America’s Crown Communities receive awards in Reno, Nev.

American City & County presented its annual America’s Crown Community awards Dec. 7, 2006, in Reno, Nev., at an event that coincided with the National League of Cities Congress of Cities. Seven of the nine winning communities were on hand to accept their awards at an evening reception sponsored by Johnson Controls, Inc.

The Crown Community awards recognize outstanding projects completed by cities and counties in 2006. Magazine subscribers nominate projects for the awards, which are selected by the editors and featured in the July and December issues. Any local government initiative completed within the last year may qualify for the awards, including those that repair infrastructure, introduce new technology, improve quality of life for residents and beautify public places. Entries are judged on uniqueness, short- and long-term value to the community and effective/innovative financing.

The 2006 awards were divided into separate competitions for cities and counties. The four winners of the Crown Community awards for county projects were announced in the July issue of American City & County. Hillsborough County, Fla., won for its Taliaferro Stormwater Research Project, which is evaluating innovative stormwater management practices for urban areas, focusing on new ways to remove nitrogen, a primary pollutant in Tampa Bay. Leon County, Fla.’s Heart Ready Coalition received an award for its efforts to install and track automated external defibrillators in public buildings, and train residents and public employees to operate the equipment and perform CPR. Nueces County, Texas, completed a $58 million Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project that repaired 280 miles of roads and replaced 39 bridges in 18 months. And, Westchester County, N.Y., created an online geographic information system that consolidated previously disparate programs into one unified Web portal. Complete articles about each winning county are online at https://americancityandcounty.com/issue_20060701/.

The five winners of the Crown Community awards for city projects are featured in American City & County’s December issue, available now online at www.americancityandcounty.com. Hollywood, Fla., received an award for its Summer Youth Program that engaged teenage volunteers to repair and renovate homes of elderly residents, single parents and disabled people, as well as taught them about city government operations. Lenexa, Kan., constructed Lake Lenexa to control flooding, provide recreation and educate residents about water quality. LeSueur, Minn., took on a large effort to upgrade equipment in public buildings to save energy and complete much-needed repairs. Mountain View, Calif., combined its need for an emergency water reservoir with a local school’s need for new playing fields, burying an 8-million-gallon storage tank and well under a new sports complex. And, Osceola, Wis., recovered from a flood that destroyed critical infrastructure and historic facilities, and simultaneously revitalized its downtown area.

Following the Crown Community awards presentation, American City & County’s Municipal Leader of the Year Jim Hunt, Clarksburg, W.Va., Councilmember and President of the National League of Cities, addressed attendees. The following morning, Editorial Director/Associate Publisher Bill Wolpin presented Hunt with the Municipal Leader of the Year Award during the conference’s general session held at the Reno Convention Center. The award recognized Hunt’s efforts to encourage communities nationwide to engage all residents in public events and decisions through the National League of Cities’ Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities. A complete article about Hunt’s award-winning work was published in American City & County’s November issue, available online at https://americancityandcounty.com/issue_20061101/

Entry forms for the 2007 Crown Communities Awards, the County Leader of the Year Award, Public Works Director of the Year Award and Municipal Leader of the Year Award are online at www.americancityandcounty.com/news/awards-entry-forms.

2007 Award Deadlines
County Leader of the Year: April 6, 2007
Crown Communities – Counties: April 6, 2007
Public Works Director of the Year: May 4, 2007
Municipal Leader of the Year: August 10, 2007
Crown Communities – Cities: August 10, 2007