December 1, 2007
Features
Crown Communities
Providing services for residents takes more than raw materials and money. It requires leadership and creativity from local government officials, especially...
The Unity Movement
Computers may not be picking up trash or repairing roads, but policymakers are starting to believe that if machines do not work, neither do governments....
Giving notice
A gasoline tanker crashes and bursts into flames. Prevailing winds carry the noxious smoke into a residential area. Within minutes, commuters in the vicinity...
Issues & Trends
More counties make majority-minority shift
More than 50 percent of the population of nearly one in 10 counties across the country are minorities, including African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics...
Cities' programs aim to un-paint the town
Buildings and other areas defaced by graffiti vandalism can be early signs of urban blight, dwindling property values and poor quality of life for residents....
Custom courts call for special design
In many cities and counties, the justice system is becoming more specialized, separating courts to address community, drug and family issues. Courthouse...
Public workers seek updated educations
Local government officials today face many situations, from terrorist attacks to disease outbreaks, that are not included in traditional public administration...
Mayor re-elected with 2,166 write-in votes
Auburn, Maine, Mayor John Jenkins is becoming accustomed to making history. After being elected the first African-American mayor of both Auburn and Lewisburg,...
Reform primaries?
Invented as a way to encourage voter participation, the current primary contest for Democratic and Republican presidential candidacy now fosters a system...
Plugged in
Palm Beach County, Fla., has purchased record archiving software from Santa Clara, Calif.-based Mimosa Systems. El Paso County, Colo., has purchased video...
Water, water everywhere
Peoria, Ill., has contracted with Alpharetta, Ga.-based MACTEC to develop a long-term control plan for the city's sewer system. The Portland, Ore., Water...
Safe at home
Baton Rouge, La., has purchased a gunshot detection system from Mountain View, Calif.-based Shotspotter to augment the city's existing video surveillance...
And the winner is
The Zion, Ill.-based North Shore Sanitary District has received the Superior Achievement Award from the Annapolis, Md.-based American Academy of Environmental...
ROLL CALL
Maricopa County, Ariz. Lisa Keegan has joined the county as assistant county manager for community solutions and innovation. Previously, she was principle...
Where will energy for cities come from?
Local leaders' efforts to reduce energy consumption and develop alternative energy sources are the focus of a new book published by the Sebastopol, Calif.-based...
Digging in the dirt for the half century
Construction equipment fans and history buffs have a new tome to put on their coffee tables: Bobcat: Fifty Years of Opportunity 1958-2008. Published by...
NASCIO offers plan for pandemics
The Lexington, Ky.-based National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has created a guide for state CIOs to use during a pandemic...
Columns
Do we ever learn?
More than 100,000 people have moved into Atlanta each year since 2000. So, none of us who live here should be surprised that our main source of water...
Fighting off intruders
Many public safety, utility and transportation radio systems are migrating to Internet Protocol (IP) technology to help incompatible devices communicate....
Convenience charges
For many years, local governments were reluctant to accept credit card and electronic check payments because of the fees incurred to use the services....
Year-end suspense
As the first half of the 110th Congress ends, lawmakers leave behind a full slate of unresolved issues important to local governments. In the short period...
Ways & Means
Lighting the way
Outdoor lighting adds style during the day and safety after dark. Often, cities and counties update old fixtures or add them to new facilities to better...
Locking up data security
York County, Pa.'s employees, located in 40 satellite areas and five main facilities, rely on the county's computer network for around-the-clock access...
Pinpointing flying pests
Residents and visitors of Salt Lake City often are drawn to the city's variety of outdoor activities, but mosquitoes can pester many people back indoors....
Campaigning for savings
Monroe County, N.Y., officials are making sure retirement planning is a top priority for all employees, not just those nearing the end of their careers....
Buyer's Index
Public Safety Data system CompuDyne MobileCOM allows first responders to send and receive dispatch information, state and national database queries and...
Across America
Encore performances
Restored theater helps maintain “heart” of downtown Tracy, Calif....
Expanding a tradition
In 1965, the Fresno, Calif., Downtown Association created its first Christmas Fantasyland out of golden tinsel and twinkling lights at the downtown Fulton...
postcards
Neither here nor there Many Frytown, Iowa, residents have lived in the unincorporated community for decades. However, online destination sites, including...
