and product specialists translates to practical support for upfitters.
In addition to discovering the latest vehicle modifications, attendees can interact with OEM technical representatives, network with other commercial vehicle professionals, attend industry education sessions and check out industry resource displays.
Participating chassis manufacturers
• Bollinger Motors
• Daimler Truck North America
• Ford Pro
• GM Envolve
• Hino Trucks
• International Truck
• Isuzu Commercial Truck of America
• Kenworth Truck Company
• Mullen Automotive
• Peterbilt Motors Company
• RAM Professional
• Toyota Motor Sales Industry education sessions
• Demystifying Commercial Vehicle Certification
• Optimizing Your PTO Selection
• Rising Fuels in Commercial Vehicles
• Safety Practices for Working on xEVs
• Trends and Opportunities in Electric and Alternative Powertrains
• TruckScience: Using Technology Tools to Upfit Safe, Legal and Efficient Trucks
Industry resource displays
• Lincoln Electric
• NTEA
• S&P Global Mobility
• TruckScience
• WorkTruckCert
Pricing and registration
Register for Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit by Sept. 10 to receive advance pricing ($229 NTEA member/$329 nonmember). After this date, rates increase to $279 member/$379 nonmember. Learn more at ntea.com/upfittingsummit.
NRPA proudly announces new partnership to enhance health and wellness initiatives
ASBURN, VA. The National Recreation and Park Association announced a new partnership with the United States Tennis Association, the national governing body for the sport of tennis and the leader in promoting and developing the sport’s growth on every level in the United States.
The collaboration between NRPA and USTA celebrates the ability of parks and recreation and the game of tennis to foster active, healthy communities nationwide and promotes inclusive access to recreational opportunities. The partnership comes on the heels of the USTA unveiling its new purpose-driven mission statement growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.
Through the partnership, USTA will provide direct funding to support NRPA’s Health and Wellness pillar work in promoting health and well-being through access to physical activities and nutrition opportunities. Additionally, USTA will be a Champion supporter of Park and Recreation Month in July (NRPA’s monthlong celebration of park and recreation professionals) and a sports partner in ensuring equitable access to high-quality sports opportunities in communities nationwide through parks and recreation.
“Everyone deserves the health and wellness benefits of parks, recreation and sports,” said Kristine Stratton, NRPA president and CEO. “Access to indoor and outdoor programs and facilities has a positive impact on people’s mental, social and physical health and well-being. We are thrilled to partner with USTA on this vital work.”
“The majority of tennis played in this country is done in public spaces, making parks and recreation a critically important piece of the USTA’s work to grow the sport of tennis,” said Craig Morris, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “We are excited to partner with NRPA to find new and creative ways to bring the numerous health and wellness benefits of tennis to more people.” M
Hidden gem dog parks
The dog parks that exist across America offer a variety of landscapes, from beaches and rivers to wooded areas and open meadows. These designated areas cater to different preferences for dog owners and their pets.
In March, the website Technobark set out to discover where unique dog parks are located in the United States. An online panel survey of 3,000 adults was conducted based on age, gender and geography. Internal data sources were used to obtain population data sets, and then a twostep process ensured representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.
With the help of 3,000 dog-loving survey respondents from coast to coast, Technobark unearthed a lengthy list of treasure spots. Many of the top-ranked dog parks, such as Puptown Dog Park in Illinois, are maintained by dedicated volunteers, indicating a strong sense of community involvement and commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for dogs.
The top dog parks span from New York to Hawaii, showing that highquality dog parks are not confined to a particular region but are a nationwide phenomenon. The 10 best dog parks in the U.S. are below.
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