Commentaries

Commentaries are contributed, non-commercial and educational articles that subject matter experts write for American City & County. If you would like to submit an exclusive commentary, click here to view our guidelines.

Highlights

Community trust is a firefighter’s greatest asset

Firefighters are society’s first line of defense against natural disasters. When catastrophes...

Traverse City’s broadband project is a cautionary tale for other communities

As a former telecommunications executive who created business plans for fiber networks, I’ve...

Getting started: What any municipality can do now about EPA’s PFAS ruling for water systems

There is help for municipalities and community water providers overwhelmed by the April 2024...

Article

Community trust is a firefighter’s greatest asset

Firefighters are society’s first line of defense against natural disasters. When catastrophes like wildfires, floods or earthquakes ensue, these professionals aren’t just tasked with preventing the disaster from spreading; they’re also responsible for keeping community members safe from harm and maintaining order under high-stress situations. As climate change wreaks havoc on the planet, both the […]

Article

Is the public safety department model the future of municipal emergency service?

The undeniable fiscal constraints associated with local governance has challenged contemporary public administrators to achieve more with less. Budgets are stretched thin, and local government managers face increasingly complex service delivery demands from an electorate that loathes the idea of paying higher taxes. Traditionally solely a function of the police, contemporary public administrators are cognizant […]

Article

Traverse City’s broadband project is a cautionary tale for other communities

As a former telecommunications executive who created business plans for fiber networks, I’ve watched Traverse City, Mich.’s efforts to build a fiber municipal broadband network with both interest and concern. The appeal of affordable, high-speed internet owned and operated by the city itself was understandable, particularly in a time when reliable internet access has become […]

Article

Getting started: What any municipality can do now about EPA’s PFAS ruling for water systems

There is help for municipalities and community water providers overwhelmed by the April 2024 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announcement of its requirement that water systems remove six “forever chemicals” present in drinking water supplies across the country. The U.S. Geological Survey indicates as much as 45 percent of current drinking water supplies are impacted by […]

Article

How to build awareness of flood risk and gain buy-in for flood control measures

Floods are one of the most devastating events to strike a community—costly in terms of lives lost, damaged or destroyed homes, economic disruption, and damage to critical infrastructure. However, improvements in technology are helping local governments provide accurate assessments of flood risk, so steps can be taken to provide early and accurate warning of flood […]

Article

Cleveland’s new strategic plan focuses on making city government work better

As Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb stepped onto the Music Hall stage in the city’s Public Auditorium on March 5, 2024, it was hard not to lose your place on the continuum of past, present and future. The mayor’s purpose that day was to introduce his new 10-year operational strategic plan to an audience of some […]

ArticleCommentary

America is at a crossroads with its infrastructure future

The first step to solving a problem is admitting there is a problem in the first place. Much of America’s infrastructure was built 50 to 100 years ago and has not been replaced or modernized to meet current needs and doesn’t address the needs of the future. Since 1998, the American Society of Civil Engineers […]

Commentary

Justice40: Getting federal funds to communities that need it most

President Biden may have had Jonestown, Md., in mind when he created his landmark Justice40 initiative. Launched in 2021, Justice40 aims to deliver 40 percent of federal climate and clean energy investments to “disadvantaged” communities. You could say that Jonestown fits the bill. Founded by free African Americans in the mid-19th century, this unincorporated village […]

Article

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office transforms performance management to improve service

Residents are flocking to Manatee County, Fla. From 2010 to 2021, the county’s population grew by a whopping 33% to 429,000. And while the number of citizens increases, the local sheriff’s office is faced with a familiar challenge: an ongoing shortage of officers. According to a 2024 survey by public sector HR management company, NEOGOV, […]

Commentary

Digital permitting: Building stronger communities and centralizing asset data

Permitting is an essential aspect of sustainable growth and community development. As city governments make strides in modernizing how they manage, track and maintain assets, many are finding opportunities to rethink their approach to permitting and community engagement. Submitting a permit is often laden with paperwork, leading to delays that stall progress and frustrate residents […]

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Commentaries

Commentaries are contributed, non-commercial and educational articles that subject matter experts write for American City & County. If you would like to submit an exclusive commentary, click here to view our guidelines.

Highlights

Community trust is a firefighter’s greatest asset

Traverse City’s broadband project is a cautionary tale for other communities

Getting started: What any municipality can do now about EPA’s PFAS ruling for water systems

Article

Community trust is a firefighter’s greatest asset

Article

Is the public safety department model the future of municipal emergency service?

Article

Traverse City’s broadband project is a cautionary tale for other communities

Article

Getting started: What any municipality can do now about EPA’s PFAS ruling for water systems

Article

How to build awareness of flood risk and gain buy-in for flood control measures

Article

Cleveland’s new strategic plan focuses on making city government work better

ArticleCommentary

America is at a crossroads with its infrastructure future

Commentary

Justice40: Getting federal funds to communities that need it most

Article

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office transforms performance management to improve service

Commentary

Digital permitting: Building stronger communities and centralizing asset data

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