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The Premier Magazine For America’s Municipalities

July 2022

PUBLIC WORKS

INSIDE: Road Widener’s Offset Vibratory Roller heightens safety Broomfield’s innovative snow removal approach Bolingbrook, IL Permit No. 1939

PAID PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

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Aiken honored for stormwater project

Contents

July 2022

VOL. 13 No. 4

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Shutterstock photos

17 Focus on Public Works

Focus on Public Works: 44 Public Safety: New police 30 18 youth boxing program finds a Aiken, S.C., honored for stormwater project

home

Building & Construction: Razing the past: Marina, Calif., demolishes former Fort Ord housing units

Focus on Public Works: Broomfield, Colo., brings innovative team approach to snow removal

Focus on Public Works: Vermont towns participate in CDC COVID testing program

Focus on Public Works: Moline, Ill., partners with local school district to introduce students to public works

Focus on Public Works: Rebuilding the land: Bartlesville, Okla., breathes new life into Jo Allyn Lowe Park

46 50

Parks & Environmental Services: No Mow May encourages pollinator population

Municipal Management: Municipalities grapple with supply challenges

Streets, Highways & Bridges: Phoenix test drives cooler pavement product

Crisis Management: Tidal valves reduce impact of king tides

50 ON THE COVER Ride-on compaction equipment has been prone to problematic designs that can cause silent rollovers and other safety concerns. To improve safety, Road Widener created a safer alternative that ensures operators remain safe on flat ground during compaction, all through the form of an attachment. Read more on page 10.

INSIDE: Road Widener’s Offset Vibratory Roller heightens safety Broomfield’s innovative snow removal approach

www.themunicipal.com

4 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Aiken honored for stormwater project

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Departments

Meet our Staff publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

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

editor SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com

8 Editor’s Note: Reaching the

next generation of public works professionals

10 From the Cover: The Road to Safety Starts with Stability: How offset compaction roller attachments ensure a safer jobsite

12 On The Road Again: Superman Museum, Metropolis, Ill.

publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com

14 What’s In A Name: Indiana and Wyoming, Pa.

40 City Profile: Hot times in Salida, Colo.

senior account executive REES WOODCOCK rees@themunicipal.com

graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com

business manager CARRIE GORALCZYK cgoralczyk@the-papers.com

64 Conference Calendar 65 Product Spotlights 66 Company Profile: VMAC combats

supply chain challenges with UNDERHOOD compressors for trucks and vans

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

70 News & Notes 74 Top 10: Best cities for urban gardening

mail manager KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com

Advertiser Index

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6 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

The Municipal does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does The Municipal or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication. The Municipal reserves the right to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication and to edit all submitted materials for clarity and space. The Municipal has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has verified no claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products. The Municipal makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by advertisers regarding such products or services. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser regarding any such claims and regarding the suitability of an advertiser’s products. No reproduction of The Municipal is allowed without express written permission. Copyright © 2022.

Editor’s Note

Reaching the next generation of public works professionals

Sarah Wright | Editor

ew career paths are as diverse as public works, something truly showcased during National Public Works Week, which occurred from May 15-21 this year. Watching cities’ posts spotlighting their public works teams truly captured the sheer gamut of work available. The campaign definitely educates the public about services often taken for granted and the people who make them possible. And with this visibility, it may open eyes and opportunities for people looking for alternative career paths — whether they are a high school student just setting out or an adult looking for a change. I particularly enjoyed Eugene, Ore.’s, approach to public works week this year. The city opted to follow Dylan, a local kid, as he explored the public works department in a series of adorable videos. Talk about a charismatic kid made for the

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camera! He played his role as host perfectly while providing a virtual tour of the department. This included introducing viewers to different members of the public works team and other local kids who get to see firsthand what those team members do on a daily basis. In all, the series consists of eight videos and can be viewed at www. eugene-or.gov/605/Public-Works-Events. I highly recommend checking them out, plus peeking at Eugene’s Virtual Public Works Week lesson plan. It is important to connect with kids, to broaden their career options. The traditionally promoted route of college works for some children, but not all. Trades are a necessity, but if children aren’t exposed to them, they might miss out on a career they would have enjoyed and found fulfillment in. The public works field also misses out, especially as skilled employees retire and take years of experience with them. Eugene isn’t alone in connecting with future generations. In this issue, writer Lauren Caggiano shares a partnership between the city of Moline, Ill., and MolineCoal Valley School District to offer paid internships for high school students in the city’s public works department. Prior to the internship, students are able to tour different public works facilities. It’s a great way

to engage youth and provide them with a paying job and the chance to learn skills that will serve them well in the future. In addition to this program, we are highlighting some massive public works projects that are or will benefit communities across the U.S. Writer Beth Anne Brink-Cox spotlights Aiken, S.C.’s, Hitchcock Woods stormwater project, which used underground detention vaults to stop erosion problems. This public works project goes the extra mile by also providing a new green space for residents to enjoy while connecting them with a massive public works achievement. Aiken would receive the Municipal Association of South Carolina 2022 Achievement Award in the public works category for this innovative project. Other topics include Broomfield, Colo.’s, collaborative approach to snowfighting; Vermont municipalities efforts to aid the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tracing of COVID in wastewater; and Bartlesville, Okla.’s, improvements in Jo Allyn Lowe Park. There are so many varied roles public works professionals fill. They truly keep the world moving.

From The Cover

Road Widener’s Offset Vibratory Roller can be attached to almost any grader, compact track loader, wheel loader or skid steer — immediately solving the safety issues seen with traditional ride-on compaction rollers.

The Road to Safety Starts with Stability: How offset compaction roller attachments ensure a safer jobsite By LYNN MARSH | Road Widener LLC President

(All images courtesy of Road Widener LLC)

Safety is the highest priority on construction jobsites, but not all equipment helps attain safety goals. In 2020, more than 174,100 injuries and 124 deaths occurred on construction sites in the United States. Unfortunately, those statistics only encompass reported cases. Many jobsite accidents and near misses — with potentially dire consequences — are never reported. The United States Department of Transportation made a move toward improving safety with its initiative to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2050. The Moving to Zero movement, combined with skyrocketing insurance premiums, is prompting manufacturers to focus on innovative safety solutions. Ride-on compaction equipment is a prime example of a potentially problematic design, especially on uneven or side-sloped surfaces. It is not uncommon for road construction crews to witness a silent rollover, watching their crewmember jump to safety when the equipment they

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are operating unexpectedly gives way to gravity while compacting a steep slope. To combat these issues, Road Widener created a safer alternative that ensures operators remain safe on flat ground during compaction, all through the form of an attachment. The safety is in the design This new approach to compaction is achieved by relocating the drum to a remote-controlled offset arm that can be attached to almost any grader, compact track loader, wheel loader or skid steer — immediately

solving the safety issue. With its offset position, the roller drum pivots up to 30 degrees and reaches 30 inches below the mounting point. The host machine stays on flat ground while the attachment extends to the edges of road shoulders and ditches. The attachment safely compacts slopes at angles that would flip a traditional compaction machine. The increased safety of the offset roller attachment reduces workers’ comp claims, lowers insurance premiums and enhances safety ratings. Maximum capabilities in a compact package Although safety is the top priority on any jobsite, the efficiency and quality of a job along with equipment versatility also prove critical. With the high infrastructure demand and scarce, inexperienced workforce, ease of equipment use is key to a project’s overall efficiency. Some offset compaction attachments incorporate remote controls, combining safety with an intuitive operation that is easy to learn, and allows the operator to adjust the height, angle, extension and compaction adjustments all from the comfort of the host machine’s cab. Additionally, compaction roller attachments can be purchased in a variety of interchangeable drum widths, ranging from two to four feet, providing heightened adaptability. While a compaction roller attachment may not achieve density as quickly as a ride-on roller on a flat roadway, it excels in a sloping ditch or trench which places an operator in a hazardous position. Because of the rigid design of traditional compaction rollers and the stability issues working on a slope, operators tend to drive at a slower rate, resulting in a slower compaction rate. Alternatively, the offset compaction roller attachment allows an average vibratory density of 106.5 pounds per cubic foot in just one pass on a typical gravel shoulder. Efficiency is not only seen through the work on the job but also by reduced transportation challenges. The compact design of compaction attachments allows it to fit on any common trailer along with the host machine and be towed by a standard pickup truck. A federal stamp of approval The safety and productivity benefits of compaction roller attachments are powerful, and the data that demonstrates the impact they bring to the industry speaks volumes. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation conducted a study to measure the effectiveness of Road Widener’s Offset Vibratory Roller attachment connected to a wheeled skid steer versus the traditional steel drum and rubber-tired rollers used by NHDOT contractors. The study examined the density of gravel compaction on a road shoulder to determine which method of compaction would yield the most consistent results in terms of gravel density, ensuring a longer wear life of the road shoulder. NHDOT recognized that longer wear life would result in saving thousands of dollars for the state that could be reallocated to other areas to improve infrastructure. Previously, NHDOT contractors primarily used self-propelled rollers in static mode to prevent the risk of rollovers or sliding into ditches. To prove the effectiveness of the study, the self-propelled rollers were utilized in both static and vibratory modes to accurately compare with the offset compaction roller attachment, which was only capable of operating with vibration.

To combat rollover issues, Road Widener created the Offset Vibratory Roller attachment that ensures operators remain safely on flat ground while compacting material — no matter the slope.

For this compaction testing, the material was placed two ways for each roller, first being approximately a half-inch higher than the existing pavement prior to compaction, and second, the material was placed flush with the existing pavement. The results of the study showed that the offset compaction roller attachment had almost equal compaction when tested against the two other rollers that were eight to 22 times greater in weight. Additionally, the variance of the attachment was the least out of the three. Overall, the roller attachment provided more consistent density and flexibility with its offset arm, eliminating the risk of injury. Moving to safety In a world where so many elements are outside of our control — the supply chain, the price of fuel, inflationary costs and more — it is more critical than ever that contractors control risk and costs wherever they can. And their equipment investment is a great place to start. By carefully evaluating equipment selection and choosing options that maximize the capabilities of their current fleet, contractors will see an increase in the efficiency and profitability of their business while providing unparalleled safety for their crew. About the Author Lynn Marsh is the president of Road Widener LLC and has 20 years of experience in the road construction industry. About Road Widener LLC Road Widener LLC puts more than 30 years of construction experience to work manufacturing innovative road and utility construction equipment. Founded by two construction professionals, Road Widener is equipped with the industry know-how to provide the solutions contractors need to increase productivity and safety on the jobsite. For more information: Road Widener LLC, 514 Wells Street, Suite 1-W, Delafield, WI 53108 Call 844-494-3363; www.roadwidenerllc.com; Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn; YouTube; and Vimeo. JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 11

On The Road Again

Superman Museum Metropolis, Ill. By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal

There is a place where one can visit Superman and learn about his life. That place, unsurprisingly, is called Metropolis. That Metropolis, population 6,106, was dubbed the “Hometown of Superman” by the state legislature on June 9, 1972, is located near the southern tip of Illinois and houses the world famous Superman Museum, which opened on Superman Square in 1993. Standing guard over the front entrance is a 15-foot bronze statue of the Man of Steel. The museum features more than 70,000 items laboriously collected by founder Jim Hambrick, who has amassed perhaps the world’s most comprehensive collection of Superman memorabilia. On display are samples of just about every Superman toy ever manufactured, movie props, promotional items, actors’ wigs and hairpieces, wristwatches and other collectibles, a View Master-type device shaped like a pistol and one of the only George Reeves Superman costumes still in existence. Reeves played the titular superhero on the television show, “Adventures of Superman,” which ran from 1952 to 1958. The museum hosts about 72,000 visitors a year and has been hailed as the “No. 1 Small Town Attraction in America.” It has been featured on “Entertainment Tonight,” “Unsolved Mysteries,” “Collector’s Call,” all the major networks and other documentary and news programs throughout the world. Hambrick is a lifelong Superman devotee, having started his collection with a Superman lunchbox his mother gave him on his fifth birthday. Riveted by the television series, he built a shrine around his lunchbox composed of crayon drawings he made in kindergarten. During grade school, he opened the first Superman Museum in his bedroom and posted a cardboard sign on the front porch of his home, which was one block away from the elementary school. He charged a nickel for admission and made about “a buck a week.” Several years later, Hambrick was asked to display his collection in the Daily News building in New York. Hambrick, initially apprehensive about the project, served as curator and was impressed “when the

LEFT: The 15-foot statue of the Man of Steel stands on his pedestal in front of the museum. A smaller Lois Lane bronze statue is located nearby. (All photos courtesy of the Superman Museum)

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The Superman Museum in Metropolis, Ill., houses more than 70,000 items, is open seven days a week and averages about 200 visitors a day year-round. lines showed up, and the people, the respect they showed for these things, and the reverence they had for the stuff.” He was contacted by DC Comics, who recommended he open his own museum and a promotional showcase for the Superman films. Although Hambrick initially “just got off on the colors,” his most prized possession is the brown and gray George Reeves Superman created for the black-and-white television series. “George was my favorite Superman,” he said. He also savors his possession of three Action Comics No. 1, cover dated June 1938, in which Superman made his comic book debut. All three issues are in mint condition and would each fetch more than $100,000 at auction. One collectibles appraiser estimated the museum items’ worth at well over a million dollars. Hambrick frequently rotates the format and content of his displays to entice repeat visits. Hambrick is now retirement age and his daughter currently serves as curator of the family-run museum. An article about Superman is not complete without some trivia about the “strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men” who “wages a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way.” • Superman, and his alter ego, Clark Kent, stands 6 foot 4 inches and weighs 225 pounds. • Clark Kent’s middle name is variously referred to as Joseph, Jerome and Jonathan. • Superman’s Kryptonian name was Kal-El. He was born to Jor-El and Lara. • His adoptive parents were Kansas couple Jonathan and Martha Kent. • Superman’s favorite meal was beef bourguignon with ketchup. Action Comics No. 1,000, however, suggested Superman never needs to eat. • The “S” symbol on his suit is not a letter of the alphabet, but rather the Kryptonian symbol for hope. • Superman has died, and subsequently brought to life, several times during his comic book career. •S uperman and Lois Lane tied the knot in 1996.

The museum displays are divided into eras corresponding to the comic book series, television shows and movies.

The museum has a collection of nearly every toy and action figure manufactured under the Superman brand.

• There are several colors of kryptonite, each with a different effect: green (the most common type, weakens Superman during exposure); red (more potent than green and may cause mood swings and mutations); blue (effects Bizarros); white (kills plants); gold (permanently removes superpowers); silver (causes hallucinations); black (splits a Kryptonian into good and evil entities); orange (gives animals superpowers); and periwinkle (causes Superman to lose all his inhibitions). The Superman Museum and gift shop, 517 Market St., Metropolis, Ill., is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Admission is $8, with children 5 and under able to enter for free with paid adult. For more information, call (618) 524-5518 or visit supermuseum.com. JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 13

What’s In A Name

Indiana and Wyoming, Pa. By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal In America travelers can take a road trip from Washington, Kan., to Kansas, Ill.; Oregon, Ohio, to Ohio, Colo.; Virginia City, Nev., to Nevada, Iowa; or Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., to California, Mo. Pennsylvania leads the nation in cities incorporating the names of other states, with nine such municipalities, followed by Illinois and Missouri with eight each and Ohio with seven. Pennsylvania’s cities are California, Indiana, Mainesburg, Ohiopyle, Ohioville, Washington, Washingtonville, Washington Township and Wyoming.

Wyoming, Pa., is included in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Its population peaked in 1940. (Photo courtesy of wyomingpa.org)

Outside the Indiana County courthouse stands a marker honoring hometown notable Jim Nance, an NFL fullback who played in the league from 1965 to 1975 and was inducted into New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009. (Photo courtesy of indianacountypa.gov) INDIANA The borough of Indiana is the county seat of its namesake, Indiana County, and has been considered part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area since 2013. The name Indiana derives from the purchase of the land from the Iroquois Six Nations in the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix signed in 1768. The borough was founded in 1805 on acreage granted by George Clymer, one of six Founding Fathers to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. By 1810, the population was 125. The city, with a current population of 13,017, is most famous for being the birthplace and boyhood home of beloved iconic actor Jimmy Stewart. Indiana and its surrounding region is also the selfdeclared “Christmas Tree Capital of the World,” a designation it adopted in 1956, the year the Christmas Tree Growers Association was founded in the area. Some of the first tree farms in the United States started in Indiana County as early as 1918. Many farmers in the region jumped aboard the profitable venture, and by 1960, more than 1 million Christmas trees were harvested each year in the county. Stewart was born in Indiana on May 20, 1908, and lived at 104 N. Seventh St. through high school. The town gave Stewart a 75th birthday celebration on May 20, 1983, and opened The Jimmy Stewart

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Museum downtown on May 20, 1995, two years before the legend passed away. Stewart visited his hometown many times during his life and said about the museum, “Entering a building which houses a museum named after me is a privilege I could never have anticipated. I hope its visitors will enjoy their stay there. After all, they are the ones who really built it.” For more information, visit indianacountypa.gov or indianaboro.com. WYOMING Wyoming, a borough of 2,990 residents 5 miles north of WilkesBarre in northeast Pennsylvania, was first inhabited in the 1700s by several Native American tribes, including the Susquehannock and the Delaware. By the mid-18th century, settlers from Connecticut had ventured into the surrounding Wyoming Valley. The young settlement had a violent beginning. On July 3, 1778, British forces, aided by about 700 Native Americans, ambushed an American militia near Forty Fort. In the one-day battle, more than 300 settlers had been killed, and the next day Col. Nathan Denison agreed to surrender the fort and other posts. Today in the borough stands a monument, constructed in the early 1830s, marking the gravesite of the battle’s victims. The monument is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Every year Wyoming holds an observance honoring the fallen heroes of the Revolutionary War battle known as the Wyoming Massacre. Wyoming was officially incorporated in 1885 with a population of approximately 1,500. The borough’s census peaked in 1940 at 4,648 and has gradually declined since. A flood in 2011 prompted the evacuation of the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport and planes were moved to higher ground, then relocated at the Wyoming Monument. For more information, call (570) 693-0291 or visit wyomingpa.org.

“Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.”

— John Dickinson

Happy Independence Day from The Municipal 16 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Focus on: Public Works

Number of weeks that local high school students will intern with Moline Public Works this summer as a new public works recruiting effort.

Learn more on page 30.

280 Centerline miles for which the snow and ice program in Broomfield, Colo., is responsible. Forming a cross-departmental team helped everyone involved to problem-solve and improve communication while increasing morale and reducing fatigue. Story on page 22.

PUBLIC WORKS

focus on:

$40,000

Approximate price of a soil erosion project completed this past spring in a popular Bartlesville, Okla., city park. Inexpensive layering of lay, sand and loam, followed by sodding, repaired soil erosion along the park’s lake and is providing a healthier foundation for lakefront trees. Read more about this project on page 34.

30%

New Milford, Conn., has repaved or rebuilt 60 of its 200 miles of roads in the last five years: This year the town plans to redo 17 more miles. It hopes to have all of its roads last 20 years.

30 inches to 10 feet As part of a massive stormwater project, Aiken, S.C., changed the diameter of its pipe at the Savannah River site from 30 inches to 10 feet.

Read more on page 18.

Source: https://www.ctinsider.com/newmilford/article/New-Milford-aims-torepair-24-roads-by-Nov-1-17079257.php.

900 The approximate number of Centers of Disease Control and Prevention testing sites that are tracing the transmission of COVID-19 through wastewater. Several Vermont towns are aiding the effort.

See how it’s going for municipalities in Vermont on page 26.

50%

Amount by which it is hoped New York City’s reliance on fossil fuels will be reduced by 2030 due to the Clean Path NY and Champlain Hodson Power Express projects that will channel clean, renewable solar, wind and hydroelectric power from upstate New York and Canada to the metropolis. Contacts for the projects were approved by the state in April. Source: https://thehill.com/changing-america/ sustainability/energy/3269686-new-york-greenlights-massive-renewable-energy-projects-to-cutfossil-fuel-reliance/.

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 17

M Focus on: Public Works

Aiken, S.C., honored for stormwater project

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

Remember playing in the woods and coming across a little pool? It seemed almost magical, because they came and went. The cool, flower-child thing to do if you found a stream or any other small body of water was to wash your hair in it, and never mind how cold it was. Where did those bodies come from, especially if they weren’t anywhere near a river or lake? Melted snow? That would have been a logical conclusion in the spring, but it was much more likely to be stormwater, and flower children wouldn’t have thought of it as damaging. But it can be, and Aiken, S.C., has been working diligently to deal with it before Hitchcock Woods is damaged any further. Stormwater runoff had caused serious erosion: woods, trees and land destroyed; precious ground washing away after every rain; and sedimentation traveling downstream, killing bottomland hardwood trees and destroying wetlands. This led to multiple problems, such as environmental damage, pollution and safety issues. George Grinton, a colorful character everyone knows in Aiken — you can’t forget someone who plays the bagpipes — has worked in city government for many years as 18 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

the engineering and utilities director, retired in 2017 and then came back to get involved again. “I reconfigured the Downtown Alley to make it more user friendly. This will be my last project.” And a huge project it is. He explained, “Aiken has been wrestling with this issue since the 1950s. See, in 1833, the first train passed through Aiken; at the time, the Charleston-Hamburg Track was 136 miles long, the longest in the world then. River locomotives were not powerful enough to pull up and down significant inclines, and they stalled, at first. The solution was an engine house with a boiler, and cantilevering

ABOVE: Cranes construct a vault that will capture stormwater underground and slowly release it. (Photo provided by the city of Aiken)

the trains from the lower section with rope: one section being raised and the other lowered, you know, locomotives at the bottom and the top. Aiken occurred because it was a sort of bottleneck!” In 1835, Aiken was incorporated and became a winter colony for the wealthy Northeastern families because of the climate. They brought horses, as well as every other comfort imaginable. “Hitchcock Woods was so named because Tommy Hitchcock owned a significant section. The foundation is for pedestrian and equestrian use; it’s a voluntary organization that survives on donations earmarked for preserving the woods,” Grinton said. Hitchcock Woods is a beautiful, peaceful place, and part of the plan was always to restore the ravaged beauty in every way possible. In the early days, the system in place worked pretty well, but as population

Pictured is an aerial shot of the site during the start of vault construction. (Photo provided by the city of Aiken)

increased, there began to be a problem with the amount of water needing to be processed. “In the 1950s, the Aiken area was selected by the Department of Energy for its ‘bomb plant.’ This was the Cold War years, and it was all about hydrogen bombs and plutonium. Aiken doubled in size during the ’50s and ’60s, and runoff became much more significant. In the ’70s and ’80s, Aiken doubled in size again. At that time, the diameter of the pipe at the Savannah River site was 30 inches. Today it is 10 feet in diameter,” Grinton explained. This much growth might be good for business, but it was definitely bad for the water running through Hitchcock Woods. Grinton added attempts were made to harden the river walls, and workers extended the pipes further down, but it just increased the damage. And pollution was an ever-growing problem as well. In 2015 or 2016, a task force hired an engineering firm, McCormick Taylor, to prepare a plan that would help the city overcome stormwater challenges with a workable solution. The problem was clearly too big to be handled by one department. Clemson University also weighed in, collecting and verifying samples. “To define the problem, we looked at all the studies, from the 1980s through the 2000s. We wanted to be able to release the stormwater into the Sand River at the 10-year predevelopment rate, but it would not transmit downstream because of the water flow. Then, we found that over 20 BMPs (Best Management Practices) could be built around the city,” Grinton said. Stormwater BMPs are a disparate collection of management solutions for controlling the quantity and quality of water that runs off, during wet or dry weather. It was determined, Grinton continued, that “58.22 acres of detention would create a slower flow release.” Detention, he explained, functions in settling suspended sediments and other solids typically found in stormwater runoff. The Hitchcock Woods Foundation, founded in the 1930s, “was formed to preserve, protect and maintain the remaining acres of the original tract for the benefit of the general public and future generations” as stated on the nonprofit’s website. This enormous project was essential to their mission statement. Grinton said, “The Hitchcock Woods Foundation was willing to donate some land, too. The 2017 cost was projected at $22 million.

Aiken will add a variety of landscape elements to the site, including pollinator gardens, a rain garden, a reforestation area and informative kiosks. (Rendering provided by the city of Aiken)

Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon gave his state of the city address on top of one of the stormwater vaults. (Photo provided by the city of Aiken)

That’s a huge amount, and it’s more now because of the shortages everyone is experiencing,” an all-too-common problem everywhere. Further studies of all the collection points revealed that “the best location was the discharge point near the Sand River in the city of Aiken, and Hitchcock found that each owned about 50%,” Grinton explained. “So McCormick Taylor was able to work it, and only half the amount needed was made available.” Enter the Opti Company, incorporating real-time data and weather forecasts, helping to control the timing and rate of stormwater flowing through upstream storage facilities. Grinton added, “The Opti Company bases the look on 72 hours of forecast and calculates the amount of water that will come into the river. It will come from the area north and east of the projects. Then they look at the volume available in the detention vaults. It gets intercepted and BMP6 releases into 6A, and then into Sand River, but it has to flow at the slower rate.” Anyone familiar with home septic systems and drain fields will understand what Grinton said next. “The control system determines if there’s enough storage space. If there is, nothing needs to happen. Water will work into the ground on beds of gravel. If the rain JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 19

continued from page 19

predicted is enough to need releasing water, it does so at the slower rate. In the event of a major storm, such as a hurricane, retention ponds can be lowered in advance so they can hold more water. The existing stormwater pipes let the water flow in and the excess flows past. This brings the opportunity to have some go into the river, and some into the ground.” Grinton said that the city has been retrofitting where it can, but now it is also building new. “Three magic words: detain, infiltrate, reroute. I see this as the use of other ponds in the city. We have another regional pond, and eventually the water will exceed its capacity. But when we retrofit, we can double or even triple the volume it can contain, and it’s low cost because no more land is needed.” McCormick Taylor is monitoring for about a year to see how well the project is working on average. But it all seems to have fallen into place: The city of Aiken has received the Municipal Association of South Carolina 2022 Achievement Award in the public works category for the innovative project. This is not the first time Aiken has received an award; from 1990 through 2011, the city has received 19 MASC Achievement Awards in various categories. And Grinton said of the contractors the city used, “Thalle Construction Company was very professional, organized, on time and on budget. I was very impressed and pleased to have worked with such a good company, and I would use them again for any project.” How was such a massive project funded? According to the city of Aiken website, grant funds are available to help share the cost of conservation practices. These practices will significantly reduce the amount of sediment, nutrients and bacteria entering the creeks and tributaries, ensuring cleaner water and healthier ecosystems. This will also provide cleaner source water for the city of Aiken’s drinking water treatment plant. The 319 grant will provide up to 75% cost share assistance. Grinton said there’s a spoonful of sugar that helps sweeten the deal. Kiosks were planned during the landscaping discussion. Officials hope to be able to link them to smartphones. “There will be explanations of the stormwater project, but there will also be pollinator gardens, the history of Hitchcock Woods, the history of the flora and fauna. The Gateway to Hitchcock Woods is a true hidden gem, and the largest urban forest that isn’t connected to anything else — it’s bigger than New York City’s Central Park (which is 843 acres), 2,200 acres!” Grinton added there are more than 500 rare and endangered species. “Longleaf pine, which many haven’t heard of, though they recognize the loblolly pine, was native to the southeast part of the country, but now there is less than 5% of the original left.” It was largely decimated due to tar and turpentine production, and restoring it has been a big priority for conservation officials. “And it provides habitat to over 25 endangered species.” The red-cockaded woodpecker was declared endangered in the 1970s, and in 2017, 10 birds were brought to the Hitchcock Woods and released in five separate areas suitable for nesting and foraging. Now, Grinton said, “There are 25 breeding pairs.” There are plans for field trips and other educational offerings for school kids, and those kids may never look at the river the same way. And maybe somewhere someone will wash their hair in a clean, wellmanaged pool of water again.

20 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Visible along the sides are erosion and exposed roots. (Photo provided by the city of Aiken)

Pictured is one of the 10-foot diameter drainpipes, which replaced the original 30-inch pipes. (Photo provided by the city of Aiken)

This wetland has been filled with eroded sand. (Photo provided by the city of Aiken)

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M Focus on: Public Works

Broomfield, Colo., brings innovative team approach to snow removal (Shutterstock.com)

By KEVIN KILBANE | The Municipal

A Colorado community’s innovative team approach to snow response could offer an idea for other communities seeking to improve efficiency while recruiting and retaining employees in a tight labor market. The combined city and county government of Broomfield, Colo., provides snow and ice management on 280 miles of roads. About three years ago, however, both a community survey and city-county employee survey pointed out areas for improvement, said Kimberly Dall, director of public works for the community of about 75,000 people north of Denver. “The community ranked the state higher in their snow-response operations than they ranked us,” Dall explained. “And then, on the employee survey, several of the drivers who had been part of the program just expressed that they were a little less than happy with it.” Broomfield government officials decided to develop a new snow response strategy by using an Innovation Ecosystem approach, Dall said. The community, which receives about 58 inches of snow per year, uses 28 truck drivers for 14 snow routes, with two drivers assigned to each route so they can split the work shifts, Dall said. The community pulls the drivers from its utilities, streets and parks departments. Previously, Broomfield divided snow-and-ice road response workers into two teams for each snow season, Dall said. One team would start snow plowing during the first snowstorm and then switch with the other team after 12 hours. The team working at the end of one snowstorm would sit out the first shift of the next snowstorm.

22 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

“So you never would know really when you were starting,” Dall said. The timing of snowstorms can be unpredictable. It could create situations, she said, where drivers would have to work a 12-hour snow shift after nearly working a full regular day of work. Drivers were stressed and felt they lacked control of their work schedules, Dall said. They missed a lot of holidays, birthdays and other family events. “We wanted to create consistency, in whatever method we could,” she said, “to help that predictability so they could at least plan their events around it as the snow event occurred.” Broomfield officials started the innovation process with two main goals: rank higher than the state on snow response in the community survey and improve employee morale on the snow-fighting team. Officials also wanted to act quickly, Dall said. They started meetings in August 2019 and put their plan in place by Oct. 1. They began by gathering a matrix group of 12 key snow-fighting personnel, most of whom weren’t managers. “We looked at who had driven in the past and who were our current drivers, who we thought would provide input and really be honest,” she explained. The matrix group first met to get to know one another better and to build trust. “It was interesting because we had people who had been working side-by-side for 15 years but never knew that he was interested in a

A new approach taken by the city-county government of Broomfield, Colo., on snow and ice management has resulted in more predictable schedules and less stress for snowplow drivers, which has boosted employee morale and snow response efficiency, Public Works Director Kimberly Dall said. (Photo provided by the city of Broomfield, Colo.)

certain thing, or they were just learning new things about each other even though they had spent so many years working together,” she said. “They just didn’t have an opportunity to connect at that level.” Officials then introduced the concepts of “constructive dissonance” and “creative abrasion,” which encourage people to bring up unpopular topics and to conduct sometimes-heated conversations about the topics as they work toward solutions, Dall said. Officials wanted group members to identify problems no one tells management about, but all the drivers know about “to make those issues visible so we can solve those problems,” she added. The group then held three meetings. The first got all issues and concerns on the table. The second discussed possible solutions to problems. Meanwhile, the third gathering dealt with how to implement recommended changes. One outcome: Broomfield now calls its snow response team “snowfighters,” Dall said. “That was making sure they identified as a team. … Creating that unity, it really helped them feel more ownership

over the program because the solutions that we came up with were really driven by them.” Changes include snowplow drivers going on monthly a.m. or p.m. shifts so they know their snow-response schedule during winter months, Dall said. They never work more than 12 hours on a snow shift and always have 12 hours off before they start a snow shift. Broomfield uses emergency coverage leave to ensure workers always get paid for at least eight hours of work on a snow shift, even if the storm lets up before their shift ends. “The changes that we made helped our operators be better prepared so they are thinking more clearly on the roadways,” Dall said. “They are needing less time to rest because they don’t have that 19-hour shift. We’re more efficient in our operations because of the stability and predictability. The morale has gone up, which I really think helps, too, so people are more willing to — not necessarily go above and beyond — but just be hyper-aware. ‘Oh, it looks like this spot

Innovation tips Based on Broomfield, Colo.’s, experience, Public Works Director Kimberly Dall has this advice for other communities: • Introduce the concepts of constructive dissonance and creative abrasion. • Set short-term, measurable goals. • Establish trust with internal leaders. • Don’t select only managers for your innovation team. People actually doing the work may provide more accurate information. Involving everyday leaders also increases their ownership of the program and allows management to focus on implementing solutions the group recommends.

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 23

continued from page 23

got missed. Let’s do a really quick touch on that to make sure it gets touched,’ rather than, ‘Nah, that’s not my route.’” With a more predictable schedule, snowplow drivers now can schedule family events and commitments, such as medical and dental appointments. “It’s nice knowing when your shift is all the time so you can better plan your life around if there’s gonna be a snow event,” Alex Ingalls, the Broomfield pavement manager and a member of the snow-fighting team, said by email. “You’re working from this time to this time rather than you look when you’re going to work and then you have to figure out what you’re gonna do long term for a personal life.” Managers also benefit, Dall said, because front-line workers now figure out their own solutions to problems. Community residents have noticed the results spurred by the changes. “On the last community survey,” Dall said, “we actually did meet our goal of ranking higher than the state in our snow response.” With any topic you want your innovation team to resolve, forming a matrix group of everyday leaders and creating a safe environment for heated conversations will make problems visible and get you where you want to go. “I think even more so now, work-life balance is key in retaining our employees,” she added. “The more that we can do to help them maintain that, the more longevity we can have them stay with our organization.”

The combined city and county government of Broomfield, Colo., now refers to its snow response team as “snowfighters.” The name, which grew out of a process to innovate the community’s snow response strategy, encourages members to identify as a team, to feel more ownership of the program and to develop solutions to problems. (Photo provided by the city of Broomfield, Colo.)

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M Focus on: Public Works

Springfield, Vt., Town Hall. (Photo provided by the town of Springfield, Vt.)

The town of Springfield’s banner welcomes visitors alongside the gorgeous colors of autumn in Vermont in the background. (Photo provided by the town of Springfield, Vt.)

Vermont towns participate in CDC COVID testing program By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal

You may have heard that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was working on ways to test wastewater for the presence of COVID-19 — the respiratory pandemic that’s gripped the world over the last two years. Several Vermont towns took part in a pilot program with the CDC, including Brighton, Springfield and St. Albans. The city of Burlington was also reportedly testing wastewater, but it was potentially less access to clinical testing — which meant more rural not involved in the federal program. communities. The CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System first launched in Nate Fraser, chief operator of the wastewater treatment plant for the September 2020. According to information posted on the CDC’s website, town of Springfield, shared his town’s experiences with the program. the agency began enlisting municipalities across the country to take part “The state reached out to see if we were interested in doing COVID in the program. There were approximately 900 testing sites across the monitoring,” he said. “We agreed to do the weekly testing.” Fraser said the town started the program at the beginning of February, country, including the ones in Vermont. The NWSS traces levels, changes and detection of SARS-COV2 viral RNA in the wastewater. People infected and it ended April 15. He explained in Springfield, staff members just did with COVID-19 can shed the virus (viral RNA) through their feces even if “grab and go” samples versus composite samples. “Normally, for wastewater testing, we do composite testing, but due to they don’t have symptoms. Therefore, the CDC feels this type of testing lack of time and staff, we just did grab samples,” he said. can serve as an early warning of community spread. In Vermont, the State Department of Environmental Conservation, Fraser explained with composite testing, a machine takes samples over Watershed Management Division helped facilitate the program. Approxi- a 24-hour time period. The composite machine is refrigerated, and it ranmately nine towns were selected. The CDC reportedly asked them to domly grabs samples over a 24-hour period. With grab sample testing, a select “vulnerable communities” — those with lower vaccine rates and staff member has to physically go out to the headwater and grab a sample. 26 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Water Pollution Control Plant in Springfield, Vt., was a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testing site to track the presence of COVID-19. (Photo provided by the town of Springfield, Vt.)

“The composite is more representative of a 24-hour period,” he said. Even though that’s an automated system, it takes more staff hours to bring out the equipment and set it up versus having to just grab a sample. Fraser said the process was they’d go out and get a sample, bring it in and bottle it, complete the paperwork showing the chain of custody, clean the bottle with Clorox, package it up and send it out. “There was a fair amount of time involved,” he admitted, adding, “We probably spent two to three hours a week extra by the grab process, packaging it and readying it for shipping.” He said the town wasn’t compensated for participating in the COVID testing program, but the town was provided with all the necessary testing equipment. “They provided the bottles, packaging, boxes, ice packs — everything we needed. So there was no cost to the town — except for the manpower hours,” he said. To Fraser’s knowledge, the CDC was not the first to pilot a program of this type. He said UVM — University of Vermont — had previously done wastewater testing. During that, college students did the testing, but Fraser wasn’t involved and only heard about it. Fraser said the results the town received were in “scientific data form.” He noted, “Other than the fact that they found COVID, I couldn’t tell you anything else.” He shared that working with the CDC program seemed to go really smoothly. “The relationship went well — it was pretty streamlined,” he said, adding the CDC set everything up for the town upfront — as far as having Federal Express coming to get the samples. “It was pretty cut and dried,” he said. Brian Willet, chief wastewater operator for the town of St. Albans, reported in a March 13, 2022, article, “Vermont Municipalities Begin CDC Wastewater COVID Testing Program With Some Hiccups,” in the VT Digger by Ethan Weinstein that at the time he first received data from the CDC he struggled with it. Willet said he received data back after three weeks of twice weekly sampling, but interpreting the graphs and relevance of each metric wasn’t something he could easily figure out. He told VT Digger that he planned to meet with the contractor who provided the data to better understand it and how to apply it.

Springfield’s secondary clarifiers allow any remaining organic sediment to settle out of treated water flow. (Photo provided by the town of Springfield, Vt.)

Shown is the ultraviolet disinfection stage at the wastewater treatment plant in Springfield. (Photo provided by the town of Springfield, Vt.) In Brighton, Joel Cope, town administrator, said he thought the testing began about six months ago, noting the state contacted town about participating and his response was, “Why wouldn’t we want to take part? We want that information, too.” He said the town doesn’t have its own wastewater operators — the service is contracted out to H2O Innovations — so he wasn’t involved in the hands-on operation. “The only thing I saw were charts that were very technical,” Cope said. So while the CDC may be able to decipher the data, making it an early warning system, it’s clear that on the local level the data needs to be summarized in an easier-to-understand manner. According to the CDC website, as of May 12, 2022, from the NWSS data most of the country is reporting low-moderate levels, but about 20% of the sites across the country are seeing some of the highest levels for those sites since December 2021. More than half of all sites reporting wastewater data are experiencing a modest increase. The CDC claims wastewater surveillance is a rapidly developing field, used along with other COVID-19 surveillance data. JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 27

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M Focus on: Public Works

Moline, Ill., is taking steps to broaden local students’ future career options by introducing them to jobs in public works. Pictured is an aerial view of Moline and other Quad Cities: Rock Island, Ill.; Davenport, Iowa; and Bettendorf, Iowa. (Shutterstock.com)

Moline, Ill., partners with local school district to introduce students to public works By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal

An innovative internship program is working to address gaps in the city of Moline, Ill.’s, public works workforce, and it could serve as a model for other cities looking to address similar issues. Students will soon get real-world experience through paid positions via a partnership with the Moline-Coal Valley School District and the Moline Public Works Department. According to Moline’s Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, the initiative came out of a need to expose young people to career tracks outside of the traditional college-bound trajectory. “The goals are to introduce high school students to potential careers in public works and to potentially grow our applicant pool for city positions,” she said. “When I spoke with staff in the 30 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

summer of 2021 and asked what they thought could help recruitment strategies, they told me that many times people don’t even know you can have a career in wastewater treatment or other parts of city services. We wanted to fill the gap between what jobs are out there and the residents or workers who could fill those jobs.” Speaking of jobs, Rayapati said from the initial pool of applicants, the city has offered three students a six-week internship for the summer. This will serve as a pilot and help the city refine the program as it progresses for future cohorts. In her words, “We

Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said the internship provides a pipeline of talent from the school system to the city’s public works department. (Photo provided by the city of Moline, Ill.)

The tour helped expose students to career paths they might not have considered. Their teachers were grateful and impressed with the caliber of the tour as well. (Photo provided by the city of Moline, Ill.)

think that is a good start and hope to continue to advertise the program and get more students involved.” To that end, Rayapati said other cities can learn from Moline’s success in helping to address workforce shortages while giving youth opportunities they might not otherwise consider. One specific takeaway: “Working with community partners like the school district is an essential part of creating opportunity,” she said. “Buy-in from staff and support from the city council are also necessary, but the benefits of collaboration have lasting impacts for good.” Dr. Rachel Savage represents one-half of the collaboration. As superintendent of the Moline-Coal Valley School District, she has a vested interest in educational outcomes and students’ futures. It was a fortunate coincidence that Rayapati served as school district board president prior to her tenure as mayor, in Savage’s estimation. That meant that the city and the school district already had a positive working relationship — a firm foundation on which to build the internship program. “This partnership between the school district and the city is one that I’m incredibly proud of,” Savage said. “And I believe that it has opened the dialogue and widened the boundaries of what we’re capable of when we work together. I think it’s a great example of that.” Speaking of work, Savage is confident that the internship will open doors for students. For example, students will be able to obtain work readiness experiences.

“It allows them to become more intimately aware of the functions within the city, in particular, the public works department,” she said. “And it also serves the community in the regard that it will, hopefully, yield a more interested and qualified applicant pool for these positions. So, it keeps our kids local and provides good-paying employment for them. And it really has just been a win-win and something we’re really excited about.” On that note, Savage said the past wins will guide their future success. “We completed the first phase just in March,” she said. “Our first group of students proceed with the first phase, which was a tour. We had about 25 students participate in that tour. And from there, a small batch of our first group of students is going to move into phase two.” That group will get to spend a week exploring the six functional areas of the public works department. They’ll be observing, listening and learning — all with the intent that they’ll have an intensive six-week internship in the area that they feel they’re most inclined and interested in pursuing. There’s also the fact that the experience is multidimensional. “I love that it levels up,” Savage said. “And I love that it really just captures everything that we want kids to have in terms of a workplace learning experience, soft skills development, mentorship and all the responsibilities that come with having an important job.”

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M Focus on: Public Works

Jo Allyn Lowe Park is a popular spot for residents of Bartlesville, Okla., and includes plenty of green space and wildlife. With the new sod, it is hoped that the park’s life has been extended against erosion. (Photo provided by the city of Bartlesville)

Rebuilding the land: Bartlesville, Okla., breathes new life into Jo Allyn Lowe Park

Pictured is the official sign for Jo Allyn Lowe Park. (Photo provided by the city of Bartlesville)

34 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

A young fisherman enjoys the pier at Jo Allyn Lowe Park. (Photo provided by the city of Bartlesville)

By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

Sometimes, even Mother Nature needs a helping hand, which is why the city of Bartlesville, Okla., embarked on a $40,000 project to rehabilitate Jo Allyn Lowe Park. “We have been planning this project for a while now,” said Micah Siemers, the city’s director of engineering. “We have a nice park here, and we want to make sure that people can enjoy it for years to come.” The years wash away Located on the corner of Locust and Price roads, Jo Allyn Lowe Park is a 31-acre, city-owned property that was established in 1980 and named for the founder of the Bartlesville Boys’ Club. It includes a large arboretum with hundreds of varieties of trees, the historic G.L. Potteiger Cabin (built in the late 1920s), two picnic shelters, a monarch butterfly garden, a fishing pier and plenty of waterfowl. It is a popular spot for walkers, joggers — as it connects to the Pathfinder Parkway Trail system — and nature enthusiasts as well as those who want to plant a tree in honor of a lost loved one. However, it is that popularity and those expressions of love that have contributed to the erosion issues in the park over the years and why it is important to remedy that situation before it gets worse. According to Siemers, erosion in Jo Allyn Lowe Park is worse than in other area parks in part because of the huge tree canopy, the wildlife and foot traffic, which inhibits new grass growth. “We’ve tried to relocate the geese to Lake Hudson (near Salina) but that doesn’t work. They come back eventually so it’s an uphill battle,” Siemers said. “The geese also like to eat the new grass as it comes up, which doesn’t help.” In addition, there is a downhill slope from the parking lot to the lakes, and when it rains on that slope — without a solid grass root system to hold the soil in place — the topsoil washes away, leaving exposed tree roots. “Foot traffic ruins whatever grass is left, and all you have remaining is bare dirt,” Siemers said. The project, which was approved by voters in the 2018 general obligation bond election, will extend the life of the park by opening up the tree canopy to let more light in, removing sickly or deteriorating trees, shoring up the soil, grading and establishing a strong layer of turf that can withstand wear and tear. Siemers said the city used a mix of sand, clay and loam to create a good foundation for the sod, which he feels will be more effective than the seeding efforts of the past. “Bermuda grass is a little more hardy than other varieties and is easier to establish, but it needs sunlight, which is why the canopy had to be opened,” Siemers said. Finding solutions At $40,000, the budget for the Jo Allyn Lowe Park project is small, so to make the money stretch while getting the job done, city crews

Geese have contributed to the erosion in Jo Allyn Lowe Park by eating the tender grass as it begins to grow. It is hoped that the new soil and sod will hold firm against the wildlife. (Photo provided by the city of Bartlesville)

Crews work to grade the freshly laid soil, which contains clay, sand and loam to strengthen it against erosion. (Photo provided by the city of Bartlesville)

have managed the trees and the new soil foundation while a Tulsa firm laid the sod after grading was completed. However, the city still needs to determine how to handle the parking lot drainage issues that also contributed to the erosion in the park. Presently, all options are on the table. “Right now, we are cooperating with one of our larger employers to create a low impact solution that will help alleviate erosion caused by rain runoff,” Siemers said. “We are considering biosoil or a rain garden to mitigate some of the erosion that has impacted the park, but we are still working out the details of what that solution might be.” Siemers said the Bartlesville City Council, led by Mayor Dale Copeland, has been very park focused for the past five years JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 35

continued from page 35

and has been willing to invest funds to make the parks more enjoyable for residents and guests of the community. In 2018, it approved the Lee Lake Complex along Adams Boulevard to be the location for a $375,000 community skate park. It also established the Tower Green Design Committee to create The Tower Green — a $1.75 million outdoor venue that would include a performance stage, water features, art installations and greenspace between the Price Tower and the Bartlesville Community Center. The Jo Allyn Lowe Park project was part of this emphasis on park development. “Mayor Copeland has really been gung ho about making our parks the best that they can be, and he realized that this (the erosion problems at Jo Allyn Lowe Park) is something that needed to be dealt with in a permanent way rather than putting a Band-Aid on it and hoping for the best,” Siemers said. “Sometimes it just takes that one person to get behind the idea and make it happen.”

A couple walks along the trail at Jo Allyn Lowe Park after the soil and grading work was completed. A Tulsa firm laid the sod, which will grow thanks in part because of the opened tree canopy. (Photo provided by the city of Bartlesville)

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City Profile

Hot times in Salida, Colo.

Visitors to Salida, Colo., cool off in the Arkansas River. (Photo provided by Scott Peterson)

40 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

By GLENDA THOMPSON | The Municipal

Salida, Colo., is a town that has literally risen from the ashes. In 1880, the newly established railroad community caught fire. The first issue of the Mountain Mail reported a tent near the railroad department touched a stovepipe and ignited. Fortunately, a man passing by with a bucket threw water on it and extinguished the blaze. In October 1881, Salida established its first hose company. Comprised of Chief Adolph Unger, Assistant Chief Frank B. Churcher and members J. A. Israel, E. H. Webb and J. B. Bowne, the firefighters of Salida Hose Company No. 1 didn’t have long to wait for some action. On March 8, 1882, a house of ill repute caught fire. One customer left in such a hurry he lost his pants and the $200 in his pocket. Madame Lizzie Landon lost $800, a significant sum in those days. The fanciest fire occurred Jan. 22, 1883. While most of the firefighters attended the Knights of Pythias Ball, the alarm sounded. Firemen fought the flames in formal attire. On Jan. 2, 1888, the Craig Opera House, along with most of the downtown businesses, burned to the ground. Those buildings, built with wood, covered with tar paper and topped with wood shingle roofs, were rebuilt using local bricks made from the mud along the Little Arkansas River. Salida’s most famous fire happened when the Denver and Rio Grande Hospital burned April 12, 1899. Until April 1986, the department remained all male. Denise Hansen changed that when she joined the volunteers. Hensen acknowledged she might not be accepted “because the men would think I couldn’t pull my weight, but I grew up in a small town of 1,000 people in Kansas where everyone was a volunteer.” Cammie Bergman, the first paid female firefighter in 2003, came from a firefighting family. Tom Bergman, her grandfather, served as Salida Fire Chief from 1953 to 1961. Artistic, charming and historic, modern-day Salida has much to offer visitors. Surrounded by the Sawatch Range, the Arkansas River and Monarch Mountain, and with year-round festivals, indoor and outdoor activities, the town offers something for everyone. Home to Colorado’s largest National Historic District, Salida boasts 136 preserved buildings. Visitors explore the town with Steve’s Salida Walking Tours, offering ghost tours, history tours and, for the thirsty, craft beer and brewery tours. Salida’s Wild West history is filled with both legend and touching stories. The costumed guides of Steve’s Salida Walking Tours bring stories to life. Downtown Salida is Colorado’s first Certified Creative District. Dozens of artisans of every genre, galleries, restaurants, breweries and distilleries offer unique merchandise to visitors and locals alike. Those looking for blacksmithing and metal art, ceramics or pottery, digital media, fiber arts, fine art, graphic design, murals, music, performing arts, photography, sculpture or writing can find all of it in the Creative District.

Downtown Salida is home to Colorado’s largest National Historic District, with 136 buildings built during its Wild West past. (Photo provided by Scott Peterson)

Anyone can surf the ocean. For a real challenge, surfers come to Salida, Colo., to surf the Arkansas River. (Photo provided by Nik and Angel Photography)

For anyone looking for a relaxing soak, Salida, Colo., has three public hot springs. (Photo provided by Scott Peterson)

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 41

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Like its firefighting history, the water in Salida is hot, too. The warmest public hot springs in Colorado are found in the city. Geothermal water bubbles out of the ground at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the springs are non-sulfurous, unlike many other hot springs, residents are proud to announce their hot springs don’t stink. Many swear by the rejuvenating, healing powers of the springs. In a state know for its mountains, Salida sits near the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, providing over 100 miles of rafting, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Surfers enjoy the river, too. The Arkansas River offers over 70 miles of public access and claims to have up to 5,000 trout per mile. Because of improved water quality, flow management and fish abundance, the upper Arkansas River was awarded Gold Medal status. Taking advantage of the lofty peaks surrounding the town, Salida’s ziplines offer a bird’s-eye view of the area. Those looking for adventure can climb, swing and scale new heights at the aerial adventure parks, fly over gorgeous desert and mountainous terrain. They can explore the wilderness — wildlife sightings, dramatic cliffs, river views — from a new perspective high above it all. Mountain bikers and hikers flock to Salida. Over 175 of the best hiking routes lead to 14,000-foot peaks. Visitors and residents alike are encouraged to hike the challenging terrain alone or take a guide. Bikers explore the Arkansas Hills and the Methodist Mountain Trail systems. Annual events in Salida include the FIBark. FIBark stands for “First in Boating on the Arkansas.” Held Father’s Day weekend, it’s the nation’s oldest whitewater festival and Salida’s signature event. Since 1949, the nonprofit happening has been made possible through generous giving by sponsors and volunteers. Memorial Day weekend brings live music, kids’ games, food and drinks in Riverside Park. Bluegrass on the Arkansas, an annual fundraising event for the Salida Rotary Club, is free for the public. The club raises money with its beer and wine garden. June is a busy month in Salida. Ark Valley Pride, an annual celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, also takes the first weekend of the month. Ark Valley includes a pride parade, awards and music on Saturday. Sunday features a rowdy Drag Bunch fundraising event. The last weekend of the month sees the city host the Salida Art Walk. People stroll the Creative District in the historic downtown and enjoy visual and performing art in over 40 galleries, restaurants and shops. The Friday after Thanksgiving, Tenderfoot Mountain is transformed into a 750-foot-tall Christmas tree. Around 4,500 colored lights are wrapped around the “S.” Additionally, a parade meanders down F Street, and the shops and galleries offer extended shopping hours. People comment that Salida’s skies are bluer and its stars brighter. This is because of the altitude and thinner air: Until a visitor’s body adapts, the visitors bureau recommends taking it easy on physical activity, increasing water intake and minimizing intake of alcohol, caffeine and salt. Respect the altitude they say, a person will love visiting Salida.

42 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Not for the faint of heart, Salida, Colo., offers fantastic views and challenging rock climbs. (Photo provided by Scott Peterson)

The original Salida Edison Electric Light Company, built in 1887, was purchased in 1987 by the city of Salida and converted into the SteamPlant Event Center. The SteamPlant features a theater venue, outdoor sculpture garden, art galleries, a riverside plaza, conference rooms and a spacious ballroom. What more could anyone ask for in a wedding venue? (Photo provided by Scott Peterson)

Salida, Colo. (County Seat of Chaffee County) Nickname: Heart of the Rockies Original Name: South Arkansas Elevation: 7,083 feet Chaffee County Population: 19, 557 (2019) Population of Salida: 5,791 (2019) Major Employers: Deloitte, Walmart, Amazon, U.S. Army, Target, Oracle and IBM Median Income: $25,524 (2019) Fun Fact: 80% of Chaffee County is public land

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 43

Public Safety

New police youth boxing program finds a home By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal

While several Lowell, Mass., police officers were training for a charity boxing event, Barry Golner, interim superintendent, had the idea for a youth services program teaching local children to box.

ABOVE: The Lowell Police Department put together a youth services program to better bridge the gap between officers and local youth. One way the department wished to do so was by starting a boxing program for local children between the ages of 10 and 18. For a little over a year, volunteers from the police department, fire department and city have been teaching students the fundamentals of boxing. (Photo provided by the Lowell Police Department)

Massachusetts State Police sponsored the charity event; training took place in an old Lowell boxing gym. One of the officers’ trainers was a retired Lowell police officer, while another was a retired state corrections officer and long-time boxing trainer. Both also volunteered assisting with the Manchester, N.H., Police Athletic League boxing program. When Golner posed the idea for a similar program in Lowell, both trainers agreed. “It would be a much-needed boost to a sport that once thrived in the city,” he told them. The Lowell Police Department was also looking for ways to bridge the gap between police officers and local youth. While it had been a strong participant in many youth programs and partners with youth-serving agencies throughout the city, the same motivation encouraged the department to start up its own youth services program, which includes the boxing program. Teaming up with Maryann Manzi, Lowell Police Department public safety research and planning director, grant funding was obtained from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative grant through the

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The money was used to purchase the necessary safety equipment, gloves, bags and other essentials to get the program up and running. “The LPD continues to work with the schools and other youth serving organizations. However, creating the LPD Youth Services program allows us an exciting opportunity in the city to create a space dedicated to fostering relationships between the youth and the police officers,” Manzi stressed. By a little over a year ago, Lowell’s youth services boxing program was up and running. It began with an introduction to boxing outdoors, which taught physical fitness and basic skills. While the goal was ultimately to find a home for the program, in the meantime, trainers have been utilizing Lowell’s Doughboy Wrestling Club. “Sgt. Michael Marshall, who runs our youth services program, has worked tirelessly with Manzi and we have just leased a facility and

44 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Classes began outdoors when the program originally started. Volunteers have been able to utilize the indoor facilities at the Doughboy Wrestling Club in Lowell while they await a more permanent home for the club. (Photo provided by the Lowell Police Department)

While the boxing program helps the participants build positive relationships with police officers, it also teaches them life skills and discipline. Currently, there are two sessions offered twice a week. Once the new facility opens, more days and hours will be available. (Photo provided by the Lowell Police Department)

will be opening our own gym,” Golner announced. “We have the space for at least the next three years.” The program is offered each Tuesday and Thursday, with two onehour sessions available each day. All Lowell residents between the ages of 10 and 18 are welcome to sign up. As Golner described, “Members of the program are learning discipline, basic skills, comradery and building relationships with law enforcement. They are involved in physical fitness and will see that their hard work, dedication and commitment will lead to improved skills and ability as well as build confidence and pride.” The department also takes referrals from the Department of Children and Families, Lowell Housing Authority, House of Hope and Lowell Public Schools on youths who should be signed up for the department’s programs, and it does public outreach via social media. Sgt. Marshall runs the boxing initiative with the assistance of multiple active and retired police volunteers. Officers from other local Sgt. Michael Marshall, who runs the program, and the police police departments, as well as members of the Lowell Fire Depart- department’s research and planning director, Maryann Manzi, have ment, are volunteering their time — along with a retired Lowell city worked tirelessly for grant funding to lease a facility and purchase new equipment. The goal was to move into this new facility by the employee and former Golden Gloves champion. Golner emphasized, “The community’s response has been very end of May. (Photo provided by the Lowell Police Department) positive. We have also partnered with the Lowell Public Schools, not only with our boxing program but our entire youth services programs.” Recently the Lowell Police Department began working with the boxing workout, train for charity tournaments or participate in the Sean Collier Foundation, which has allowed them to purchase a Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions will be welcome to use brand-new boxing ring as well as other physical fitness equipment. the facility. In May, Manzi stated that the department’s contract with the new Thanks to the foundation and grant funding, the facility will have new equipment and be a fully functional boxing and training loca- facility is currently in the process of being executed and “we are tion when it opens. hoping to move in this month.” The department also works with the Greater Lowell Community For other police departments looking to set up a similar boxing Foundation, which acts as fiduciary for any donations for the youth program or any youth services program, Manzi offered this advice: services programs. “Start small, then expand with time. Also, starting with an activity that Once the new facility opens, more training days and hours will be you know officers are interested in and that your city or town needs offered. Lowell police officers who wish to learn and participate in a is also helpful.” JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 45

Building & Construction

Razing the past:

Marina, Calif., demolishes former Fort Ord housing units By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

At one time, Fort Ord in Monterey Bay, Calif., was one of the most attractive military installations in the U.S. However, in recent years, what’s left of the fort has become a shadow of its former self, prompting the city of Marina to tear down dozens of old barracks and other buildings to create something that the whole community can use. “We have completed approximately 40% of the demolition. The remainder is planned for removal and full build-out of new developments by 2028,” said Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado. A rich history Established as a World War I-era maneuver and artillery field, the area — originally known 46 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

as the Gigling Reservation, among its other monikers — was christened Camp Ord in 1933 after Union Army Major General Edward Otho Cresap Ord. Throughout the ’30s, mobile combat units, including tanks, armored troop carriers and portable artillery, replaced the horse cavalry units that once trained on the camp.

ABOVE: The former military barracks at Fort Ord were a shadow of their former past and led to blight in the city of Marina, Calif. (Shutterstock.com)

In 1940, the camp expanded to 2,000 acres and was redesignated an Army “fort” within a year. When the Seventh Infantry Division was reactivated to prepare for the possibility of U.S. involvement in World War II, it became the first major unit to occupy the new post. In the months and years that followed, several sub camps were created around Fort Ord to support the training of troops, and by 1947, the post was home to the Fourth Replacement Training Center. “At its height, Fort Ord was home to more than 50,000 troops and served as a staging

area for soldiers of the Korean and Vietnam wars,” Delgado said. With so many troops to process, train and house, Fort Ord contracted the Del E. Webb Construction Company of Phoenix, Ariz., to create 42 permanent buildings on the post between 1952 and 1954, including barracks, a guard house, stockade, administrative headquarters, quartermaster warehouses and water storage system. Fort Ord remained a center for basic and advanced infantry training until 1976 when the training center was closed. At that time, the post once again became the home of the Seven Infantry Division after the unit returned from a 25-year stint at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. In 1991, Fort Ord became the largest military installation to be recommended for closure by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. After working with Marines from Camp Pendleton to help quell the Los Angeles riots in 1992, the troops of Fort Ord transferred to Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Wash. The post closed in 1994, and most of the land was returned to the state of California for public use. According to Delgado, when Fort Ord closed, the local economy shrank by 20%. “Recovery was slow and ongoing,” he said. A new life Overseeing the community’s economic recovery after the post’s closure was the Fort Ord Reuse Authority. The small, multi-governmental body, comprising elected officials at the local, state and federal level along with representatives of the armed forces and academic institutions, was responsible for finding appropriate uses for the former military land. FORA was successful in establishing the California State University Monterey Bay campus on the former Army post, which Delgado said helped transform the community and breathe new life into it. “Marina becoming a university town helped tremendously for retaining restaurants and other businesses, creating a demand for hotels, farmers’ markets and providing volunteers for park projects, seniors and youth assistance/mentoring,” he said. “Our city strategy is to try and be as university friendly as possible, such as hosting Otter Day (CSUMB’s mascot) festivals downtown.” However, once FORA was closed in June 2020, responsibility for the undeveloped acreage at Fort Ord fell to a handful of jurisdictions,

The new Marriott Hotel looks north over the new wellness center on property that once was part of Fort Ord, Calif. (Photo provided by the city of Marina)

The demolition of the former military barracks at Fort Ord will make way for new developments, including residential and retail space. (Photo provided by the city of Marina) including Marina. FORA secured $26 million to demolish the remaining military buildings on the land, $15.1 million of which was given to Marina to raze 32 abandoned buildings near Marina High School and redevelop the property with more user-friendly amenities. Delgado said the area does not look or feel safe, and by removing the barracks, they can open up the corridor and remove the blight that kids see on their way to school each day.

“Once the buildings are demolished, we will start to create parks, hotels, 700 homes, offices, retail spaces, a movie theater and more,” Delgado said, noting that the rehabilitation of a former military installation is a marathon and not a sprint. “We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s important for us to make progress on these projects (to improve) the quality of life for our residents.”

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 47

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Parks & Environmental Services

No Mow May encourages pollinator population By DANI MESSICK | The Municipal

In the city of La Crosse, Wis., grasses and weeds covered an assortment of locations for a solid month this spring. The city had halted its regular ordinance for maintenance to ensure local pollinators could begin to thrive. “Some of the habitats and food sources are quite limited with urban lawn mowing,” explained Leah Miller, outdoor recreation coordinator for the city of La Crosse Parks Department. Registration for No Mow May began two weeks before May and continued throughout the month. “We found it important that residents were able to register with us so that we could collect the data source of how many people are participating and also so we could follow up and give them tips, resources and at the end a survey to better understand how effective the program was in our community,” Miller said. By the end of the first week of May, roughly 1,200 residents were registered for 50 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

the program, representing approximately 9% of the residential lots in the city. Miller said it’s more than she had anticipated, having looked at the results from a previous program in Appleton, where there were only 400 participants in the first year of the program. “There’s been some chatter about this program over the last couple years and a lot of people have at least heard about it, which I think is what made me impressed with the numbers,” she said. The city of La Crosse’s program was modeled after Appleton, which in turn had been modeled after a program from the United Kingdom, according to Miller.

ABOVE: City officials offered participants in No Mow May signs to help explain the lawn commotion throughout neighborhoods. (Photo provided by the city of La Crosse, Wis.)

“The primary emphasis of this program, in its infancy stages, was to focus on bees,” she said. “We feel the same way because of the declining population of bees that we’re seeing worldwide, but we also want to call out that this isn’t just only for bees. There are a lot of pollinators out there, and they all serve very important purposes.” In May, Miller noted that in La Crosse, the year’s spring had been relatively cold with little rain, meaning she expected that grasses would not get as high as they had in other years. “Pollinators are generally beneficial,” she said. “A lot of what we hear about them is that their main service is to pollinate plants and crops to support our food sources, but they’re also food for other species in the

food chain of life as well. Birds in the backyard feed on grubs and insects as well, and bats feed on mosquitos, so it’s important to continue to provide some of that habitat where you can. I think this is a simple way people can contribute to maintaining habitat for pollinators within their properties.” This isn’t La Crosse’s first foray into pollinator habitat programming. Aside from the parks department’s collection of pollinator habitats at local bluffs, a program began this year to encourage and teach residents how to turn their boulevard turf into a natural landscape. In that program, residents could replace the grass in the area between the sidewalk and the road with salt-tolerant, low-growing, regional plant life. “While not mowing your grass is really great for the pollinators in the springtime, there’s other pieces, like planting native plants within their existing garden beds or boulevard area that they could do that would last from spring to fall.” The city of La Crosse has a noxious weed ordinance that declares that any grass or weed above 8 inches in height subjects the property owner to a violation. For neighbors unaware or concerned about the look of lawns, signs scattered throughout participating yards can help bridge the gap. “We understand that not mowing for the entire month of May might be kind of difficult for some residents, so we have a couple alternatives that they can do to also participate,” she noted. The alternatives include reducing the frequency of mowing, mowing only the front yard, raising the mower deck to the highest setting or alternating between front and back yards. A resolution put forth by city legislators allowed the parks department to suspend the local ordinance through June 14. “I encourage people throughout the lawn mowing season to generally raise the deck of their mower to a higher setting or reduce the frequency of mowing so that those flowering plants within their yard can continue to provide the flowers for pollinators throughout the season,” said Miller. “Mowing your grass a little bit higher is really great for the root system of the grass as well.”

ABOVE: The city also has pollinator habitats in local green places and uses signage to help residents better understand what a good and effective pollinator habitat might look like and the value of them. Pictured is a sign at Mathy Quarry. (Photo provided by the city of La Crosse, Wis.)

Residents of La Crosse, Wis., are participating in a citywide effort to encourage pollinators throughout the city. The city has done its own part, creating pollinator habitats in local parks. (Photo provided by the city of La Crosse, Wis.)

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 51

Municipal Management

Municipalities grapple with supply challenges By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

The supply shortage began more than two years ago, with the advent of the pandemic and its subsequent quarantine period. It has not fully resolved itself even now, and many businesses that you might have used when ordering for your projects, whether a small one for home or an enormous one for the city, have closed down; after all, they couldn’t send you what they couldn’t get themselves. This means that many projects had to be postponed — some indefinitely — and many more canceled altogether. What is the solution? How do you handle supply chain shortages? Businesses everywhere are asking themselves that same question and brainstorming alternative ideas. Toyota was the first company to implement what is known as lean management inventory (LMI), and other companies such as Nike, Kimberley-Clarke and John Deere, just to name a few, soon followed. Gone were the days of plentifully stocked stockrooms. This, of course, led to the particular nuisance that many buyers and purchasing agents encounter regularly: a customer who might believe that every single item they want and need is in a warehouse just across town. LMI works well in reducing overstock and rarely used items, but it also meant that in times of shortages everywhere, there was no excess to carry through the through. The obvious thought is to consider alternate materials, but that’s not always possible. For some projects, only certain materials can be used. In other instances, one company might still be able to get a component required for a particular need, while another company might be able to get a different, equally vital piece, leading to a sort of cobbling together. That is project solving at its finest, something along the lines of a great scene in “Apollo 13” where a character makes it clear that “we have to make this fit into this using only this,” dumping a box of assorted oddities on the table. There are other problems caused by the shortage of semiconductor chips — a computer chip or an integrated circuit. The semiconductor is typically made of silicon to conduct electricity, while the chip is an electric circuit with various components. Obviously, you can’t 52 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Despite materials and staff shortages, the work goes on as Eau Claire, Wis., is determined to meet every project date possible. (Photo provided by the city of Eau Claire, Wis.)

cobble or substitute such a thing, and therein lays the problem: Semiconductors are used in so many things today, including cars, smartphones, refrigerators and televisions. No one is likely to forget the nightly news coverage of cargo ships, sitting still while shelves grew emptier by the day. The war between Russia and Ukraine is affecting flights and deliveries. And then there’s inflation, meaning whatever can be found is almost certainly going to cost more, possibly even more than when a project was first quoted. What do you do then? Do you absorb the cost and eat the loss? That’s not really something most businesses want to do. Other communities have their own particular struggles. It’s not just the lack of building materials like roofing tiles and joists and plumbing supplies that cause the troubles. Santa Fe, N.M., has been trying to acquire equipment in a more timely manner, and major projects have been delayed because of the sluggish supply chain. Natural gas and electric providers have been experiencing slowdowns in their operations, and a planned solar and battery project meant to replace those utilities has been delayed. And line maintenance and repair

Another big project along the Eau Claire river trail was planned and would involve erosion control, grading and removing the existing gravel surface, laying a 6-inch crushed aggregate base course, 5-inch concrete pavement, retaining wall installation, pipe and tube railing installation and lawn restoration. Due to manufacturing delays, the railing installation is on hold and the trail remains closed for safety. (Photo provided by the city of Eau Claire, Wis.)

have been affected, as well. With summer storm season upon us, the ramifications of this are quite serious. Aaron J. White, economic development manager for the city of Eau Claire, Wis., has given this a great deal of thought. He said, “As a municipality, we really noticed changes in supply, and in projects being bid in late 2020, lead times were getting longer and quotes on material were really shortening. A quote for a material price that might have been valid for 30 days would now be good for two weeks and sometimes good for only days. Local industry was experiencing that same thing in the manufacturing sector. We have typically not carried a lot of material on hand, because we use lean inventory practices.” Eau Claire has a lot of roadwork projects going on now, three of which have been completed and seven that are underway. Another one in the works is along the downtown Eau Claire river trail. It has gone well but stalled because of manufacturing delay, and that means the trail has to remain closed for the time being. Other projects were slated to begin in June, and there are projected plans in a five-year capital improvements plan. The question remains how timely these can be, given the continued shortages and delays in shipping. White said, “Again, 2020 was the first real impact we felt on municipal projects. The community is in the middle of a large construction project, which includes a transit transfer center and privately owned residential units on top of public structures. The original developer came to the city with a large financial gap — well beyond anything anticipated — and eventually dropped the project. The city found an alternate developer to move forward with, but with costs still

The proposed work for the Omaha Street project includes removing existing asphalt surface, removing curbs and gutters, sanitary sewer installation and services, water main installation and services, storm sewer installation, grading and graveling, new asphalt surface, new curbs and gutters, new sidewalk as required, and sod installation. (Photo provided by the city of Eau Claire, Wis.)

significantly higher than anticipated, it was the construction material increases that drove these issues.” So the city did what many others have had to do, and White explained it well. “The city works with projects to try and accommodate changes to designs that will reduce cost, such as modifications to site plans, extending deadlines for development and so on. In some cases, the city helped developers find sources of alternate funding. Projects are still moving forward, so we have met with some success.” White said, though, “Local industries have reported mixed results: some are having incredible years, with significant growth, while there are others just trying to keep afloat.” And, as other businesses have also experienced, it’s been difficult to have enough workers. White said, “Labor is still a challenge, depending on the industry. In construction, the shortage is in framers and masons. In manufacturing, it’s experienced technicians, welders and machinists. Most of our employers are now hiring unskilled labor to train on the job. But they report that they can only place so many unskilled workers before they run short on experienced employees who can train them. In restaurants and retail industries, the struggle is to find workers to fill the less desirable shifts, such as early JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 53

continued from page 53

mornings, weekends and late evenings. Retail and restaurants are additionally challenged, because they were the first industries to get hit with the pandemic lockdowns. Many retail and restaurant workers changed industries due to the uncertainty.” White is right. Forbes Magazine said that more than 110,000 bars and restaurants closed temporarily or permanently in 2020. That meant that nearly 2.5 million jobs were erased; it also meant that sales fell by $240 billion when the expected level had been $899 billion. Of those who closed a restaurant permanently, 72% said they would not open a new restaurant. And for those who have only ever known a career in those kinds of business, there was great uncertainty about finding a different field, especially if you were past a certain age. And there are still tough times ahead in supplies and shipping. White explained, “Lead times have stretched to unseen lengths. Precast concrete panels are about a 14 month lead time. The same must be said for some structural steel products. In manufacturing, electrical components are lagging significantly in shipments, and that is holding up production of a variety of products.” But it’s not all bleak. This has permanently changed the way many companies and municipalities are doing business. White agreed, saying, “Yes. There’s a lot of on-the-job training occurring now. Employers are no longer holding out for the perfect candidate and are hiring a reliable candidate they can train. Companies are promoting careers in the trades much more than before and also touting trade schools as options for candidates, as these programs need to expand. The city has also adapted as other businesses have; we are flex scheduling, and some now work from home whenever possible. We flex around childcare needs and the like much more than we did before.” We’re all in this together, whatever happens, and we’ll get through it better and faster whenever we work together, helping each other in any way possible. This new normal is still taking shape.

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A big project on Eddy Lane was slated to begin in June and involved work on water mains and services, sanitary sewer and services, storm sewers, grading of gravel, curb and gutter repair, driveway approaches, pavement and boulevard restoration. (Photo provided by the city of Eau Claire, Wis.)

54 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

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Streets, Highways & Bridges

Phoenix test drives cooler pavement product

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

Roads appear to shimmer during the hottest days of summer: Some see it as the road looking wet. It’s not. Science Focus Magazine says, “As the sunshine beats down on the road, the road surface becomes hot, making the layer of air above it expand and become less dense. This, in turn, changes the way light passes through it from points further down the road. However, the effect is not uniform. The rising air is turbulent, so its density and thus optical properties are constantly fluctuating. This is what creates the shimmering effect we see as we look down the road.” In cities where the heat is consistently high, the charm of shimmers quickly wears away. Heather Murphy, of the Communications and Public Engagement Department in Phoenix, Ariz., is a fan of something called Cool Pavement, a pilot program that differs from other road seal products. Murphy said CP has the same basic components as other road sealants, but they’re formulated differently. 56 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

ABOVE PHOTOS: Pictured is the finished parking lot. (Photo provided by the city of Phoenix, Ariz.)

“The ingredients are mineral fillers; an emulsifying agent, which is actually soap, and they’re bound together; as well as finely crumbled asphalt, water, polymers and recycled fillers. It has the grit and strength you want, and what’s most important to us is that it’s recyclable. It can be ground into asphalt millings.” Asphalt milling is more durable than conventional gravel. It perfectly seals together when compacted by machines, unlike gravel, and makes a more solid surface. “When we can do that, it cuts down on the aggregates — inert granular materials such as sand, gravel or crushed stone — that we need to buy,” she explained.

Arizona experiences brutal temperatures during the summer months. Last year was particularly harsh, according to Murphy. “We had a hot run of 110– to 115- degree days. In urban settings, as much as 40% can be pavement, and when you look at all the buildings, driveways and such on the areas that have dark asphalt — it all captures and retains the heat. Then it releases it at night, slowly, and that keeps the urban areas much hotter than rural areas.” Nighttime temperatures can be as high or higher than daytime temperatures. “Nighttime temps can be as much as 22 degrees higher, and that’s what we need to fix. You know the way you put zinc oxide on your nose at the beach? It’s like that: reflecting, rather than collecting heat in the hope of lowering those nighttime temps.” The program was introduced to the prospective neighborhoods before any road work began. “We were determined right from the start to be totally transparent and able to answer any questions anyone might have,” said Murphy. “We were robust in telling people this was coming; we delivered notices in the neighborhoods. We wanted to build awareness of what we hoped to achieve. This led to enthusiastic overall reception, and we were swamped with calls and requests for speakers at conferences — even in other countries. “It’s not like this is an unattractive look when it’s finished, but people do say, ‘Hey, why does your street look different?’” Murphy noted. “It’s part and parcel of making sure we’ve done our job in giving them the FAQs to answer those questions.” The pilot program saw the first installation of CP in June 2020. “That was the targeted date, even through the pandemic and quarantine, because this is an essential service. Everyone was masked and distanced as best they could and went to work. The city had selected portions in eight different neighborhoods, one in each city council district and part of the parking lot in Esteban Park. We thought we could do an effective job of rehab,” she said. “Those different areas were exactly that — different. Some had shaded streets; some were near parks; and some were just typical housing. These were areas that already needed repaving, and the CP was applied. All we had to do was sweep the streets clean before beginning. No primer of any kind. That first installation was done with a cart dropping the liquid on the surface, then it was all hand-squeegeed.” After seeing how labor-intensive it was, Phoenix challenged the contractor to experiment with a spray application. It turned out to be an economical way of laying the liquid down and gave good coverage: two passes of the initial coat, then two passes of the second. It was much more efficient.” The city partnered with Arizona State University to study if or how the CP was working. “When we enlisted ASU to help with the scientific study, they embedded I-buttons into the surface. Those sensors were used to measure subsurface temps. Then a special cart was designed with a robot in it that took various measurements from the surface. The subsurface was almost 5 degrees cooler where the CP was installed, a good indicator that it’s not holding onto the heat. And the surface was 10 to 12 degrees cooler during the heat of the day. Even at sunrise, there was a difference of 20 degrees or so.”

The work crew prepares for the application of Cool Pavement in the parking lot of Esteban Park, a very popular place that offers lighted baseball, basketball, tennis and sand volleyball courts as well as traditional courts, a playground, picnic area with grills and a rugby field. Unsurprisingly, this parking lot sees a lot of use. (Photo provided by the city of Phoenix, Ariz.)

Using the knowledge gathered in the study, a video program was created. It was presented to city officials and received overwhelming support, including from Mayor Kate Gallego. “By the end of June, we had installed 33 miles more and we already had 38 miles finished through 2021. We’re not a pilot program anymore,” said Murphy. Last year the city created its very first Office of Heat Mitigation. Dr. David Hondula, a climate scientist from ASU, leads the team. The office is looking at creating cool corridors, shade and access to more livable conditions that other metropolises can copy. “Phoenix is not only our capital, it’s the fifth largest city in the United States,” Murphy noted. With more than 1.4 million residents and steadily growing, the city takes up more than 500 square miles, geographically exceeding Los Angeles. “We are looking at ways to reduce that heat island effect,” continued Murphy. “Neighborhoods are where people are moving most. CP as we know it is developing a product that will be appropriate for major arterial use. The city takes care of the streets, and we are working CP into street rehabilitation. “We message things like, ‘If it’s too hot for you to walk, it’s too hot for your dog.’ Booties are a big deal around here. We remind people not to leave their children or pets in the car. So, with our next installation of CP, we’re mapping where to put it to provide heat relief where there is little shade. We want to improve the conditions and will plant trees to form more cool corridors and greater comfort.” CP looks a little different than traditional asphalt, and the second round is a darker gray than the first. “The formula’s value is its reflective quality — again, that zinc oxide thing,” said Murphy. “It doesn’t cause skidding. One question often asked is, ‘Does it cause glare?’ since it is lighter. Well, freeways are concrete, and that’s lighter still. When we re-striped the parking lot of Esteban Park, the lines showed up just fine.”

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 57

continued from page 57

Maintenance is pretty low. The seal coat, over time, picks up darker shading from tires, but it usually cleans up during street sweeping or rainstorms. And if the street has to be cut, say, to install a utility line, the city requires that the area be patched when finished according to the usual method and then the CP coat is reapplied. “Potholes are handled the same way: fill and patch, then we’ll reseal,” said Murphy. As for how it will hold up during extreme weather, it’s too early to say. Murphy said, “We do have a monsoon season, and severe thunderstorms will blow through one area of the city while other areas remain untouched. This will be a good indicator of how well it holds up. From everything we’ve seen, it may last longer than traditional seal coats. It does cost more: The street maintenance budget earmarked a certain amount of money for it, initially two and half to three times more, although the cost has come down since then. But if it lasts longer … it’s like sunscreen for the road, not getting sun or heat damage. We can’t really simulate this, but if the early indications are correct, instead of three to five years, we might get five to seven; or instead of five to seven, we might even get seven to nine. Time will tell.” Murphy said the department has had to disappoint homeowners who want to know if there’s a similar product they could buy for do-it-yourself projects. “It doesn’t mean there aren’t some good products out there, but this isn’t something they can do themselves, especially since it’s meant for asphalt and most driveways, patios and sidewalks are concrete.”

58 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

Workers are well underway toward the goal of creating a cooler place to park. (Photo provided by the city of Phoenix, Ariz.)

When asked what other cities need to know in order to begin a similar CP program, Murphy noted that the webpage www.phoenix.gov/streets/ coolpavement is updated regularly, including with questions that have come up. “We also posted our first and following public meetings, and we have the ASU presentation. Those would be a great place to start,” she said. She also welcomes calls and conversations with city engineers.

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Crisis Management

Tidal valves reduce impact

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

At first glance, the phrase “king tides” might make you think of Mardi Gras. It almost sounds festive, doesn’t it? But it’s not. The king tide is the highest predicted high tide of the year, higher than the highest water levels on any average day. These tides cause localized flooding, and they damage shoreline developments, housing and infrastructure. That damage is gravely compounded, should these tides occur at the same time as hurricanes or cyclones. What about their other name, perigean spring tides? Perigee is the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest the earth, and as we all know, that’s the kind of thing that affects all sorts of weather and accompanying issues: hurricane season is June 1-Nov. 30 this year. Add to that the knowledge that South Florida is very flat, and you can see why flooding is a major issue, especially with climate change and sea level rise factored in. Basically, because of global warming, when it rains, it pours more. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration examined the 2016 record-breaking rainfall in Louisiana and determined that these rains were at least 40% more likely and 10% more intense, due to climate change. “High tide flooding, sometimes referred to as 60 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

nuisance flooding, sunny-day flooding, or king tide flooding, is occurring more frequently every year as sea levels continue to rise, and is increasingly disrupting coastal community life,” according to the NOAA website. West Palm Beach, Fla., is working in every way possible to deal with these tides and their subsequent flooding, with an $800,000 project to install tidal valves. Construction began in 2020 and was originally expected to be completed in 2023. Armando Fana, assistant city manager for the city of West Palm Beach, agreed. “The sunny-day tidal flooding has been an issue for the last five to seven years, and it is progressing annually. We realized over five years ago that we had to do more, due to the rising sea level predictions as well as

what we were experiencing in real time. The causes of flooding issues in the city include a high water table, low-lying residential streets, sea level rise, aging infrastructure, absence of stormwater infrastructure and a lack of green space (i.e., excessive impervious area). As the sea level rise issues continued to increase, the impact of these factors all became progressively more evident. These were not significantly noticeable prior to five to seven years ago.” As you would expect, there were earlier solutions that worked well for a time. Fana explained, “Sandbagging a perimeter around the catch basins and inlets in the street held back or contained tidal waters, and for a time, this worked. When we did that, we were able to prevent or control tidewaters from breaching onto the roadways. Over time, and currently as the sea level rise continues to worsen, no matter how much we stack the sandbags, the water overflowed onto the roadway, causing flooding. When it comes to today or sunny-day flooding, the city will post flood warning signs in areas known to be susceptible to tidal flooding.” Enter tidal valves. Fana said, “Tidal valves will help reduce flooding of both high tide and king tide events. In previous years, tidal

of king tides

West Palm Beach is a popular destination in south Florida and is separated from neighboring Palm Beach by Lake Worth Lagoon. (Shutterstock.com)

A field is flooded in West Palm Beach, Fla. The city is installing tidal valves to reduce flooding. (Shutterstock.com)

flooding would only occur a few times each He added, “Tidal valves may include, but year, such as during the king tides of April are not limited to, professional engineering and May, and again in October and Novem- design. Underground utility installation conber. With sea level rise, the number of days tractors typically do the work for the city. The of high tides flooding the roads is increasing, construction crew sizes consist of approxiand more areas are flooding because of that mately six or more workers, plus equipment higher tide level. The goal of adding tidal at each location.” The city has been “implementing this provalves is to help reduce tidal flooding in an effort to adapt to sea level rise. Tidal valves gram by installing the tidal valves at four to help prevent saltwater from the Lake Worth seven locations at a time,” said Fana. The city Lagoon flooding the streets. There will still be “first installed two tidal valves in 2017 and instances of street flooding when a rainstorm 2018 to assess the differences in the types of occurs during high tide, though. The flood valves being installed, then evaluating the waters will dissipate as the tide level drops installation, maintenance and effectiveness and the tide valves open.” of the valves available from at least two difOf course, installing such a process is ferent manufacturers. After that, additional time consuming, and the work is very intri- valves were installed in 2020, and the city is cate. Fana elaborated, “The installation of targeting to have all tidal valves completed tidal valves may include installation of new by the end of 2024.” The proposed plan will stormwater structures, new stormwater see 35 valves installed by the time the project pipes, cleaning and/or lining of the exist- is completed. ing stormwater outfall system; excavation; With a starting cost of $800,000, the projand opening of roadways and green space ect required commitment to investment. areas to install the new infrastructure. The Fana noted, “The city’s annual stormwater types of tidal valves — because there are sev- budget provided the initial funding in the eral — include inline check valves, duckbill fiscal year 2020, as well as some grant fundcheck valves, and flap gate valves. The type ing we received from the Florida Department of valve chosen is dependent on the situation.” of Environmental Protection in October 2021. The total cost is approximately $3.4 million.”

When you compare that price tag to the costs of flood damage, repair work and replacement, plus environmental cleanup — some companies charge by the square foot — it’s easy to see why this sum, large as it is, was necessary and well spent. Flooding brings contamination and disease, as the waters can carry raw sewage, leaked toxic chemicals and runoff from hazardous waste sites or factory farms. This can cause polluted drinking water supplies and cause multiple infections — eye, ear, skin and gastrointestinal. When the waters recede, bacteria and mold may remain, and this increases respiratory illnesses, such as asthma. As every other business has experienced in the last two years, there were the alltoo-familiar setbacks. The pandemic and subsequent quarantine affected this project as it has so many others. Fana explained, “Challenges include material procurement lead time, which escalates construction and labor costs. There are further challenges during construction: access to install the tide valves; cleaning the pipes of sediment and barnacles; and discovering existing stormwater pipes that have failed and needed to be replaced. There are JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 61

continued from page 61

West Palm Beach, Fla., has invested in installing 35 tidal valves to reduce flooding as sea levels rise. Pictured is the popular West Palm Beach downtown district with City Hall along Clematis Street. (Shutterstock.com)

unknown conditions only installed during construction. And we have to make sure the valves are properly installed.” And that’s just the beginning. Fana said, “There are ongoing challenges that include required annual maintenance upkeep. As we progress through the implementation of our program, we anticipate many of these challenges, based on the historical lessons learned just in the past year of our early implementation experiences.” The public reaction, to no one’s surprise, has been supportive. Fana said, “There has not been any observable opposition to this effort.” And that’s all for the better; recent studies suggest that by 2050, there will be 10 to 12 more inches of water, which will lead to massive flooding. Fana said long-term planning is in the works. “Higher levels of flooding would necessitate the installation of stormwater pump stations, rebuilding existing roads to higher levels and raising the city seawalls.” None of those would be fast, easy or inexpensive, but they are certainly being considered if or when the need arises. St. Augustine has also dealt with major flooding repeatedly, and it, too, has tried tidal valves, or check valves. These valves allow stormwater to drain out under low tide conditions, but during high tide, they prevent ocean water from backing up into the stormwater network. According to the city, tidal flooding was essentially eliminated in the areas where those valves had been installed. Charleston, S.C.; Virginia Beach, Va.; and Amityville, N.Y., are but a few of the other states that have looked to tidal valves/check valves as a solution to better deal with floodwater and its ensuing damage. After all, more than 8.6 million Americans live in areas susceptible to coastal flooding, and northeasters or hurricanes are capable of pushing walls of water straight up onto the land. Climate change is increasing the frequency of the strongest storms, and this is expected to continue through this century, and tidal valves make a good solution … for now. 62 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

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Conference Calendar To list your upcoming conference or seminar in The Municipal at no charge, call (800) 733-4111, ext. 2307, or email the information to swright@the-papers.com.

AU G U S T July 6-7 Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities Annual Conference Viewline Resort, Snowmass, Colo. https://www. coloradopublicpower.org/ July 12 Fire & Rescue International Conference Virtual https://www.iafc.org/events/ frm July 12-13 Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference Ridgeline Conference Center, Estes Park, Colo. https://www.colochiefs. org/2022-annual-conferencepublic July 13-15 34th Annual ARTNA Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation Conference Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C. https://connect.artba.org/ July 13-16 Tennessee Municipal League 82nd Annual Convention Gatlinburg, Tenn. https://www.tml1.org/ July 13-17 Municipal Association of South Carolina Annual Meeting Charleston, S.C. https://www.masc.sc July 15-19 Florida Fire Chiefs Association Executive Development Conference Naples Grande Beach Resort, Naples, Fla. https://www.ffca.org/edc

64 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

July 17-21 CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute Gaylord Palms, Orlando, Fla. https://www.cadca.org/events July 20-22 ACMA Summer Conference Westin la Paloma, Tucson, Ariz. https://azmanagement.org/ events/ July 21-24 NACo 2022 Annual Conference & Exposition Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Adams County, Aurora, Colo. https://www.naco.org/events/ conferences July 23-27 TFCA Annual Conference Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro, Tenn. https://www.tnfirechiefs.com/ conferences July 25-28 NAPO’s 44th Annual Convention The Metropolitan at the 9, Cleveland, Ohio https://www.napo.org/events/ upcoming-events/ July 27-31 Louisiana State Firemen’s Association 2022 Conference Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville, La. https://www.lsfa.net/index. php/events/lsfa-117th-annualconference July 28-30 Louisiana Municipal Association 85th Annual Convention Lafayette, La. https://www.lma.org/LMA/ Events/Annual_Convention/

SEPTEMBER July 31-August 3 ITE 2022 Annual Meeting Sheraton, New Orleans, La. https://www.iteannualmeeting. org/

AU G U S T Aug. 6-10 70th Annual Summer Training Conference & Expo PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. https://fpca.com/summerconference Aug. 13-16 82nd TML Annual Conference & Expo Gatlinburg, Tenn. https://www.tml1.org/2022annual-conference Aug. 24-26 Fire-Rescue International Association of Fire Chiefs Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas https://www.eventscribe. net/2022/FRI Aug. 30-Sept. 2 League of Arizona Cities and Towns Annual Conference The Renaissance, Glendale, Ariz. http://azleague.org/103/ Annual-Conference

SEPTEMBER Sept. 7-9 League of California Cities Annual Conference & Expo Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, Calif. https://www.calcities.org/ detail-pages/event/2022/

Sept. 21 NYC Watershed Science & Technical Conference Bear Mountain Inn & Conference Center, Tomkins Cove, N.Y. https://www.nywea.org/ Sept. 26-28 FIERO Station Design Symposium Hyatt Regency Downtown, Greenville, S.C. https://www.fieroonline.org/ symposia-and-workshops Sept. 18-21 ICMA Annual Conference Columbus/Franklin County, Ohio https://azmanagement.org/ events/ Sept. 26-28 Water Pro Conference National Harbor, Md. https://mrws.org/conferences/ Sept. 28-29 OACP/OSSA Fall Leadership Conference TBA https://oracp.memberclicks. net/index.php?option=com_ content&view Sept. 28-30 WASWD Fall Conference & Trade Show Kennewick Convention Center, Kennewick, Wis. https://www.waswd.org/ general/page/workshopsconferences-and-trade-shows Sept. 29-30 FLAGFA Fall 2022 Tradewinds Island Grand, Treasure Island, Fla. https://www.flagfa.org

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Company Profile

A VMAC coworker assembles an UNDERHOOD air compressor.

VMAC combats supply chain challenges with UNDERHOOD compressors for trucks and vans (All photos provided by VMAC)

By ANNE FORTIN | VMAC

Are you frustrated with long lead times for air compressors? VMAC has the solution: UNDERHOOD air compressors are ready to ship within 10 days. UNDERHOOD™ air compressors are engine belt-driven, using a vehicle’s existing engine as a power source. An engineered mounting bracket positions the air compressor while a serpentine belt intertwines through a series of added idler pulleys, the vehicle’s crankshaft pulley and the compressor clutch. This allows the compressor to draw power from the vehicle’s engine. Although simple in concept, UNDERHOOD air compressors are incredibly challenging to engineer due to limited space within the engine compartment. UNDERHOOD systems must be designed around 66 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

the existing components, utilizing whatever space is left over after the OEMs meet their own needs. As a result, UNDERHOOD systems don’t allow for a generic and one-size-fits-all approach like some vehicle integrated air compressors on the market today. Each UNDERHOOD is meticulously engineered alongside the OEMs for a specific vehicle make and model, ensuring it fits perfectly and works optimally. “It’s a wonderful puzzle,” said Stuart Coker, director of operations at VMAC. “You have all these existing OEM components that need

to stay where they are, occupying most of the available engine space. Then you have to take this air compressor and figure out how to make it fit, connect to the crankshaft and keep it secured for the lifespan of the truck.” Despite 25 years of opportunity and strong demand from fleets, including municipality and utilities customers, resulting in over 24,000 systems sold, only VMAC has been able to develop an industrial air compressor that fits within the engine compartment. “We can create these systems and constantly adapt to model year changes because we manufacture the entire UNDERHOOD system in-house,” said Coker. “We control the entire process at our facility, which starts with molds in the foundry, continues through every step of machining and assembly, and

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only ends when we load the system onto a delivery truck.” VMAC’s ability to manufacture rotors, brackets and other air compressor components in-house has been a significant advantage over competitors. While many manufacturers operate as assembly factories, essentially piecing together components built by other companies in countries such as China, VMAC is self-reliant. “If we need a component in an exact size and shape, we can make it. We can test our ideas using 3D printing, and then we can machine the parts when we know those ideas will work,” said Coker. An additional advantage of in-house manufacturing has become apparent in recent months as supply chain issues have posed significant challenges for air compressor manufacturers. While lead times on small combustion engines extend for months, UNDERHOOD systems continue to ship in under two weeks. “Whenever a company relies on a supplier, it’s a potential vulnerability, especially when resources are limited, and we aren’t the only company that needs them. We rely on proven supplier relationships for several product lines, including our above deck air compressors. These suppliers have done amazing

work despite the recent global challenges,” said Coker. “However, the UNDERHOOD product line only relies on the hardworking teams and machinery at VMAC, which is why we can ship UNDERHOOD air compressors in 10 working days. These short lead times are significant for anyone who needs a compact yet powerful air compressor soon.” UNDERHOOD air compressors operate at 100% duty cycle and are currently available in models that deliver up to 40, 70 and 140 CFM. They are ideal for customers who need to save space, reduce truck GVW and minimize maintenance without compromising air power. Learn more at www.vmacair.com/underhood. About VMAC: The Leader In Compressed Air Innovation® VMAC has earned a reputation for manufacturing innovative mobile air compressors and multi-power systems with extraordinary build quality, durability and reliability. Fleet managers and operators in the United States, Canada and around the world rely on VMAC systems to work in the most challenging applications, climates and environments. VMAC’s growing team consists of over 160 dedicated people who constantly push the boundaries in pursuit of excellence. VMAC’S

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The FCAR has been a major asset to the Town of Kent in its ability to diagnosis our full line of equipment. It covers passenger cars all of our emergency vehicles and the Police departments variety of vehicles from Chevrolet to Ford and heavy duty equipment including Mack plow trucks and Refuse trucks. Full line of international trucks and all our off road equipment. Cat loaders and backhoes, bobcat excavators and skid steers to mention a few. We are able to see fuel rail pressure and ABS signals for accurate repairs. The Mack truck functions are proven to be useful and money saver in forced regeneration which in the past had to be towed back to the manufacture. What a time and cost saving tool. Not only are drivability concerns diagnosis but transmission ,body modules controlling HVACs functions and brakes have a broad coverage. The tool is so user friendly and is powered by the vehicle or equipment you are plugged into. Bidirectional capabilities make it useful as an OEM tool. I have already substantiated my ROI.The customer service and support team makes the experience a completely satisfied one and you are not forgotten after the initial sale. Great job and great product. I highly recommend to add this to your tool box!

”

-----Nicholas Mancuso, Service Manager, Municipal Repairs Town of Kent

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 69

News & Notes Elgin Sweeper debuts RegenX1 ELGIN, ILL. — Elgin Sweeper, a leading global manufacturer of street sweepers, officially announced the new RegenX1. Once again utilizing the input of Elgin’s customers and Innovation Lab, the RegenX1 is a customer-driven design, mid-dump regenerative air street sweeper that is easy to use, clean and maintain. “After the success of the RegenX, we knew we had to once again seek our customers’ thoughts as we developed the RegenX1,” said Tim Letts, product manager, Elgin Sweeper. “With its many features that simplify upkeep, the RegenX1 helps reduce time and maintenance costs. We’ve taken steps at every possible point to make it reliable, easy to service and time saving.” The RegenX1 is a single-engine, truck-mounted regenerative air sweeper that eliminates the work of maintaining two engines and cost exposure resulting from “missed” auxiliary engine regenerations. The new sweeper also utilizes a highly efficient dust separator and large screen surface area to reduce carryover and sand blasting. A simplified design that involves fewer moving parts helps increase uptime and further enhance reliability. Additionally, the new sweeper eliminates many lengthy maintenance needs such as complex after-treatment systems and cumbersome belt tensioning structures. Easily accessible components with locations hand-picked by experienced service technicians make servicing simple. Bolt-on wear parts were installed wherever possible for further ease. A 56-inch roll-off container dump height with 50-degree dump angle and 8-cubic-yard hopper helps avoid double handling and reduces the need to drive back to the facility to dump. They also help avoid environmental ground-dumping restrictions. With several features that make it easy to clean, including a simple hopper with rounded corners and an external self-dumping dust separator, the RegenX1 helps save time all around from sweeping to cleaning. “The RegenX1 provides incredible return on investment,” said Letts. “Combined with the company’s 100-plus years of experience and that indispensable customer input at all stages of the development process, the RegenX1 is a street sweeper that provides significant value for our customers.” For more information about the new RegenX1, visit elginsweeper. com/products/regenerative-air/regenx1.

NTEA announces 2022 Executive Leadership Summit lineup, location FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — Commercial vehicle industry leaders will gather in Baltimore, Md., when NTEA hosts its Executive Leadership Summit at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor with a full-day program Oct. 18, 2022, and an evening welcome reception Oct. 17. “Our industry is critical to keeping all aspects of the economy moving,” said Steve Carey, NTEA president and CEO. “Executive Leadership Summit provides a forum for the business owners and senior management teams of commercial vehicle companies to come together to share ideas, learn from key experts and take away insights that could be put to immediate use within their organizations.” Executive Leadership Summit addresses the dramatic marketplace dynamics currently impacting work truck industry companies. During this event, economists, industry leaders and government agencies 70 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

will share targeted information, including key trends, forecasts and insights. Content is designed to further commercial vehicle industry knowledge, growth and profitability. Topics covered include: • Work truck industry overview and macroeconomic update from NTEA’s staff economist. • Supply chain issues affecting manufacturers. • Industry leader panel with representatives from General Motors Fleet, Navistar and Allison Transmission discussing current market challenges and opportunities. • A situational analysis of trends within the commercial vehicle population with NTEA staff and representatives from S&P Global Mobility and Commercial Truck Trader. • A view of the future of the commercial vehicle industry. Registration for NTEA’s Executive Leadership Summit will open this summer. Visit ntea.com/executivesummit for further information and to sign up for event updates.

Buyers Products announces new line of Camlock Truck Tool Boxes CLEVELAND, OHIO — Buyers Products, a leading manufacturer of work truck equipment, unveiled its new line of Camlock Underbody Truck Tool Boxes at the 2022 Work Truck Show. Buyers manufactures the aluminum boxes in its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in northeast Ohio. The boxes are built with heavy-duty, 0.125-inch thick, smooth aluminum, and come equipped with either smooth aluminum or polished stainless-steel doors. A multi-position hasp allows the boxes to be installed on either the driver or passenger side of the trailer, which can help reduce upfitter inventory requirements. “We decided to add the camlock option to our underbody line-up for applications that need that added layer of security,” said Jennifer Pusateri, Truck Tool Box product manager at Buyers Products. “Our aluminum barn door boxes serve a large portion of the Class 8 trailer market. This box adds another dependably delivered box option. Camlock boxes are currently in production and will be available in the second quarter of 2022.

Mean Green launches NEMESIS, new professional-grade electric mower WAUKESHA, WIS. — Mean Green today announced the availability of the new Mean Green NEMESIS electric mower, designed for people who want a professional-grade mower but do not require go-all-day battery power. Ideal for professionals and homeowners alike, the zeroturn NEMESIS can cut up to 5 acres at a time when fully charged. The launch of the NEMESIS responds to the trend of the entire lawn and landscape market — from professionals working long days to homeowners tending to their property — moving toward increased use of heavy-duty electric-powered equipment. “The NEMESIS brings commercial power and reliability as well as state-of-the-art, high-performing features such as an interactive touch screen display that allows control of the blade speed, drive speed, and visibility to battery capacity in real-time,” said Brandon DeCoff, vice president chore marketing at Generac Power Systems.

BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Municipal internships will be available to New Jersey community college students statewide through a new partnership between the New Jersey Municipal Management Association and the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. The Municipal Connection Internship Program is the expansion of a successful internship program between Raritan Valley Community College and Hillsborough Township that will now be offered in all 18 New Jersey community colleges. Through the partnership, a representative from each community college will work closely with a NJMMA liaison who will coordinate municipal internships across the county. Every county has at least one municipality committed to participating in the program so far with the goal of adding more municipalities in the days ahead. The program will offer hands-on experience in the many diverse areas of the public sector, including public administration, accounting, engineering, public policy, human resources, communication and information, political science and business. Interns will be paid, earn college credits, and/or receive stipends. “The Municipal Connection Internship Program will allow us to help students grow and evolve within their own communities, all while exploring a potential future in municipal management and administraMANUFACTURING tion,” said Anthony Ferrera, president of NJMMA. “Our united team of INCORPORATED municipal and higher education professionals look forward to guiding the interns as they discover their future career paths.”

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News releases regarding personnel changes, other non-productrelated company changes, association news and awards are printed as space allows. Priority will be given to advertisers and affiliates. Releases not printed in the magazine can be found online at www.themunicipal.com. Call (800) 733–4111, ext. 2307, or email swright@the-papers.com.

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The NEMESIS offers a 2.25-hour run-time on its 7.2 kWh battery. It is capable of achieving a top speed of up to 8 mph, handling 15-degree slopes and offers the power equivalent to a 28-horsepower gas mower. Operational savings are built into every Mean Green product. At the professional level, switching from gas to battery-powered mowers turns into big savings on routine maintenance costs. With fewer moving parts to break and the overall expense of replacement componentry such as air filters and spark plugs, the savings between service intervals is noticeable. Fuel costs are also eliminated, along with the dilemma of gasoline storage for larger-sized property owners. While the 7.2 kWh battery in the NEMESIS is substantial, it will charge overnight and be ready for duty the next day. The NEMESIS also features dual-support, multi-position, anti-scalp wheel mounts to prevent the deck from contacting the ground when passing over high spots. An adjustable rollover protection structure, comfortable high-back suspension seat, dual USB charging ports and cup holders add to the creature comforts — with LED floodlights standard for those mowing later into the evening. For more information about the Mean Green Nemesis electric mower, visit MeanGreenProducts.com/NEMESIS.

JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 71

TOP 10 Best cities for urban gardening It’s that time of year for gardeners: Early-season vegetables are ripe, and hopefully the rest of what was cultivated during the spring is well on its way to a bountiful fall harvest. Whether it takes the form of a large suburban plot or a patio garden pot, 55% of Americans enjoy raising vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs. That explains why as urban living has risen in popularity, so has urban gardening. But where can city dwellers exercise their green thumbs? LawnStarter ranked 2022’s Best Cities for Urban Gardening. The following cities ranked the highest for a combination of easy access to gardening space and supplies, the ideal climate for communal plots, opportunity for container gardening and vertical food growing, and the opportunity to share the garden’s bounty with others. Wherever you live, there’s a type of garden just waiting for you to dig in and get your hands dirty!

1. St. Louis, Mo. 2. Cincinnati, Ohio 3. Atlanta, Ga. 4. Macon, Ga. 5. Salt Lake City, Utah 6. Miami, Fla. 7. Winston-Salem, N.C. 8. Baton Rouge, La. 9. August, Ga. 10. Salem, Ore. Source: https://lawnstarter.wpengine.com/blog/studies/best-cities-urban-gardening/ 74 THE MUNICIPAL | JULY 2022

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Advertiser Index A

Advance Tire Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Jamar Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Air Netix LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 All Access Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Alumitank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

L Land Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

American Shoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Andy Mohr Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

MaxCell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

APWA PWX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Minimizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

B BendPak Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Blackburn Manufacturing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Bonnell Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK Buyers Products Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

C Calhoun Super Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 CCI Piping Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Mobile Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Monroe Truck Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

N National Construction Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 New Way Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

O 1-800-Sweeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Olsson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Central Life Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

CleanFix North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Road Widener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 10-11

Clearspan Fabric Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Curbtender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

S Streamlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Strongwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

das Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Super Products LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

E Ebac Industrial Products Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Elgin Sweeper Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

F FCAR Tech USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Fluid Control Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Superior Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Swarco Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Switch-N-Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

T TrafFix Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Trinity Highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 TruGrit Traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Greystone Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Uline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

H Henderson Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Unique Paving Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

V VMAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-67

ICOM America Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

International Code Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Wisconsin Surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

This index is provided courtesy of the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions. JULY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 77

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