The Premier Magazine For America’s Municipalities
November 2023
TECHNOLOGY
INSIDE: Road Widener Cities embrace adaptive technology Public safety agencies adopt new tech
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2 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
-----Nicholas Mancuso, Service Manager, Municipal Repairs Town of Kent
NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 3
Contents
November 2023
|
VOL. 14 No. 8
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www.themunicipal.com
22
30
18 Focus on Technology:
34 Focus on Technology:
technology
New technology helps Spartanburg, S.C., trap and secure strays more efficiently
22 Focus on Technology:
40 Public Safety: Florida
Cities embracing adaptive
Oklahoma City tests methods to control EV fires
46 26 Focus on Technology:
city combats gun violence through community involvement
42 Municipal Management:
Tech Depot key to Newport,
Software connects residents to resources in Seattle
Ark.’s, resilience strategy
46 Streets, Highways &
30 Focus on Technology: New technology helps give Grand Island police a safer, faster upper hand
50
Shutterstock photos
16 Focus on
Bridges: Brick paving not down for the count
50 Parks & Environmental Services: Ocoee brings action sports to town
ON THE COVER Muscatine County Highway Department road foreman Kyle Soukup and his six-man road maintenance crew traditionally completed shoulder work the old-fashioned way — with plenty of labor and elbow grease. Road Widener FH-R, however, has boosted the department’s efficiency, with a 100% return on investment in four years. Learn more on page 10.
TECHNOLOGY
INSIDE: Road Widener Cities embrace adaptive technology Public safety agencies adopt new tech www.themunicipal.com
4 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
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Meet our Staff publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
Departments 8 Editor’s Note: The future arrives 10 From the Cover: Road Widener, LLC 12 On the Road Again: Nevada
editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com
editor SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com
publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com
Highway 50: not only for the lonely
38 City Profile: Eureka Springs, Ark. 52 Holiday: Embracing the season with turkey trots and runs
senior account executive REES WOODCOCK rees@themunicipal.com graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com
business manager ANNETTE WEAVER aweaver@the-papers.com
director of marketing STEVE MEADOWS smeadows@the-papers.com
mail manager KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com
marketing assistant TAELYNNE OUSLEY tousley@the-papers.com
54 Conference Calendar 55 Product Spotlights 56 Company Profile: TCP Software 60 News & Notes 64 Veterans Day 66 Top 10: First-time-homebuyer havens
69 Advertiser Index
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Contributing Writers Jennifer Barton, Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Lauren Caggiano, Nicholette Carlson, Denise Fedorow, Kevin Kilbane, Dani Messick, Janet Patterson, Staci Reafsnyder, Julie Young
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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 © 2023.
NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 7
M
Editor’s Note
The future arrives Sarah Wright | Editor
T
echnology gets more helpful every day. On a broader scale, it has increased our life spans and led to greater safety and new industries. On a more personal level, it saves us a lot of frustration with features like autopay and autocorrect — well, when it’s not auto-correcting the word you actually wanted, that is. Even as technology simplifies our lives, it doesn’t come without its controversies. For instance, facial recognition technology has received considerable pushback. While there have been early adopters in municipal governments, other cities have chosen to ban or greatly limit its use. Such is the case of Anchorage, Alaska, which limited its use this past April on the basis of privacy violations. Cities like Oakland, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Sommerville, Mass., have banned governmental agencies from buying or using it. As I write this column, the Hollywood writer’s strike has been accumulating a lot of headlines, though it’s since been resolved. One demand from the writers was protections against artificial intelligence — to prevent job displacements. In the online writing communities I frequent, generative AI is either a helpful tool or the coming of Skynet — for those “Terminator” fans out there — and the death of industries. One factor for this response — beyond job displacements — is some generative AI programs learn from copyrighted content created by others without ever having received approval. And it’s not just writers who are navigating the use of AI: Municipalities are too. According to Marketplace.org, Seattle, Wash., and Boston, Mass., became two of the first cities to release preliminary generative AI guidelines for their employees, largely that they must cite when they use the technology for governmental purposes. However, in the site’s article, “Are state and local governments embracing or banning generative AI?,” tech journalist Todd Feather noted, “One of the interesting things that I learned from talking to
8 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
a lot of government employees was that, you know, these generative AI tools are just being inserted into the products that they’re already using without going through the normally very long and comprehensive procurement process that the government is used to. Because a lot of these generative AI tools can be bootstrapped into widgets and kind of integrated into existing products. And so you’re seeing government employees just kind of have access to these things, whether or not their governments have made any decision.” Sometimes, there are no easy answers when it comes to technology and its adoption. Each city must carefully weigh what best benefits its community. In this issue of The Municipal, we are looking at different cities’ processes for adopting technologies — whether it is for public safety, to ensure all residents can be engaged in city operations with the use of adaptive technologies, or to diversify a city’s workforce. Many technology additions have added benefits to their communities, while other additions weren’t quite there yet. M
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NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 9
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From The Cover
The Muscatine County Highway Department completed 15 miles of shouldering in two weeks using the FH-R. Previously, a project of that magnitude would have taken two-plus months.
Placing Efficiency and Quality Muscatine County Highway Department in Iowa reflects on the benefits of Road Widener’s FH-R
By JOHN MILLER
T
here are a few things that come to mind when thinking about summer in the Midwest: warmer weather, weekends at the lake, camping trips — and roadwork. In fact, Midwesterners often say they have two seasons — winter and construction season. Iowa is no exception and though the season to complete the work is much shorter, the amount of road maintenance to finish in that time is substantial. The Muscatine County Highway Department alone maintains about 600 miles of road during construction season. Completing that much road maintenance with a limited working window before the winter months hit is no small task and requires efficient, topperforming equipment.
Bolstering efficiency While the actual paving and sealcoating draw much attention, the longterm integrity of the road relies on proper reshouldering. Muscatine County Highway Department road foreman Kyle Soukup and his sixman road maintenance crew traditionally completed shoulder work the old-fashioned way — with plenty of labor and elbow grease — by using 10 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
(Images provided by the Muscatine County Highway Department)
less-than-precise side-discharge trucks to unload rock and a grader to push the material to the shoulder. But the imprecise placement of material often translated into more labor to get accurate material placement and added cleanup time after the placement was complete. The inefficiency of this old-school method became abundantly clear to the Muscatine County Highway Department as it scrambled to complete miles of roadwork among unpredictable summer weather. The grader and side-discharge dump truck left rock scattered anywhere from a foot off the shoulder in the ditch to a foot into the roadway, requiring a cleanup phase with a sweeper attachment and additional man hours. The process required a minimum of three steps — material discharge, smoothing out the material and making another pass to push it back onto the shoulder, compacting and additionally, cleanup. Soukup was conducting research for a new method when he saw a Road Widener FH-R material placement attachment at a dealership in Cedar Rapids. After seeing the design of the FH-R and learning it would do exactly what Soukup was looking for in terms of efficiency and the
The work zone is much tighter with the FH-R, lessening employee exposure and traffic risk. Since the FH-R accurately places material, the crew doesn’t have to worry about excess rock spilling onto the roadway and an oncoming vehicle striking it and damaging the vehicle or hurting a crew member.
The FH-R has allowed the Muscatine County Highway Department to complete road shouldering in a single pass, cutting out the second and third steps required with the previous grader process, while its accuracy required no cleanup.
quality of the finished product, he contacted Road Widener in Delafield, Wis., to gather more information. He was impressed with the FH-R’s quality and by the testimonials of FH-R owners, which led him to quickly order one for the highway department’s fleet. Manufacturer support The Muscatine County Highway Department boosted efficiency Construction equipment breaks down. It’s used hard and takes a lot of immediately. The crew completed 8 lane miles of road using the FH-R abuse, so it doesn’t matter how well it is built, it eventually will show attached to a wheel loader to place Class A rock, or 3/4-inch road stone symptoms of wear. That’s why it’s important to consider manufacturer with fines. The work was completed in a single pass, cutting out the support when making any equipment investment. Losing precious time second and third steps required with the previous grader process, while waiting for a part is not an option with a limited construction season. its accuracy required no cleanup. The FH-R took what was once a two- or On the rare occurrence when Soukup needs a part, Road Widener has three-day process down to only about one day. At a minimum, it provided typically shipped it overnight, helping to minimize downtime. All-in-all, the Muscatine County Highway Department with a 200% increase in switching to the FH-R provided benefits across the board, from having proper manufacturer support to gains in productivity and the quality of efficiency, making a 100% ROI achievable within four years. The highway department tackled similar projects in the fall of the roadwork. 2022 — putting down 4 miles of new 2-inch shoulder in just over two “Our shoulders look a lot more finished when we’re done,” Soukup said. hours — and in spring 2023, when Muscatine County completed 15 miles “They don’t have those rough edges they used to have after we used the of shouldering work in just two weeks, which would have easily taken motor grader; the FH-R does a much nicer, cleaner job. We used to have six-plus weeks previously. to redo shoulder work at least every other year because the results weren’t “Budgets aren’t getting any bigger, so we need to be as productive as up to this quality. The Road Widener has extended the lifetime of our road we can,” Soukup said. “People rarely think about road shoulders until it shoulders so, at times we traditionally started planning for replacement, directly affects them. But when someone hits a shoulder rut and wrecks we aren’t even considering it. The highway department isn’t a profestheir car tire, they think about it. We’re working to prevent those issues sional shouldering company, but for what we do, our end product looks in the most efficient manner possible.” really nice when we’re done.” M A safer method On top of the heightened productivity, using the FH-R has improved safety for not only the Muscatine County Highway Department crew but also for the county’s residents. Using the grader method, the operator constantly had to back up, turn and pivot, which put the large, attached blade at risk of clipping another piece of equipment or a passing vehicle. The FH-R enables a much tighter work zone, lessening employee exposure and traffic risk. Since the FH-R accurately places material, the crew doesn’t have to worry about excess rock spilling onto the roadway or an oncoming vehicle striking it and damaging the vehicle or hurting a crew member.
About the Author: John Miller is a writer in the construction industry. About Road Widener LLC: Road Widener LLC puts more than 30 years of road construction experience to work manufacturing innovative road and utility construction equipment. Founded by two road construction professionals, Road Widener is equipped with the industry know-how to provide the solutions contractors need to increase productivity and safety on the jobsite. For more information: Road Widener LLC, 514 Wells Street, Suite 1-W, Delafield, WI 53108; call (844) 494-3363; www.roadwidenerllc.com; Facebook; LinkedIn; Instagram; TikTok; and YouTube. NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 11
M
On The Road Again
Nevada Highway 50: not only for the lonely By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Dubbed the “Loneliest Road in America” by Life Magazine in 1986, Nevada Highway 50 used to not be for the faint of heart. With supposedly little to see and do across this 500-mile stretch between Carson City and Baker, drivers were warned to avoid it if at all possible, and if not, to sharpen their survival skills. The state tourism board, though, leaned into the moniker and created an official survival guide for those eager for adventure. The booklet not only has travel tips and points of interest, but those who collect enough stamps along the way can score some sweet souvenir swag. Gateway to ghost towns A journey along Highway 50 is best begun in Carson City, then moves through Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and Ely before reaching the end point of Baker. During the trip, travelers follow in the footsteps of the Pony Express and through former ghost towns to uncover some of the mining communities that drew settlers out West. Old Town Dayton, at the mouth of Gold Cañon on the Carson River, is the site of the state’s first gold strike in 1849. Once word spread about the discovery, the Nevada gold rush was on. Thousands headed to the area to prospect in hopes of finding hidden treasure. Fallon, Nev., is a community that came into existence because of the gold rush, because travelers rested along the nearby river after 12 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
ABOVE: The loneliest road in the U.S., Nevada Highway 50 offers plenty of adventure as travelers retrace the footsteps of the Pony Express near Eureka. (Photo by Ron Reiring, CC BY2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
crossing 40 miles of desert. Originally known as Ragtown due to the amount of laundry hanging from the wagons and trees, the area grew rapidly in the early 20th century and earned a reputation as the “oasis of Nevada.” Today it boasts great farm-to-fork food fare, a vibrant arts scene, several state parks and plenty of places for guests to rest and rejuvenate before the next leg of their trip. Room to breathe Austin, Nev., was once considered an unexplored area of the state. That is, until William Talcott discovered a rich silver vein that held strong for nearly two decades and resulted in several substantial buildings that still exist today and are on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also home to three of the 14 nationally designated wilderness areas in the state: Arc Dome Wilderness Area, Alta Toquima Wilderness Area and Table Mountain Wilderness Area. Not far away, visitors can enjoy the Toiyabe National Forest for a day of hiking, cycling or backpacking. They can end the day by relaxing at Spencer Hot Springs to soothe away the aches and pains in the
140-degree temperatures of the cluster of natural springs on unimproved public land. Before hopping in though, the guide warns to be sure to read up on local hot spring etiquette and prepare for “soak-cess!” It also recommends popping into Nevada’s historic Sagebrush Saloon to enjoy some of the best beer in the area. The 1.25-hour drive from Eureka to Ely can be incorporated into the drive to Austin or made a day unto its own. Although it is a short trip, travelers will find plenty to explore in this mountain town known for its art, history and outdoor adventure. They can go on a treasure hunt for their own ruby-like jewels at Garnet Hill or find ready-to-purchase stones at the Garnet Mercantile. Some visitors want to make a point of exploring Cave Lake State Park, driving along the aspen tree-lined Success Loop and “buzzing” by the beehive-shaped kilns at Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park: The historic park pays tribute to Ely’s mining history with six 30-foot-tall beehive shaped stone kilns that were built in the 1870s to melt down the ore extracted from the mines. Although they were only used between 1876 and 1879, there is a local legend that the kilns were later used as hideouts for stagecoach bandits. This park is open 24/7 and is the perfect spot to take in Nevada’s star-studded night sky. A sanctuary of solitude The last leg of the journey across Nevada Highway 50 will take drivers from Ely to Great Basin National Park. A Silver State standout, Great Basin is a sanctuary of solitude; and although it is one of the least visited national parks in the country, it is also one of the most exceptional. Here, visitors can hike Nevada’s second tallest summit, Wheeler Peak, enjoy a wide range of spectacular landscapes and learn why half of the park is designated as an “after dark location.” Spoiler alert, it’s because it has some of the best stargazing in the nation. Designated an International Dark Sky Park by the association DarkSky International, Great Basin National Park is home to what some astronomers call the last true dark night sky left in the United States. On most summer nights, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye, along with thousands of constellations, planets, nebulas and additional galaxies. Even visitors who can’t get there during the summer can take in the awe-inspiring view during the Great Basin Astronomy Festival each fall. Those who have completed the Nevada Highway 50 tour say it is well worth the drive. Online praise includes a comment from Robert D. of Gypsum, Colo., who traveled the “Loneliest Road” with his family in Spring 2020 and said it was his favorite part of his 2,100-mile trip. “The views and isolation are breathtaking,” he said in a Tripadvisor review. “You’ll never look at a gas station the same way again. Next time, we plan to camp there for a week.” Another reviewer, Jeff C. of Palm Harbor, Fla., said Nevada’s Highway 50 is a relaxing and beautiful drive. “The mountains in the distance and the open road go on forever … The highway crosses several large desert valleys separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors … This is a great road trip to explore American history and travel the path of the Pony Express.” M
Great Basin National Park in Nevada is the last stop along what has been called the “Loneliest Road in America.” It offers plenty of recreational opportunities and a picturesque landscape that is truly breathtaking. (Photo by Andrew Kearns, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The ruins at Fort Churchill State Historic Park are on the National Register of Historic Places and definitely worth a look by anyone who is in the Dayton, Nev., area. (Photo by Kelapstick, CC 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Northern Nevada Railway in Ely is another way to see the countryside beyond Highway 50. (Photo by Drew Jacksich, CC BY2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 13
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focus on:
TECHNOLOGY
Humankind has long striven to improve its living conditions through the development of tools, instruments, and transportation and communications systems, all with the goal of making our lives easier, more productive and — why not? — more fun, too. Thanks to human curiosity and technological research, many significant inventions have been made throughout history that in turn made a difference in our daily lives. — Encyclopedia Britannica
1,200
Learn more on page 26.
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In the 1990s, Newport, Ark., lost 1,200 manufacturing jobs. The city is now diversifying its job force, including offering special training through the Tech Depot.
The number of traps Spartanburg, S.C., Animal Services are switching to live monitoring.
Six
Read how Spartanburg is using technology to control its pet population on page 34.
77%
The percentage by which license plate readers are used to track vehicles’ movement. Officials with the city of Richmond, Va., accepted a state grant this year to add 30 readers as part of a more robust surveillance network that could allow the Richmond Police Department to centralize its police technology at a real-time crime center. Source: www.vpm.org/news/2023-08-20/richmond-city-real-time-crime-center.
16 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
2 acres Pecos Park, a two-acre dog park in Phoenix, Ariz., is now home to a cooling shelter whose roof is coated with Passive Radiative Cooling technology. PDRC has a higher solar reflectance than typical roofs, resulting in significantly cooler temperatures underneath. The technology was tested at Arizona State University. Learn more about it at news.asu. u/20230608-solutions-asu-research-makes-dog-park-cooler.
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27 Aiming to increase engagement between members of the public and the parks department, Sugar Land, Mo., has engaged in an initiative at all 27 of its parks. Hello Lamp Post is a two-way communication platform that crowdsources opinions and input via text message exchanges.
$2,469 Sand Springs, Okla., has invested in adaptive technology to assist residents with hearing impairments hear proceedings in the court room or in the council chambers. The most expensive package the city discovered in its research was $2,469, which in the long run was “a very low expense way to accommodate people with disabilities and also less intrusive.”
Source: communityimpact.com/houston/sugarland-missouri-city/development/2023/08/29/ sugar-land-launches-new-tech-program-connecting-residents-to-parks
Learn more about how cities are integrating adaptive technologies on page 18.
89%
30,000-60,000 gallons
In the United States, 83% of the population lives in urban areas; that figure is projected to reach 89% by 2050. In light of this, many cities collect vast amounts of data in order to one day take the critical step of becoming an adaptive city that can respond dynamically to continuous change and disruptions.
. Source: www.rtinsights.com/adaptive-cities-the-next-phase-for-smart-cities/.
23 The city of San Jose, Calif., wrote 23 pages of guidelines on generative artificial intelligence and requires municipal employees to fill out a form every time they use a tool like ChatGPT, Bard or Midjourney.
Source: www.wired.com/story/local-governments-generative-ai/#:~:text=At%20 every%20level%2C%20governments%20are,and%20understand%20dense%20 government%20material.
It can take between 30,000 gallons to 60,000 gallons, according to online sources, to extinguish an electric vehicle fire, compared to the 500 gallons to 1,000 gallons of water for a gas-combustion engine fire. Fire departments across the country are researching the best ways to extinguish EV fires as quickly and safely as possible. Read about Oklahoma City, Okla.’s, experiences on page 22.
40% Digital breaches of public entities and services rose 40% in the second quarter of 2023, on the heels of a rise in cyberattacks in 2022. Third party-related ransomware attacks, in particular, increased by 136% last year. Experts caution governments to recalibrate their cyber risk management approaches by emphasizing employee training and taking a whole-of-state approach. Source: www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurity/2023/09/ cyberattacks-local-agencies-grow-cyber-insurance-increasingly-out-reach-many/390036/
NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 17
M Focus on: Technology
Cities embracing adaptive technology
By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal
Whether you call it adaptive technology or assistive technology, implementing ways to make your city be more user-friendly for people with special needs is a wise investment; and as Mike Carter of Sand Springs, Okla., will share, it doesn’t have to be a pricey one. Although people use the terms interchangeably, there is a difference, according to an article on assistivetech.com. An assistive device would cover hearing aids, wheelchairs, ramps or any device that helps a disabled person obtain their goals. Adaptive technology refers to special versions of existing tools and includes devices like screen magnifiers, adapted keyboards for the visually impaired, handheld amplifiers, digital talk books and so on. As cities adopt new technology, like social media apps or online registrations, some people may not be able to use them. According 18 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
to G3ict’s website, touch-screen kiosks that many restaurants are using present problems for some as do the social media-based apps that some municipalities are using to get resident feedback. Blind and low-vision people can’t use the apps, and some seniors over 65 are less likely to use them. James Thurston, vice president of global strategy and development at G3ict, which promotes access to information and communication technology, stated in a blog post on the initiative’s website, “Cities may think they’re getting data from all their residents, but
ABOVE PHOTOS: The sound system rack is part of the Listen Technology that helps the hearing impaired. This receiver is used by the hearing impaired to connect to the system in order to hear better through their hearing aids or cochlear implants. (Photo provided by Sand Springs, Okla.)
if those apps aren’t accessible, they’re leaving out large portions of the population.” Sand Springs City Manager Mike Carter of Sand Springs talked about the adaptive technology for the hearing impaired that his city has implemented for public meetings.
Pictured are Sand Springs’ current city council members. (Photo provided by Sand Springs, Okla.)
“We just built a new public safety facility, and the architect installed a device from Listen Technology that connects to a microphone in the courtroom,” he said. The new public safety facility was built in 2019 and includes a courtroom, training rooms for police and firefighters and space for large gatherings. Carter said the city allows some homeowner’s associations to use the space to meet as long as they have a police officer speak during the meeting. “It’s a nice thing to have available for the public,” he said. Someone with a hearing disability can get a receiver from a city official; this device can fit into a pocket and connect to the person’s hearing aid or cochlear implant. The receiver helps hearing-impaired people hear anything that comes through the speaker system, such as what the judge or the prosecutor are saying. Carter said, “For the courtroom, it came as a standard best practice from the architect to be American with Disabilities Act compliant. The municipal building is older, so we didn’t have it, but after we saw it and became aware of it, we thought it would be great to bring into the council chambers.” Then it became more personal as one of the city’s council members, Vice Mayor Beau Wilson, was in a car accident. Reportedly, he was hit from behind by a semi, causing damage to his ear and his hearing. He had cochlear implant surgery but, according to Carter, “He had problems — there were times he couldn’t hear everything going on.” Carter said they installed a microphone system in the council chambers that could be used for any city meeting — council meetings, planning commission or board of zoning appeals and so on. The city has five receivers at each facility. The systems also come with different technologies — some are done through radio waves or infrared, so there are different options. Carter said it was “very easy” to use — just plug it in and there’s a jack in the back of the system that plugs into the receiver and transmits. He said they also have kits, so if someone needs to have it in a closet, for example, the antennae would work on both sides of the door so the signal doesn’t get blocked. For the hearing impaired, the receiver is discreet and can be worn on a necklace, a lapel or placed in a pocket.
Pictured is a recent award presentation in the city of Sand Springs with Vice Mayor Beau WIlson in the upper right of the photo. Wilson has a hearing impairment after being injured in a car accident, and technology added by the city helps him to hear better during meetings. (Photo provided by Sand Springs, Okla.)
The Listen technology device transmitter awaits use in the storage rack. (Photo provided by Sand Springs, Okla.)
“The feedback we got from our councilman was that he could hear even the tiniest noises. He said it was a ‘gamechanger.’ We were very happy we could do that for him,” Carter shared. Carter said the councilman, who was elected vice mayor by his peers on the council, just “throws it in his pocket and runs a cord to his cochlear implant. We did have to encourage others to speak into the microphones and then it’s clearly heard through the system.” The Listen Technology system is “very inexpensive,” according to Carter. “The biggest package I see online is $2,469,” he noted. “In the scheme of the money that municipalities spend, this is a very low expense way to accommodate people with disabilities and also less intrusive — they can put it on and act like everyone else.” One thing the city didn’t do at first that Carter had recommended is getting the ADA signage, so people are aware that the technology is NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 19
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available. “People with disabilities are familiar with the signage.” He said other than Vice Mayor Wilson, the city has had one other person request the receiver so far. In the courtroom, officials had a hearingimpaired gentleman make a special request: He wanted a real-time transcription as the case against him for speeding was happening. Carter said a 76-inch monitor is available on the wall, and during his trial, the transcriptionist was typing out the dialog between the two parties. “He had a hearing deficit, but this was his preferred method; he wanted to see it in writing. We felt that was a reasonable request, and we gave him the accommodation he asked for,” he said. Other cities improving crosswalks Other cities, like New Canaan, Conn., and Springfield, Mo., are improving crosswalks for the visually impaired. According to a NewCanaanite.com article by Michael Dinan, dated Nov. 9, 2022, New
Canaan officials were investigating adding locator signals at the downtown intersections. The signals would differ from the pedestrian signals that tell people when it’s safe to cross. These, instead, would be a continuous low beep signaling the visually impaired where the intersection is located. Meanwhile, Springfield’s city council recently approved $600,000 to upgrade 19 intersections to ensure compliance with ADA. Improvements will include new sidewalks and pedestrian push buttons, and a representative from the city said they plan to have audible Here is the dais of the Sand Springs City Council. (Photo provided by Sand Springs, signals, too. A quote by Vice Mayor Wilson, in a July Okla.) 2023 article by Catherine James on Fox23.com explains the importance of these technologies saying, “If you’re a citizen of Sand Springs, you Carter doesn’t think his city was unique have a voice. And, we want everybody’s voice in the endeavor. “We’re not doing anything to be heard. And, sometimes when individuals groundbreaking, I don’t think. The technoldon’t feel like they can communicate properly, ogy is out there so I just did a Google search or they don’t have the means to communicate, and found out where to buy it,” he said, adding, they sometimes withdraw and they don’t “We view this now as standard equipment for allow their concerns to be heard” our outreach to people with disabilities and compliance with ADA.” M
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M Focus on: Technology
Oklahoma City tests methods to control EV fires By KEVIN KILBANE | The Municipal
The call comes in to emergency dispatch: An electric vehicle is on fire near the interstate exit ramp. Fire crews rush to the scene. If the blaze involves the car’s lithium-ion battery, putting out the fire could be a challenge. “There’s a lot of material online that we’ve read “It’s a lot longer on scene, a lot longer process. where some people say 30,000 gallons to extin- That’s a lot of water that you don’t want to just guish them and up to 60,000 gallons, whereas squirt on the ground for no reason.” a gas-combustion engine is around 500 to Firefighters will encounter electric vehicle 1,000 gallons,” said District Chief Scott Douglas, fires more frequently as a growing number of public information officer for the Oklahoma Americans take to the road in the vehicles. Cox City Fire Department in Oklahoma City, Okla. Automotive, a vehicle industry analysis and 22 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
ABOVE: Extinguishing electric vehicle fires can require using thousands of gallons of water, so the Oklahoma City Fire Department has searched for technologies that can help firefighters put out EV fires quickly and with minimal amounts of water. (Photo provided by Oklahoma City Fire Department) information firm, forecasted in June that automakers will sell 1 million electric vehicles this year in the United States. That’s a record and double the number sold in 2021, Cox reported. The International Energy Agency estimates the United States had a combined total of about 3
million battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road in 2022. The Oklahoma City Fire department has taken a proactive approach by searching for new technology to extinguish EV fires quickly. “We have a lot of vehicles coming through the Oklahoma City area,” Douglas said, “which is why we’re trying to stay ahead of the game a little bit and be more prepared for these electrical vehicle fires.” Interstates 35 and 40 intersect in the city. The department, which has 38 fire engines, also serves more than 600,000 residents in an area encompassing 621 square miles. Douglas said fire crews can extinguish gascombustion engine vehicle fires relatively easily because they can open the vehicle’s hood to get access to the fire. “The bad thing with the electric (vehicle) fires that we’ve seen with the lithium batteries is that they have what they call a thermal runaway,” he explained. “Basically, in the internal mechanism of the battery, they call it a short-circuit. Once the car battery short-circuits, it can then produce basically its own fire.” The majority of flames and heat stay inside the battery, which makes them difficult to hit with water, he said. Firefighters have to drench the battery’s outer shell with water to cool it enough to stop the thermal runaway. That can be a problem if the EV fire is on an interstate highway where there are no fire hydrants and access to water is limited, according to Douglas. In its search for new technology to combat EV fires, Douglas said the Oklahoma City Fire Department first tested fire blankets. Most fire blankets seem to be made of a fiberglass material with a silicone coating, he said. Two firefighters wearing personal protective equipment deprive the fire of the oxygen it needs to keep burning. The blanket also contains the heavy smoke common with EV fires, Douglas said. That prevents the smoke from obscuring the vision of passing drivers and possibly causing other accidents. Once the fire dies down, firefighters can cool the battery with water to fully extinguish the blaze. For the test at the department’s training site, firefighters set a gas-combustion engine car ablaze and allowed it to become fully involved, Douglas said. “We had a thermal-imaging camera going the whole time, so it showed us the variations in temperature,” he said. “It (the fire) goes from 800 to 1,000 degrees. And then, once we put the fire blanket over it, it goes down to like 150 degrees. So it’s basically suppressing the flames.
With a large metropolitan area and two interstate highways passing through the city, the Oklahoma City Fire Department has started preparing to fight more electric vehicle (EV) fires in the future. The department has tested the use of fire blankets and is researching and evaluating other technologies that can allow firefighters to extinguish EV fires quickly with minimal water usage. (Photo provided by Oklahoma City Fire Department)
The Oklahoma City Fire Department has researched technologies that will allow firefighters to put out electric vehicle fires quickly and with minimal water usage so crews can get back in service in a timely manner. (Photo provided by Oklahoma City Fire Department)
Once the fire blanket was over the car for a minute or so,” he added, “we would take a hand line and squirt some water up under the fire blanket, and that cooled the environment even
more. Then you pull the fire blanket off, and it allows you to access the areas you need to.” A fire blanket can help firefighters extinguish a vehicle blaze faster and with less water, Douglas said. NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 23
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“You have many storm drains around Oklahoma City that we’re trying to protect as well,” he said. “So we don’t want to squirt a bunch of water and have all this runoff going back into our water system.” As of September, however, Oklahoma City hadn’t purchased any fire blankets because of the cost. “They’re around $2,000 to $6,000 is kind of the range we’ve been looking at,” Douglas said. “And the bad thing is they’re not an item that you can use and reuse again. … So they’re saying anywhere from one to five uses, depending on the severity of the fire.” Douglas said his department will continue searching for a good option for extinguishing EV fires. The department maintains good relationships with fire departments in other communities, so Oklahoma City firefighters can call those departments to ask what they are using for EV fires, he said. That includes fire departments in California and New York, where more electric vehicles are on the road, he added. At fire service conferences, our firefighters will talk with other firefighters, Douglas said. “You know, ‘How are you doing with this? What are you all seeing? What tools are you using?’ So the fire service is great at helping one another out.” Oklahoma City fire staff also read numerous fire service magazines and articles. “We’re just trying to get our hands on any information we can and just making sure we’re proactive with making sure we can get these fires extinguished in a good amount of time and get our firefighters back in service,” he said.
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The Oklahoma City Fire Department serves an area including more than 600,000 people and 621 square miles, so the department has begun planning to face many more electric vehicle fires in the future. (Photo provided by Oklahoma City Fire Department)
“With extinguishing agents, fire blankets, different fire-suppression efforts, there’s just not enough data out there to build a solid foundation on the route we need to go,” he added. “So we’re just kind of exploring it and trying to find the best route.” M
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M Focus on: Technology
Tech Depot key to Newport, Ark.’s, resilience strategy By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal
Technology and changing economic landscapes are redefining the American workforce. That’s why communities like Newport, Ark., are finding innovative ways to adapt and empower their residents. Tech Depot is the centerpiece of Newport’s Downtown Technology Park, known as DTech Park, which operates out of the Newport Economic Development Commission offices. According to Director of Economic Development Jon Chadwell, the Tech Depot program was spurred out of necessity. Over seven years in the 1990s, the community lost 26 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
1,200 manufacturing jobs, accounting for a significant portion of its livelihood. This mass exodus of employment opportunities forced many residents to leave town in search of work, leading to a cascade of issues affecting retail, housing and the overall economy.
ABOVE: Tech Depot allows individuals to learn more about general IT skills, data analysis, cybersecurity and more. (Photos provided by The Tech Depot)
“With folks leaving to look for work, that in turn created issues,” he said. “Retail and retail stores started to close, and that caused housing and (other segments of the economy to) spiral.” However, there was a turning point in that the city passed a sales tax that funded economic development projects. Chadwell said this money was strategically invested to
After Newport, Ark., lost 1,200 manufacturing jobs in the 1990s, officials had prioritized economic heterogeneity. The Tech Depot aligns with that goal. Pictured is the historic Jackson County Courthouse in Newport. (Roberto Galan/ Shutterstock.com)
recruit talent for jobs in manufacturing and other sectors. The community’s future, he said, lies in economic heterogeneity. “We’ve been pretty intentional about diversifying our economic base,” he said. “For instance, we have heavy metals manufacturing, a steel mill and plans for a steel fabricator. We’ve got equipment dealers, because agriculture, agriculture is one of our pillars. We have food processing here. Recently, the state legalized medical marijuana, and now we have a medical marijuana cultivator here. We’ve got two cryptocurrency mining operations here. We’ve done that (economic investment) on purpose because a recession isn’t going to hit all sectors equally. So you can diversify and maybe protect yourself in case of a recession.” Central to this community’s resilience strategy is the Tech Depot, a unique institution that addresses the evolving demands of the modern workforce. According to Chadwell, Tech Depot emerged as a result of recognizing the need to equip residents with the skills required for higher-paying jobs, fostering a sustainable economic future. Class sizes are small by design, so students can get the individual attention they need. The town has partnered with local educational institutions and organizations, such as the Arkansas Center for Data Science, to make this vision a reality. This collaboration facilitates skills development in technologyrelated fields. What started as a program aimed at upskilling the local workforce
Tech Depot is an information technology education center with classrooms and training labs for apprentices who are employed by Arkansas companies. (Photos provided by The Tech Depot) has evolved into a comprehensive effort to tackle multiple challenges. Beyond the core mission of upskilling local talent, the Tech Depot has extended its reach to cater to underrepresented populations in the community. For instance, Chadwell said plans call for targeting single parents earning less than $35,000 annually and individuals transitioning from incarceration. By providing access to education and training, the initiative aims to break down barriers to employment. “A lot of times, we have a population that has not had convenient access to the skills they need to get a job that pays a high wage,” he said. “They may be trapped in the $12 or $13 an hour range, which really isn’t enough (to support a family).” Furthermore, Tech Depot offers a unique approach to addressing the needs of single parents. Evening classes, online options and on-site childcare services ensure that parents can pursue education and career development while raising children. Chadwell is transparent about the fact that the sustainability of such a transformative initiative depends on a diverse range of funding sources. Grants from both state and
federal sources have played a crucial role, with significant contributions coming from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Additionally, Chadwell noted that donations from local individuals and organizations have been substantial, reflecting strong community support. While Chadwell said they plan to track and record outcomes such as job placement, Tech Depot is not limited to traditional metrics. The program also monitors broader societal impacts while aligning with partners that share a vested interest in workforce training and development. For instance, the Clinton School for Public Service conducted research to identify the root causes of workforce challenges so that Tech Depot could tailor solutions accordingly. “In the long term, we’ll be able to look at some of the other measures, like the local adult participation in our workforce,” he said. “We’re right about 50%. The majority of the people who are not participating in our workforce right now actually are women between about 25 and 55. We’ll see how that needle moves and see if we’re making a difference in that area, too.” M
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M Focus on: Technology
New technology helps give Grand Island police a safer, faster upper hand By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
The Grand Island, Neb., Police Department is doing its best to stay up to date with technological advances that can aid the department. Two pieces of technological equipment recently acquired this year include a system to help more quickly and accurately map crime scenes and another to test substances. This new technology helps provide the officers with greater safety as well as getting the job done faster. While Grand Island Police Department has used various crime mapping systems, the new Faro mapping system is said to do it faster and more efficiently. This specific system was discovered by attending conferences, through 30 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
word of mouth and by talking with and receiving recommendations from other agencies. According to Captain Dean Elliott, this system is incredibly helpful, particularly with accident reconstruction, drive-by shootings
ABOVE: When it comes to crime scenes and accidents, this new mapping tool is both faster and more efficient. It can be set up and the officer can perform other duties while the device does its job. Previously, it would take specially trained officers two or three hours to map a scene. (Photo provided by Grand Island, Neb., Police Department)
and homicides. While previously it might take specially trained officers two to three hours to map or draw out the scene of a fatal or near fatal accident using hand measurements, it can now be set up and done automatically and quickly.
When reconstructing an accident, these officers would have to measure the roadways, skid marks, scene of impact, light signals and the intersection using hand tools. This mapping system is set up and takes high resolution photographs, and in every point of the photograph, it is also helping to create a 3D picture of the scene and calculating the distance based on where the machine is set up. The mapping device is particularly helpful on major crime scenes, such as drive-by shootings, homicides or attempted homicides. Since drive-by shootings can involve shells half a mile away from the scene, the distance measuring feature can be particularly helpful. When it comes to a homicide investigation, officers can place the mapping device in the room to map the crime scene or move it room to room to map out the entire house. Elliott said, “For court purposes, judges and juries love it. They can see it. It’s not just a static photo or even a video. They can get a sense of where things are at with the depth and exact measurements.” It also helps with better documenting a scene. When there is no suspect in an investigation and a suspect may not be found for 10 years, still having all that information is quite beneficial. Grand Island has a smaller drone that can also be used to map accident and crime scenes from above. This drone footage is able to get the scene from an altitude angle, which can then be added into their mapping system, and gives judges and juries a view of the scene from a variety of different angles and points of view. “This new system is a better time saver and maps the scene automatically. An officer just sets it up, lets it do its thing and a half hour later it’s done. Meanwhile, the officer can have the drone flying ahead at the same time getting that angle.”
ABOVE: This is the department’s midsize drone, which is used most often at accident scenes to assist with accident reconstruction of fatal or near fatal accidents. It can also be used in conjunction with the department’s crime scene mapping device. (Photo provided by Grand Island, Neb., Police Department)
ABOVE: The department’s crime scene mapping equipment helps to create a 3D visual for judges and juries of a single room or of an entire home. This can also help to preserve evidence when a suspect is not found for years. (Photo provided by Grand Island, Neb., Police Department)
RIGHT: While officers used to have to measure roadways, intersections, skid marks, impacts and more using hand tools, the new mapping system helps them to complete the work much faster while it automatically captures distance. This also gives multiple points of view when looking at a scene. (Photo provided by Grand Island, Neb., Police Department)
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The department also has a second, much larger drone that can see in the dark and fly several miles away at speeds of 40 to 50 miles per hour. “Larger agencies are using drones as first responders,” Elliott explained. “We don’t have the manpower or budget for that. But we can fly our drone overhead during a car chase and can use the infrared.” Once the department had done its own homework and background work to find the mapping system it wanted, it needed to be budgeted and taken to the city council. In May 2022, the department put it in the budget to purchase in 2023. After the budget was approved, the police department then had to go through the process to get it approved since it is such a high dollar item. Five officers and one evidence technician are trained on how to use the new mapping system. It involved a weeklong training to learn the specific system. Accident reconstructionist officers already go through three weeks of classes to have that particular certification, and then those trained on the mapping system must undergo an additional weeklong training to learn that system. It is a very technical piece of equipment, so it is not something just anyone can pick up and use. This makes it helpful to have only a handful of officers responsible for it. Every other month, those trained on the mapping system also undergo an additional fourhour training to ensure everyone is up to speed and up to date. During the training, these officers have mock scenarios to go through. The second new piece of equipment this year is the TruNarc handheld analyzer. An officer can hold it close to a potential controlled substance, and it uses a built-in laser to get it to fluoresce and identify the substance. If the substance is in a baggie or pill form, an officer can simply hold the device over it instead of having to take some out. While the department has only had the device a short time, it has already come in handy. Elliott described a stop an officer made with two men. There was a baggie that was expected to have methamphetamine inside, and after TruNarc was used, it was confirmed. Next to the other man was a paper with white powder on it that, given the circumstance, was assumed to be methamphetamine or cocaine. After using the TruNarc, it was discovered it was actually powdered sugar. If the results had come back inconclusive from another device, the second man could have been mistakenly charged with possession of a controlled substance. Since there is only one TruNarc device and only a limited number of officers trained to use it, an officer either has to leave the department and take it to the scene or the substance can be brought back to the department and checked there. The device even prints out a piece of paper that is admissible in court. However, the state of Nebraska still requires state testing to be done, so the department still has to send a sample to state. “Technology is constantly changing,” Elliott emphasized. “It’s expensive to get some of those tools, but they are tools that are going to help patrol and just help operations in general.” Grand Island shares resources with nearby cities. There is special software the department uses to unlock both Android and Apple phones and retrieve data after a search warrant has been issued. In regards to human trafficking, the department has similar software to sort through computer files, so it is not as time consuming. The tactical response team also has some technological devices to aid in their work. One is a small robot that can be rolled out when needed. There is a throw phone for hostage negotiation that is on a long cable. This phone not only allows a hostage negotiator to communicate with the suspect but also includes a microphone and hidden camera. “It 32 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
This is the larger drone used by the Grand Island, Neb., Police Department. It is used in all situations where an aerial surveillance platform is useful, such as situational awareness, tactical situations, locating people or evidence, aerial communications, etc. (Photo provided by Grand Island, Neb., Police Department)
The TruNarc handheld narcotics analyzer gives officers the ability to test substances through the packaging without having to physically collect a sample and risk exposure. This creates a safer procedure for the officers and lessens the chance for workman’s compensation injuries. (Photo provided by Grand Island, Neb., Police Department) acts as the eyes and ears inside and gives them a tactical advantage. They help to de-escalate things and bring things to conclusion,” Elliott explained. The department is also looking into a durable, smaller drone with a rotating bar that can fly up and shatter windows so it can then be flown inside a house and give the tactical team sound, visual and two-way communication. “As the city will give us the budget authority to purchase it, we try to stay on the upper side of technology,” Elliott stated. “Technology is wonderful as long as you can afford it. It helps to keep officers safe and saves man hours.”
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M Focus on: Technology
New technology helps Spartanburg, S.C., trap and secure strays more efficiently
Shutterstock.com By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
In order to help control the stray pet population more safely and efficiently, the city of Spartanburg, S.C., Animal Services is utilizing newly purchased technology. Two of these new technologies include Skyhawk Kiwi live trap monitors and a net gun.
The city of Spartanburg, S.C., is utilizing new technology to help control its stray population this year. On six of the live, humane traps, the city has placed live trap monitors. These monitors can easily connect to any of the city’s traps and, when it is triggered, send an alert to an animal services employee. This helps save both time and money when it comes to checking traps. (Photo provided by Spartanburg, S.C., Animal Services) 34 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
Before the live trap monitors, Phillip Moore, animal services supervisor, stated the department was putting out more traps at a time that employees had to check more often. The goal was to check each trap every hour whenever possible and then last thing in the evening and first thing in the morning. With the new live trap monitoring, animal services employees receive a notification to their phone whenever one trap is triggered, making the time spent checking traps more efficient. Traps do still need to be checked regularly to ensure that the food used for bait is fresh and each trap is still properly set. Moore did research online for various live trap monitors before settling on the Skyhawk Kiwi monitoring. “I thought, ‘Is there any other way we could be doing this more efficiently?’ And I found these online and thought it would really help us know when an animal is in the trap,” he explained. The live trap monitors were purchased and set in May or June of this year. One reason these particular live monitor traps were chosen was because of their ability to attach to the traps the city
After a dog has been trapped in the net gun, a Spartanburg Animal Services officer will use a catch pole to retrieve the dog and place it in a cage for transfer. (Photo provided by Spartanburg, S.C., Animal Services)
already had. These monitors work off of cellphone signal and use batteries that are easy to replace, common lithium ion AAA batteries. This made the transition of switching six traps to live monitoring an extremely easy one. If Spartanburg Animal Services were ever to switch over to different traps or a trap can no longer be used, these live monitors can simply be switched over to another trap. The traps use a magnet and a string, and if an animal is trapped or the trap is set off, the string pulls the magnet from the monitor. This then alerts animal services of activity at the trap so it can be checked. Moore mentioned the city was given the option to choose text messages, email or app notifications to receive messages when a trap is triggered. They chose text messages and app notification so it did not get lost in email notifications. Animal services employees are also notified if the trap vibrates so they can check the trap to see if
When it comes to feral dogs, the traps typically do not work. Therefore, the city has also invested in a net gun, which fires using .308 caliber rifle blanks and shoots a 6- or 7-foot net weighted along the edges. It is user friendly and easy to pull back in and reset after use. (Photo provided by Spartanburg, S.C., Animal Services)
Cats tend to make up the majority of animals caught in these traps. The city uses the trap, neuter and release method to help control the stray populations. Once an animal is trapped, Spartanburg Animal Services comes and transfers the cat into another cage for transport to be neutered and is able to reset the live, monitored trap. (Photo provided by Spartanburg, S.C., Animal Services)
someone or something was attempting to mess with the trap and ensure it is still set. “They have a user-friendly app to assist in keeping which trap is set where and keeps track of the alerts,” Moore described. “This technology makes it so that we can focus more on other customers and issues and not have to physically check the traps as often. This also cuts down on vehicle maintenance, fuel and mileage from checking the traps so often.” While the city has only been utilizing these monitors for a few months, Moore has already noticed a difference. “We are enjoying using the monitors, and the animals also benefit from the monitors by cutting down on the amount of time they are sitting inside the traps,” he emphasized. “This makes our trapping efforts more efficient.” When it comes to feral dogs, Moore stated they can be a bit trickier to trap at times. The city had experienced some dogs that would refuse to go near any of the traps. This resulted in the city investing in a net
gun. The net gun fires using.308 caliber rifle blanks and deploys a 6- or 7-foot net with weights on the ends. An animal services officer does need to be relatively close to the dog in order to deploy the net gun. After the net has been deployed and the dog trapped, a catch pole is typically used to retrieve the dog and move it to a cage. The gun is also user friendly, Moore explained, in how easy it is to pull the weights back in and reset the gun after being deployed. In Spartanburg, these trapping efforts tend to be utilized the most with stray cats and dogs, specifically the feral cat population. “Once we capture a feral cat, we can transfer it into a separate cage to transport it to be spayed or neutered. That way, we can put the monitored trap right back in service for the next feral cat to be caught.” This trap, neuter and release program is used to attempt to reduce the stray population. “I can safely say we’ve done over 900 cats since April 2022,” he mentioned, which is when Moore started in his position. M NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 35
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M
City Profile
Eureka Springs, source of healing for the body and spirit
By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
Tucked in the northwest corner of Arkansas, deep in the Ozarks, Eureka Springs has long been a gem of the Midwest. Its lengthy and somewhat complex history is a testament to finding a mission and sticking to it. Eureka Springs’ mission was discovered probably by accident when it was found that the mineral water springs that abounded in the area seemed to have healing properties. By the late 19th century, people came from across the country seeking a cure by drinking Dr. Alvah Jackson’s “eyewater.” Located less than 10 miles from the southern border of Missouri, this ancestral home of the Osage Nation — as well as bands of the Delaware and Shawnee people — was incorporated in February 1880. Then, in 1882, the railroad came to the remote area, and almost overnight Eureka Springs transformed into a resort area. The city began its growth as a hodgepodge of private and commercial structures that gradually overtook the tents, shanties and lean-tos built hastily and as close to the springs as possible. Today, the city of about 2,500 residents is a popular destination for visitors due to the abundance of arts venues, natural wonders and day spas. While the spring water is no longer bottled and sold, the springs provide a beautiful backdrop for picnickers and photographers. 38 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
ABOVE: The city was discovered due to its mineral water springs that at one time were believed to have healing properties. (Photo by Khairil Azhar Junos/Shutterstock. com)
Major fires destroyed many of the early buildings, which were replaced with more substantial structures made of brick and stone. Limestone, sandstone, granite and marble, quarried locally, became the preferred materials for buildings and retaining walls along the steep hillsides. The little city has been nicknamed “America’s Favorite Victorian Village” because of its enduring architecture of the late 1800s that features colorful houses accented with turrets, gables and expansive porches. Tucked in the narrow valley at the headwaters of Leatherwood Creek, a tributary of the White River, Eureka Springs features steep, winding streets that provide days of exploration. It boasts the largest historic district of any city in Arkansas. The arts scene in Eureka Springs is rarely matched. The city has been awarded “Top 25 Art Towns in America” by American Style Magazine for the past few years. In addition to art galleries, studios and events, there are a number of nonprofit arts organizations including the Eureka Springs School of the Arts, Writers’ Colony at
Dairy Hollow, Main Stage Creative Community Center, Shakespeare in the Ozarks, Enthios Dance Center and the 60-year-old Opera in the Ozarks. Eureka Springs’ public transit system is a tourist’s dream but serves local residents with equal efficiency. After a 55-year hiatus, trolleys returned to service in 1978 with four color-coded routes and 115 stops. Narrated 85-minute tram tours give visitors a view of not just the city, but its rich history. Another intriguing way to get to know Eureka Springs is the Whimsical Wander Scavenger Hunt that begins and ends on Spring Street in the heart of downtown. For $20 per person, this two-hour, one-mile trek uncovers interesting places and colorful stories over a 10-stop tour. The route is wheelchair and stroller accessible and dog friendly. As anyone would expect in a city built on tourism, there are abundant restaurants, from white tablecloth establishments to pet- and child-friendly coffee houses, pizzerias and bistros. Of course, there is a craft beer brewery, and the historic district is home to numerous Victorian hotels and bed and breakfasts. Eureka Springs has become a destination for day trips or entire weekends of retail therapy. Head to the outskirts of town and find an abundance of eco-tourism sites that include more than 60 natural springs and three lakes. Don’t miss the soaring 48-foot tall Thorncrown Chapel, built in 1980, featuring more than 400 windows and 6,000 square feet of glass. It frequently appears on top lists published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In addition to its commitment to historic preservation, Eureka Springs is driven to preserve the natural environment surrounding it. The city was one of four in Arkansas that signed the 2007 United States Climate Protection Agreement. In addition to more than 1,800 acres of city park land, nearby Lake Leatherwood is an 85-acre springfed lake created by one of the largest hand-cut limestone dams in the United States. Visitors and residents can spend hours hiking, biking, paddle boating, swimming, birding, backpacking and geocaching. The Great Passion Play and Christ of the Ozarks are among the attractions that bring people to Eureka Springs. The Great Passion Play not only depicts scenes from the life of Jesus in its nightly performances, but there are also daytime tours of re-creations of places in the Holy Land. All of this has the Christ of the Ozarks statue as its backdrop: The statue is a seven-story structure constructed in 1966. Eureka Springs has had moments of brilliance and moments of darkness. The Great Depression took a heavy toll on the city’s ambiance, with buildings being abandoned or torn down to sell the wood and other materials. But in the years following, groups and municipalities began to focus attention on historic preservation, and Eureka Springs found its way back to its roots, welcoming visitors who appreciated what it had to offer. M
Nicknamed “America’s Favorite Victorian Village” because of its enduring architecture of the late 1800s that features colorful houses accented with turrets, gables and expansive porches, Eureka Springs, Ark., boasts the largest historic district of any city in Arkansas. (Shutterstock.com)
In addition to its commitment to historic preservation, Eureka Springs is driven to preserve the natural environment surrounding it. Visitors and residents can spend hours hiking, biking, paddle boating, swimming, birding, backpacking and geo-caching. (Photo by Tara Ballard/Shutterstock.com)
RIGHT: Christ of the Ozarks, a seven-story structure, is among the attractions that bring people to Eureka Springs. The Great Passion Play, also performed in Eureka, depicts scenes from the life of Jesus in its nightly performances. (Photo by Rachel Martin/Shutterstock.com)
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Public Safety
Florida city combats gun violence through community involvement By JENNIFER BARTON | The Municipal
Gun violence is on the rise in the U.S. The number of people who have died by gunshot wounds — both murder and suicide — has risen sharply over the last decade and particularly since the start of the pandemic, according to Pew Research. Stories of mass shootings all too often fill news headlines. The city of Gainesville in north central Florida has taken measures to combat its own rising rates of gun-related violence. In early August, it hosted a two-day summit to address the crisis. Called “Choose Peace: Gun Violence Must Cease,” the event consisted of talks by local community leaders, educational breakout sessions where attendees learned and discussed causes and solutions for gun violence and a tabletop exercise that gave participants an opportunity to work through a real-world scenario. Around 400 people attended, including roughly 75 young people. In her short two-plus years on the Gainesville city council, Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker has made combatting gun violence her mission. District 1, which she represents, has the highest incidence of gun-related incidents, and the numbers 40 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
ABOVE: Attendees listen to a Bureau of Justice Assistance presentation about its Community-Based Crime Reduction Program. (Photo provided by Jertoyia Russell)
are increasing. Earlier this year, she proposed that the city declare gun violence a public health crisis. The bloodshed is proliferating among the local African American community, she noted. Some of the root cause of gun violence is that the community is in great need of affordable housing, quality education and healthcare. But the hardest statistic to swallow is that gun-related crimes are increasingly being perpetrated by young people — some as young as 12. “It is so disturbing and so sad,” she stressed. Even teenagers can acquire a gun that a relative might carelessly have left unsecured or steal one from someone’s car or home. “It is not hard to get a gun these days. Guns are way too accessible.”
Youth Town Hall, host of the summit, publicized on day one of the gathering that it, too, would be addressing the issue of violence among the young. A panel of African American males focused on what they perceived to be the main problem: glorified violence in modern culture. Video games, social media and music have a strong, negative impact on young people today, particularly what is known as drill music, they said. Duncan-Walker commented, “I have a background in art; I have an appreciation for all art forms. But I look at that and think, ‘That’s not art.’ It’s damaging, it’s completely hinged on the wrong message.” To demonstrate the harm such music can cause, she had one a drill song — “Who I Smoke” — played for those in attendance, with a disclaimer in the program warning that it contained explicit lyrics. “Afterward, there was very little oxygen in the room because a lot of the parents had not heard it.” But she thought it crucial to play the music for others, including parents and teachers, and discuss with them the influences facing their children today — even if it shocked or disturbed them. “I’m a realist. I believe in confronting problems head-on. I don’t believe we’re going to get anywhere tiptoeing around the issue.” Before the summit, she made a last-minute decision to show the video at the same time she played the song. The conversation that followed was very fruitful. Duncan-Walker affirmed that the young people in the room “were ready for that conversation; they were looking forward to it, even if it was a slight departure from what they were expecting.” Many young people hear that type of music daily and model what they hear, she continued. She expressed her own elation that the young people present willingly gave an inside glimpse on the topic. Two other panelists, Dr. Derek Hicks and Dr. Micah Johnson, university professors with experience in the field, also gave academic assessments of drill music and discussed its power over young people, as well as ways to counteract it. Day two of the summit focused on local policy. It brought the public health aspect to the forefront and included talks on preventative strategies and social structures that could protect people, especially children, from future gun violence. Participants covered ways that each demographic could take action and challenged each other to consider next steps that could be taken. However, decreasing gun violence can only be achieved through a community effort, Duncan-Walker explained. She emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant about what children are absorbing and to watch for warning signs that could indicate future trouble, which is especially important in the schools, where children spend so much of their time. “The police cannot arrest their way out of this,” she stated. She noted parents, community members, faith-based leaders, school board members, health care workers all need to come together to help stop the violence. “It’s critical, and it will take all of us.” Several local organizations, such as the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding and Children’s Trust of Alachua County, partnered with the city of Gainesville to offer their resources and aid for the summit. Additionally, many groups hosted tables at the resource fair to arm citizens with information — rather than weapons — to resist the rise in violent crime.
A summit attendee flips through her packet of information. (Photo provided by Jertoyia Russell)
Attendees take part in a break-out session. (Photo provided by Jertoyia Russell)
The summit took a step in the right direction, Duncan-Walker said she believes, although it only scratched the surface of the problem. She vows to continue leading the effort to stop gun violence in her community. The greatest outcome she had hoped to gain from the summit, the creation of a gun violence task force, remains a work in progress, though the county commission and Santa Fe College, located in Gainesville, have begun working with her toward that goal. “But I’m here to represent my constituents and the people of District 1 who put me in this position. I like to think also I represent a larger swath here in Gainesville as well, because I side with the folk who need and have been waiting for justice a long time. It’s a joy and a privilege and an honor to serve the people. I prioritize them and put their interests first.” NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 41
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Municipal Management
Software connects residents to resources in Seattle By DANI MESSICK | The Municipal
An initiative developed by Google is saving the citizens of Seattle, Wash., some serious cash. Families can repurpose up to $25,000 in annual living expenses because of measures taken by their elected officials and Google to make access to services easier than ever.
TOP PHOTO and ABOVE: These photos were taken from Seattle’s CiviForm event in July where the mayor signed an Affordable Seattle Executive Order. This event was at the Chinese Information and Service Center, one of the community partners the city worked with throughout development. (All photos provided by city of Seattle) 42 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
The Affordable Seattle Initiative connects residents with 30 programs that help reduce the cost of living in Seattle and reduce the amount of time spent applying for programs. It began in 2017, when then-mayor Jenny Durkan signed an executive order directing city departments to collaborate on a portal designed to improve access to city programs and reduce living expenses for low-income residents. “The initial development focused on addressing residents’ main hurdles to accessing city services,” explained Mayor’s Office Digital Strategy Lead Ben Dalgetty. The Affordable Seattle Initiative includes four components that together make benefit programs more easily accessible. The process
took six months, and the city received pro bono labor from 13 Google.org fellows for it to implement the idea. Google.org, the philanthropic wing of Google, works with municipalities to develop solutions based on specific needs. It helps them develop open-source technology built upon what’s already being used within that community. In Seattle’s case, the result was CiviForm. CiviForm is an innovative, open-source portal designed to allow residents to quickly and conveniently be connected to all city assistance services at once. All city departments are required to adopt or integrate the CiviForm platform by the end of 2024. “Community-based organizations were heavily involved from the start, with partners including El Centro de la Raza, Chinese Information and Service Center and Refu- ABOVE and BELOW: Children enjoy time spent at Seattle Parks and Recreation’s summer gee Women’s Alliance providing invaluable camps; people can apply for camp scholarships as part of Seattle’s Affordable Seattle input throughout development,” Dalgetty Initiative. said. “CiviForm was designed knowing that caseworkers at trusted community-based organizations often apply for programs on behalf of their clients.” Four of the fellows worked with the project for an additional six months to add features and tools in the aftermath of the launch, bridging the support gap while the city worked to hire full-time staff to maintain the CiviForm platform. The platform makes it faster and easier for residents to apply for city-based benefit and discount programs and was designed with community input to ensure it works for those who will benefit the most, Dalgetty said. The city of Seattle is the custodian of all data entered by residents and data is not shared with Google.org. CiviForm cost $124,000 to implement, between staffing and cloud storage costs. The city used Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for the initiative, but Dalgetty said total city spending on the Affordable Seattle Initiative has been approximately $1.3 million from that previously relied on paper applications to distribute benefits, 2021 to August 2023. continued Dalgetty. The staff consists of five full-time technologists and program speIn July, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced an expansion of the initiacialists dedicated to helping onboard programs to CiviForm and tive and signed his own executive order directing all city departments perform community outreach and marketing. They also maintain the to adopt the platform. site and develop new site features. “The program costs are almost “CiviForm is a game changer for our communities. This exciting entirely staffing costs and seem to be reasonable for the scope of work initiative and new technology are already making a meaningful difof the initiative,” Dalgetty said. ference supporting Seattle residents, helping them save time, save The pandemic accelerated the need for improved access to city ser- money and increase access to the resources and programs they need,” vices via digital applications, allowing for rapid piloting of programs he said. “Rooted in Seattle’s spirit of big ideas and support for those in need, we are leveraging innovation and collaboration to make it NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 43
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easier for people to understand what assistance programs they qualify for and then apply in just minutes. CiviForm exemplifies our One Seattle approach to public-private collaborations: Its development was supported by know-how from technology companies and its design was informed by testing with community nonprofit partners.” The initiative averages a time reduction from 30 minutes down to just five minutes to fill out and submit applications. The savings are pretty substantial as well. “For qualified households, total available savings through programs that use CiviForm was up to $23,000 per year when Mayor Harrell signed the Executive Order in July,” Dalgetty said. “The city has continued to add more benefits to the tool with a goal of including over 20 assistance programs by the end of 2024, and current total potential savings has already increased to $25,517 per family per year.” Programs currently available to access through CiviForm include the Seattle Parks and Recreation Scholarship Program; Seattle Preschool Program; free smoke/carbon monoxide detectors; utility discounts including internet and sewer repairs; college assistance; SNAP/EBT match; Transit Pass assistance; discounts for several groups; the Low Income Restricted Parking Zone Permit; free toilet installation; emergency assistance programs; weatherization; Trees for Neighborhoods; the Gold Card for senior discounts to attractions, services, and retail; and FLASH cards for disabled residents.
Pictured is the José Martí Child Development Center at El Centro de la Raza. This center is a part of Seattle’s preschool program, and people can apply for discounted tuition as part of the Affordable Seattle Initiative. El Centro was also one of the community partners Seattle worked with throughout the CiviForm development process. Smart Cities Connect recently named CiviForm one of the 50 most transformative smart projects of 2023. Learn more at www.seattle.gov/ affordable.
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Streets, Highways & Bridges
Brick paving not down for the count
By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
Shutterstock.com
How many types of surfaces have most street departments worked with? Asphalt, brick, chipseal, cobblestone, dirt, gravel and macadam? Before the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most streets were made of dirt and gravel. Later, in order to make the roads in cities nicer, they began to be constructed of bricks. Now, some towns are returning to brick surfaces. There are good reasons to do so. Emily Agans, media manager for the city of Denison, Texas, and Christine Wallentine, assistant to the city manager, excitedly shared their experience with this kind of project. The contractors agreed to save as many of the original bricks as possible for the new roadways, Agans said. Asked if this was because of history, aesthetics or economy, she replied, “All of the above. However, history stands out for us: Denison has the only brick streets in Grayson County and has one of the largest collections of brick streets in Texas. Many of them are over 100 years old, and they serve as important visual links to our deep, historic past.” Denison is in the middle of a yearslong streetscape project on Main Street and has completed over three blocks. While these blocks are not yet historic, the city hopes they will become historic in the future; so, refurbishing the brick streets was included in the project. The Brick Preservation Plan takes into account repairs, preservation and maintenance for the bricks as well. The plan is clearly detailed and would be useful as a template for any other city considering a similar project.
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“We started recognizing the need for a policy in 2021,” Wallentine said. “A brick streets preservation committee was set up and a Preservation Policy was put together and adopted by our city council in May of 2023.” “Brick paving began as an experiment in Charleston, W.Va., in 1870, and quickly gained notoriety,” she explained. “Other cities began following suit as brick paving offered a durable, smooth surface that could be easily manufactured and required low maintenance. Brick pavers later became the standard as the process became more refined, because they were larger than building bricks, typically weighing between 8-10 pounds. And because they were fired at a higher temperature, it made them more water and corrosion resistant. “As bricks became increasingly popular, they were hailed as a municipal necessity and ‘evidence of progress in civilization.’ When the bricks began to show signs of wear, they were simply turned over to create a new smooth surface.” But by the 1920s and 1930s, brick paving had fallen out of favor, and concrete became the accepted standard for city-funded street paving. Agans and Wallentine agreed that brick streets are expensive to maintain, repair and preserve. “They are difficult to maintain because of the individuality of each brick,” explained Agans. Included in Denison’s Brick Streets Preservation Plan are five categories — a range of restoration recommendations that identifies those most appropriate for historic preservation and resurfacing. For
Brick streets are preferred in certain areas as they help with speed control. Pictured is one of Denison’s brick streets in front of an old service station. (Nicolas Henderson via Flickr; https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) example, Category 1 designates Denison’s Downtown Historic District, and the streets there are so critical to the designation that they should be restored to their original appearance, according to Agans and Wallentine. Rather than disturbing the bricks, they should be replaced and carefully maintained to their former appearance. The streets in Category 2 are important enough to merit preservation but not so important as to merit restoration; therefore, those bricks are replaced and the disturbed areas restored to their former appearance. Category 3 encompasses a hybrid, so to speak; every effort is made to preserve brick streets in this category, but resurfacing and patching with materials other than bricks may be allowed. Obviously, it’s not a job that can be completed in a matter of days. Agans and Wallentine noted that it is tedious to work with bricks, because they need to be removed one at a time, palletized or stored, and replaced one by one once the work is completed. “It tends to be more expensive because of the expertise needed when handling brick streets.” Also, “they are difficult to maintain because of the individuality of each brick,” explained Agans. “Currently, we do not have a budgeting mechanism set up for this. These conversations are ongoing, and something we are looking to set up in the future.” According to the plan, a long-term maintenance policy will be established once funding is feasible. The city would also maintain the Brick Streets and Paving Committee and ask it to meet on an as-needed basis as different occurrences arise. Agans and Wallentine are clear on what the policy is and is not. “This is not for bricks underneath other surfaces; it is specific to the.75 miles of brick streets that we have, and restoration depends on the condition of the bricks.”
Brick preservation work could begin with an inventory of brick streets and obtaining a survey company to do a condition assessment to find out if it is feasible to preserve them. The policy is ongoing and will apply to any future projects or work done that includes Denison’s brick streets. The community response has been positive, they say. On the other side of the country, Lakeland, Fla., experienced something never seen before in Heath Frederick’s tenure as public works director. Lakeland also has brick streets, and recently, a heavy flow of water worked its way under the brick on a particular street. “I’ve been here seven years and never seen it happen before. We do not anticipate this happening in a normal rainfall, but anything is possible in an extreme rain event,” Frederick said. They removed and reset the older bricks, which had shifted over several years of use. The street department then installed a Portland and sand mix to fill gaps between the bricks to lessen the chance of infiltration. Why Portland cement? Portland cement is also known as hydraulic cement because it is capable of setting and hardening when mixed with water. A chemical reaction between the two creates a material with excellent binding properties. In addition to aesthetics and historical value, Frederick understands additional reasons why brick streets are preferred in certain areas. “They help with speed control. A lot of times, that’s why residents will request them. And a lot of residents like the look they bring back to the road.” In addition to reduced maintenance cost, brick streets add to the character of residential neighborhoods, helping to maintain or NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 47
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enhance property values. It is because of their textured surface that speed is reduced. A section of Lakeland roadway on which restoration was requested three years ago was begun this past June and completed in August. It wasn’t an unusual request, and there are funds in the budget for brick restoration projects, but they typically cover one project a year — so it took a while for that request to come to the top of the list. Frederick said the road was likely paved over with asphalt in the early to mid-1980s. Restoration cost was set at $180,000. But, he reasoned, “They help with stormwater. They are a lot more porous; the water dissipates faster.” He further explained, “We do not use new materials. All bricks to be used are already in place. What we do is remove any surfacing installed over the brick. Winter doesn’t seem to be an issue, because in Florida we don’t see freezing temperatures. As long as the water flows correctly on the brick streets, and algae doesn’t build, then the street doesn’t get slippery when wet. And if we get reports of water standing, we have maintenance protocols for adjustments to get the water flowing properly.” A typical asphalt road may require major maintenance work within 10 to 15 years. However, a properly installed brick street may not require major maintenance work for 40 to 50 years, Frederick said. In Rensselaer, Ind., Jerry Lockridge, city project coordinator, is just beginning a brick street project. It’s a big project — removing all the bricks, grading underneath so it’s all flat and smooth, and then installing new water and sewage lines — all before the bricks can be re-laid. “The hope is to save as many of the original bricks as possible for use with the new roadway.” Lockridge said. “It’s a combination of history and aesthetics, and the grant we received says you have to use 60% of the original bricks.” Some towns have taken further the attraction to brick street restoration by installing streetlights reminiscent of gaslights, though they are mostly lit with LED bulbs. There’s no question about the visual appeal, and leaders say it might even lead to slowing down for a walk and enjoying the ambience. It’s one way to straddle the bridge of history and technology.
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While expensive to maintain, Denison, Texas, has committed to preserving its brick roads, forming a brick streets preservation committee in 2021. Pictured is the Denison Area Chamber of Commerce as it appeared in 2016; it is located on West Woodard Street, a brick street. (Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons; https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en)
Rensselaer, Ind., City Hall is located on South Van Rensselaer Street, which is made from brick. (Photo by Sarah Wright)
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Parks & Environmental Services
Ocoee brings action sports to town
Ocoee, Fla., welcomed its new Action Sports Park with an opening ceremony on June 28, 2023. It features a skate park and pump track. (Photo provided by the city of Ocoee)
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By STACI REAFSNYDER | The Municipal
The city of Ocoee, Fla., has opened a new Action Sports Park — a skate park — within Vandergrift Central Park to attract city residents. With a grand opening ceremony on June 28, the Ocoee Action Sports Park has received a positive response. “Action sports have become very popular, and the city wanted to give families a place to skate or ride bikes,” said Mark Johnson, the city of Ocoee Parks and Recreation director. “The reaction (to the Ocoee Action Sports Park) has been tremendous, with nothing but positive feedback.” According to Johnson, the city wanted to offer activities to families in Vandergrift Central Park that weren’t normal recreational sports. Additionally, Ocoee citizens had been asking for a skate park. “The citizens said they wanted a skate park in the past. My staff and I met and came up with expectations of the park, and I placed the skate park into the budget,” Johnson said. To kick-start the process, Johnson said he began speaking with different skate park construction companies, as well as researching online. In the end, the city chose American Ramp Company to build the Ocoee Action Sports Park. From the first meeting with the construction company to completion, the entire project took between 12 and 14 months. Construction of the actual park was completed in approximately nine weeks. The entire process went smoothly, with Johnson stating, “We told them exactly what we wanted, and what we thought it should look like. They would take our input and come back with incredible designs.” The park is funded through the city of Ocoee General Fund Capital. A general fund capital in a city budget usually designates funds earmarked for capital expenditures within the city’s general fund. The general fund serves as the primary operational fund for a municipality, addressing routine expenses like public safety, education, and administrative costs. In contrast, capital expenditures involve investments in long-term assets or infrastructure projects aimed at improving the city’s overall quality of life. Currently, there aren’t specific programs tied to the Action Sports Park, but in the future, they may be added, Johnson said. To make use of the park, the city does require a waiver for patrons to sign. The city also requires the use of ANSI-approved helmets. Ocoee has also provided a set of rules for residents to follow, to ensure public safety. “The Action Sports Park Etiquette is a set of rules universally followed to avoid chaos and prevent injuries. It’s an informal code of conduct that is widely accepted and adopted by park users that minimizes heated discussions and, in some cases, prevents physical aggression,” the city of Ocoee website, ocoee.org, states. Overall, Vandergrift Park, in which the Action Sports Park is located, offers different recreational activities for residents, such as football, baseball, basketball and other amenities. According to the city website, the Action Sports Park is a 10,000-squarefoot area. The park features street-style elements, such as ramps, stairs, rails, a grind box, a wall ride, as well as a competition-level pump track. There is an additional 5,000 square feet that would allow for future growth.
The park features street-style elements, such as ramps, stairs, rails, a grind box and a wall ride. (Photo provided by the city of Ocoee)
A young cyclist navigates the pump track in Ocoee Sports Action Park. (Photo provided by the city of Ocoee)
A pump track within a skate park is a circuit, featuring rollers, berms and other elements, which are created for cyclists, skateboarders, rollerbladers and scooter enthusiasts. Comprising a continuous loop of banked turns and features, the track enables riders to utilize body movements (pumping) to build momentum and navigate without the need for pedaling or pushing. Tailored to offer an enjoyable and challenging experience, pump tracks cater to riders of diverse skill levels, fostering skill enhancement, fitness and community involvement. The Action Sports Park is part of a larger plan to improve Vandergrift Central Park in Ocoee. “The park will get an almost $300,000 expansion in 2024,” Johnson stated. “We budgeted for phase three, and it was approved by the commission. We will be adding to our current skate park and pump track.” The total price of the project was approximately $528,000. The Ocoee Action Sports Park is currently the only skate park and pump track in the area. Ocoee is a city located in Orange County, Fla., within the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Ocoee is approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Orlando.
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Holiday
All photos provided
Embracing the season with turkey trots and runs By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
While Thanksgiving may be the feast-iest day of the year, it’s also the running-est day of the year, at least according to Elvi Guzman, director of the Bayonne, N.J., Division of Recreation’s Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Kids’ Fun Run. From Santa Maria, Calif., to the shores of the Atlantic, thousands of cities, large and small, gather families, running clubs, cross-country teams, serious runners and fun runners for pre-feast races. That’s not counting the municipalities that hold races the weekends before and after Thanksgiving.
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Turkey Trots and Turkey Runs have a long history, with the oldest in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1896, when six runners took to dirt roads in preparation for the calorie load of Thanksgiving dinner. The event continues to this day with a 5-mile run that attracts more than 10,000 runners on Thanksgiving morning.
ABOVE: Adults and children join in the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Hoboken, N.J. Elvi Guzman, organizer for the race, also organizes Turkey Trots in nearby Bayonne and Jersey City. Bayonne’s race is one of the newest in the country, organized last year to replace a long-standing football tradition between local New Jersey high school rivals Bayonne and Marist. “Turkey Trots are great community events,” Guzman noted. Entry fees for races may benefit charitable causes, while the fees for some races just pay for the event itself. Proceeds from the Bayonne race support the
city’s Division of Recreation Special Needs Sports Program and its Ability Day Program; The Buffalo race has benefitted the city’s YMCA for its 128-year history. The scenery for each race varies according to the part of the country, the city’s facilities and the day when the race is held. In Herndon, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C., the Turkey Trot 5K takes place the Saturday afternoon before Thanksgiving. A Herndon tradition since the early 1980s, Cynthia Hoftiezer, deputy director of the town of Herndon Parks and Recreation Department, said the event is family focused. Participants run or walk cross-country through the community’s golf course. “That way we don’t have to close streets, and at that time of day, the activity on the golf course has wound down.” Hoftiezer said that in the 40 years of the race’s life, the city has found ways to weave the life of the community into the event. In addition to families with children, participants include members of the high The finish line is right there for a young runner in Herndon, Va. school cross-country team and, as a more recent addition, running clubs from the local elementary schools. Additionally, race organizers have looked for ways to make registration and race results easier to track. “Hire a timing company,” Hoftiezer advises anyone who is considering organizing a race. “It makes such a difference in keeping track of runners and their times.” If participants don’t think they can win the race with lightning speed, they can come up with a clever costume for the event’s costume contest. In Herndon, individuals and groups can enter their costumes by reporting to the judges before the race. Prizes are awarded after the race: The top male and female runners took home a turkey, a pie and parks and recreation gift certificates. “We try to figure out multiple ways to make the race different and fun each year,” Hoftiezer added. Officials in Rye, N.Y., a northern suburb of New York City, agree that fun is the name of the game for Thanksgiving races. Erin Mantz, Some Turkey Run racers in Rye, N.Y., participate for fun, while superintendent for recreation, noted that Rye is a big running com- others take their longer races very seriously. munity, so, the city’s race on the Saturday after Thanksgiving attracts between 1,000 and 1,200 runners — including entire families. The morning begins with a 9 a.m. 1-mile Turkey Run and Paws Walk Food is also a part of many of the races around the country. Somein the neighborhood around the recreation center. At 9:30 a.m. the times it’s food trucks selling snacks to spectators, other times it’s local 1-Mile Fun Run takes off, followed by the 3.1- and 5.2-miles races at restaurants or sponsors providing sandwiches, fruit, granola bars, 10 a.m. water and energy drinks to participants. In Herndon, race day ends Mantz said the feedback the city has received about the event has with not just food, but music and adult beverages provided by a local been overwhelmingly positive, particularly the way that city work- beer company. ers manage signage for each of the different events. “We have signs For cities that have not yet started their own Turkey Trots, Hoftiezer with arrows and volunteer flaggers along the routes. And we’ve had advised talking to race organizers from places that already have the the same route for many years.” This, she believes, helps participants event to learn the dos and don’ts of turkey trotting and fun running. avoid confusion. Race maps and racers bibs are color coded to help “It’s helpful to know what works and what doesn’t.” them stay on the appropriate routes. Guzman said that before organizing any race, it is important to The safety of participants is uppermost on organizer’s minds. It’s the assess the area’s demographics and learn if there is a running comreason runners with strollers are started at the back of the pack; this munity to provide a base for the event. He also said it helps to have keeps runners from tripping and youngsters from being tripped over. a cause such as a local charity or organization. His first race was to She said another aspect to having the event well-managed is get- benefit breast cancer research. Races can be sanctioned by USA Track and Field, Guzman noted. ting as many pre-registrations as possible. To encourage this, early registrations are $15, while registrations on race day are $20. These are measured races that may be as short as 3.1 miles — a 5K — or “And there’s nothing like a good shirt as a giveaway to keep things a full marathon of 26.2 miles. Non sanctioned races include the shorter festive,” she added. Each year, the color and stylized turkey design fun runs and are much less expensive to organize, he added. M are different. NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 53
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Conference Calendar 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.
N OV E M B E R Nov. 1-2 Midwest Leadership Fall 2023 Seminar NIU Naperville Campus, Naperville, Ill. https:// midwestleadershipinstitute. org/mli-events/fall-2023seminar Nov. 2 Green Mountain Water Environment Association Fall Tradeshow Double Tree Hotel, South Burlington, Vt. https://gmwea.org/falltradeshow Nov. 6-8 Annual Water Resources Conference Raleigh, N.C. https://www.awra.org/ Nov. 7-8 AASHTO Winter Meeting of Council on Public Transportation Nashville, Tenn. https://transportation.org/ptc/ Nov. 7-9 OACP Small Agency Conference Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore. https://www.policechief.org/ Nov. 8-11 The Summit in Provo/ EMS & Emergency Conference Provo, Utah https://emsassociates.com/ Nov. 9-12 Symposium in the Sun 2023 IAFC Hilton Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Fla. https://www.iafc.org/events
DECEMBER
J A N UA R Y 202 4
Nov. 13-16 AASHTO Annual Meeting Indianapolis, Ind. https://transportation. org/meetings/aashto_ meetings/2023
Dec. 5-7 International Association of Fire Chiefs Technology Summit Irving Convention Center, Irving, Texas https://www.iafc.org/events
Jan. 22-25 World of Concrete Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. https://www.worldofconcrete. com/en/events.html
Nov. 14-15 Resource & Technology Conference 2023 Austin, Texas https://cleanpower.org/events/
Dec. 5-7 Groundwater Week 2023 Las Vegas, Nev. https://groundwaterweek.com/
Nov. 14-16 Indiana Park & Recreation Association Conference & Expo Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, Ind. http://www.inpra.org/ conference
Dec. 5-8 Florida Parking & Transportation Association Annual Conference The Luminary Hotel, Fort Myers, Fla. https://www.flapta.org/annualconference
Nov. 14-16 New Jersey State League of Municipalities 108th Annual Conference Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, N.J. https://annualconference.njlm. org/ Nov. 15-16 New Hampshire Municipal Association 82nd Annual Conference Double Tree by Hilton Manchester, Manchester, N.H. https://www.nhmunicipal. org/nhmas-82nd-annualconference-and-exhibition Nov. 15-18 National League of Cities City Summit Atlanta, Ga. https://citysummit.nlc.org/
54 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
J A N UA R Y 202 4 Jan. 8-12 Florida Fire Conference Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. https://www.ffca.org/ Jan 10-12 ELTS Conference Executive Leadership Training Seminar Seaside Civic & Convention Center, Seaside, Ore. https://www.policechief.org/ elts-winter-conference-winter/ Jan. 17-19 USCM Winter Conference Washington, D.C. https://www.usmayors.org/ meetings/
Jan. 23-25 PowerGen International Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, La. https://www.powergen.com/ event-info/ Jan. 24-26 ACMA Winter Conference Sedona, Ariz. https://azmanagement.org/ events Jan. 28-30 NAPO’s 35th Annual Police, Fire, EMS & Municipal Employee Pension & Benefits Seminar Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nev. https://www.napo.org/events/ upcoming-events/ January 29-Feb. 1 CADCA 24th Annual National Leadership Forum Hilton, Chicago, Ill. https://www.cadca.org/ trainings-events/ Jan. 30-Feb. 1 TFCA Winter Conference Doubletree Hotel, Jackson, Tenn. https://www.tnfirechiefs.com/ conferences Jan. 30-Feb. 2 WPRA Annual Conference & Trade Show La Crosse, Wis. https://www.wpraweb.org/ annual-conference
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Company Profile
Employee scheduling for public safety:
Easier, faster, better with Aladtec By LINDSAY ROSE
In public safety, it’s never a matter of simply having employees working. You need the necessary combination of employees, whether officers on foot patrol, sergeants in the precinct or voluntary firefighters on call to fill in at a moment’s notice. With TCP’s Aladtec employee scheduling solution for public safety organizations, you can quickly build schedules, make shift changes and manage employee overtime for your 24/7 operations. The consequences of poor employee scheduling in public safety Creating employee schedules that maximize productivity is essential for any organization. However, in public safety, poor scheduling can have life-or-death consequences for community members. For example, in an EMS crew a paramedic can perform EMT functions, but EMTs typically cannot perform paramedic tasks, such as administering drugs. This makes it critical to ensure crews are staffed with the right mix of skills when responding to patient emergencies. Poor scheduling can also negatively affect your public safety workforce. Studies show long hours, frequent shifts and prolonged exposure to traumatic events can cause mental health complications in public safety employees, including post-traumatic stress, depression and substance abuse. This is one of the reasons many agencies have limits on hours worked in a given time period. Manual scheduling practices that lack insight into critical information, such as employee availability, qualifications and historical data, are not only more time consuming, but they can also increase burnout 56 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
ABOVE: TCP Software’s Aladtec scheduling software is designed to help agencies ensure shift coverage, reduce overscheduling, excessive overtime and uneven shifts. (Photos provided by Aladtec)
and frustration in the workforce. In fact, without flexible technology to build and maintain balanced schedules, you can encounter a range of scheduling headaches, including: • Not having the right combination of employee ranks working in a shift. • Gaps in shifts caused by unexpected employee absences. • Employees being scheduled for too many or too few hours. How Aladtec employee scheduling software simplifies workforce management Public safety work comes with a unique set of challenges, which impact the employee scheduling process. TCP Software’s Aladtec scheduling software is designed to help agencies ensure shift coverage, reduce overscheduling, excessive overtime and uneven shifts: Automate employee scheduling Whether your public safety department operates on a rotating schedule or has variable schedules for day and night shifts, Aladtec’s employee scheduling solution can help you manage schedules with greater accuracy than ever before. Using a fully configurable shift schedule maker, you can create recurring schedule patterns for a
Communities depend on their public safety agencies. Proper scheduling can ensure an EMS crew is not missing vital personnel, trained to administer life-saving medications.
Aladtec’s employee scheduling solution allows administrators to set work rules and limits for overtime; it can also be configured to alert employees when extra shifts are available for signup.
month, year or custom timeframe. The solution also makes it easy to create and fill schedules based on employee availability, rank, hours worked and other parameters applicable to your workforce.
scheduling solution not only allows you to set work rules and limits for overtime, but it can also be configured to alert employees when extra shifts are available for signup. The system can also help you stay in compliance with industry-specific overtime requirements, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule about “work period” overtime for fire protection and law enforcement employees.
Improve employee communication Instead of relying on texts, emails and voicemails, you can use Aladtec’s scheduling solution to communicate shift changes and available hours to employees, ensuring they receive information promptly and consistently. For example, you can send alerts to employees about open shifts and enable them to sign up for shifts, trade with other pre-qualified employees and have their schedules approved based on internal policies. Streamline processes for better efficiency Managing employee schedules in a busy public safety department can be time-consuming, especially with a wide range of employees, shifts and variations in employee availability. Employee scheduling software automates manual processes and provides alerts to help you get in front of potential scheduling gaps. As a result, you don’t have to waste time scrambling for employees to fill a shift at the last minute. Improved time savings and efficiency are commonly cited benefits in Aladtec’s customer testimonials. One fire rescue EMT noted, “As an organization, I estimate we’re saving about 100 hours a month by using Aladtec. Gaining all these hours allows us to dedicate more time to a variety of important civic duties, resulting in a positive impact on the communities we serve.” Manage overtime limits and availability While overtime is often inevitable for public safety professionals, you need reliable processes to ensure overtime is assigned equitably and in alignment with your budget and policies. Aladtec’s employee
Improve accountability and reliability Working with cloud-based employee scheduling technology makes it easy for employees to check the latest schedule without the hassle of paper schedules or versioning issues. The system is backed by reliable servers and is always current and available for use. Furthermore, Aladtec’s solution automatically logs and timestamps all scheduling changes and requests, so you can check the system for past scheduling actions and resolve any scheduling-related disputes that may arise. Save time and manage your workforce more efficiently The community your public safety department serves relies on your ability to schedule the right mix of employees for every shift. Moreover, your growing day-to-day responsibilities make it necessary to have tools for managing your workforce efficiently, free from the constraints of pen and paper or spreadsheet schedules. With workforce management solutions by TCP Software’s Aladtec, it’s possible to streamline employee time-tracking and scheduling activities and achieve better control over shift assignments and overtime. With automatic reminders and tools that empower employees to sign up for shifts and swap approved shifts, you can save time and turn your attention to other valuable work. To learn more, contact TCP Software at (325) 223-9500 for a demo of any of our solutions. NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 57
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News & Notes NTEA releases fall 2023 U.S. Commercial Vehicle Market Report FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — NTEA — The Work Truck Association released the third edition of the “U.S. Commercial Vehicle Market Report — Powered by Commercial Truck Trader, NTEA and S&P Global Mobility.” This semi-annual industry report, which was launched in 2022, delves into the details, data and trends around the commercial vehicle life cycle — from chassis sales to truck registration to later stages when used vehicles re-enter the sales market. “Navigating market and business challenges and opportunities is something our industry organizations do day in and day out,” said Kevin Koester, NTEA managing director. “As an association, we value the opportunity to serve these companies by sharing data and insights in the U.S. Commercial Vehicle Market Report they can use — and put to work — in their strategic operational planning.” “Understanding the industry is crucial. With the insights shared in the fall 2023 U.S. Commercial Vehicle Market Report, Commercial Truck Trader’s data will arm industry professionals with the right information to make more strategic and informed business decisions,” added Charles Bowles, director of OEM & strategic initiatives at Trader Interactive, parent company of Commercial Truck Trader. “We are thrilled to once again discuss the insights from the report at the Executive Leadership Summit alongside NTEA and S&P Global Mobility.” “As we move into the back half of 2023, some rebalancing in the U.S. truck market is evident,” notes Andrej Divis, executive director, global heavy truck research at S&P Global Mobility. “Two quick examples are shifts in the mix of GVW ratings compared to a year ago, and in the sizes of the fleets driving the market. In the year to date, we have really seen large fleets return to the market in a big way. We look forward to sharing more details at NTEA’s upcoming Executive Leadership Summit.” This third edition of the U.S. Commercial Vehicle Market Report leverages multiple complex datasets to provide a landscape of opportunities, trends and challenges in today’s work truck market. Topics covered include: • How recent chassis shortages have impacted inventory levels. • Purchasing trends and forecasts by vehicle class. • Fleet reactions to supply shortages and resulting effects on demand. • Proliferation of electric commercial vehicles. • Inventory age trends.
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More News & Notes on page 62 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. 60 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
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News & Notes NFL Hall of Famers Jerome Bettis and Emmitt Smith rush to Work Truck Week 2024 FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — Jerome “The Bus” Bettis and Emmitt Smith, two of the National Football League’s greatest running backs, will team up as Work Truck Week 2024 keynote speakers at NTEA Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2024. With four Super Bowl victories between them, the pair has plenty to share about teamwork, persistence and success. Work Truck Week, North America’s largest work truck event, returns to Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis March 5-8, 2024. It encompasses The Work Truck Show, Green Truck Summit, Jerome Bettis NTEA Annual Meeting, Ride & Drive, educational sessions and more. Green Truck Summit is March 5, educational sessions run March 5-7, and Work Truck Show exhibits are open March 6-8. Registration opens in October at worktruckweek.com. Work Truck Week is produced by NTEA — The Work Truck Association. The Annual Meeting keynote will be a question-and-answer conversation between Bettis and Smith moderated by Jason Ritchey, 2024 NTEA Convention chair, and president and owner of Emmitt Smith Curry Supply Co. Both Bettis and Smith left college after junior year to enter the NFL Draft. Each was selected in the first round. Bettis was drafted by the L.A. Rams in 1993. In his first season, he was named NFL Co-Rookie of the Year, Sporting News Rookie of the Year and Rams MVP. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1996. Over the course of his career, he was voted to the Pro Bowl six times and was named first-team All-Pro twice. In 2001, he won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his work with The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation that assists underprivileged inner-city youth. In 2006, Bettis retired from the NFL after helping the Steelers win Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Smith, who remains the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1990. He spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys and two with the Arizona Cardinals, returning to the Cowboys for a day to officially retire with the team in 2005. Smith is the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl championship, NFL Most Valuable Player award, NFL rushing crown and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award in the same season. He led the league in rushing and won the Super Bowl the same year three times, in 1992, 1993 and 1995. Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Pro Football Hall of 62 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
Fame in 2010. Since retiring from professional football, he has built companies spanning real estate, construction, technology and renewable energy. “Jerome Bettis and Emmitt Smith reached the pinnacle of their first chosen career — professional football — and then went on to build successful careers off the field, as well,” says Ritchey. “From football to TV to business, I can’t wait to hear their stories and perspectives… and maybe Emmitt will even share some dance tips he learned on Dancing with the Stars!” This will be the third pairing of NFL legends to entertain and inspire NTEA Annual Meeting attendees. In 2017, two of professional football’s most colorful analysts, former quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long, shared the stage. They were followed in 2019 by the father and son duo of Archie and Peyton Manning. Tickets for NTEA Annual Meeting, sponsored by Ford Pro, will be available for purchase when registration opens in October. Every year, the commercial vehicle industry comes together at Work Truck Week to see new products, learn and network. The Work Truck Show exhibit hall includes the latest from all industry segments, including truck and van chassis, bodies, aerial devices, snow and ice control equipment, accessories and components. Green Truck Summit features intensive programs led by industry experts and fleet managers covering advanced commercial vehicle and fuel technology trends, as well as operational insights for vocational truck fleets. A full event schedule will be released in the weeks ahead. Sign up to receive email updates about Work Truck Week 2024, including when registration opens in the fall, at worktruckweek. com/wtw24signup or contact NTEA — info@ntea.com or (800) 441-6832 — for more information. 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.
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NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 63
“Peace has victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thank you
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TOP 10
First-time-homebuyer havens Much has been made recently about the lack of ability of young people to afford their first home. Indeed, research shows first-time homebuyers made up 26% of the home buying market last year, as compared to 34% the previous year.
the right place to call home. This summer, the website looked at 300 cities of various sizes across the U.S. and ranked them on indicators that included quality of life, property-crime rates, cost of living, market attractiveness and affordability and more.
As a consequence, the search for a first home requires more diligence, savings and careful consideration than ever. At the same time, it remains critical to keep an eye on market prices and evaluate the neighborhood into which one is buying, as well as the soundness of the structure itself.
The published list of “2023’s Best and Worst Cities for FirstTime Home Buyers” includes these Top 10 most accessible places to purchase a first home. For a breakdown of how each location scored, visit WalletHub did some of this leg- the website below. work for those hoping to find just
1. Palm Bay, Fla.
6. Surprise, Ariz.
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7. Gilbert, Ariz.
3. Tampa, Fla.
8. Boise, Idaho
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9. Chesapeake, Va.
5. Orlando, Fla.
10. Henderson, Nev. Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-first-time-home-buyers/5564 Shutterstock.com
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Bedlock Safety Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Microcranes, Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
BendPak Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Mobile Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Bonnell Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
N
Buyers Products Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
National Construction Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 NTEA Work Truck Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
C Clearspan Fabric Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
R Road Widener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 10-11
E
S
Ebac Industrial Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Switch-N-Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Everblades Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
T
F FCAR Tech USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fluid Control Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
G Global Environmental Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 Greystone Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 GVM Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
T2 Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 TCP Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56-57 Tech Products Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
U UCoat It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Uline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
V VizCon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
W H Henderson Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Waytek Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Wisconsin Surplus Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
This index is provided courtesy of the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions. NOVEMBER 2023 | THE MUNICIPAL 69
SUMMARY NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND COURT-APPROVAL HEARING In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2:18-mn-02873 This Document relates to: City of Camden, et al., v. 3M Company, No. 2:23-cv-03147-RMG UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, CHARLESTON DIVISION ________________________________________ TO THE SETTLEMENT CLASS: All Active Public Water Systems in the United States of America that have one or more Impacted Water Sources as of June 22, 2023; and all Active Public Water Systems that do not have one or more Impacted Water Sources as of June 22, 2023 and (i) are required to test for certain PFAS under U.S. EPA’s UCMR-5, or (ii) serve more than 3,300 people, according to U.S. EPA’s SDWIS data system. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Settlement Agreement, available for review at www.PFASWaterSettlement.com. Active Public Water System means a Public Water System whose activity-status field in SDWIS states that the system is “Active.” Impacted Water Source means a Water Source that has a Qualifying Test Result showing a Measurable Concentration of PFAS. As used above, Public Water System means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen (15) service connections or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five (25) individuals daily at least sixty (60) days out of the year, consistent with the use of that term in the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f(4)(A), and 40 C.F.R. Part 141. Public Water System includes (i) any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and (ii) any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system. Solely for purposes of the Settlement Agreement, the term “Public Water System” refers to a Community Water System of any size or a Non-Transient Non-Community Water System that serves more than 3,300 people, according to SDWIS; or any Person (but not any financing or lending institution) that has legal authority or responsibility (by statute, regulation, other law, or contract) to fund or incur financial obligations for the design, engineering, installation, operation, or maintenance of any facility or equipment that treats, filters, remediates, or manages water that has entered or may enter Drinking Water or any Public Water System; but does not refer to a Non-Transient Non-Community Water System that serves 3,300 or fewer people, according to SDWIS, or to a Transient NonCommunity Water System of any size. It is the intention of the Settlement Agreement that the definition of “Public Water System” be as broad, expansive, and inclusive as possible. What Is the Purpose of this Notice? The purpose of this Notice is (i) to advise you of a proposed settlement of certain Claims against 3M Company (“3M” or “Defendant” in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina (the “Court”); (ii) to summarize your rights in connection with the Settlement; and (iii) to inform you of a Court hearing to consider whether to grant final approval of the Settlement (the “Final Fairness Hearing”), to be held on February 2, 2024. at 10:00 a.m. EST in Charleston Courtroom #1, J. Waties Waring Judicial Center, before the Honorable Richard M. Gergel, United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, located at 85 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401. What Are the Key Terms of the Proposed Settlement? 3M has agreed to pay an amount not less than $10,500,000,000 and not more than $12,500,000,000, inclusive (the “Settlement Amount”), subject to final approval of the Settlement by the Court and certain other conditions specified in the Settlement Agreement. 3M shall additionally pay up to $5,000,000 to cover costs incurred by the Notice Administrator in the course of executing the Notice Plan. Together, these payments constitute the “Settlement Funds.” In no event shall 3M be required under the Settlement Agreement to pay any amounts above the Settlement Funds. Any fees, costs, or expenses payable under the Settlement Agreement shall be paid out of, and shall not be in addition to, the Settlement Funds. Each Settlement Class Member that has not excluded itself from the Class will be eligible to receive a settlement check(s) from the Claims Administrator based on the Allocation Procedures developed by Class Counsel, which are subject to final approval by the Court as fair and reasonable and whose administration is under the oversight of the Special Master. What Are My Options? YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE SETTLEMENT. You must file a Claims Form to be eligible to receive a payment under the Settlement. You can submit your Claims Form online at www.PFASWaterSettlement.com, or you can download, complete, and mail your Claims Form to the Claims Administrator at AFFF Public Water System Claims, P.O. Box 4466, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821. The deadline for a Phase One Settlement Class Member to submit a Phase One Public Water System Settlement Claims Form is 60 days following the Effective Date, and the deadline for a Phase Two Settlement Class Member to submit a Phase Two Action Fund Claims Form is June 30, 2026. Regardless of whether you file a Claims Form or receive any distribution under the Settlement, unless you timely opt out as described below, you will be bound by the Settlement and any judgment or other final disposition related to the Settlement, including the Release set forth in the Settlement Agreement, and will be precluded from pursuing claims against 3M separately if those Claims are within the scope of the Release. YOU CAN OPT OUT OF THE SETTLEMENT. If you do not wish to be a Settlement Class Member and do not want to participate in the Settlement and receive a settlement check, you may exclude yourself from the Class by completing and mailing a notice of intention to opt out. Any Person within the Settlement Class that wishes to opt out of the Settlement Class and Settlement must serve a written and signed statement entitled “Request for Exclusion” on the Notice Administrator, the Special Master, the Claims Administrator, 3M’s Counsel, and Class Counsel no later than December 11, 2023. YOU CAN OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT. Any Settlement Class Member that has not successfully excluded itself (“opted out”) may object to the Settlement. Any Settlement Class Member that wishes to object to the Settlement or to an award of fees or expenses to Class Counsel must file a written and signed statement designated “Objection” with the Clerk of the Court and provide service on 3M’s Counsel and Class Counsel no later than November 11, 2023. VISIT WWW.PFASWATERSETTLEMENT.COM FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS The Court’s Final Fairness Hearing. The Court will hold the Final Fairness Hearing in Charleston Courtroom #1, J. Waties Waring Judicial Center of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, located at 85 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, on February 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EST. At that time, the Court will determine, among other things, (i) whether the Settlement should be granted final approval as fair, reasonable, and adequate, (ii) whether the Litigation should be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, (iii) whether the Settlement Class should be conclusively certified, (iv) whether Settlement Class Members should be bound by the Release set forth in the Settlement Agreement, (v) the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs to be awarded to Class Counsel, if any, and (vi) the amount of the award to be made to the Class Representatives for their services, if any. The Final Fairness Hearing may be postponed, adjourned, or continued by Order of the Court without further notice to the Class. How Do I Get More Information? Please visit www.PFASWaterSettlement.com or call toll free 1-855-714-4341. You may also contact Class Counsel or the Notice Administrator for more information: Notice Administrator Class Counsel
Class Counsel
Class Counsel
Scott Summy Baron & Budd, P.C. 3102 Oak Lawn Ave., Ste. 1100 Dallas, TX 75219 Email: ssummy@baronbudd.com
Michael A. London Douglas & London 59 Maiden Lane, 6th Fl. New York, NY 10038 Email: mlondon@douglasandlondon.com
Joseph F. Rice Motley Rice LLC 28 Bridgeside Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Paul J. Napoli Napoli Shkolnik 1302 Avenida Ponce de Leon San Juan, PR 00907 Email: pnapoli@NSPRlaw.com
Elizabeth A. Fegan Fegan Scott LLC 150 S. Wacker Drive, 24th Floor Chicago, IL 60606 beth@feganscott.com
70 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2023
In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation c/o 3M Notice Administrator 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Email: PFASSettlement@AngeionGroup.com Class Counsel AFFF Public Water System Claims PO Box 4466 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 Email: Info@pfaswatersettlement.com
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