Many cities are struggling to find new ways to meet the challenges posed by an enormous infrastructure funding gap. Indianapolis is using the flexibility of a public-private partnership to implement new practices to reduce capital improvement costs and to keep up with the demands of population...
Kermit the Frog never spoke truer words: It is hard being green. But despite Kermit's difficulties, everyone learned to love him, making him an American icon.
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Temporary perimeter systems, Dump body configurations, Manhole lift, Lasting storm drain markers, and other products.
The RA-300 from Rosco Manufacturing, a division of Denver-based Leeboy Co., patches more than just potholes; it also helps patch thin highway department budgets. Anything that can stretch those dollars is of interest to county engineers.
Mike Casanova of the Lee County Facilities Management Group in Ft. Myers, Fla., responds to about 60 air quality complaints each year. Each usually requires a one-week inspection to pinpoint the problem; some then call for complex investigations and could take several months to fix. Casanova's...
When St. Louis mayor Chauncy F. Schultz dedicated Forest Park on June 24, 1876, he promised his citizens it would exist for the "enjoyment of yourselves, your children, and your children's children, forever... all without stint or hindrance ... and there will be no notice put up, Keep Off the...
Most rivers in the continental United States flow south to warmer waters. An exception to that rule is the north-flowing Red River of the North. The Red River empties into Canada's Lake Winnipeg and, eventually, into Hudson Bay. In spring 1997, the river's northern destination played a major role...
Because every community is different, the process for specifying refuse collection vehicles should start with an evaluation of your municipality's needs. Information to consider includes street layouts, population density, services provided, distance to disposal site, and number of workers per...
In these days of rising costs for everything from fuel to new vehicles, fleet managers are looking high and low for new ways to meet their budgets.
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In these days of rising costs for everything from fuel to new vehicles, fleet managers are looking high and low for new ways to meet their budgets.
Highway design was never easy. Increasing scrutiny and critical public opinion only have added to the challenges facing transportation engineers. With each project, there always seems to be someone upset with the proposed location, the number of lanes, and the type of pavement.
Seawater desalination is riding a rising tide of interest as many municipalities and utilities in drought-stricken southern California are turning to the ocean as a source of more reliable and drought-proof water. Less than a dozen small seawater desalination plants are operating in California.
Las Vegas is a city that never rests—and neither does Dick Goecke, the city's public works director for two decades. He oversees a workforce of 400 employees and commands an annual operating budget of more than $100 million. The challenge of piloting the public works department of such an active...
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When asked to talk about Plano, Jimmy Foster sounds like a proud parent. He lists the numerous quality-of-life awards the city of 245,000 people has received over the years, including recognition as an All-America City in 1994, one of America's best cities for women (by
Leslie Bland got into the public works field at the ground level—literally. An experienced backhoe and grader operator, he answered an ad for a skilled laborer position with Fenton, Mich., in 1969 and was hired. He rose through the ranks and has served as director of public works since 1979.
You might be surprised to find a registered nurse in public works, but looking at Cheryl Creson's list of duties and achievements, it's not such a big stretch. As head of Sacramento County's Municipal Services Agency (MSA), one of her primary responsibilities is protecting her community's health.
Bill Baxter stands at the helm of one of the biggest public works agencies in Florida, with an operational budget of $70 million and a capital improvement budget of nearly S200 million. In addition to his role as public works director, Baxter serves as county engineer. Understandably, his myriad...
Mitch Zamojc gives most of the credit for success to his team. “You can't win the Stanley Cup with one player,” he said. “I will say to anybody that it's the best group of people, the most dedicated, the most passionate, helpful team possible. You can't win [APWA Top 10] without it, you really...
In the ever-expanding Chicago region, Zion, Ill., is the last open space on Lake Michigan's north shore before reaching Wisconsin, but the town is expanding rapidly. Brian Usher has spent the past five years as Zion's public works director striving to control and accommodate the rapid growth.
The only time Doug Wesselschmidt thought about going into a field other than engineering was during a college calculus test. “I was thinking, ‘What kind of a profession can I go into that does not involve calculus?' Fortunately, I made it through that test and many others after that,” he said.
In a world where “Ready, aim, fire” has become “Ready, fire, aim,” Mickey Sullivan directs his career in terms of aiming before firing. “Some people start firing before they get their aim down,” he said. “We try to make sure our aim is down before we squeeze the trigger. Make sure to have all the...
Needham, Mass., is redesigning the town business district to make it more pedestrian-friendly and safe. The roads will be narrowed to accommodate crosswalks and sidewalks and the town itself will be beautified. Ironically, when Rick Merson started 35 years ago, the town was expanding the roads to...
It takes determination, originality, and professionalism to be a true leader. It also takes patience and humility. The American Public Works Association (APWA) acknowledges these qualities with its annual Top Ten Public Works Leaders program. This year's leaders measure up.
A Chinese proverb advises, “When you drink the water, remember the spring.” With an exploding global population placing ever-greater demands on a precious, finite resource, that maxim takes on a new urgency.
While workers in the public sector easily can be the targets of criticism when something goes wrong, my greatest empathy goes to traffic engineers. I can't think of a profession more second-guessed by the public, because everyone who possesses a driver's license believes they are de facto traffic...
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that will authorize $15 million in federal funding for water reclamation and distribution by California's Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA).
Based on the success of the Muirfield Drive/Brand Road roundabout in Dublin, Ohio, plans are underway to build three more of the innovative intersections. Since the opening of the roundabout nearly a year ago, only two traffic accidents have been reported—a significant decrease compared to the...
A team of engineering students from Iowa State University won the 2004-2005 Metcalf & Eddy (M&E) Academic Design Competition. The students presented the winning solution to M&E's environmental design challenge, which was to develop a biological treatment process for cost-effectively achieving...
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a water infrastructure bill seeking $38 billion over five years in provisional funding for the nation's cities and municipalities. The bill aims to address the aging water infrastructure and provide clean, healthy, safe, and secure water nationwide.
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Two major Clean Water Act settlements recently announced by Baltimore County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission are anticipated to lead to more than $1 billion in sewer system improvements.
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DeKalb County, Ga., is developing a new landfill gas generation plant and has approved a 10-year contract to sell energy from the landfill to Georgia Power.
The “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act—A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU) was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush on Aug. 10. SAFETEA-LU will provide $286.5 billion in guaranteed funding for highway, public transportation, and safety programs.
Test predicts WWTP upsets, Book offers practical information, Work truck show announced, APWA call for presentations, and other news.
As the oldest in a family of four kids, I had to become self-sufficient pretty early. By the time I was in first grade there were babies everywhere, so when I wanted something, the most likely way to get it was on my own. As a result, I was never much of a joiner. In high school I wasn't a member...