Magazine For America’s Municipalities
February 2026
Streets, Highways & Bridges
INSIDE: MRL Equipment Company, Inc. Bolingbrook, IL Permit No. 1939
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Increasing pedestrian safety Art in public rights of way
2 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
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Contents
February 2026
|
VOL. 16 No. 11
|
www.themunicipal.com
17 F ocus on Streets, Highways & Bridges
28 18 Streets, Highways & Bridges: Mobile downtown
optimization plan makes streets safer for pedestrians and drivers
22 Streets, Highways & Bridges: After two years, Colbern Road reopens as Lee’s Summit’s largest infrastructure Investment
40 24 Streets, Highways &
Bridges: Public art cultivates a sense of place in rights of way
28 Streets, Highways & Bridges: Elk Grove’s new pavement maintenance strategy raises PCI to 80
44
30 Streets, Highways &
Bridges: Lakewood, Colo., takes action on pedestrian safety
36 Public Safety: Mason City Police Department overhauls headquarters
40 Parks & Environmental
Services: Remodeled Fantasy Forest provides opportunities for residents
42 Water & Energy:
Dyersburg, Tenn., drills down on clean water
44 Municipal Management: Access on demand: El Paso provides ADA access on demand
ON THE COVER Striping trucks are mission-critical assets that keep pedestrians and motorists safe. When they perform well, roadways are safer, operations run efficiently and crews stay productive. When they don’t, the consequences are immediate: downtime, rework, budget overruns and public frustration. MRL’s Bridger PaintPro Series is designed specifically to address the operational, financial and procurement challenges municipalities face today. Learn more on page 10.
Streets, Highways & Bridges
INSIDE: MRL Equipment Company, Inc. Increasing pedestrian safety Art in public rights of way www.themunicipal.com
4 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Shutterstock photo
24
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 5
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
Departments 8 Editor’s Note: The evolution of roadways to multimodal wonders
10 From the Cover: MRL Equipment Company
12 Notable Destinations:
publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com
Metropolis, Ill.
graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com
business manager ANNETTE WEAVER aweaver@the-papers.com
director of sales and marketing KRISTIN DEVITTORIO kdevittorio@the-papers.com
mail manager KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com
marketing assistant REAGAN NICHOLS rnichols@the-papers.com
editorial assistant JODI MARLIN jodimarlin1241@gmail.com
34 Personality Profile: Jim Marquardt 46 Conference Calendar 47 Product Spotlights 48 News & Notes 50 Top 10: Best cities for coffee lovers 53 Advertiser Index
Contributing Writers Jennifer Barton, Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Lauren Caggiano, Nicholette Carlson, Denise Fedorow, Danielle Lund, Janet G. Patterson, Julie Young
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6 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
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 © 2026.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 7
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Editor’s Note
The evolution of roadways to multimodal wonders Sarah Wright | Editor
R
oads play vital roles in our lives. They bring us home after a long day of work. They connect us to family near and far. I definitely got my fill of state and local roads — even Carmel, Ind.’s, famed roundabouts — this past holiday season. However, our streets have long outgrown that singular purpose. Nowadays, most have shifted to a multimodal approach. They have embraced active transportation, adding space for cyclists and pedestrians. Recreation is big business, and while adding infrastructure is costly, it can pay dividends. Ashevilleonbikes.com found that “bicycle tourism generates $43 million each year in Western North Carolina — and hundreds of millions more nationwide.” In a report, “Bicycling Means Business: The Economic Benefits of Bicycling Infrastructure,” the League of American
8 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Bicyclists and Alliance for Biking & Walking found, “The nation’s 60 million annual recreational bicyclists spend $46.9 billion on meals, transportation, lodging, gifts and entertainment. One study estimates that the spillover effects of all bicycling-related activities could be as large as $133 billion, supporting 1.1 million jobs and generating $17.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.” Well-maintained roadways and multimodal infrastructure provide positive impacts in the lives of residents and visitors. They invite people to linger and explore, and maybe buy a coffee … among other goodies. Recently, while visiting Nappanee, Ind., I took time — while enjoying said goodies — to examine the sculptures the community has positioned along its roads. These sculptures change every so often, so there’s always something new and interesting in the downtown area while visiting local businesses. If the day hadn’t been so cold, I bet I would have seen pedestrians posing with them. In this issue, we’ll be visiting Nappanee again, alongside Indianapolis, Ind., Bloomington, Ind., and Denison, Texas, to uncover best practices for having art within rights of way. While each community has its own
guidelines, they share commonalities: prioritizing public safety and taking time before installation. The Municipal will also share the efforts of Lakewood, Colo., and Mobile, Ala., which both undertook extensive projects to improve road safety for pedestrians. In Lakewood’s case, it turned to technology — pedestrian detection warning systems — to address fatal pedestrian accidents. Its pilot program offered interesting results. As for Mobile, it is pushing forward with its downtown optimization plan to make it safer for pedestrians and drivers. As part of the plan, the city has removed 23 traffic signals, replacing them with four-way stops. Our other focuses in this street-themed issue include Lee’s Summit, Mo.’s, extensive Colbern Road improvement project, which will support the city’s continued growth, and Elk Grove, Calif.’s, pavement maintenance project, which has improved its pavement condition index. This February, let’s all appreciate the roadways we traverse, whether by car, bicycle or on foot, and perhaps stop to visit the local businesses along them.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 9
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From The Cover
A smarter approach to municipal road marking investment By BOYD MONTGOMERY | MRL Equipment Company, Inc.
Across cities, counties and departments of transportation nationwide, public works departments are under increasing pressure to do more with less. Aging infrastructure, staffing challenges, tighter budgets and rising public expectations mean every equipment decision must deliver measurable value, not just today, but over the full lifecycle of ownership. Few purchases illustrate this challenge more clearly than road marking equipment. Striping trucks are mission-critical assets. When they perform well, roadways are safer, operations run efficiently and crews stay productive. When they don’t, the consequences are immediate: downtime, rework, budget overruns and public frustration. Recognizing these realities, MRL has introduced the Bridger PaintPro Series, a road marking truck designed specifically to address the operational, financial and procurement challenges municipalities face today. 10 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Designed for public works realities Municipal environments are fundamentally different from private contracting operations. Equipment is shared across multiple operators, used seasonally and expected to perform reliably year after year — often with limited opportunity for downtime. Training new operators must be straightforward, and consistency is critical to meeting roadway standards and compliance requirements. The Bridger PaintPro Series was engineered with these realities in mind. Rather than adding unnecessary complexity, PaintPro
ABOVE: MRL Bridger Series 1-100-ALS Paint Truck, Isuzu NRR chassis Non-CDL 19,500lb GVW, 6pm hydraulically driven airless paint pumps, Skipline timing systems with one person operation functionality. (Photos provided by MRL Equipment Company)
focuses on simplified operation and proven systems that deliver consistent, repeatable striping results. This approach reduces the learning curve for operators, minimizes variability between crews and shifts, and helps departments maintain quality standards regardless of staffing changes. For public works leaders, this translates directly into reduced operational risk. Less time spent training means more time in the field. More consistent output means fewer restripes and less material waste. And simplified systems mean fewer opportunities for costly breakdowns during peak striping seasons.
Reliability that protects public investment Reliability is more than a performance metric; it’s a fiscal responsibility. Municipal buyers must justify equipment purchases not only on capability, but on durability, longevity and long-term cost control. A lower upfront price loses its appeal quickly if maintenance costs rise, downtime increases or service support becomes inconsistent. The Bridger PaintPro Series is built using proven components selected for durability and long service life under municipal use. This focus on reliability helps departments better predict maintenance schedules, manage operating budgets and extend usable service life — key factors in controlling total cost of ownership. Just as importantly, PaintPro is backed by MRL’s long-standing commitment to quality and customer support. For municipalities, confidence after the sale matters as much as performance on day one. Knowing that parts availability, technical expertise and service support will be there over the life of the equipment provides peace of mind and helps protect taxpayer dollars. Evaluating the full lifecycle cost Public agencies increasingly evaluate purchases through a lifecycle cost lens rather than initial acquisition price alone. Training time, operator consistency, downtime risk, rework, maintenance complexity, and service support are all factors that impact the true cost of ownership. When viewed through this broader perspective, the value of the Bridger PaintPro Series becomes clear. Simplified operation reduces training and labor costs. Consistent performance minimizes rework and repainting expenses. Proven components and predictable maintenance reduce unplanned downtime. Over time, these factors combine to create a more stable, defensible investment that aligns with public stewardship goals. For procurement teams and department leaders, this lifecyclefocused approach also supports clearer justification during budget reviews and council approvals. PaintPro is not positioned as a shortterm solution, but as a long-term asset designed to deliver reliable results season after season. Streamlining procurement through cooperative purchasing Even the best equipment solutions must navigate the realities of public procurement. Lengthy bid processes, administrative burdens and compliance requirements can delay acquisition and add complexity to already stretched departments. To help municipalities streamline this process, MRL offers cooperative purchasing options through Sourcewell, Canoe, HGAC and BuyBoard. These nationally recognized cooperatives allow eligible agencies to purchase the Bridger PaintPro Series using pre-competed contracts that meet public procurement standards. Cooperative purchasing offers several advantages: • Reduced administrative workload and procurement time. • Compliance with public purchasing requirements. • Transparent, competitive pricing. • Faster access to needed equipment. By leveraging these cooperatives, municipalities can move from evaluation to deployment more efficiently, ensuring crews have the equipment they need when striping seasons begin.
MRL Bridger Series 1-100-ALS Paint Truck, 100 gallons of yellow and white capacity, 1,000lb bead capacity, 2 operator stations.
MRL Bridger Series 1-100-ALS Paint Truck, MRL work light package, MRL safety light package designed for high visibility during night work operation. A responsible path forward Road marking equipment may not always attract headlines, but its impact on safety, efficiency and public trust is undeniable. Clear, consistent pavement markings improve traffic flow, enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians, and reflect the professionalism of public works operations. The Bridger PaintPro Series represents a thoughtful response to the evolving needs of municipal agencies. By prioritizing simplicity, reliability, lifecycle value and procurement flexibility, MRL has created a solution that supports both operational success and responsible fiscal management. For public works leaders seeking to modernize their fleets without increasing risk, or complexity, the message is clear: Investing in dependable, easy-to-operate equipment backed by long-term support is not just a practical decision. It’s a commitment to safer roads, more efficient operations and smarter use of public resources. As municipalities continue to balance growing demands with limited budgets, solutions like the Bridger PaintPro Series demonstrate that innovation doesn’t always mean more complexity. Sometimes, the smartest investment is simply one that works, consistently, reliably, and for the long haul.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 11
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Notable Destinations
Metropolis, Ill., is ‘Super’ fun for everyone
Shutterstock.com
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
One doesn’t have to “look up in the sky” to find the Man of Steel in Metropolis, Ill. The city is proud of its connection to the last son of Krypton, and it takes its superhero status seriously. In addition to the annual summer Superman celebration, the comic book icon is featured on the logo of the local paper — the Metropolis Planet, naturally — can be found on the city’s water tower, is showcased in public art and has an entire museum dedicated to his legacy. For the young or young at heart, a trip to Metropolis is super fun!
Get the scoop Located 230 miles southeast of Springfield near the Ohio River, Metropolis is a community of 6,500 whose official connection to Superman began in 1972. That year, DC Comics, in partnership with the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce, designated the city as the hometown of Superman. On June 9, 1972, the Illinois General Assembly passed HR 572 that not only made the designation official but also recognized the city for its “Project Superman” program and declared Kal-El a “distinguished son of Metropolis.” After plans for a Superman-themed amusement park fell through, the city hosted its first 12 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
The Super Museum holds the largest collection of Superman memorabilia and calls Metropolis, Ill., home. The city is known as the official “Home of Superman.” (Photo provided by Supermuseum.com)
Superman Celebration in June 1979. What began as a local tradition eventually drew thousands to the multiday festival that includes celebrity guests, costume contests, vendors and carnival rides. On Nov. 7, 1986, the city unveiled its first Superman statue, an 8-foot-tall, 200-pound, fiberglass form that cost $1,000. However, it was targeted by vandals determined to find out if Superman really was impervious to a speeding bullet. He was not. In 1993, Metropolis unveiled a new, $100,000, 15-foot, 6,000-pound bronze statue that was paid for by selling personalized bricks to the public for $35 a piece. The bricks were laid at the base of the statue and on the walkway leading
up to it. The statue not only commemorates the superhero’s connection to the community but is also the perfect place to snap a picture. Superman’s gal pal Lois Lane also has a statue located on the corner of Market and Eighth streets. The statue, a 20% larger-thanlife piece, is a rendering of actress Noel Neill, who played the Daily Planet reporter in the 1950s television series starring George Reeves. Neill not only made several appearances at the town’s annual celebration but also made Metropolis her home prior to her 2016 death. Anchoring two nearby benches is the Metropolis Planet globe, which was gifted to the newspaper in 1994. It was relocated to its
A longtime Superman enthusiast and collector, Jim Hambrick founded the Super Museum on the town square in Metropolis, Ill. (Photo provided by Supermuseum.com)
Lois Lane also has a statue located on the corner of Market and Eighth streets in Metropolis. (Photo provided by Supermuseum.com)
current location when the paper closed its local offices and moved its operations to Paducah, Ky. A shrine for superfans Of course, no trip to Metropolis is complete without a stop at the Super Museum. Located at 517 Market Street, the Super Museum features over 70,000 items collected by the late Jim Hambrick, a longtime Superman enthusiast who opened the museum in 1993. At one time, Superman was considered to be the most recognizable American character next to Mickey Mouse. Hambrick’s collection contains nearly every Superman toy ever made as well as props and promotional items from every Superman movie and TV show. It is organized around the various eras of Superman and is changed frequently to encourage repeat visitors. The museum has one of the only George Reeves Superman costumes still in existence, as well as a tunic, trunks and leggings worn by Christopher Reeve that have been recently restored. The location has been featured in numerous television shows including Entertainment Tonight, The Daily Show and Collector’s Call and has been awarded #1 Small Town Attraction in America. Visitors to the museum say the roadside attraction may be small but it packs a punch, with lots to see for an $8 general admission. Well-behaved super pets are also welcome. Kat Marley of Rockville, Ill., said she was not a huge Superman fan when she visited the
Super Museum in Metropolis, Ill., features more than 70,000-plus items related to the legendary Man of Steel. The collection includes movie props from the Christopher Reeve version of the movie, Superman toys, and more. (Photo provided by Supermuseum.com) museum, but her appreciation has grown after seeing the collection. “It is chocked full of all kinds of Superman toys, statues and lots of movie props,” she said in her TripAdvisor review. “Super awesome and super fun!”
Jason Chauvin of Houma, La., said the museum offers an impressive collection for the money. “Everything is the real deal, and well worth an hour of your time,” he said.
Super Museum The Super Museum is located at 517 Market St. in Metropolis, Ill. Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission: $8 Children under 5 are free with a paid adult Phone: (618) 524-5518 Website: www.supermuseum.com.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 13
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Lakewood, Colo., found that over 90% of all pedestrian crashes in the entire city were occurring in a mile section of West Colfax Drive.
Read how the city addressed this section of road on page 30.
$10.3 million Elk Grove, Calif., spent approximately $10.3 million on its surface treatment projects. Funding came from local funding along with assistance from Senate Bill 1, addressing road maintenance projects, and Measure A, used to fix local streets and reduce road congestion. Learn about how Elk Grove increased its Pavement Condition Index on page 28.
200 Bloomington, Ind.’s, call for artists saw nearly 200 respond.
See how different cities are using and managing art in their right of ways on page 24.
43 Morgantown, W.Va., paved 43 roads in 2025; the selected roads were judged a year ago to be most in need of road improvements. A 6.5-mile repaving plan was determined based on a pavement quality system and included those with deferred maintenance as well as smaller roads. Find out more at https://wajr.com/2025/07/29/city-of-morgantown-to-move-forwardwith-2025-street-paving-plan/
Streets, Highways & Bridges
focus on:
$30 million Lee’s Summit, Mo.’s, $30 million Colbern Road Improvements Project, which spans from Northeast Douglas Street to Northwest Blue Parkway, officially reopened this fall following construction that began in September 2023. It marked the city’s largest single capital infrastructure investment in the city’s history. Read about this project to support continued growth on page 22.
12 weeks City engineers in Greenville, S.C., developed a traffic management center where they can monitor and adjust traffic lights to improve traffic flow using real-time data that refreshes every five minutes. The data is compared to the average of the past 12 weeks for that exact time bin. Source: https://www.wyff4.com/article/ greenville-traffic-management-center-improve-commute-rush-hour/69416662.
$995,000 Minnesota and the cities of Mankato and North Mankato reached a cost-sharing agreement to build a new bridge deck and make a total of $23 million in improvements to the 39-year-old Veterans Memorial Bridge this year. Grants also contributed to each of the cities’ obligation dropping to $995,000 or below. For details, visit https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/ cities-mndot-reach-accord-on-23m-vets-bridge-project/article_60b864cb-3d59-48e78b09-13e0507c5c7d.html.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 17
M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
Mobile downtown optimization plan makes streets safer for pedestrians and drivers By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
Together, the city of Mobile, Ala., and the Downtown Mobile Alliance are working on completing a downtown optimization plan to make downtown Mobile safer for pedestrians and drivers. In 2017, they teamed up to create a zoning code for the downtown area and later a citywide zoning initiative. In 2020, they began a planning initiative for the downtown streets project, including the public and various community stakeholders. Following the design’s submission to engineering, the project received approval in June 2025, and construction commenced. 18 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
ABOVE: The city of Mobile, Ala., and Downtown Mobile Alliance teamed up to complete a downtown optimization plan to make the area safer for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists. During COVID, Jeff Beck came to Mobile and did a block-by-block assessment of the downtown and made recommendations. From this, city engineers were then brought in to design and plan. (Photo provided by the city of Mobile, Ala.)
Nine streets were re-striped and made more narrow by allowing two-way traffic with parking on both sides. While parking spaces are tighter, this also encourages drivers to move more slowly. (Photo provided by the city of Mobile, Ala.)
Twenty-three traffic signals were removed and replaced with fourway stops. This allows a more steady flow for traffic while also encouraging slower speeds from drivers. Many one-way streets were also switched to two-way streets. (Photo provided by the city of Mobile, Ala.)
As part of this master plan and attendance at conferences, Fred Rendfrey, Downtown Mobile Alliance president and CEO, was introduced to Jeff Beck, who is well known for his work with walkable cities. “All of our customers are pedestrians,” Rendfrey explained. “Whether it’s people at a park, people walking downtown or people walking from their car into a store — they’re a pedestrian. We want to provide streets that are safe, walkable and good for business.” During COVID, Mobile reached out to Beck, and he did a block-byblock assessment of the street and made recommendations to the city. Between 2022 and 2023, the city engineers were brought on to turn the design and planning into reality. This then made funding a necessity. The majority of the funding has come from the Mobile tax increment financing. This TIF uses future tax growth in order to fund public projects downtown, to freeze the tax base so that any additional tax revenue from new development is captured and then used to pay for these downtown optimization projects. However, it took a while to get the funding for the project lined up. Approximately $500,000 was spent taking the planning and design documents and turning them into engineering documents in order to put the project out for bid. Approximately $1.1 million was the cost to remove traffic signals, while the resurfacing, re-striping and ADA ramps were approximately $3.4 million. This put the total cost of the project at over $4 million. “We recognize as a city that the downtown is very important,” Nick Amberger, city engineer, stated. “We had to embrace different
Much of the funding came from tax increment financing, using future tax growth to fund public projects, such as the downtown optimization plan. A little over $1 million was spent removing traffic signals and over $3 million spent re-surfacing, re-striping and adding ADA ramps. The total cost of the project was over $4 million. (Photo provided by the city of Mobile, Ala). concepts since we are typically designing projects for cars while this one is designed for people.” While normally the city puts traffic signals up, for this project, the city was removing signals. A total of 23 traffic signals were removed and replaced with four-way stops. Amberger noted, “Some love it and some hate it. It clearly does what it was intended to do.” Many one-way streets were switched to two-way streets. Nine streets were also changed with re-striping and made narrower. While the streets are wide enough for three lanes, the street was converted to two-lane traffic with parking spaces on both sides. While the parking spaces may be tighter, it encourages drivers to slow down. One challenge was that the plan drawn for one block would not work. The city opted to change the striping plan back to its existing conditions so that it would still work well with the overall plan. While there were initially a great deal of concerns and complaints, many of those complaints have ceased now that residents and visitors can see the bigger perspective and how it all works together.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 19
continued from page 19
Rendfrey agreed, “One of the biggest complaints is that there are more stop signs. But people also agree it’s better than being stuck at a red light when no one is coming — what we call ‘purgatory lights.’ Most people consider it a welcome trade and compromise.” As part of a complete streets rebuild, the city took advantage of people staying indoors during COVID and ground and repaved the main entertainment street. The city also took the time to pave multiple other streets downtown so businesses were not as impacted. With no additional real estate for the downtown restoration, businesses and buildings are being remodeled, and many additional streets are being converted to two-way over time. The removal of “road blight” that no longer fit the ambiance of downtown Mobile and the addition of ADA ramps, sidewalk work and even bicycle lanes has helped to make downtown more accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. This project represents a good balance between the planning and engineering sides and the process of turning plans into actual engineering. “Now we’re in the execution phase, and it’s producing better results than we thought it would,” Amberger noted. There is still more paving, striping and concrete work to be completed, and this time of year is not always cooperative. Mobile is also well-known for its Mardi Gras parades and celebrations that typically last two to three weeks, which halts construction during that time. The goal is to have the project construction completed by spring.
While there were some complaints, the changes are successful in doing what they are meant to do. In fact, the results seem to be better than expected. While taking the possibility of inclement weather and Mardi Gras into account, the project is expected to be completed this spring. (Photo provided by the city of Mobile, Ala.) Amberger said, “We hope to take the downtown, which is already thriving, and help it thrive even more.”
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FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 21
M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
After two years, Colbern Road reopens as Lee’s Summit’s largest infrastructure investment By DANIELLE LUND | The Municipal
After more than two years of phased construction, detours and disruption, Colbern Road is open again, finally revealing what city officials are calling the largest single capital infrastructure investment in Lee’s Summit, Mo.’s, history. The $30 million Colbern Road Improvements Project, which spans from Northeast Douglas Street to Northwest Blue Parkway, officially reopened last fall following construction that began in September 2023. For residents, commuters and businesses that rely on the corridor, the reopening marks the end of a long wait, and the beginning of a more 22 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
modern roadway designed to support the city’s continued growth. “This unimproved road was annexed into the city more than a decade ago, and there were significant safety and capacity concerns,” said Michael Park, director of public works for the city of Lee’s Summit. “The project has addressed those concerns, and
ABOVE: Over the years, Lee’s Summit has seen an increase in development, which has increased traffic volumes. (Cconnor1/ Shutterstock.com)
the improvements have unlocked exciting economic development opportunities for the city.” While construction lasted just over two years, the planning behind the Colbern Road project stretched much further than that. According to Sarah Shore, assistant director of public works administration, the project followed a multiyear planning and design process and was funded through a combination of local, state and federal sources.
Funding came from the city’s 2017 Capital Improvement Sales Tax, water and sewer funds, and state and federal transportation grants. The project was also one of just 20 statewide to receive support through Missouri’s Governor’s Cost Share Program, underscoring its regional significance. Given the scale of the work, construction was completed in phases, allowing the city to maintain access along the corridor while crews reconstructed the roadway, replaced bridges and upgraded underground utilities. City leaders say the project was necessary to address long-standing traffic congestion, safety issues and aging infrastructure along Colbern Road. Over several decades, development in the surrounding area increased traffic volumes beyond what the existing roadway could safely handle. “The existing roadway no longer met modern safety standards or the needs of pedestrians and cyclists,” Shore said. “Addressing these issues was critical to improving mobility, reducing congestion and supporting continued development.” The rebuilt corridor now includes wider lanes, redesigned intersections and modern roundabouts to improve traffic flow and reduce crash risks. New sidewalks and wide, separated pathways provide safer access for pedestrians and cyclists, while upgraded stormwater and drainage systems improve long-term resilience. Two major bridge replacements, one over a railroad crossing and the other over a nearby creek, were also completed as part of the project, improving structural integrity and safety for motorists. In addition to functional improvements, the project added new street lighting and landscaping to enhance visibility and aesthetics along the corridor. Major infrastructure projects often test the patience of nearby residents and businesses, and Colbern Road was no exception. Construction-related delays and access changes were unavoidable given the scope of the work. Despite the challenges, city officials say the public response has reflected a general understanding of the project’s long-term value. “While construction impacts were expected, the reopening of Colbern Road marks a significant milestone for residents and businesses that rely on the corridor,” Shore said. “City leadership has emphasized that the
Lee’s Summit, Mo., reopened Colbern Road in October 2025. The improved road addressed significant safety and capacity concerns with wider lanes, redesigned intersections and modern roundabouts to improve traffic flow and reduce crash risks. (Photo provided by Lee’s Summit, Mo.)
improvements will benefit the community for decades.” Several major institutions along the corridor worked closely with the city throughout construction, including Unity Village and Discovery Park, both of which rely on Colbern Road as a key access point. Michael VanBuskirk, representing both organizations, spoke at the project’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the city and private stakeholders during extended construction. Unity Village, a historic campus and spiritual retreat center, and Discovery Park, a large-scale mixed-use development, are expected to benefit directly from improved access, traffic flow and pedestrian connectivity. Beyond transportation benefits, city leaders see Colbern Road as a catalyst for economic development. The improved corridor supports ongoing and future development projects in the area, including a proposed regional park and continued expansion at Discovery Park. As development progresses, Discovery Park plans to make additional improvements of its own, including the construction of a
right-turn lane to support increased traffic and safer access to the site. These incremental enhancements, city officials say, reflect the long-term vision behind the project itself, which is not just fixing an old road, but preparing the corridor for decades of growth in the future. With Colbern Road now reopened, Lee’s Summit officials are already looking toward the future. The project stands as a model of how cities can leverage diverse funding sources, coordinate complex construction and balance short-term disruption with longterm gain. For drivers, the changes may be immediately noticeable, as there is already significantly smoother traffic flow, clearer intersections and safer crossings. For the city as a whole, the benefits may unfold more gradually, as development accelerates and infrastructure keeps pace with demand. “This project wasn’t just about pavement,” Park said. “It was about safety, accessibility and setting the stage for Lee’s Summit’s next chapter.” As vehicles once again move freely along Colbern Road, the corridor now reflects not just where the city has been, but where it’s headed.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 23
M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
Public art cultivates a sense of place in rights of way By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
Driving through towns and cities that have incorporated artwork into their landscapes and roadways might have us believe that making it happen is an effortless endeavor. But the folks who are involved know it takes more than meets the eye. “It is a lonnnng process,” emphasized Holly Warren, Bloomington, Ind.’s, assistant director of arts. A permanent installation can take several years from the moment the project is announced to its completion. Julia Muney Moore, director of public art for the city of Indianapolis, Ind., agreed that public art, especially in public rights of way, can’t just magically happen. She stresses
24 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
collaboration between arts people and public works people. “Public works people know public works; arts people know the arts. We have had success in Indy by letting the experts work in the areas they know and trusting their partners to cover the rest.” Moore noted, “We are good at helping them scope and frame a project so that artists will be interested in it and will benefit from
ABOVE: Engaging the community at large in the selection and sometimes the creation of art in public rights of way is one key to its success. This mural was created on a Duke Energy substation wall in Bloomington, Ind. (Photo by Garrett Ann Walters)
it creatively and financially … (public works people) are good at logistics, engineering and connecting artists to the community for indepth discussions.” She describes art in the public right of way as a means “for communities to celebrate their unique identities using art within the city right-of-way for placemaking and beautification within their neighborhoods. This also offers a unique way to build community bonds.”
This piece, “Graffiti” by Jeff Stillson, was positioned by Nappanee’s busy Market Street in 2019. (Photo by Sarah Wright) In 2019, Nappanee, Ind., had the Junkyard Dogs display, featuring dogs created with repurposed metal. Pictured is “Tiny” by Lisetta Zahm with assistance by Mark Zahm. (Photo by Sarah Wright)
Both Moore and Bloomington’s Warren agree that one of the first steps is engaging the community in the process of selecting the most welcome type of art. Bloomington has a selection process involving several committees that seek the best artists for the type of art it wants. Bloomington’s process involves considering whether the proposed art enhances a sense of place and the people who live there. Considerations include historical or archaeological research; encouraging collaboration with Black, Indigenous and People of Color who have historic connections to the area; attracting cultural visitors; encouraging interaction between art and the surroundings; and appealing to people of various backgrounds, age or ability. Once Bloomington pursues a project, Warren said, “We do a call for artists to show us what they can do. We leave the call open for a long time, which presents us with the best opportunities for the best artists from the broadest area. Our goal is to narrow the field to artists who are most experienced in the type of work we want.” One of the city’s recent projects will be part of the convention center expansion. Nearly 200 artists responded to the call. “Every one of them was amazing, but we were looking
for those most experienced in three-dimensional permanent installations.” Once the field is narrowed, artists are invited to present a full proposal and are given a $5,000 honorarium for the submission. When the decision is made about who will create what, Warren said the artist needs time to do the creating. In this case, the finished installation for the convention center project is planned for the center’s opening in early 2027. Moving from concept to completion not only requires thought for the project at hand, but guidelines that help both the city and artisans in the creation process. Moore describes the division of labor on a project with the city being responsible for land ownership, process oversight, funding through grants programs and the logistics of the actual installation. In Indianapolis, the Arts Council provides public art expertise, connections with artists and also helps with funding through the council’s funding and grants. Bloomington’s written policy also defines and specifies the dynamics of private art installations in the public right of way. The approval of private art installations in public right of ways are channeled through one of two city programs: the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program and the Special Event Application. Both programs have guidelines for installations. Definitions for such projects include temporary art, semi-permanent and permanent
art, art installations, street paintings or murals. Both Moore and Warren stress that careful planning is necessary to make clear what is art and what is safe traffic function in a public right of way. Among the criteria in Bloomington’s policy is that art installations “may not mimic in whole or part traffic control devices, including … a crosswalk, stop sign, stop bar or similar traffic control device.” Traffic should not be altered to drive around the art, and the artwork should not “depict activities, materials, images or products that are not legally available to all ages.” Street paintings and street murals are limited to local or secondary collector routes where speed limits do not exceed 25 miles per hour. Like Bloomington, Denison, Texas, requires that all art must be “family friendly” and includes the condition that it should relate to the city’s heritage. Founded in 1872, Denison, like many older towns, had historic buildings that were covered with modern facades. In 1988, the city made a commitment to revive the historic buildings and include beauty in its persona. Donna Dow, who owns the official title of Main Street director, leads the city revitalization and dedication to art. “We have murals, sculptures, banners, steeples (including one stained glass steeple), stained glass windows, historic markers, kiosks, walks, fountains, statues and painted dumpsters. And, of course, we have the beautiful architecture of our buildings,” she noted. FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 25
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Denison was one of three cities in the country that won a Great American Main Street Award for 2025. “We revitalized our downtown using the Main Street Approach, developed in 1977 through the National Trust (for Historic Preservation). Downtown revitalization takes years, and you have to be diligent and committed to the work,” Dow said. The city adopted a public art policy in December 2020. Included in the policy is a special section devoted to murals, asking artists to use durable materials and to plan the location in relation to sun, traffic and areas that would be subject to dirt and chemicals. The policy also recommends treating murals with an anti-graffiti coating to protect against vandalism. And all of this must be done while keeping the integrity of Denison’s historic buildings in mind. Maintenance is another issue that Denison has addressed in its public art guidelines. “We require that the property owner maintains for a minimum of five years,” she said. Moore agreed that maintenance is among the long-term considerations for public art. “Right now, we have a couple of pieces from 20 years ago that somehow the city owns because that was standard at the time, but now the city’s policy is not to own art.” She said the pieces have deteriorated, but there is no budget for maintenance and no plan for decommissioning. Safety is also a concern addressed in Denison’s public art guidelines. Items such as trip hazards, suspended objects that can injure and designs that could trap a child’s head are all prohibited under Denison’s policy. Around the country, public art is seeing an explosion of creativity and innovation with colorfully painted dumpsters, traffic signal boxes, rainwater cisterns, and sculptures of native animals like bison painted by local clubs and organizations. In Nappanee, Ind., public art took shape about 10 years ago with an art display by local artist Jeff Stillson. The city formed the Nappanee Arts Council in 2017 when Stillson and Mayor Phil Jenkins met to promote art in the community as a vehicle for economic development and tourism. “The city provided a studio space in a city-owned building for residents and art council members to create art and educate the public about the importance of art in community building,” Jenkins said. Nappanee’s public art debuted in 2018 with 3D sculptures displayed downtown for a year before being moved to a permanent location along an Art Path on the multiuse trail in the city’s park system. Jenkins said Nappanee has had a new set of themed sculptures from 2018 to 2023 with the addition of a “cartoon alley” in downtown, and 56 nutcracker sculptures have been added to its downtown’s annual holiday display. Like Bloomington and Denison, Nappanee works with the local street department and the state highway department to ensure that its public art is not an obstruction for motorists or pedestrians. Jenkins added that “placing art in frequently traveled areas with adequate lighting … helps reduce the risk of vandalism.” Looking to the future, Warren said her goal in Bloomington is to spend the next few years creating a plan for growing the use of public art in the city. “I’d like us to take the time to be more intentional and to consider where the opportunities are in downtown and in the neighborhoods.”
26 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
A light sculpture by Stefan Reiss brightens Bloomington, Ind.’s, Trades District. (Photo by Tim Street)
Crosswalk art in front of Indianapolis’ independent art house and theater, Kan Kan, reflects the culture of the Windsor Park neighborhood and the flavor of the events held there. (Photo provided by Indianapolis, Ind.)
She believes that art in the public space is part of a city’s economic development. “We need to do it in a manageable and responsible way.” Moore added that public art “builds and conveys community identity, claims space against gentrification, signals a city’s priorities and humanizes the streetscape.” Problems happen, she noted, when arts people try to play in the public works space and they try to play in arts administration or creative direction. Everyone needs to stick to what they do best. Key to the success of public arts projects, Moore said, are good communication with all involved as well as the community at large, realistic assumptions about what can and can’t be done, clarity about the individual artist’s pay, timeline and scope of work, as well as allowing enough time for the project.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 27
M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
Elk Grove’s new pavement maintenance strategy raises PCI to 80 By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
The city of Elk Grove, Calif., has typically implemented pavement maintenance projects annually and, over the last eight years, has expanded both the scope and funding of the maintenance projects. “This reflects the city’s commitment to a ‘fix it first’ strategy,” stated Robert French, public works operations manager, capital maintenance division, “recognizing it as the most cost-effective approach to preserving roadway infrastructure.” Recent surface treatment projects completed necessary surface spot repairs to streets and upgraded all ADA ramps with a slurry seal, micro-surfacing, cape seal and overlay as the primary treatments. The division in charge of this project was capital maintenance, operating under the operations and maintenance department in 28 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Elk Grove. This new approach to surface treatment began eight years ago, and its goal was to bring as much of the project development, bidding and construction management processes in-house. With this in mind and the expansion of both the staff and expertise, soft costs for the project were successfully minimized. “This model also fostered a strong sense of project ownership,” French described, “as the same staff involved in project scoping also participated in inspection and close-out activities. This continuity allowed team members to directly observe what worked and
ABOVE: The city of Elk Grove, Calif., is committed to a fix-it first strategy instead of replacement when it comes to road maintenance. Recently, the public works department came out with a new slurry seal, micro-surfacing cape seal and overlay as the primary road treatments. (Photo provided by the Elk Grove, Calif., Public Works Department)
what didn’t, creating valuable, hands-on lessons learned. With this growing knowledge and experience, we continuously improved our project delivery process.” This allowed the work to be completed between late spring and early fall last year. The city has a five-year pavement maintenance program, and the current project and streets were chosen based on condition, proximity and overall needs of the city and
The city has divided the streets into 113 subzones so projects can be prioritized based on priority and geography so there is minimal disruption to the residents. The five-year plan remains flexible, with road conditions being monitored regularly. (Photo provided by the Elk Grove, Calif., Public Works Department)
infrastructure. The street systems were divided into 113 subzones so that street projects could be geographically grouped into projects. This approach helped to reduce the overall costs for street maintenance and also allowed minimal disruption to residents. “While there are always some adjustments and minor changes to the scope of work, all projects were completed on time and within budget,” French explained. “Because road conditions are monitored regularly, the five-year plan remains flexible and minor adjustments can be made as funding levels or priorities change.” The total cost for the surface treatment projects was approximately $10.3 million. Funding for the project came from local funding along with assistance from Senate Bill 1, addressing road maintenance projects, and Measure A, used to fix local streets and reduce road congestion. One of the greatest results from the surface treatment projects was the improvement of the pavement condition index from 68 to 80. The pavement condition index helps to assess the overall condition of a city’s roadway network. In 2015, the city’s PCI was 65, and in 2024, after the road improvement projects, it was rated an 80. “The upward trend is notable as many agencies struggle to maintain, let alone improve, their PCI scores,” French noted. “The city set a clear funding goal to reach a PCI of 80, and the capital maintenance team successfully delivered the projects needed to achieve it. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the strong support of the public works staff, the city manager and the city council.” The League of California Cities, County Engineers Association of California and California State Association of Counties awarded Elk Grove the overall winner of the 2025 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards. Applying primary treatments and the division
One of the greatest improvements of this project was the large improvement in the city’s pavement condition index. When rated in 2015, the city’s PCI was 65, and after the road improvement projects, the city then rated an 80. (Photo provided by the Elk Grove, Calif., Public Works Department)
Elk Grove was the overall winner of the 2025 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project awards from the League of California Cities, County Engineers Association of California and California State Association of Counties for its cost-effective and timely road improvements project. (Photo provided by the Elk Grove, Calif., Public Works Department)
of roads into subzones effectively helped to provide a noteworthy, innovative approach while saving the city money. “While the award recognized a specific project, for staff it served as a validation of the processes established to ensure timely and costeffective project delivery,” French emphasized. “It also highlights the city’s strong commitment to pavement management and the measurable success of the program.” FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 29
M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
Lakewood, Colo., takes action on pedestrian safety By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal
The city of Lakewood, Colo., recognized it had a serious problem with fatal pedestrian accidents, so it looked for a solution, including testing pedestrian detection warning systems, one of which won an award after their pilot project. Mike Whiteaker, city transportation engineer for the city of Lakewood, said, “What started all this, unfortunately, was pedestrian crashes, most of which were fatal.” Most of those accidents were occurring on a mile-and-a-half-long section of West Colfax between Sheridan Boulevard and Teller Street, and most were on the east end of the road. “Over 90% of all pedestrian crashes in the whole city were occurring in that mile section of the road,” he said. 30 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Whiteaker said they set about looking for solutions and understanding why this was occurring starting in 2017, and some occurrences were because of socioeconomic issues — homelessness and drug addiction — and lack of adequate sidewalks. He said West Colfax is a state highway that kept widening over the decades, and it widened to seven lanes, with three lanes in each direction. This change made sidewalks either nonexistent or too close to the road.
ABOVE: This view of a section of West Colfax in Lakewood, Colo. — taken from the traffic cameras — shows some of the median improvements in Phase I of the project. These improvements included high median walls and fencing to discourage pedestrians from crossing where they’re not expected to cross, instead funneling them to a crosswalk. (Photo provided by Lakewood, Colo.) According to a report on the city’s website, in mid-2021, Lakewood sought feedback from residents, business owners, transit users and all who travel this section of West Colfax Avenue to shape the future vision for the corridor and identify needed safety improvements. In December 2021, the detailed design phase began.
The logo for the West Colfax transportation project
“The final design will seek to repurpose an underutilized travel lane to provide safe sidewalks comfortable for anyone regardless of physical abilities, to guide pedestrians to specially designated safe road crossings, to decrease the number of vehicle access points to Colfax in order to minimize conflict along the corridor, to improve roadway and pedestrian lighting, and to implement a pedestrian entry warning system that will be developed specifically for West Colfax to warn drivers of jaywalking pedestrians,” according to that report. In August 2024, the project team hosted an open house, providing business owners and community members the opportunity to meet with them and have their questions answered. The team attended a few other community events as well to receive feedback. At some point, a survey was conducted. It found 75% of respondents felt unsafe walking on Colfax and 33% of respondents felt unsafe driving on Colfax. Lakewood Transportation Engineering identified 820 total crashes in this 1.5-mile segment from January 2015 to December 2019. Those crashes have caused 283 serious injuries and six fatalities. Ninetyeight of the crashes involved a pedestrian or cyclist. Of the 98 crashes, 74 resulted in serious injuries and five resulted in death. These statistics indicated that a crash occurred every other day in the project area. When the team started digging into the causes, they found that most of the issues were caused by pedestrians unexpectedly crossing the road. “We’d hear time and again, ‘They came out of nowhere,’” Whiteaker said. He explained, “One of our traffic sergeants said it’s not that different from our wildlife crossings — (they have) signs that indicate to motorists that wildlife is ahead, so that
This multilane section of West Colfax has proven to be dangerous, and the city of Lakewood is taking action to make it safer for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists with a three-phase project that includes a pedestrian detection warning system. (Photo provided by Lakewood, Colo.)
was the impetus of some of our pedestrian safety plan.” Lakewood worked with the Colorado Department of Transportation and came to an agreement to narrow the road to five lanes — two lanes in each direction and a median in the middle. The West Colfax Pedestrian Safety Three-Phase Plan Phase I was wrapping up at the end of December 2025 and includes the median work. Whiteaker said Lakewood got the idea for the median work from Ocean City, Md., which was having some of the same issues. In Ocean City, the city put the same fencing it used to control the sand dunes and repurposed it for the medians. “So, we took that same concept and ran with it,” Whiteaker said. Lakewood put in high medians to make it hard to cross and fences where the medians are low. It also put in Z pedestrian crossings, which are staggered crossings to minimize the direction of traffic pedestrians need to look for, and the idea is to funnel them to crossings where drivers are more likely to see them. There’re also pedestrian signs, markings and lights in the medians.
The second phase, anticipated to begin in the spring or summer of 2026, will encompass roadway reduction, the construction of new curbs and sidewalks, and the integration of 6-foot landscape separations along the sidewalks, with the addition of shrubbery to deter pedestrian crossings in the center of the street. According to the website report, this phase will also include access management, a new traffic signal and pedestrian hybrid beacons at Z crossings, utility design, new bus lane pullouts, pedestrian lighting, stormwater system improvements, placemaking elements and public art. Phase III will be the pedestrian detection technology and driver warning systems. The city hired FHU Consultants to do the design work and the technology design. The technology will turn on signs that warn drivers when there’s a pedestrian ahead — an outgrowth of the city’s wildlife crossing warnings. “It gives drivers a lot more time to react. If you can shave off one second of response time, that could be the difference between hitting someone or not hitting someone,” he said. Lakewood put out an open invitation that it wanted to work with companies and test their systems. He said the city initially received responses from four companies: FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 31
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Ouster LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), Velodyne LIDAR, Derq Video Analytics and Bosch. Bosch backed out during the design phase, so Lakewood tested the other three companies. That took about three to four months and the city then did a second round of testing, with Whiteaker noting, “Because no one was happy with the results — they wanted to tweak their systems, and by then, Ouster and Velodyne merged so only two companies did a second round.” The second round resulted in the low 90s for effectiveness, Whiteaker said, citing that there were some issues with different weather conditions, distances or pedestrian movements. The system was monitored consistently, and Derq sent the city 15-second video clips looking at post-encroachment times, which Whiteaker described as two objects occupying the same space at the same time, or near misses. “We thought we knew what was going on, but it was very eye-opening to see the data and see how many near misses there were out there,” Whiteaker said. A short time later Lakewood was approached by Sony and Leopard — Sony makes the chips with AI capabilities, and Leopard makes the cameras. He said it was the same story: The first round didn’t go as well, and they weren’t happy. It was more accurate further away than closeup, so they retrained the system and tweaked it and came back. These efforts put the system’s results pretty close to 100%. Once the object was 5 feet into the roadway, they should be able to detect it. “So, it’s real promising that it can positively detect something 5 foot in the roadway,” he said. Pilot project award During the pilot project, the Sony AITRIOSenabled and Leopard Imaging/AglaiaSense could train their AI-powered detection tool to almost 100% accuracy to detect a person at least 3 feet into West Colfax for over 200 feet of distance from the camera. The project performed both controlled and uncontrolled testing. Controlled testing set scenarios at different distances and speeds, while the uncontrolled monitored the normal movements of the roadway for several weeks. The system also had to account for several variables, such as pedestrians jaywalking at different distances from the intersection, moving at different speeds or crossing the road and then pausing at the
32 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
The city of Lakewood, Colo.’s, Civic Center holds Lakewood City Hall, The Centre, Angelo Iacoboni Library and Lakewood Sheriff’s Station. Lakewood is in the midst of a pedestrian safety transportation project. (Photo provided by Lakewood, Colo.)
“If I had to choose today, I’d go with the Sony median for 30 seconds, and also pedestrians Leopard system,” he said. walking parallel to the detection zone. The product from Sony and Leopard The estimated cost of the project is $30 received the EDGE AI Blueprint Gold Medal million for all the physical infrastructure, for its groundbreaking pedestrian detection Whiteaker explained. The city received a $10.5 technology. The EDGE AI Foundation is a million grant from Colorado’s Safer Main Street global nonprofit that seeks to bring together Initiative in December 2020, and the Lakewood researchers, businesses and policymakers to City Council approved a $2.5 million local match. This project reportedly received the tackle big challenges. In an April press release from the city, EDGE largest amount awarded under the program. AI Foundation Chief Financial Officer Pete Lakewood also got Transportation ImproveBernard stated, “The Gold Blueprint Award ment Fund grants, giving a mix of funds to get was awarded because it embodies the spirit to the $30 million. of what the EDGE AI Foundation stands for: Along with the Colorado DOT, the city has bold collaboration between public and private also partnered with the Lakewood-West Colfax sectors to solve pressing real-world challenges. Business Improvement District, the Regional This initiative tackles a critical and universal Transportation District, the organizations that issue — road safety — by harnessing the power supported the Safe Main Streets grant applicaof EDGE AI in a scalable, actionable way. By tion, businesses and community members. openly sharing their approach through our As far as advice, Whiteaker recommended, Foundation’s platform, Lakewood is not only “The best device is the Leopard-Sony combinaadvancing innovation but also setting a prec- tion system. But I like the Derq software.” He said in a perfect world, the Derq software edent for cities nationwide. It’s a blueprint for and the Leopard system would work together impact — and a catalyst for change.” because the Derq interface has compiled data and heat maps quicker and with more informaCost and advice Whiteaker said Lakewood hasn’t officially tion relevant to engineers. chosen a system because it’ll be another year Whiteaker added, “We all try to learn from and a half before it gets to Phase III, and tech- one another. There’re always two victims in fatal nology is constantly changing. crashes — the person who died and the driver who has to live with it.”
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Personality Profile
On the street beat: Plymouth superintendent makes a difference By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Before he joined the street department in Plymouth, Ind., Jim Marquardt’s career was literally in the trash. He started in the sanitation department in the summer of 1985 and stayed on to become a street employee that August. Eventually, the street superintendent named Marquardt as one of his two foremen. In 2013 the city’s administration changed, and he was appointed street superintendent under Mayor Jim Yeazel. It is a job he loves. “I enjoy assisting the residents of the city with problems that arise, be it something big or small,” he said. “However, the biggest challenge is balancing the political side of my job with the social media rhetoric.” Active member of the community Over the years, Marquardt has been at the helm of any number of projects. In late 2024, the city of Plymouth was awarded a 34 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
$225,367 grant from the Indiana Department of Energy as part of its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, which helps local governments with energy efficiency and conservation projects, including transportation. The money was used to purchase three Ford F-150 Lightening Pro Work Trucks that are in use by the street, building and water departments. The city also installed an EV charging station at Centennial Park.
ABOVE & BELOW: Jim Marquardt is the quiet leader behind the Plymouth, Ind., street department. He joined the department in 1985 and was named street superintendent in 2000. (Photo provided by Plymouth, Ind.)
“Plymouth was awarded the largest grant in this program,” he said. In addition to serving as city street superintendent, Marquardt is an active member of the community. He served
Plymouth street crews work on a project during the fall to prepare the city for the season ahead. (Photo provided by Plymouth, Ind.)
The street department in Plymouth, Ind., handles leaf pickup in the fall. (Photo provided by Plymouth, Ind.)
as a volunteer EMT with the Plymouth Fire Department and as a board member with the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency. He is a member of the Indiana Street Commissioners Association and a graduate of the Leadership Marshall County program. According to its website, Leadership Marshall County is the center of leadership innovation in the county, engaging and building bridges across multiple and diverse sectors among all generations to create opportunities for personal and professional growth. The organization cultivates emerging and existing community leaders and builds leadership skills in participants, so they become value-added individuals to their organization and to the county as a whole. “Leadership Marshall County is a program that helps local leaders network together,” Marquardt said. “I do feel people need to be active in their communities, because it takes all of us to improve our cities and towns.”
receiving it, I began reading more about it and I was humbled by the honor,” he said. Senter called Marquardt a quintessential, quiet leader who goes about business, managing more than 20 employees without expecting anything in return. “Under Jim’s leadership, Plymouth has undertaken thousands of dollars of new sidewalk construction and millions of dollars of new street improvements, consistently improving the quality of the city’s transportation network,” Senter said. “Jim has been a trusted member of my leadership team and a strong partner in the city’s many successes over the years.” Marquardt is hard at work preparing for the year ahead, which will include paving projects and extending trails that will connect some of the city’s various parks. He is currently working on a $1 million Community Crossings Matching Grant that will improve connectivity and safety for all modes of transportation throughout the city. “It will make a difference in our community,” he said.
A quiet leader Marquardt’s work has not gone unnoticed. In 2013 he was named Street Commissioner of the Year by the Indiana Street Commissioner’s Association. In 2020 he was honored with the Ivan H. Brinegar Municipal Management Award, an award given to municipal officials with a minimum of 10 years of city or town service who display strong leadership and contributions to the community, and who serve as role models to citizens and other municipal officials. It is presented at the president’s reception at the annual Accelerate Indiana Municipalities Ideas Summit. Marquardt said it was an honor to be recognized for his work. “Mayor Mark Senter nominated me, and I was completely blindsided by the award because I was unaware that it was an award. After
Green Fleet award winner In February, the city of Plymouth received the Northern Indiana Green Fleet of the Year award from Drive Clean Indiana. This statewide nonprofit organization partners with the Michiana Area Council of Governments to offer grant writing assistance and support for projects that reduce fleet fuel costs. It is believed that that the addition of the new electric pickup trucks will save the respective departments, including Marquardt’s street department, $450 per year and 400 gallons of gas annually.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 35
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Public Safety
Mason City Police Department overhauls headquarters
By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal
After years of planning and perseverance, the Mason City, Iowa, Police Department has completed a $1.4 million renovation of its headquarters. The project addressed long-standing issues while modernizing the facility to better serve its officers and the community.
Mason City, Iowa, interim Police Chief Mike McKelvey 36 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
The building, originally constructed in 1978, had become outdated and ill-equipped to meet the needs of a modern police force. Interim Police Chief Mike McKelvey, who has served the department for more than 31 years, explained the challenges the department faced in securing funding for a new facility. “We had tried numerous times through bond referendums to get the taxpayers to vote for approval for a new law enforcement center,” McKelvey said. “But we couldn’t get enough support.” Instead, the city council and administrator found an alternative solution during the COVID-19 pandemic, using excess funds to remodel the existing building. The renovation,
ABOVE: An aerial view of downtown Mason City, Iowa (Shutterstock.com)
which cost significantly less than the $7 million to $13 million originally estimated for a new facility, focused on updating the internal layout, plumbing, wiring and making other critical infrastructure. “This building has pretty good bones,” McKelvey noted. “It’s just the internal layout and wiring, bathrooms, and a lot of that stuff that needed to be gutted, overhauled and replaced.” One of the most significant updates was the addition of gender-inclusive facilities. When the building was first constructed, there were no female restrooms or changing rooms, as the department did not have any female officers at the time. “Our first female officer was hired in the early 1990s,” McKelvey said. “Now, we’ve gone to single-use, unisex bathrooms and changing rooms, which makes our space more efficient and inclusive.”
The renovation also included improvements to locker rooms, evidence storage and technology infrastructure. Officers now have larger lockers equipped with outlets for charging devices and built-in fans to keep gear dry. “The old days of stinky boots are kind of mitigated now, with this new system,” McKelvey said. Evidence handling has also been streamlined, with new exterior doors for easier access to storage areas. “No longer do you have to bring evidence in, haul it all the way through the police department, get on the elevator or walk down the stairs with it, and put it in long-term storage,” McKelvey said. “It’s much more efficient than the way it used to be.” While the construction process posed some challenges, including noise, dust and temporary power outages, the department’s staff has been overwhelmingly positive about the results. “At first, they didn’t want to be inconvenienced,” McKelvey said. “But after the fact, they have been unanimous in how well it has been received.” The renovation is also seen as a step toward improving officer retention and recruitment, a challenge faced by police departments nationwide. “Everyone is having trouble hiring and keeping cops,” McKelvey said. “If we can improve working conditions and modernize the building, that’s one less reason for officers to look elsewhere.” The project, which took two years to complete and wrapped up in the spring, was designed to address both immediate and long-term needs. McKelvey emphasized that the updates were not just about aesthetics but about creating a functional and efficient workspace. “This building isn’t sexy — it’s kind of a cinder block structure,” he said. “But some of the original plumbing and pipes could no longer be fixed. We had to jackhammer the floor to replace them. Now, with the advent of things like crosslinked polyethylene tubing, it’s much easier to snake that stuff through walls without the old traditional pipes and copper soldering.” The department took inspiration from other law enforcement agencies when planning the renovation. “We did a lot of field trips to see what other departments were using for lockers, evidence processing and storage,” McKelvey said. “We basically begged and borrowed ideas from the ones we liked and worked with an engineering firm to figure out a way to maximize the best use and layout.” Despite the challenges of coordinating with contractors and managing the disruption to daily operations, the project stayed largely on schedule and within budget. “Knock on wood, we really had a pretty good overall experience with the whole process,” McKelvey said. “There were some minor hiccups, but nothing major or that caused us any grief.” The renovation has already had a noticeable impact on morale. Officers have embraced the new amenities, including a gymnasium outfitted with kettlebells, treadmills and other fitness equipment. “The guys and gals are just digging it,” McKelvey said. “They can use it during breaks or come in off duty to work out. It’s been a great addition.” Looking ahead, McKelvey is focused on personnel development and preparing the department for the future. With a relatively young staff he sees an opportunity to invest in training and mentorship. “A lot of these men and women are trying to find out what their niche is — what they’re good at and what they want to do in the future,” he said. “Do they want to go into investigations, the drug task force, collision reconstruction? Now’s the time to help them figure that out.”
Officers now have larger lockers equipped with amenities. (Photo provided by Mason City, Iowa, Police Department)
The renovated Mason City police headquarters accommodates more storage of personal belongings. (Photo provided by Mason City, Iowa, Police Department)
McKelvey is prioritizing the development of new supervisors to address the department’s turnover in leadership roles. “We’re going to be needing some new supervisors within three to 10 years,” he said. “It’s about grooming and training the next generation to fill those roles as they become open.” Technology is another area of focus for the department. From cell phone analysis to drone response and crime scene scanning, McKelvey is working to ensure the department is prepared for the future. “Everything’s going to technology now,” he said. “It’s expensive, so we’re trying to budget for it while also training our staff to use it and become more proficient.” FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 37
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FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 39
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Parks & Environmental Services
Remodeled Fantasy Forest provides opportunities for residents By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
Fantasy Forest playground in St. John’s, Mich., was recently upgraded into Fantasy Forest 2.0. The previous playground was 23 years old and featured a wooden structure that needed multiple repairs. The city was approached by a member of the St. John’s Community Fund about replacing the play structure and the community fund’s willingness to help raise money for an update to the entire park, with the goal of creating a destination park that was both inviting to and accessible for all. “The original Fantasy Forest was a jewel in the St. John’s city park and served countless people from St. John’s and the surrounding area,” said Rachel Hoten, city recreation programmer. “We wanted to continue to serve those people and others. We wanted to allow everyone in our community and surrounding communities the opportunity to enjoy this universally accessible park.” In 2022, the St. John’s Parks and Recreation Department began with a concept of what they wanted the updated playground to be. They also gathered input from residents and the community to see what was wanted in terms of updates. Once the concept and idea stage was complete, funding was needed to make Fantasy Forest 2.0 a reality. It took approximately a year for the
40 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
ABOVE: The goal of Fantasy Forest 2.0 park is to allow everyone in the community and the surrounding communities a chance to enjoy this new, accessible park. The plan is set into phases as more funding becomes available to move forward. (Photo provided by the St. John’s, Mich., Parks and Recreation Department)
city to select an engineering firm, finalize the design, find playground vendors to install the equipment and work on fundraising. A spark grant received from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in fall 2023, for $694,000, was used for project for design and portions of the construction cost. However, fundraising remained one of the greatest challenges. The estimated cost of the project was $2.4 million. “We came up with a master plan for the playground, but fundraising fell short for us to install the playground as we had hoped,” Hoten explained. “So, we purposely designed the playground so that it could be built in phases. We installed the main portion of the playground but have three other phases that we still hope to add in order to complete it as designed.” In December 2024, new equipment was ordered. The old play structure was demolished in the winter of 2025. A groundbreaking took place in spring 2025, and construction began.
The new equipment was ordered in late 2024 and the old play structure demolished in winter 2025. (Photo provided by the St. John’s, Mich., Parks and Recreation Department) The original Fantasy Forest was a wooden structure over 20 years old that needed multiple repairs. A member of the St. John’s Community Fund approached the city about the desire to help raise money to replace the structure with a new play structure. (Photo provided by the St. John’s, Mich., Parks and Recreation Department)
The main portion of the new playground was built, and a ribbon cutting was held in October 2025. (Photo provided by the St. John’s, Mich., Parks and Recreation Department)
Planning and concept design for the new playground began in 2022. A spark grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and fundraising was used toward the construction cost. (Photo provided by the St. John’s, Mich., Parks and Recreation Department)
The new playground included not only new equipment but also landscaping, trees, lights, cameras, benches and picnic tables. In some areas rubber surfacing was poured in place, while other areas received engineered wood fiber. A few delays in shipping postponed the opening of the playground. “We originally had hoped to open the playground for the Mint Festival in August, but delays in getting custom equipment pushed the project opening to Oct. 1,” Hoten shared. A community planting day was held, allowing volunteers to help put some of the finishing touches on the park and creating ties between the park and the community. It was
then completed and celebrated with a ribbon cutting in fall 2025, just a few weeks after the planting event. In the spring, the parks and recreation department will open a new labyrinth adjacent to Fantasy Forest. With this and the opening of the natural play area, the department will likely offer more opportunities for community members to volunteer at additional planting days or similar small events. Currently, Fantasy Forest 2.0 is meeting its goal, which was to “provide people of all abilities in our community and surrounding communities the opportunity to enjoy the playground together,” Hoten emphasized.
A new labyrinth adjacent to the playground and a natural play area will be added this year. (Photo provided by the St. John’s, Mich., Parks and Recreation Department)
Volunteers came to help put the finishing touches on the park in a community planting day prior to the ribbon cutting. (Photo provided by the St. John’s, Mich., Parks and Recreation Department) FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 41
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Water & Energy
Dyersburg, Tenn., drills down on clean water By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
How many people think about water systems — where the water comes from and what’s involved in keeping it all running smoothly — and feel grateful that it looks, smells and tastes good, and they have all that they need for laundry, showers and general cleaning?
Dyersburg, Tenn., begins drilling a 12-inch well at the downtown water plant. (Photo provided by Dyersburg, Tenn.) 42 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Dyersburg, Tenn., wants its citizens have every one of those luxuries. The city has made certain they do by making sure every contingency is carefully planned and funded. The Tennessee State Revolving Fund gave $239,9554.38 in April to replace an old generator at the Downtown Water Treatment Plant, guaranteeing clean water for many generations. In September, a Dyersburg Lead Service Line Inventory Grant provided $212,500.00 to assist. Lead Service Line Inventory grants, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide funding so communities can identify, map and plan for replacement of lead pipes. With that assistance, the strict guidelines and deadlines for the EPA Lead and Copper Rule can be met: The funds are generally grants or low-interest loans, a significant portion of which is available as principal forgiveness and covers inventory as well as replacement costs. On the Dyersburg project, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Division of Water Resources assisted financially as well. “All of these projects are part of an American Recovery Plan NonCompetitive Funding Award from TDEC, under our drinking water improvements project,” explained Tiffany Heard, city engineer. “This includes the new well, the water plant generator, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, which is the computer controls for both water plants, and the design of repairs and improvements to both water to those same plants, which will be completed under a future SRF loan.” Heard said her team constructed a new well at the other water treatment plant a few years ago. “We have two water treatment plants: We call them the Roger Hawkins Plant and the Downtown Water Treatment Plant.” According to the plants’ website, The Roger Hawkins Water Treatment Plant was named after a man who started working for the city of Dyersburg in 1953. Through the years, Hawkins worked with the Water and Light Department as a troubleshooter and read, replaced and installed meters. Later, he served as water plant superintendent and was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He supervised employees, oversaw operations and maintenance of two treatment plants, and performed laboratory analysis. Hawkins climbed every water tank to routinely inspect them: He climbed his last water tank at the age of 71.
Dyersburg’s new well cost about $2.1 million and will supply about 2,500 gallons of water per minute. (Photo provided by Dyersburg, Tenn.)
The well was 12 inch-drilled at the downtown water plant, and the casing was set and grouted at 860 feet. The ARP projects are all at the downtown plant, Heard said, except the SCADA upgrades, which were systemwide and mostly centered at Roger Hawkins, where water operators are headquartered. “The SCADA improvements will allow the operators to monitor both plants, our storage tanks, and our booster pump stations in real time from their computers,” Heard said. That kind of technology could not have been imagined in 1953, when Hawkins began his long career. Heard elaborated on the amount of water that will be handled when the projects are complete. “Our new well cost about $2.1 million and is going to supply about 2,500 gallons per minute. They tested the water quality to see what kind of treatment was needed to bring it up to drinking water standards, and they tested the capacity of the well — how much water could be pumped out without negatively impacting the aquifer or any other area wells. The results were what we expected. The pump foundation is currently being installed, and then will come the pump. We’ll connect everything and begin more testing of the full well installation, which includes pumps and controls.” She added, “We are very excited about the additional reliability and treatment capacity that this will give us for this plant. Our existing wells are aging, and many are past their operational lives and had begun failing.” The entire project was designed by SSR Inc. — a company that specializes in design, consulting and planning services that address complex technical problems with innovative, sustainable solutions. “The entire ARP grant was $4.2 million, but about $1.5 million went to the wastewater project, the stormwater project and professional fees. The remaining amount funded the drinking water improvements. “The existing generator was installed in 1988 and no longer met current code, although it technically still worked. Almost 40 years is a pretty good run,” Heard noted. “The Downtown Water Treatment Plant was built in 1945, and the new well replaces both well No. 6 and well No. 7, which were both in failure, having been installed in the
At the new well, the casing was set and grouted at 860 feet. (Photo provided by Dyersburg, Tenn.)
’50s and ’60s, respectively. Sixty to 70 years of service is an amazing lifespan.” The new well is scheduled to be in service as of March, Heard said. “The biggest issue we have had with this, and with all our projects, is the lead times to get generators. It’s taking 6-12 months to receive the generator after it has been ordered, and sometimes longer. “Our water wells began failing about five years ago. I think it has been a combination of issues, because not all of them are as old as No. 6 and No. 7. It became really critical when we had that big deep freeze in 2021.” Dyersburg experienced a major winter storm that year, part of a larger Arctic blast affecting the South. The massive and record-breaking cold, combined with ice, snow and power outages, stressed every city it affected, not least of which was Dyersburg. “Not all because of the freeze, but in the general time around then, we had several wells catastrophically fail,” Heard explained. “The freeze caused several major line breaks, which caused us to lose pressure in the system for several days. And then we had a well freeze. “Additionally, we didn’t have a good view of the system because of the age of our SCADA monitoring and controls, so it was hard to troubleshoot. It was really the perfect storm of an aging system, but the unforeseen disasters caused us to really evaluate our water supply systems and put a plan in place to implement the necessary improvements that would make our supply more dependable. We had SSR evaluate both plants and all of the wells and prepare a Capital Improvement Plan. Then, when the ARP funding became available, we knew where we needed to spend a significant portion of it.” Between both water plants, the city can process 11 million gallons of water per day. Just one MGD is equivalent to about 694 gallons per minute, or GPM, so it’s easy see what an enormous and continuous flow the plants provide. There’s no question that Dyersburg rolled up its sleeves, brought in expert minds and laid out an effective plan of action — which is something city officials will likely think of the next time they go to get a glass of water.
FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 43
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Municipal Management
Access on demand: El Paso provides ADA access on demand
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
In September, the El Paso, Texas, city council unanimously approved consolidation of the community’s on-demand Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Improvement Program and the transfer of approximately $1.9 million to the Community and Human Development and Capital Improvement departments so that they can move quickly on construction of multiple ADA projects. “At the time construction responsibilities were moved to the Capital Improvement Department, there were 22 project locations pending construction,” noted Strategic Communications Director Laura Cruz-Acosta. “Today, there are 33 active requests on our list in various stages of evaluation, design or construction.” Driven by demand The ADA Accessibility Improvement Program is designed for small-scale accessibility issues on city property or in the public rightof-way, such as missing curb ramps, short sidewalk gaps or accessibility improvements to city facilities. Because much of the city’s infrastructure pre-dates the Americans with Disabilities Act and Texas Accessibility Standards, leaders knew there were potentially more locations in need of attention than 44 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
had been formerly requested. The program is intentionally demand driven and relies on residents, including residents with disabilities, to point out specific barriers in their neighborhoods. “Some of those requests are straightforward and can be addressed relatively quickly,” Cruz-Acosta said. “Others require engineered solutions, coordination with utilities or other agencies, additional right-of-way work or bundling with other nearby projects so that construction is cost-effective.” The city council’s action last fall capped several months of staff work to streamline the program, improve coordination and ensure that projects could move from request to construction more smoothly. Staff evaluated the structure of the ADA Accessibility Improvement Program, coordinated
ABOVE: Canterbury Trail offers benches, landscaping and irrigation improvements. Pedestrians, hikers and bicyclists alike enjoy it. (Photo provided by El Paso, Texas)
internally with Community and Human Development, Streets and Maintenance and the Capital Improvement departments and then presented the proposed changes to the Accessibility Advisory Committee in June. The committee’s feedback was positive, so the council considered and approved the funding transfer and program adjustments in September. “It was less about solving a single issue and more about refining a long-standing program to better align with how the city now delivers capital projects,” Cruz-Acosta said. Change is good for everyone Previously, the ADA Accessibility Improvement Program was under the auspices of the Streets and Maintenance Department, which primarily focuses on day-to-day maintenance of the transportation network such as resurfacing, pothole repair and ongoing upkeep of the traffic infrastructure. As part of that work, the staff will continue to incorporate accessibility improvements whenever possible, but the
El Paso, Texas, installed 24 ADA ramps while it made improvements to Trowbridge Drive last year. (Photo provided by El Paso, Texas)
Capital Improvement Department is structured to manage standalone design and construction projects. Because many of the ADA requests that come through the ondemand program require engineering, design work and separate construction contracts, moving the construction responsibilities for these projects to the Capital Improvement Department allowed those requests to be handled like other capital projects, with dedicated project management, use of on-call designers and bundling with nearby locations for efficiency purposes. The Community and Human Development Department continues to coordinate intake and eligibility for the program. So, the change is really about aligning responsibilities: The Community and Human Development department focuses on program intake and outreach, SAM focuses on system-wide maintenance including accessibility features as part of resurfacing, and Capital Improvement focuses on delivering the individual ADA construction projects that come in through the on-demand program. “This coordinated approach ensures that requests from residents are evaluated consistently and that approved projects have a clear path from intake to construction,” Cruz-Acosta said. The on-demand approach also allows small-scale accessibility issues that meet the program’s requirements to be addressed as they arise rather than wait for a capital project or a full-street reconstruction. While heavily traveled areas are high priority, many of the barriers that impact the public the most are on local streets and in less visible locations that are better identified by the residents themselves. To prevent projects from falling through the cracks, requests are documented and evaluated against program criteria. Eligible locations are then forwarded for design and construction through the Capital Improvement Department. The city conducts outreach and promotes the program so that residents know how to submit requests, and updates are shared with the city’s Accessibility Advisory Committee as the program evolves. Cruz-Acosta said although the change was recent, the community response has been generally supportive and appreciative. She said residents value the opportunity to directly identify specific barriers in their neighborhoods and see those issues addressed through a structured program.
The J.P. Shawver All-Abilities Playground is the fifth all-abilities playground in El Paso, Texas. (Photo provided by El Paso, Texas)
El Paso reconstructed and widened Rojas Drive, a project aimed to improve connectivity and safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. (Photo provided by El Paso, Texas)
As part of the Rojas Drive project, El Paso included a shared-use path. (Photo provided by El Paso, Texas)
“The ADA Accessibility Improvement program allows residents to request improvements and staff work with them to evaluate eligibility and keep them informed as projects moved forward,” she said. “Residents have expressed support for the city’s efforts to make it easier to submit requests and to strengthen the follow-through from intake to construction.” FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 45
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Conference Calendar
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F E B R UA R Y Feb. 1-3 Alabama Recreation & Parks Association State Conference Orange Beach, Ala. https://www.arpaonline.org/ events/ Feb. 1-4 Ohio Parks Recreation Association Conference & Trade Show Kalahari Convention Center, Sandusky, Ohio https://www.opraonline.org/ assnfe/ev.asp?ID=42 Feb. 2-3 First Responder Mental Health & Wellness Conference The Coeur d’Alene Resort, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. https://www.1strc.org/eventdetails/cda-id-first-respondermental-health-wellnessconference Feb. 2-4 NYWEA 98th Annual Meeting Technical Conference & Exhibition New York City Marriott Marquis, New York, N.Y. https://www.nywea.org/ Feb. 2-5 CADCA 36th Annual National Leadership Forum Gaylord National, National Harbor, Md. https://forum.cadca.org/ Feb. 3-5 NWRA Annual Conference Tuscany Suites & Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. https://www.nvwra.org/2026ac-program
Feb. 4-6 Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Winter Professional Development Conference Amway Grand Hotel, Grand Rapids, Mich. https://www. michiganpolicechiefs.org/ Feb. 4-6 TFCA Winter Conference Double Tree Hotel, Jackson, Tenn. https://www.tnfirechiefs.com/ conferences Feb. 5-8 American Correctional Association Winter Conference Long Beach, Calif. https://aca.org/
Feb. 12-14 U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Leadership Meeting Los Angeles, Calif. https://www.usmayors.org/ Feb. 17-19 ILRWA Annual Conference Keller Convention Center, Effingham, Ill. https://www.ilrwa.org/Training/ Conference.html Feb. 18-20 Energy Storage North America San Diego, Calif. https://www.intersolar.us/ Feb. 20-24 ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo Houston, Texas https://expo.atssa.com/
Feb. 9-12 Council on Rail Transportation Winter Legislative Meeting Crystal City, Va. https://transportation.org/ meetings/events/
Feb. 21-22 NDEMSA Northeast Conference Grand Forks, N.D. https://www.ndemsa.org/
Feb. 10-13 NUCA National Convention & Exhibit Tucson, Ariz. https://my.nuca.com/ events/upcomingevents?reload=timezone
Feb. 21-24 National Association of Counties Legislative Conference Washington, D.C. https://www.naco.org/page/ conferences
Feb. 10-13 Texas Recreation & Park Society Institute & Expo Hilliard Convention Center, Corpus Christi, Texas https://membership.traps. org/events/EventDetails. aspx?id=1996709&group=
Feb. 23-26 FIERO PPE Symposium Greenville, S.C. https://www.fieroonline.org/ upcoming-events
Feb. 24-26 Delaware Rural Water Association 36th Annual Conference Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, Del. https://www.drwa.org/ events/conference-attendeeregistrationFeb. 25-27 Wisconsin Integrated Resource Management Conference The Osthoff, Elkhart Lake, Wis. https://www.wirmc.org/
MARCH March 1-3 IEDC Leadership Summit Washington, D.C. https://leadership26.iedconline. org/ March 3-5 Missouri Rural Water Association Annual Conference Branson Convention Center, Branson, Mo. https://moruralwater.org/ conferences/ March 4-5 Healthy Worksite Summit Lynnwood, Wash. https://wacities.org/ March 4-5 Michigan Parks Conference & Trade Show Lansing Center, Lansing, Mich. https://members.mparks.org/ atlas/events/1953277/details
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.
46 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
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News & Notes NAFA to deliver valuable educational sessions for the growing fleet industry at NAFA’s I&E 2026 EDISON, N.J. — NAFA’s Fleet Management Association, the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association, is excited to announce the slate of comprehensive educational sessions for its 2026 Institute & Expo, which will take place April 13-15, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. Corporate and Government fleet professionals across North America are invited to gain valuable insights into the latest fleet management trends, technologies and strategies designed to drive public and commercial fleet operations into the future. “NAFA’s 2026 I&E will bring together thousands of fleet professionals from all corners of the industry to build relationships and share valuable best practices,” said Bill Schankel, CAE, CEO of NAFA. “The educational sessions will deliver the professional development organizations need to boost innovation, sustainability and safety within the fleet management industry.” Over the course of three days, attendees will experience a series of immersive, hands-on educational sessions covering the full spectrum of fleet and mobility management. These sessions were carefully selected through a call for presentations process to address the key areas impacting today’s fleet managers. All sessions are rated for different levels of fleet experience (Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced) and designated for the session’s intended audience (Government, Commercial or both). The 2026 educational sessions will target the following categories: • Emerging Technologies — This track immerses attendees in the forefront of fleet innovation, providing key insights to optimize fleets for the future. • Law Enforcement — This track addresses the unique needs and challenges of law enforcement fleet operations. • L eadership — This track focuses on the next generation of professionals who will lead this dynamic industry. • L egislative Advocacy — This track explores the latest federal and state policy developments that impact fleet operations. • New to Fleet — Ideal for fleet professionals new to the industry, this track covers the essentials of fleet management. • O perations Management — This track provides strategies for optimizing fleet administration, operations and efficiency. • Safety — Focused on reducing fleet risks, this track explores effective safety strategies. • Strategy — This track explores key strategies for long-term fleet success, including sustainability and cost management. • Sustainability — This track focuses on the transition to sustainable fleet operations, covering EVs, alternative fuels and sustainability reporting. • Technicians — Designed to enhance the technical skills of fleet technicians, this track covers the latest maintenance practices and emerging technologies.
48 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Early bird registration for I&E 2026 ends Feb. 6, 2026. Fleet professionals who register by then will enjoy discounted rates, ensuring access to all educational sessions, the industry’s largest Exhibit Hall, and numerous networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders. Media registration is complimentary for credentialed journalists.
From ADAS to AI: Work Truck Week 2026 educational program tackles the industry’s latest topics FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — More than a Trade Show, Work Truck Week 2026 combines a packed exhibit hall with three days of commercial vehicle industry training and education. Sessions range from the entry-level Work Trucks 101, Introduction to Towing and Trailer Dynamics, and Getting Started with Fleet Management to those designed to help vocational vehicle veterans take their skills and knowledge to the next level, covering topics like ADAS implementation, fleet carbon accounting, advanced principles of fleet management and artificial intelligence. Work Truck Week 2026 runs March 10-13, 2026, at Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. It encompasses The Work Truck Show, Green Truck Summit, NTEA Annual Meeting with keynote speakers, Work Truck Week Ride & Drive, educational program and more. Green Truck Summit is March 10, educational sessions run March 10-12, and Work Truck Show exhibits are open March 11-13. Work Truck Week, North America’s largest work truck event, is produced by NTEA — The Work Truck Association. Register at worktruckweek.com. The 2026 Work Truck Week educational program equips companies with strategies to strengthen operations and prepare for what’s ahead. A mix of in-depth Special Sessions and shorter breakouts are divided into eight tracks: Advanced Fuels & Vehicle Technology, Chassis Update, Dealership Training, Fleet Management, Government Regulations & Advocacy, Market Data & Industry Trends, Vehicle Design & Certification and Workforce Development. “Whether you’re a fleet operator, transportation manager, truck dealer, upfitter or distributor, Work Truck Week can help you grow professionally, stay on top of industry trends and improve your operation,” said Jennifer Mitchell, NTEA senior director of content development. “In an industry that is constantly evolving, the Work Truck Week educational program offers an unmatched opportunity to learn from the best and brightest about the topics that matter to your success.”.
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.
IMPLEMENTS TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE Whether you research, plan and buy for an entire fleet, or focus on reliable products to reduce downtime on your own land, Land Pride offers a complete line of laborsaving tractor-mounted cutters and implements to tackle your chores and to fit your lifestyle.
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TOP 10 Best cities for coffee lovers Especially as the winter months drag on, nothing hits like a hot cup or thermos of coffee first thing in the morning. By the time it’s gone, a person is ready to embrace the day.
Analysts evaluated the coffee scene in cities across the country to find out how friendly each one is to coffee lovers. They counted the number of coffee shops and cafés per capita, looked at the price per pack of coffee and took into consideration the price According to PBS and the financial website Walle- of the cappuccino and local sales of home coffee and tHub, Coffee first became popular in the U.S. after expresso machines. the Boston Tea Party, when the switch as “patriotic.” Once Starbucks debuted in 1971, the drink became Based on their findings, the following cities are the accessible almost anywhere. most welcoming to coffee lovers. Caffeine does more than mentally stimulate a person, though. WalletHub noted that at the right dosage, caffeine may contribute to longevity. And just as important is coffee’s social purpose: “Today, coffee stations are a staple of the workplace, and tens of thousands of shops serve as meeting places for friends, dates and coworkers.”
1. Portland, Ore. 2. Orlando, Fla. 3. Long Beach, Calif. 4. Miami, Fla. 5. Seattle, Wash. 6. Tampa, Fla. 7. San Francisco, Calif. 8. Austin, Texas 9. Oakland, Calif. 10. Pittsburgh, Pa. Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-coffee-lovers/23739 50 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2026
Semi Trucks
Buses
Implements
Municipalities
Plow Trucks
46104 State Highway M26, Atlantic Mine, MI 49905 | 906-483-0174 FEBRUARY 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 51
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Advertiser Index B
N
Basic Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
National Construction Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
BendPak Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
NTEA Work Truck Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Bonnell Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Bucher Municipal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Buyers Products Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
C
P Progressive Turf Equipment Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 PSS Innovations for Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Clearspan Fabric Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
R
E
Rapid View LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK
Edinburg Auctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Elgin Sweeper Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
S Stan Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Everblades Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Streamlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
F FCAR Tech USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Strongwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Superior Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Fluid Control Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
G Greystone Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
U Uline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Unique Paving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
K KM International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
L Land Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
V Vactor Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Valtir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
M
W
MRL Equipment Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 10-11
Wisconsin Surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
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