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18 Focus on Crisis Management: Communication recommended for communities dealing with water crises
22 Focus on Crisis Management: All hazards approach helps Richmond plan for any disaster
26 Focus on Crisis Management: Park City, Ill., undertakes efforts to reduce flooding
30 Focus on Crisis Management: Leaving a lifeline: Vancouver Fire Department distribute overdose prevention kits
38 Public Safety: Sip Safely partnerships create safer nightlife for Austin
40 Public Works: Communities track lead service lines
44 Parks & Environmental Services: Rechanneled stream is centerpiece of a blooming bio habitat
48 Water & Energy: Water pipeline is win-win for Cape Coral, Fort Myers
52 Waste & Recycling: Free dumping days encourage community pride
54 Building & Construction: Baltimore hopes fixed pricing policy will reoccupy vacant homes
56 Municipal Management: Southwestern Pennsylvania unites efforts to unlock federal funding
municipalities
publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com
SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com
publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com
Life often comes with curveballs along the way. Whether they’re thrown by nature, aging infrastructure or by a human, odds are highly favorable that every municipality will face a curveball here and there. Having plans in place to face various crises big or small is vital not only for community safety but for building trust and maintaining transparency. With natural disasters, a plan ensures everyone is on the same page and a clear chain of command is established, preventing gaps in leadership. Such plans need to be routinely updated. However, in 2022, a team at Florida Atlantic University found that, following Hurricane Katrina, “only marginal improvements have occurred with respect to
evacuation planning in America’s 50 largest cities.”
While conducting their research, the team discovered that Charlotte, N.C.; Cleveland, Ohio; Jacksonville and Miami, Fla.; New Orleans; New York; and Philadelphia had strong evacuation plans. These plans were recommended as models to other cities. Meanwhile, 20 cities achieved a moderate rating in the study. Additionally, six cities had a weak rating and 17 plans were unavailable or did not exist.
John L. Renne, Ph.D., senior author of the study published in the “International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction,” told erekalert.org, “While it is promising that more cities are developing evacuation plans, overall, it remains disheartening that not every city was able to learn the lessons of not being prepared, especially for carless and vulnerable populations, as showcased to the nation during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.”
When was the last time you looked at your emergency preparedness or evacuation plans? Even if you don’t live on the coastline with a hurricane season, if you have a
train track going through town, having an evacuation plan could be a must if the wrong train derails.
This issue of The Municipal is all about crises. We are spotlighting cities that are preparing or responding to them. Since the Flint, Mich., water crisis, there have been further cities grappling with the challenges of providing safe drinking water for their communities. The Municipal writer Denise Fedorow connected with the American Water Works Association about these challenges and the need for keeping the lines of communication open to the public.
Writer Nicholette Carlson spoke with the city of Richmond, Va., which 24/7 Wall St. named its No. 1 city best prepared to handle a natural disaster in 2023. The city provided insight into its ranking and how it prepares for natural disasters.
The Municipal will also spotlight Park City, Ill., and its efforts to reduce flooding in addition to Vancouver, Wash., Fire Department’s efforts to reduce overdose deaths in its jurisdiction.
Make it a goal this September to dust off your emergency plans and update them. M
Leveraging cooperative purchasing to meet GHG emission goals
By SARAH WRIGHT | The Municipal
Many cities have adopted goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within specific time ranges, leading fleet managers to research and adopt alternative-fuel vehicles. Many jurisdictions have favored electric vehicles, which have come a long way. Battery technology alone has improved in leaps and bounds. However, the technology still requires a higher upfront investment not just for the vehicle, but for the required infrastructure. With grant funding drying up for electric vehicles, it can be an investment out of reach for many municipalities. Pairing cooperative purchasing with hybrid vehicles, however, can connect cities with the equipment to meet their goals while not forfeiting function.
Global Environmental has remained an innovator in the electric and hybrid street sweeper market for over a decade. Its purposebuilt, heavy-duty street sweepers prioritize reliability, innovation and affordability. Currently, the company is partnering with cooperative purchasing organizations like Sourcewell to further aid cities interested in purchasing Global Street sweepers.
“Sourcewell has been very flexible with us on the necessary changes as the technology in these machines continues to change,” Chad Bormann, a member of Global’s regional sales group, said.
That flexibility has been huge for Global, especially with battery and charger technology changing rapidly. It ensures municipalities
ABOVE: Global V6 air pure vacuum street sweeper. (Photos provided by Global Environmental Products, Inc.)
have access to the latest technology while still enjoying the increased purchasing power that cooperative contracts provide. It also ensures Global has the means to keep customers informed on the latest capabilities, including improved charging capabilities.
“Sourcewell has been the most adaptable cooperative to constant change. Other contracts typically span three or four years with annual modifications allowed. By that time, technology has advanced, and we have moved on to something new or improved,” Bormann observed.
Through cooperative contracts, Global has shared hybrid sweepers as a viable option for cities looking for cleaner-running equipment at a more workable price point.
“Hybrids will likely become more accessible to people due to their lower cost,” said Sebastian Mentelski, a member of Global’s regional sales group. “They remain symbols of efficiency and clean air and are significantly more efficient than diesel machines.”
Not only do hybrids offer many of the same benefits as all-electric vehicles, they come at a reduced upfront cost since they require fewer batteries. It also delays the need for extensive infrastructure to support all-electric vehicles, including the preferred fast-charging station, which can be another hundred of thousand dollars installation. While some cities leapfrogged to electric sweepers, some are circling back to hybrids.
“So, these cities are considering EV options and thinking that it is great, but they also want something they can ‘refuel’ quickly and keep it operating. This leads to discussions about investments exceeding the cost of the initial machine purchase as they investigate the installation of ‘fast chargers.’ Now, people are starting to reconsider their direction,” Mentelski said. “I think we are reaching a middle ground.”
Global’s hybrid sweepers feature smaller batteries, and they can operate on battery power for a certain amount of time before the engine will start charging the battery. This is a massive improvement in hybrid technology when compared to 15 years ago, when the engine was always required to run.
“For a period of time, they can actually sweep with the engine completely turned off,” Bormann said. “This is a significant advancement for us on the hybrid front. Regarding purchasing, some EV grants are now applicable to hybrid purchases as well. Even though the engine is present, it doesn’t need to run constantly to clean the street.”
“It’s interesting how things are changing, but we are trying to be first,” Mentelski said. “We strive to move forward, and we have been ahead of the competition in development since 2011.”
While pursuing innovations, Global had taken an old-school approach that favored reliability. For this reason, all of the Global EV sweepers produced to date are hydraulic motors rather than rushing into electric motors.
“The brooms are in the elements in the water, in nasty environments,” Bormann said. “We still use hydraulic motors because they’re extremely reliable. Although high-torque electric motors are available and could have been implemented right away, they hadn’t been proven in the wettest, dirtiest conditions that street sweepers encounter. As technology improves, we anticipate transitioning to electric motors.”
Sticking with proven hydraulic motors ensured purchasers were not left with an expensive paperweight. While some European companies are bringing some electric motors over for sweepers, Bormann and Mentelski noted the applications between European cities and U.S. cities are very different. In Europe, cities largely complete scheduled routine or maintenance sweeping. In the U.S., most cities are covering more ground, picking up after storms or performing other heavy-duty applications.
“It’s the approach of tried and proven and not completely reinventing the wheel all at once, but meeting the demands of different regulations and EPA requirements,” Bormann said.
While some grants like the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Funding are drying, many still exist, and Global offers another advantage for would-be purchasers.
When an international airport in the Midwest needed a new sweeper, it used Federal Aviation Administration grants to purchase a Global sweeper. To use these funds, the airport needed to purchase an American-made sweeper. During the application process, Global showed the FAA proof of its American-made component percentages. Global’s sweeper successfully met those standards without requiring a waiver.
“This is a huge advantage for Global and our partners,” Bormann said. “We build our machines from the ground up, including our own chassis, and ensure that even with the batteries, which primarily come from China, the rest of the machine can meet the ‘Buy American’ requirements.”
Sourcewell includes a “Buy American” section within its Request for Proposal documents that key in on American-made goods, and the assistance they can provide through the purchasing process while utilizing the co-op purchasing avenue.
“The typical government agency in the United States takes pride in purchasing American-made goods using resources like Sourcewell to streamline the purchase,” Bormann shared. “With the FAA findings, I can also validate Global’s ‘Buy American’ percentages.”
Global Environmental Products Inc.’s Sourcewell contract number is 093021-GEP. The contract and other related documents can be found on the Sourcewell website at https:www.sourcewell-mn.gov/ cooperative-purchasing/093021-gep. For additional information or assistance, visit globalsweeper.com.
M4 High side dump cleans up a construction site.
Centralized electrical locker designed for easy troubleshooting.
The ‘spirited’ story of Wilson Castle
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Situated on 115 acres in the foothills of Proctor, Vt., Wilson Castle is a spirited estate with a storied history. Constructed over seven years in the late 1800s, the 13,131-square-foot mansion serves as a museum, a premier event venue and a popular destination for paranormal investigators.
“Anyone who knows me knows it’s one of my favorite places to investigate,” said Scott Allan, host of “Spirit Talk Live” on YouTube. “Not only is the castle absolutely beautiful but there is so much history, and the paranormal activity is just incredible.”
Johnson’s folly
Construction on the mansion began in 1885 at the behest of Dr. John Johnson a Vermont native who studied dubious medical practices in London, England. There he met and married one of his patients, a wealthy aristocrat named Sarah Robbins. He moved her to the United States and used his wife’s financial resources to build the couple’s stately home, which cost $1.3 million nearly $50 million today and
ABOVE: Wilson Castle in Proctor, Vt., was built in the late 19th century by Dr. John Johnson, who used the family wealth of his wife to finance his eccentric lifestyle. (Photos provided by Wilson Castle)
included 32 rooms throughout its three stories, 13 fireplaces, 84 stained glass windows and elaborate detailing. He continued to draw on those funds to fill the space with priceless antiques and artwork until he was cut off from the family fortune.
Not long after their money ran out, Sarah was recalled back to England and John had to sell the house as well as its contents.
From the 1880s to the late 1930s, the property was bought and sold 16 times. At one point, it served as an administration building and dormitory for a cosmetology school before being purchased by AM radio pioneer Herbert Lee Wilson in 1939. Wilson bought the estate to serve as a summer home for his family. He continued his work in the radio field for two years.
There are several fireplaces in Wilson Castle that feature ornate tile, metal and woodwork.
When the U.S. joined WWII, Wilson enlisted in the Army Signal Corps. He retired to his castle in the 1950s, having earned the rank of colonel. In 1962, he opened the castle for tours, and upon his death in 1981, the estate passed to his daughter, Blossom Wilson Davine Ladabouche, who bequeathed the property to her daughter, Denise Davine, after her death in 2010.
Since her mother’s death, Davine continues to welcome guests to the castle to see the beautiful woodwork, tilework and antiques dappling the various rooms. Some of the more unique items include a chair that was a papal gift to Col. Wilson. There is also an ornately carved Chinese chair and a bronze statue that was on display during the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. The music room includes an early portable piano as well as two organs and several items of clothing that belonged to previous occupants.
According to the Wilson Castle website, there are rumors of an entire passageway hidden within the castle. So far, Davine has not located it. Of course, there is the possibility that Col. Wilson made up the tale of the passageway to distract from the gossip that the castle was haunted.
Eerie experiences
Paranormal experiences at Wilson Castle are legendary, and a number of investigators have arranged to spend the night on site and set up their equipment in hopes of snapping a shot of a specter or catching a ghostly sound bite. Although there has been one confirmed death on the property, it is believed that the castle contains both an energy portal and vortex within it that allows the spirits to come and go as they please.
Davine leans into the mansion’s connection to the supernatural. Needless to say, Wilson Castle is a Halloween hotspot.
One visitor left a review that said, “I’m not one to have a firm belief in that kind of stuff, but I enjoyed myself, nonetheless. The castle is
absolutely breathtaking, and I’d definitely do something there again. Definitely recommend for both ‘spooky’ events and regular historic tours.”
Toni Safford from Montpelier, Vt., said her 2022 visit to Wilson Castle was nothing short of fantastic.
“It was beautiful and unique,” she said on Facebook. “The amazing stained-glass, with all of the vibrant colors, had me just saying ‘Wow.’”
Proceeds from paranormal investigations, tours and special events are used to fund various restoration projects that ensure Wilson Castle will be available for future generations to enjoy. Visitors can also buy a piece of Wilson Castle history to take home. But be warned: Some buyers have returned their purchases, believing them to be haunted. Should this occur, contact the castle and tell them about the experience. They will pay for the return postage.
Whether a person believes in the spirit world, has a passion for architecture and antiques or is looking for an inviting road trip in the Vermont countryside, Wilson Castle is an experience not soon forgotten. M
If you go
Wilson Castle is located at 2970 W. Proctor Road in Procter, Vt. Tours cost $19 for adults, $18 for seniors and $7.50 for children ages 6-12. The castle is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday. For more information call (802) 773-3284 or visit www.wilsoncastle.com.
The grand staircase beckons at Wilson Castle, an estate known for its architecture, antiques and paranormal activity.
Wilson Castle has a lot of unique architectural detailing, including its famous stained glass windows.
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$13 million
The city of Stillwater, Minn., found six of its eight wells failed to meet the health department’s health goals for PFOA while two failed to meet goals for the additional chemical PFOS. The city estimates it could cost up to $13 million per well to clean the city’s water.
Learn how communities and a national organization are addressing water contamination and water crisis on page 18.
111
The number of leave-at-home kits the Vancouver, Wash., Fire Department has distributed to reduce opioid overdose deaths.
Read about VFD’s leave-at-home kit program on page 30.
10
The Ripple Effect is a 10-year plan to address recurrent flooding in Virginia Beach, Va. In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, Virginia Beach voters overwhelmingly supported a resiliency package for several key flood protection initiatives: The centerpiece is the new Windsor Woods Tide Gate, which will span 60 feet across and be comprising four gate openings. Learn more at www.virginiabeach.gov/RippleEffect.
focus on:
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
20
In July 2017, a major flooding event in Park City, Ill., closed Washington Street for two days and did structural damage to more than 20 homes and businesses.
Today, 18% of the counties in Georgia have land bank authorities, which can forgive liens and back taxes, making properties more attractive for redevelopment and facilitating affordable housing. Georgia Municipal Association CEO Larry Hanson would like to see one established in every Georgia county to mitigate the affordable housing crisis.
18
The Community Assisted Response and Engagement Team in Seattle, Wash., will add 18 people this year thanks to a federal grant. The official police alternative program will have a total of 24 people available to assist in situations where an arrest is not necessarily warranted, but some form of help is needed. Care Team members do not carry a gun or have a badge.
For more information, visit https://www.police1.com/police-grants/ seattle-crisis-response-team-could-quadruple-in-new-proposal-from-mayor.
1,400
As of June 20, it was estimated that 1,400 structures had been damaged by the devastating South Fork and Salt fires in New Mexico. Within 24 hours of ignition the fires had destroyed water, septic, com munications and transportation infrastructure in the area, and a subsequent heavy rainfall destroyed an additional 500 homes.
Read details of the crisis at https://sourcenm.com/2024/06/20/ federal-disaster-aid-requested-for-ruidoso-fires/
Read about Park City’s stormwater project to reduce flooding on page 26.
Communication recommended for communities dealing with water crises
By DENISE
First, it was lead leeching into the water of some communities, which led to more regulations. Now per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been prevalent, causing water utilities, some of which may still be dealing with lead pipe issues, to deal with them, too.
According to an October 2023 article titled “America’s Failing Drinking Water Systems” by Nicole Greenfield for Natural Resources Defense Council, “Chronic underinvestment has left water infrastructure outdated and on the verge of collapse in many places across the country.”
The article stated that lead, PFAS, industrial pollution and agricultural runoff are all contaminating drinking water across the country. In the article, Greenfield cited the historic flooding that damaged water operations in Jackson, Miss.; the superfund site for cleanup in Houston, Texas, as well as its widespread PFAS problems; and Buffalo, N.Y., which according to the article, has an estimated
40,000 water service lines containing lead, mostly because 64% of houses in Buffalo are more than 80 years old, “giving the city the distinction of having the oldest urban housing stock in the US.”
North Carolina
According to a local news report on WRAL.com on June 5, 2024, some of the largest water utilities in the state are dealing with PFAS levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s new standards. Some of those utilities include the city of Durham; the city of Greensboro; Fayetteville Public Works Commission; Piedmont Triad Regional Water Utility; and Brunswick County Public Utility.
ABOVE: Lansing, Mich., Board of Water and Light employees replace lead service lines with copper lines. (Photo provided by AWWA)
The news report stated that at least 2.5 million people in North Carolina have drinking water contaminated with PFAS. Known as “forever chemicals,” they are linked to cancer, reproductive issues and immune system issues. The report stated some of the highest levels in the state were found in Robeson County Water System, serving 64,000 residents, including PFOS at 30 ppt and GENX at 33 ppts well above the new drinking water standards set by the EPA.
The Orange Water Sewer Authority, which serves 80,000 residents, including in the town of Chapel Hill, home of the main University of North Carolina campus, Carrboro and parts of Orange County, reportedly found 11 PFAS in one of its reservoirs. It reportedly began
FEDOROW | The Municipal
monitoring PFAS in 2018 and began upgrades to its treatment system to reduce PFAS in 2023.
The Municipal reached out to the town of Chapel Hill, which referred us to the Orange Water Sewer Authority; however, attempts to learn what upgrades OSWA had made went unanswered.
The news report shared the Environmental Working Group’s analysis stated there are at least 66 electroplating facilities and 50 chemical manufacturers in the state that could be sources of PFAS, but there could be as many as 736 suspected industrial PFAS dischargers. Firefighting foam used near military facilities and airports a known source of PFAS as well as spreading wastewater sludge and textile manufacturers may also be sources.
In April 2024, strict limits on PFAS were finalized by the EPA. According to an Associated Press report, the EPA estimates it will cost about $1.5 billion to implement each year, but doing so will prevent nearly 10,000 deaths over decades and significantly reduce serious illnesses.
In this struggle, North Carolina is not alone. Stillwater, Minn., recently found six of its eight wells failed to meet the health department’s stringent health goals for PFOA, and two of the wells failed to meet state health goals for the additional chemical PFOS. This was reported by the Star Tribune on June 1, 2024.
According to that article “PFAS contamination in Stillwater’s water has city racing to catch up and pay up” by Matt McKinney City Administrator Joe Kohlmann said the city estimates it could cost up to $13 million per well to clean the city’s water, and the city is pursuing funds from several sources to help pay for treatment. Repeated calls to Kohlmann were not returned.
AWWA offers advice
Greg Kail, director of communications for the American Water Works Association, gave some input. When asked which is more prevalent, lead pipes or PFAS, he responded, “It’s difficult to compare because they’re so different. Lead is something we’ve been dealing with for decades. What sets lead apart from most other contaminants is the concern you’re dealing with only exists where lead exists in the home environment.”
He said the biggest source of lead contamination in the home is lead service lines, and there are about 7 million to 10 million lead service lines still out there.
“Every day there are fewer as communities have been removing them, and with the new lead regulations, there will be a lot more conversations about that as communities put together a plan on how to remove them over time and other actions associated with lead.”
PFAS is an entirely different emergent contaminant, and Kail noted there have been no PFAS regulations until now. He said there are literally thousands of types of PFAS. The new regulations are focused on two types PFOS and PFOA, which fall under that umbrella. PFAS are more widespread, and there are greater concentrations where there has been PFAS manufacturing or industrial use. PFAS are found in consumer packaging, firefighting foam, repellents, waterproofing, nonstick pans and more.
“They are out in the environment everywhere, unlike lead when you find it you remove it PFAS require additional treatment. That’s the overarching difference between the two,” he said.
While having to deal with PFAS in water is “new for all of us,” Kail said, research has been happening for many years. With lead, Kail
noted you can have the same water quality in the community and one house built in 1990 would have no lead, while another built decades before has lead in both the service lines and plumbing components.
Historically, utilities have had to adjust water chemicals, so it’s less likely to have lead leech out and get into the water, which is an effective strategy until you have a failure like in Washington, D.C., in the early 2000s when it switched a disinfectant and in Flint, Mich., where it changed the source of the water but didn’t make the adjustments necessary to prevent lead from leeching.
He said those treatment failures “are rare, but when they happen, it’s a reminder to those who treat and deliver water that we need to be very careful; we need strong protections today as we work toward a future with no lead service lines.”
When asked if states offer assistance to towns and cities, he responded the EPA sets regulations and the states enforce them.
“If there’s a lack of funding for particular regulations, there are different ways utilities can address it through state revolving fund loans and the bipartisan infrastructure act designates a certain
A lab employee at Clayton County, Ga., Water Authority tests a water sample. (Photo provided by AWWA)
Employees at Great Lakes Water Authority check water quality in the water quality laboratory. (Photo provided by AWWA)
amount … about $90 billion over time to get lead service lines out. Ultimately, different communities will use what works best for them,” he said.
When it comes to PFAS, he said even some water professionals misspeak when they say PFAS, even though they actually meant PFOS perfluorooctanesulfonic acid or PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid. But they are all chemicals under PFAS umbrella. Because the small levels that the regulations are asking the utilities to find of PFOS and PFOA parts per trillions levels they have to be very careful in labs not to have contaminants that might cause false positives.
“Not long ago, we had no methodology to find substances at those levels,” he said.
When asked what advice they offer to members, he responded, “There are technical solutions available to manage both PFAS and lead.”
He added, “While they are different in the way communities address them, the common thread that utilities can do is to have proactive communications, which is really critical.”
He said AWWA does an annual study on the public’s perception of tap water, and it shows that people who remember receiving a communication from their utility are “significantly more likely to trust the quality of their water that’s real important because when dealing with lead or PFAS a lot of times maintaining relationships between utilities and consumers comes down to who are you going to trust.”
He said a couple of years ago the public affairs council put together a guide called “Trending in an Instant” to help utilities understand communities and the challenges social media brings today and the importance of being seen in their community as a trusted institution.
“We like to emphasize that a utility can’t be successful if the only time consumers hear from them is when there’s a problem.”
The biggest thing they can do, Kail said, is to “get out in the community and be a recognized anchor institution in the community.”
AWWA also has a source called “Public Perceptions on Tap” that shows year after year a lower level of trust in communities of color, especially Black and Hispanic communities, as well as in lower income communities.
“That underscores the importance of utilities making an extra effort to go out and understand the concerns of these communities,” which he said often comes from historical inequity or deep-seated mistrust of institutions and of water quality.
“We always advise that utilities first do an outstanding job of delivering service and then make sure they’re talking to their community, so they know what you do and how you do it. Make sure people know you understand their concerns, recognize them and (share) what you’re going to do to address it,” he said.
Regarding yet unregulated contaminants, including ones that science is still finding answers on about the risk level of contamination, he added, “The simple act of having a conversation goes a long way to
Copper lines are replacing lead service lines in Lansing, Mich. (Photo provided by AWWA)
strengthening trust. If you don’t have all the answers, actively listen to concerns, tell them what you know and what you’re doing.”
Kail said utilities should look at these recent changes to the lead and copper rule, etc. as “opportunities to begin or expand conversations about risks associated with lead and the importance of getting it out of the ground.”
He further expounded that a simple conversation would “never take the place of 24/7 commitment to protecting public health that has to be first,” but it’s about “being proactive to earn public trust.”
“Often utilities are doing all the right things but communities don’t know that they’re doing it,” he said. M
Sources for utilities and to share with public
American Water Works Association offers helpful resources for utilities to us.
• https://www.awwa.org/lead
• https://www.awwa.org/PFAS
• https://www.awwa.org/communications (This link includes access to AWWA’s “Trending in an Instant” guide and more)
Board of Water and Light employees in Lansing, Mich., unload copper wire from their service truck as they prepare to replace lead service lines in a resident. (Photo provided by AWWA)
“Our planning process focuses on the all-hazard approach.”
A storm rolls into Richmond, Va. The city has a well-established emergency operations plan to help it weather a variety of natural disasters. (Shutterstock.com)
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
The city of Richmond, Va., faces many different disasters regularly, such as hurricanes, flooding and winter weather storms. However, the preparations for the city’s natural disasters have been ranked No. 1 in the country. These emergency management processes to handle the natural disasters can be found in the city’s emergency operations plan.
The city’s emergency operations plan outlines how these natural disasters are handled. According to Taylor Fuqua, Richmond’s office of emergency communications, preparedness and response public information officer, “The emergency operations plan outlines the framework and processes for coordinating support to affected communities, individuals and businesses in the event of a natural disaster, acts of terrorism or other man-made disasters. The plan is reviewed annually for updates and revised every four years.”
Recently the city was also recertified as a storm-ready community by the National Weather Service.
Each natural disaster emergency preparedness plan involves an incident action plan with five main phases. When developing these incident action plans, the city analyzes the situation and further developments over the next 24 hours, establishes incident objectives and strategy, develops a plan, prepares and distributes the plan and then executes and revises the plan as necessary.
“Our planning process focuses on the allhazard approach,” Fuqua explained. “We participate in monthly meetings with city stakeholders, such as the public safety group to include the department of public utilities and works. Monthly training is
ABOVE: Pictured is a view of Richmond from across the James River. Richmond is currently in the process of upgrading its combined sewer system to reduce overflows from spilling into the James River. (Shutterstock.com)
offered for the city’s system of record and continuity of operations plan. The department of public utilities and department of public works also conduct annual training and inspections to ensure the Richmond flood wall is ready should it need to be implemented. Future plans include continuing mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts of flooding around the city.”
Focused on an all-hazards approach, the city’s emergency operations plan has cyclical plans to focus on the mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from any incident. Mitigation efforts help to reduce the impact on the community by eliminating as many hazards as possible and reducing the consequences of unavoidable hazards. Preparedness involves finding the right personnel
and equipment to best handle the disaster. Response includes the incident command system and the national incident management system. The city’s response functions include public information, emergency medical services, firefighting, law enforcement, intelligence development, shelter and mass care support, evacuation, search and rescue, and transportation. The recovery phase begins once the disaster has ended and involves getting Richmond back to normal operation in the shortest time possible.
The top priorities when an incident occurs, according to Richmond’s emergency operations plan, are saving lives and protecting health and safety of public and responders; ensuring the city is secure; protection and restoration of key resources and critical city infrastructure; protection and mitigation of impact and damage to individuals, communities and the environment; facilitating recovery for individuals, communities, businesses and the environment; and managing public expectation of the city’s response. The emergency operations center has four levels. Level 1 is normal conditions. Level 2 is an increased readiness when there is a threat of disaster. Level 3 is when response operations are deployed. Level 4 is recovery operations. All critical departments in the city of Richmond have a continuity of operations plan to ensure its continuing availability to provide services to residents and partner agencies should a natural disaster or emergency take place. These critical departments include the department of public utilities, department of public works, police, fire, emergency communications, emergency management, social services, animal care and control, and other departments whose work deals with city businesses. The office of emergency management and chief administration office work together to create a continuity of government plan, which ensures city leadership remains in times of emergency. All responsibilities for these departments in the event of a disaster is outlined in the emergency operations plan. Richmond officials also team up with regional partners to develop a hazard mitigation plan. The hazard mitigation plan helps to develop long-term strategies for identifying vulnerabilities and risks in Richmond and the surrounding area. This plan is reviewed annually and updated every five years.
Richmond serves a population of about 230,000 as of 2022. It’s emergency operations plan ensures leadership remains in command no matter what disaster may visit the community. (Shutterstock.com)
In 2023, 24/7 Wall St. named Richmond, Va., as the city best prepared to handle a natural disaster. The city scored an overall rating of 53.81. Pictured is a Gazebo at Maymont Park. (Shutterstock.com)
“Being named No. 1 in preparedness for natural disasters is not just a ranking; it is a responsibility,” Fuqua emphasized. “We will continue to work closely with our partners at the local, state and federal levels to maintain and enhance our readiness. Our goal is to ensure that our community remains safe, resilient and prepared in the face of any disaster.” M
Park City, Ill., undertakes efforts to reduce flooding
The new stormwater management system provides much-needed relief to homeowners in Lake County, Ill., whose properties sit at the headwaters of the Skokie River.
(Photo by Ernesto Huaracha on behalf of Lake County Stormwater Management Commission)
By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
Park City, Ill., is celebrating a long-awaited stormwater project designed to save homes and property in the flood-plagued city north of Chicago.
The municipality of about 7,800 residents sits at the headwaters of the 20-mile-long Skokie River in Lake County, which runs parallel to Lake Michigan in the farthest northeast corner of Illinois. More than two-thirds of the city’s residents live in manufactured homes and apartments.
Only 1.19 square miles in size, the small community has been hard-hit by stormwater flooding in recent years, resulting in millions of dollars in damage to property. As recently as the summer of 2024, main roadways such as Washington Street and Illinois Route 120 have been closed because of floodwaters. The road closures impact both residents and commuters, especially with Park City being located at the northern end of the Chicago metropolitan area between the village of Gurnee, Ill., on the west and the city of Waukegan, Ill., to the east. Illinois Route 41 carries traffic south to Chicago and north into Wisconsin. All are important to the life of Lake County residents.
Washington Street, a major east-west artery, has been closed eight times in the last six years. In July 2017, a major flooding event closed the street for two days and did structural damage to more than 20 homes and businesses.
Kenneth Magnus, the city engineer, said this first part of a three-part project was aimed at preventing flooding on the east side of the city. “Flooding has been a constant nuisance in that area.”
The project was started in late fall of 2023 and was 95% finished as of the end of July 2024. “We expect paving to be completed in early August,” he added.
“The stormwater problems were a combination of undersized storm sewers, undersized infrastructure and increased rainfall in recent years,” said Kurt Woolford, Stormwater Management Commission Executive Director, at a June ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the near completion of the project.
Like many cities around the country, climate change has added to issues created by aging
While box culverts are not as glamorous as new parks or playgrounds, Park City officials believe that the improvements to the city’s infrastructure are just as important. (Photo by Ernesto Huaracha on behalf of Lake County Stormwater Management Commission)
Concrete box culverts that will carry more than twice the stormwater runoff as the old system are a major improvement for the stormwater management system in Park City, Ill. (Photo by Ernesto Huaracha on behalf of Lake County Stormwater Management Commission)
infrastructure. “Increasing rain levels in our area have broken records and caused millions of dollars in damage to properties,” Woolford added. The 2017 flood affected about 25% of the city’s population and was one of the worst in Lake County history.
To increase the stormwater capacity, underground box culverts were installed along with storm sewer upgrades and the replacement of a stormwater system restrictor plate to modernize a system that had been in place since the
1970s. According to Woolford, this has increased the stormwater capacity by two and a half times.
While the project extended less than two miles, the effect of its improvements will reach much further downstream. Not only will Park City and the adjacent city of Waukegan see its benefits, but Woolford pointed out that cities and states all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico will benefit from the increased drainage capacity. In addition to flooding, the toxic chemicals in runoff from construction and industrial sites as well as farms affect the quality of life along the watershed.
The project was identified in 2020 as the number one priority in Lake County with the allocation of funding for 14 stormwater management projects in Park City and adjoining communities, including Antioch, Grayslake, Highland Park, Warren Township and Waukegan. It is expected to benefit 2,300 properties and 25 roadways in the county. Park City contributed more than $42,000 to the project.
Funded by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Lake County will receive a total of $122 million from a state of Illinois appropriation to assist in projects that will help with managing regional stormwater and related infrastructure maintenance and improvement projects throughout the county.
Magnus said future projects will provide for increased conveyance of stormwater runoff as well as upgrades to the current infrastructure and storage capacity. The largest section of the three-part project will
The improved stormwater management system will benefit not only Park City and the surrounding area, but towns and cities as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo by Ernesto Huaracha on behalf of Lake County Stormwater Management Commission)
be funded by a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant and is expected to begin later this year.
Among the future plans, Magnus said that the wetlands in the Greenbelt Forest Preserve will include native plantings and educational areas to help residents understand the methods and value of stormwater management both locally and globally. M
Vancouver, Wash., Fire Department, now distributes overdose prevention kits to anyone who receives overdose treatment from the city’s first responders. From May 1 to July 18, the department has distributed 111 kits. (JoanieB/Shutterstock.com)
By JULIE YOUNG |
The Vancouver, Wash., Fire Department is committed to combating the opioid crisis. With an increase in opioid-related emergency calls, the VFD joined the Washington State Board of Health’s Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program, which distributes overdose prevention kits to anyone who receives overdose treatment from the city’s first responders.
According to VFD Emergency Management Services Division Chief Robb Milano, the VFD found that there is a high probability that once a patient is revived with paramedic administered Narcan, the patient will seek another opioid within the first few hours.
“By leaving Narcan with these patients, they have another option for reversal of the deadly effects of opioids,” he said.
A growing problem
According to the Washington State Department of Health, “Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that can save lives by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose,” including heroin, fentanyl, methadone and more. Narcan may be given to someone as an injection or through a nasal spray and should be carried by anyone who uses drugs, has a friend or family member that uses drugs or regularly interacts with those who use drugs. That latter category includes emergency personnel and first responders.
Milano said that the number of emergency calls his department has responded to has skyrocketed with the current opioid crisis. VFD crews administered Narcan 342 times in 2022 and 583 times in 2023. He believes that providing an easy-to-use reliable kit to those at risk will ultimately save more lives.
ABOVE: Fentanyl continues to challenge communities across the United States, with some declaring states of emergency. Pictured is the third annual the “Lost Voices of Fentanyl” march and demonstration in Washington, D.C. (Phil Pasquini/Shutterstock.com)
In 2015, the state of Washington passed a law (RCW 96.41.095) that allows any person to receive and administer Narcan while also protecting the administrator from criminal/civil liability or any disciplinary action, provided that they are acting in good faith and with reasonable care. Utilizing this law in coordination with the WA DOH leave-at-home Narcan program, the VFD could start the program citywide. The WA DOH provides the kits free of charge to the VFD, and once a month, the VFD reports how many kits it has used.
“WA DOH replaces them on a 1:1 basis,” Milano said.
A good start
Since May 1, Narcan leave-at-home kits have been added to all the VFD’s vehicular equipment, and Milano said the program is going well. There has been a small decrease in the number of multiple responses the department makes to the same patient since the program has been implemented, and from May 1 to July 18, it has distributed 111 kits. Although anyone under the RCW can possess and administer Narcan, not everyone has the ability to leave doses behind for future prevention. At the present time, the Vancouver Police Department carries Narcan for administration, but does not distribute leave-at-home kits. However, the city’s Homeless Assistance and
The Municipal
Response Team has been accepted into the WA DOH program and will help combat the crisis as well.
Overdose deaths in the homeless/unsheltered populations were a key factor in the city’s declaration of a state of emergency in November 2023. From January through April of this year, the VFD responded to 696 medical/EMS calls related to homelessness, and although not every death can be attributed to opioid overdose, 18 community members have died since December 2023, which represents a 50% increase over the previous year.
“The program adds an additional line of defense to the opioid epidemic,” Milano said. “Our next step will be rolling out medication assisted treatment (MAT), with our paramedics administering buprenorphine to patients to help with withdrawal
Narcan is key to reversing the effects of an opioid overdose and is included in the leave-at-home kits, which have been added to all the VFD’s vehicular equipment. (Hansonl/Shutterstock.com)
Standing order to dispense Naloxone HCl
According to the WA DOH, pharmacies and other entities can deliver naloxone products injectables and nasal spray to eligible persons and entities based on need and preference. Eligible persons include persons at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose or persons or entities in a position to aid those experiencing an opioid-related overdose. This includes anyone who may witness an opioid overdose and understands the instructions for use.
Those who should carry Naloxone include those who use drugs, friends or family members of those who use drugs, such as fentanyl, heroine and methadone, and those like service providers and emergency personnel who interact with those who use drugs.
symptoms while they engage in recovery. Narcan administration puts the patient into a withdrawal or ‘dope sick’ state, and the patient just wants to seek more opioids. Our hope with buprenorphine will be to lessen the withdrawal effects, therefore helping more patients find recovery.” M
A WINNING LINEUP
Cape May: The nation’s only historic landmark city
By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
While Cape May, N.J., may have started its reign as a seaside resort more than 200 years ago, it has continued to keep pace with the times and tastes of 21st century visitors.
Situated at the southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May is not only the nation’s oldest seashore resort but has the distinction of being the country’s only national historic landmark city, said Kacie Rattigan, director of civic affairs, recreation, tourism and marketing.
The town, which was originally called Cape Island, was incorporated in 1851 and renamed in 1869 for Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, a Dutch explorer who landed there in 1621. Settlers purchased land from the earliest inhabitants, the Kechemeche Indians of the Lenni-Lenape tribe in the 1630s, and a thriving fishing and whaling economy was born. In the late 17th century, farming was introduced by English colonists from Connecticut and Massachusetts.
It was about that time that visitors from Philadelphia began to arrive in wagons and stagecoaches on land and on sloops and schooners by sea, taking in the salt air and fresh seafood and staying in public houses, taverns and private homes.
The early 1800s continued the boom in the tourist economy with the construction of six boarding houses, including the now-famous Congress Hall, along with music pavilions and ballrooms.
By 1852, construction had begun on the world’s largest hotel, the Mount Vernon. It would house 3,500 patrons. During construction, while already accommodating 2,100 guests, the hotel was destroyed by fire.
When the railroad came to town in 1863, a new era of development began. Land was
Sunsets are even more beautiful from the beach. Cape May is home to about 3,000 year-round residents, but during the summer, its population can boom to 50,000. (Photo provided by city of Cape May)
parceled into lots for Philadelphia families to build their own summer cottages.
While hurricanes and nor’easters often threatened the New Jersey coastline, fire made a particular mark on the resort town with the wooden structures of hotels and boarding houses particularly vulnerable. The most devastating fire was in 1878, when 35 acres from Congress Hall to Ocean Street were destroyed.
Congress Hall was quickly reconstructed out of bricks, and the town took on a slightly different flavor with the construction of the familiar Victorian seaside cottages that today make Cape May unique along the Jersey Shore.
During World War I, the Navy used one of the large hotels for a hospital and acquired land to construct a base, which was taken over by the Coast Guard in 1925. Today, the U.S. Coast Guard remains an important part of the Cape May economy. Training Center Cape May is the fifth largest base in the Coast Guard.
Tourism from the south and west brought new visitors once the Cape May County Bridge Commission and Delaware River and Bay Authority opened the Cape MayLewes ferry on July 1, 1974. For the last 50 years, ferries carrying passengers and their vehicles have plied the 17-mile stretch of water between Cape May and neighboring Lewes, Del.
The town-city ranges from 3,000 residents in the off season to 2023’s summer population of 50,000. It boasts more than 600 Victorian-style houses including vacation rentals, 45 hotels and 1,905 rooms for visitors, according to Rattigan. She credited Cape May’s Historic Preservation Commission with updating the standards for the beauty and safety of its historic buildings.
Cape May and its surrounding environs offer an abundance of activities and amusements to engage people of all ages. “You can’t go wrong in Cape May,” Rattigan said. She said recently there has been an influx of young families adding to the vibrant vacation population. “We’re seeing mostly generations of families coming.” Perhaps it has to do with Cape May’s appearance on USA Today’s top 10 lists in the last few years, including being eighth on the Best Coastal Small Towns list and 10th on the Best Small Town Food Scene in the U.S. list.
In addition to the numerous beaches that border the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, Rattigan said, the town has a variety of attractions like trolley tours, ghost and mystery tours and
the Emlen Physick Estate, where visitors can learn about life and architecture in Victorian Cape May. There is the Harriet Tubman Museum, theaters such as Cape May Stage and East Lynne Theater Company, and the Cape May Jazz Festival takes place in May and October.
Concerts are performed at Convention Hall. The famous Cape May lighthouse stands in nearby Cape May Point, in addition to a free zoo and 200-acre park not far away at the Cape May
Cape May, N.J., is populated by iconic, Victorian-style homes. (Photo provided by city of Cape May)
With a healthy tourism industry, Cape May, N.J., offers plenty of hotels to choose frommany featuring Victorian architecture. (Photo provide by city of Cape May)
Courthouse. Nature lovers can enjoy natural beaches, a nature center and rail biking along decommissioned railroad tracks.
National Geographic rated Cape May as a “World’s Best Destination for Birding.”
One of the latest additions to the city’s beaches, Rattigan noted, are features that make them accessible to people who have mobility issues. Ramps between the paved promenade and the beach are available at numerous locations, and beach mats extend over the sand at all beach entrances. A limited number of Beach and Surf Wheelchairs are free of charge and are available on a first-come, first-served basis at several locations. There are also several accessible bathrooms as well as free handicapped parking.
“We’ve also become a very popular wedding destination, mostly in the spring and fall,” Rattigan noted. “We’re really a year-round, family-friendly environment.”
Those year-round attractions include the quaint and unique shops along the Washington Street Mall, restaurants that stay open throughout the year, and Christmas events such as holiday concerts, horse and carriage rides and candlelight tours that have Cape May decked out like a Hallmark movie set. Throughout the winter, the Convention Hall also becomes an indoor roller rink.
“The secret’s out,” Rattigan said. “Cape May is the place to be.”
For more information about Cape May and its events, go to capemaycity.com. M
• Minimize/Eliminate rod scoring
• Extend the life of cylinder seals
• Protects cylinders from the elements
• Prevent pitting due to chemical washers
• Reduce particle contamination of hydraulic systems
• Minimize dings and dents associated with falling debris
Visitors to the Cape May Lighthouse can climb the 199 steps up the original, cast-iron spiral staircase. The site features staggering views of Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by nature trails of Cape May Point State Park. (Photo provided by city of Cape May
Sip Safely partnerships create safer nightlife for Austin
The city of Austin, Texas, is teaming up with local bars and venues for its new Sip Safely program. This new program provides the bars and venues with flyers on how to recognize suspicious behavior as well as pass out drinking test kits to patrons. (Photo provided by the city of Austin, Texas)
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
The city of Austin, Texas, is teaming up with local businesses to promote a safer nightlife with the brand-new Sip Safely program.
As Austin Development Services’ Nightlife and Entertainment Services Manager, Brian Block works with venues and businesses throughout the city to enhance entertainment for residents and visitors. This includes promoting safety and awareness when out visiting those venues and businesses.
An Austin council member initiated the Sip Safely program and included $100,000 in the city budget to launch it. The council member had seen a similar program in West Hollywood, and Block had seen a one set forth in the United Kingdom. Austin’s Sip Safely program was modeled after such programs and modified and adapted to make it specific for the Texas city and the bars, clubs and venues in the area.
The program was incorporated into the city budget in October 2023 and launched in April 2024.
Block’s office worked on ways to team up with local venues and businesses to enhance them as well as come up with specific branding for Sip Safely. The program is focused on education and awareness, and the goal is to bring attention to the fact that drink spiking that can occur, educate the public and employees about how to identify a possible threat and then provide ways to support the victim if it does occur.
The city provides drink testing kits to participating bars, clubs and venues, as well as flyers for patrons on how to prevent drink spiking and raising awareness that these drink testing kits are available. Another flyer is provided to business owners and employees, educating them on ways to reduce the risk for drink spiking and how to identify suspicious activity. Participating businesses then have the responsibility to put up the flyers and distribute the drink testing kits.
A council member included $100,000 in the city budget to launch the new Sip Safely program to help venues and patrons feel safer. This program is focused on education and awareness of drink spiking. (Photo provided by the city of Austin, Texas)
The second portion of the Sip Safely program is public outreach. This portion was launched with a press conference and received a large amount of exposure. Partnership with a local nonprofit, the Sobering Center, has been important since the organization is already well-known.
The Sobering Center holds monthly tabling events throughout the entertainment district to provide education to the public.
“When we first launched, we made a big effort and had just over 50 bars participating,” Block explained. “We now have 70 venues and businesses participating. It is continuous work to build partnerships with more businesses.”
In the few months since launching the program, the city has continued to educate businesses about the new program in order to build relationships with them and partner with residents and visitors to keep them as safe as possible. Much of this involves simply getting the word out to the area businesses that the Sip Safely program exists and the ease of participation.
Businesses can learn about the program via direct communication with the city, word of mouth from other participating businesses, social media efforts and local or national media coverage.
When it comes to partnering efforts with local businesses and venues, Block mentioned, “Some are really interested and excited. For others it’s about raising awareness of the program. They hadn’t thought about it, but they want to do it. There is really no downside to participating. When the
There are now over 70 businesses participating by distributing flyers, drink testing kits and drink covers. For participating businesses, the program helps to make them a valuable asset to the city as well as a known safe space for patrons. (Photo provided by the city of Austin, Texas)
bars make the effort to enhance safety and create safer spaces, it is just a positive. It makes the community feel safer, which is really at the core of it.”
Bars, clubs and nightlife venues are important places for entertainment and culture throughout the city of Austin. It helps them to be valuable partners to the city and a safe space for patrons.
So far, the data and metrics support a strong, positive response for the Sip Safely program.
“We think it’s going really well with the number of bars and venues participating,” Block said. “But we want to keep it growing. We also look at how many drink testing cards are being distributed, and currently, that’s 3,500.”
They also look at public outreach.
“In the first two monthly tabling sessions, an extra 550 drink testing cards were distributed. We have started distributing drink covers and have given away 132 so far. The plan is to continue to distribute drink covers monthly for at least the next six months.”
Everyone seems to want to keep it going and increase the efforts of Sip Safely.
According to Block, the Sip Safely program would not be possible without the partnerships. It’s the most important consideration for other cities who may consider implementing a similar program, he commented.
“You need to build those partnerships and get to know them, which helps them get engaged. Many already want to enhance safety for both patrons and employees. This gives the city a platform to work with them to enhance safety in other ways as well moving forward.” M
Communities track lead service lines
By
The Environmental Protection Agency wants all lead drinking water pipes removed in 10 years. That’s a pretty stark sentence, isn’t it?
Lead has been around for more than 6,000 years, used in everything from coins and bullets to makeup and paint and in plumbing. Romans used lead in their baths and aqueducts. But, as with many other early discoveries and their uses, we know now it’s not safe. There is literally no level of exposure to lead that is without harmful effects.
Remember the studies done about children eating lead paint chips and the harm it could do? With water, the facts are equally straightforward and scary. Exposure can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant women, infants whether breast or formula fed and young children.
Some of those effects? Decreases in IQ and/or attention span. There can also be new or worsened learning and behavior problems. Adults are at risk, as well. They can suffer increased likelihood of heart disease, high blood pressure, or kidney or nervous system problems. So it is absolutely clear why the EPA is firm on this issue, and why so many cities are working toward eliminating all lead water pipes. According to the Environmental Defense Fund’s April 23, 2024, news post, the top 10 cities in the United States with the most lead service lines were Chicago, Ill.; Cleveland, Ohio; New York, N.Y.; Detroit, Mich.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Denver, Colo.; St. Louis, Mo.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Cincinnati, Ohio.
While the federal government banned the use of lead pipes in new plumbing systems in 1986, the EPA estimates that there are still 6 million to 10 million lead service lines in the United States.
The city of Mitchell, S.D., “has been following the guidance given to us by the state. We have conducted public information campaigns to get information out to our consumers through news media, utility billing flyers and social media,” said Stephanie Ellwein, city administrator, who added, “We are also reporting information on our infrastructure as required.”
A part of that public information campaign has been spreading awareness of the South Dakota Customer Service Pipe Material Self Report Survey, which is accessible at https://survey123.arcgis.com/
ABOVE: Like many communities, Mitchell, S.D., is tracking and removing lead service lines. Currently, the city is about 51% through its reporting requirements.
(Patrick Ziegler/Shutterstock.com)
share/dba9fe4b6be84b1ab306788ccf1457ab. The survey encourages South Dakota residents to submit information on their water service pipe material. This initiative will allow water providers to document the presence of lead service pipes in their systems. This information then helps municipalities like Mitchell receive a clearer picture of the lead still within their water infrastructure.
“The city itself is about 51% through their reporting requirements,” said Ellwein. “This information reflects the self-reported surveys, so it is an example of one way that people are collecting the data.” She continued, “The city of Mitchell has been actively replacing infrastructure the past seven years and will continue doing so in the future.”
Ellwein was clear that this doesn’t involve having water tested. “There would be a guy at your door to inspect your pipes. It’s about a five-minute thing to check it out. Scrape the pipe and see what color it is. If it’s copper colored, it’s a copper pipe, as you’d expect. If you put a magnet on the pipe and it sticks, it’s lead!”
There are reverse osmosis systems, or distillation and activated carbon filtration, that remove lead from a home’s water. However, replacing all the pipes and plumbing fixtures will still be the safest procedure.
In larger towns, it may be covered through city utilities. In other locations, there are various organizations partnering with different states to offset the costs, such as the Lead Service Line Replacement Program. For small communities that can’t cover the cost for its residents, there are federal and non-federal funding sources available: The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program, among others. Checking the nation’s system is just a step in the right direction; the EPA estimates the cost of replacing all lead lines could range from $28 million to $45 million. There are no easy answers here, but this is a problem that has to be eradicated in every area of our country.
BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
• The 2001, 2001M, and 2001MB barricades are MASH Tested as a Longitudinal Channelizing Device (LCD).
• Accessorize with Lights and Fence Panels.
• Transform unstable ground into stable and weatherproof surfaces for easy transport and staging of heavy equipment.
• Protect Turf & Grass During Events and Projects.
• Create Accessible Walkways for Pedestrians or Crew.
• Portable, High-Performance, interlocking water filled Barrier sections.
• MASH TL-2 Tested for Redirective Applications.
Rechanneled stream is centerpiece of a blooming bio habitat
When the city of Mentor, Ohio, acquired the nearly 60-acre property at 6776 Haisley Road from the Schultz family in 2014, the plan was to transform what was once a commercial plant nursery into a favorite spot for wildlife and nature lovers.
It wouldn’t be easy. It was a flat and sandy piece of land that lacked the topography for a park, so the city created a landscaping plan that would transform the site into the greenspace that exists today.
Initial improvements to what is now called SpringBrook Gardens Park included the creation of strategic mounds and plantings, along with 1.7 miles of walking trails and an expanded pond and boardwalk. But there was still more work to do.
Thanks to $258,450 in funding from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 grant program, as well as a partnership with the Chagrin River Watershed Project and Lake County Soil and Water, the city completed its wetlands restoration project in 2022 and is excited to watch it grow.
A streaming service
According to Mentor Parks and Recreation director Kenneth Kaminski, the goal of the project, which was carried out in two phases, was to reestablish the ecological function of the onsite manmade stream.
Prior to its restoration, the waterway flowed through the property as a steep-banked, channelized ditch that resulted in high velocity flows, water quality degradation and a lack of habitat on the grounds. He contracted Biohabitats, a Maryland firm that restores and regenerates natural ecosystems, which utilized bioengineering methods to restore 650 linear feet of streambank and revegetate one acre of floodplain with all native species.
“Prior to that, we had a lot of invasive trees and shrubs that we wanted to get rid of,” Kaminski said. “Now we have an engineered streambed mix along with in-stream structures that were used to stabilize the channel and its new path through the property. The streambanks were graded to create a more natural slope and
ABOVE: Educational signage shares details about the restoration project and its history. (Photo provided by Mentor, Ohio)
replanted with native vegetation to help decrease potential erosion and sedimentation while increasing habitat.”
Naturally, there were challenges along the way. Some residents wondered how the project might use and affect the surrounding property and amenities, including two bridges that were already in existence.
“I don’t want to say that we were landlocked, but we had limited space,” Kaminski confirmed.
The city relied on the expertise of the Chagrin River Watershed Project and Lake County Soil and Water and followed their lead when creating a plan with Biohabitats that would meet their needs. Biohabitats developed a restoration strategy that took advantage of high sand content in the site’s soil and took an approach that merged riffle complexes and sand seepage berms that extend valley wide, perpendicular to the stream’s flow. According to the company’s website, these complexes retain smaller storm events on the floodplain and allow for denitrification as the water seeps through the berms while safely conveying larger storm events through the site.
The design not only improved the quality of the water entering Mentor Marsh and Lake Erie, but also created a biodiverse, ecologically functioning stream and wetland complex that enhanced the overall park.
“The before and after pictures are amazing,” Kaminski said.
Benefits abound
Two years after the project’s completion, the restoration has offered Springbrook Gardens Park several benefits. Naturally, Kaminski said, the restored wetland has added to the property’s overall aesthetic with a stream that now looks and feels like a natural oasis on the
grounds. There has also been an educational benefit that allows the staff at the Natural Resource Department to develop programming that ties into the stream as well as the insects, fish and birds associated with it.
Speaking of birds, there has been a huge uptick in the number of species that now call the park home or stop by as part of a migratory pattern.
“Birding is very big in this park,” he said. “This used to be a flat sand field that had been stripped of its topsoil. What this project has done is to bring in a significant amount of birds that stop here, go up to our nature preserve or move on. It’s very impressive.”
For any community considering a similar project, Kaminski encouraged it to find partners who can help guide throughout the process and to be patient when preparing and applying for financial assistance.
“It took us about a year, in total, from the start, from preparing the grant to submitting the grant, receiving the grant and then getting the necessary permits to begin. But if you partner with people who know, understand and are able to help you with the plans, they can help monitor your expectations,” Kaminski said. “When the project
The city completes biological monitoring of the stream to ensure its overall health by counting different macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates like insects, crustaceans, mollusks and worms provide glimpses into a body of water’s health since some can’t exist in poor water conditions. (Photo provided by Mentor, Ohio)
Springbrook Gardens Park has undergone many improvements, including regrading and soil enrichment of the entire property, planting of native flora, expansion of the pond, construction of a boardwalk and 1.7 miles of paved multiuse trails and, most recently, the improvement of the channel stream. (Photo provided by Mentor, Ohio)
is done, it isn’t going to look too exciting; but two or three years later, when all of the native grasses have grown, it really looks good.” M
The restored Springbrook Garden Park waterway is teeming with wildlife and is now being used for educational purposes. (Photo provided by Mentor, Ohio)
Prior to its restoration, the Springbrook Gardens Park stream in Mentor, Ohio, was encumbered by invasive plants that needed to be removed. (Photo provided by Mentor, Ohio)
Ducks enjoy the cleared stream. (Photo provided by Mentor, Ohio)
The bridges of Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Fla., across the beautiful Caloosahatchee River. (Shutterstock.com)
By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
The Caloosahatchee Connect project is complete: The cities of Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Fla., have created a pipeline across the Caloosahatchee River with the intent to transfer water from Fort Myers to Cape Coral.
How did they begin? Melissa Mickey, communications director for the city of Cape Coral, explained.
Project negotiations began in 2011 when Cape Coral Utilities Department Director Jeff Pearson began meeting with Fort Myers Public Works Director Saeed Kazemi about entering a partnership to assist Fort Myers to cease treated wastewater discharges to the Caloosahatchee River and provide Cape Coral with additional reclaimed water for its world-class irrigation system.
“The project came to fruition based on the complementary needs of the two cities,” Jason Sciandra, Fort Myers utilities public utilities engineer, concurred. “The city of Cape Coral has a rapid growth rate, as well as an established irrigation system. The city of Fort Myers had available treated effluent water that was being discharged to the Caloosahatchee River with no benefit to the natural environment. Seeing the opportunity to meet a water supply need for Cape Coral, coupled with the desire of Fort Myers to reduce or eliminate discharges to the river, we developed a long-term partnership to bring this project to fruition.”
But the pandemic threw a monkey wrench into the plan.
“The 2018 Agreement between Cape Coral and Fort Myers set a Jan. 15, 2023, deadline. However, supply chain issues, a delayed Army Corps of Engineers permit and a contractor protesting the original bid for the subaqueous portion of the project which had to be rebid all contributed to a one-year delay in completion of the project,” Mickey explained. “Both parties mutually extended the completion timeframe to December.”
Sciandra put it succinctly: “The city of Fort Myers was significantly impacted by supply chain delays.”
Another minor issue was that the weather varied between the two cities. “Construction projects in Southwest Florida are always challenged by weather conditions. Our contractor was prepared and ready to deal with the typical rainfall experienced during the rainy
season. They also did a great job recovering time following Hurricane Ian,” Sciandra said.
Cape Coral received over $11 million in grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District to assist with the project. According to Sciandra, Fort Myers received multiple grants from the state of Florida for its components of the project. The balance was funded by Fort Myers utility’s wastewater fund and a bond issuance.
“That bond issuance will be repaid with revenues generated by the sale of reclaimed water to Cape Coral,” Sciandra said.
The project will help keep fresh water in the canals during the dry season, which will help the fire department with water pressure
With the sheer size of the Caloosahatchee Connect project, it required five years to complete.
The city of Cape Coral, Fla., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the Caloosahatchee Connect project’s competition on Jan. 11, 2024.
issues. The pipe will transmit millions of gallons of water a day that was formerly discharged into the river, and it will remove tons of effluents or harmful waste.
Both Sciandra and Mickey said the state of Florida and the public at large have been supportive of the project.
“The city council of the city of Fort Myers and the residents continue to provide strong support for this project, as it reduces the amount of treated effluent water the city discharges to the Caloosahatchee River,” Sciandra said. “This results in significant reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus loads to the river.”
The state provided funding for approximately 50% of the overall project cost. Mickey said that the benefits are mutual to both towns, and Sciandra added, “The benefits are mutual, but each city benefits in different ways. Cape Coral has more reclaimed water available for meeting the demand of its ever-growing population, while Fort Myers benefits by reducing discharges to the Caloosahatchee River, and by retaining additional revenue to fund wastewater treatment projects.”
Regarding maintenance and upkeep, Mickey said the project infrastructure belonging to Cape Coral will require minimal maintenance. The terms for the city’s reclaimed water purchase are outlined in the 2018 Agreement and budgeted each fiscal cycle. The infrastructure constructed by the city of Fort Myers requires continued operational and maintenance costs, however.
“The additional costs are incorporated into the city’s annual operating budget and paid for with a portion of the revenue received from the city of Cape Coral.”
Now that all is complete, are both cities pleased with the overall project? Did it do everything they had hoped for? The answer was resounding.
“Yes, this is a transformational project for Southwest Florida, as the water is being recycled and harmful nutrients are no longer
Now complete, this large reclaimed water pipeline, which spans more than 7,000 feet, allows Cape Coral to transfer up to 12 million gallons of water daily from Fort Myers.
Fort Myers, Fla., held its own ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of the Caloosahatchee Connect project.
discharged into the Caloosahatchee River,” said Mickey. “Cape Coral citizens will continue reaping the benefits for years to come.”
Sciandra said Fort Myers is equally happy with the finished result.
“The city of Fort Myers has been able to dramatically reduce the amount of treated effluent water discharged to the Caloosahatchee River and has already started receiving revenue from the sale of reclaimed water.”
Free dumping days encourage community pride
By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal
For more than 30 years, the city of Safford, Ariz. — along with surrounding communities in Graham County — has hosted a unique initiative. During Community Pride Days, residents are entitled to deliver one free load of residential trash to the regional landfill.
According to Safford Public Works Office Supervisor Amber Hogle, Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Central Graham County and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Graham County are the entities behind Community Pride Days. In her estimation, the program speaks to the collaborative spirit within the region.
“We own and run the Safford landfill,” she said. “But we’re tightknit communities. It’s comprised of five really small towns that are right in a row. You have Solomon, Safford, Thatcher Central and
ABOVE: Three decades of success mean that the secret about the greater Safford area’s Community Pride Day program is out. (Shutterstock.com)
Pima, and then as well as the Graham County area all around us, that utilize the Safford landfill. Anybody can go at any time to the landfill, but the program is a push to help keep our community clean and beautiful,” she said.
“All of the entities partner for Community Pride Days events and encourage their citizens to go to the landfill during that time. Since the fees are waived, there’s no weight limit. They take whatever you have, as long as it meets the criteria.”
During Community Pride Days, citizens of Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Central Graham County and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Graham County in Arizona are encouraged to take neighborhood waste to the landfill free of charge. (Shutterstock.com)
Hogle added that while the program has been around for some time, changes have been made over the years to accommodate the needs of the communities.
“The very first Community Pride Day was just a single day back in 1994. Now, we offer it three times a year for three days each time. It’s always a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That way it gives the weekend days for our community members to take their trash out to the landfill,” she explained.
“At one point they were doing it for a week, twice a year. But then a few years ago, we just found out that it made a little bit more sense and gave us a better opportunity to do it three times a year.”
The program takes place on select dates in February, June and October. The consistency of the schedule makes it easier for residents to plan their cleanup projects.
The program has boasted measurable success in terms of tonnage and resident engagement. This year, during the February Community Pride Days, her department collected 292 tons of waste; June followed closely with 206 tons. That represents 640 and 516 customers, respectively, Hogle said.
Three decades of success mean that by now, the secret about the Community Pride Day program is out. Still, her team uses various communication channels to promote Community Pride Days. Social media, particularly Facebook, plays a significant role, reaching a large portion of the community. Additionally, they distribute press releases to local media outlets, including radio stations.
The city of Safford takes waste management a step further by offering its residents one free landfill drop-off every month.
“It’s a nice perk for those that live in Safford,” she said. “They get that extra dump, so they don’t have to wait until one of the three times a year. They can go at any time throughout the year, as long as it’s just once per month. So that’s been a nice benefit, to encourage them to keep the community clean and beautiful.”
Hogle said Safford’s program may be just the beginning. The city is entertaining the idea of implementing separate hazardous waste disposal events. She believes this initiative would address the safe
Safford, Ariz.’s, three Community Pride Days a year draw more than 500 people who want to beautify their neighborhoods. (Photo provided by city of Safford, Ariz.)
Residents dispose of items like yard waste and old appliances at the Community Pride Days events. (Photo provided by city of Safford, Ariz.)
disposal of materials unsuitable for landfills, further promoting environmental responsibility.
In short, Safford’s Community Pride Days represents what can happen when community collaboration and thoughtful program design intersect. Hogle said other cities and towns can follow its example by keeping a few key ingredients in mind.
“It’s a good idea to encourage proper disposal and it gives them an outlet to do so,” she said. “Everybody wants their community to look nice. You want to get rid of blight around the community. But of course, it always helps the community members’ pocketbooks because it’s of no charge to them. That does entice them a little bit more.” M
Baltimore hopes fixed pricing policy will reoccupy vacant homes
By NICHOLETTE
A new fixed pricing program is helping the city of Baltimore, Md., sell vacant city properties in a time efficient manner.
When the city decided to investigate what might be slowing down their previous process, it was discovered that the city was spending a lot of time in negotiation with developers. Developers would complain they were unaware of the price up front or the length of time the process would take.
The city’s goal was to get the homes renovated and back into productive use, not to make as much money as possible, so spending a large amount of time negotiating the price was counterproductive. Baltimore officials sought advice from other municipalities and did research on programs that either had up-front pricing or a fixed price system and then created their fixed pricing program from the research. The city’s new system also helped improve and streamline the purchase process to ensure it was faster and more equitable.
City staffers, together with key agencies and stakeholders, spent a couple of years coming up with ideas and developing the best process. After discussion regarding what people were looking for and what the previous problematic issues were, the city started to write the fixed pricing program policy. According to Kate Edwards, deputy commissioner of the development division, the new policy was circled back to the same group for feedback. It was then posted online for approximately a year to receive public commentary.
After responding to comments and incorporating some of the suggestions into the policy, an updated policy was posted online for another 30 days. The finalized policy was then taken to the board of estimates for approval, and the fixed pricing program was implemented and launched in March.
Meanwhile, city staff members were undergoing a great deal of training. Internal standards and procedures for the new policy had to be written and employees trained on them prior to implementation. A new computer system with workflow software was another improvement included as part of the new policy, and they had to undergo training on that as well.
For example, previous applications were all filled out on paper. All applications now had to be transferred to a digital format and posted online.
“When we initially launched, we had a 90-day period just for city residents who wanted to purchase a vacant home as their primary residence,” Edwards said. “We got like 1,200 applications, maybe 800 in the first day. We didn’t realize it would get so much press and attention.”
While it was significantly more interest than the city was anticipating, staff also quickly realized many of the applications did
CARLSON | The Municipal
not fit the criteria for the first 90 days. Another hurdle to overcome was that some applications did not include the necessary financial information.
Once the 90-day period was complete, Baltimore had received a total of 1,675 applications. Of those, 1,200 actually wanted to purchase a property as a homeowner, but only 363 of the applicants were city residents.
Of the city residents, there were only 77 applications properly completed and able to move forward for review. Some of these did not wish to use the home as their primary residence, and 49 did not have the necessary finances to rehab the vacant home. Five applicants ultimately qualified and three are moving forward with the process. The city began accepting all applications July 1.
In order to qualify, the property must be a vacant building owned by the city and listed as available on the website. It has to be located in a specific area of the housing market; an area considered to be a stressed housing area. The property or lot must be used as residential, mixed use with residential or greenspace. It cannot be identified as a part of an upcoming development project. The individual must have the financing available to rehab the vacant home, which in this case is a minimum of $90,000, which can be financed. He or she cannot have any other vacant properties that have had permits pulled or buildings that have been vacant for more than two years.
The pricing system is based on both the purchaser and the property. For homeowners wishing to use the home as their primary residence, the purchase price is $1. The homeowner must then maintain the home as their primary residence for a minimum of five years.
For a nonprofit organization, the cost is $1,000. A for-profit business is then charged $3,000. There are also different prices for vacant lots, but if the property is assessed for over $100,000 then it does not qualify as part of the program.
When an individual or business qualifies for the fixed pricing program, they enter a standard land disposition agreement with the city that the rehab of the property will be completed within 12 months. Specific milestones within that 12 months must also be reached, such as when permits should be pulled and the like.
An individual can only purchase up to 12 properties through the program. However, individuals or businesses looking to purchase larger properties or bundles of properties for commercial developments or subdivisions can go through the request-for-proposals process.
For other cities considering implementing a similar fixed-price policy, Edwards suggested, “I think the community outreach portion and getting the word out is really important. Do the work ahead of time and continue throughout the process with the outreach, and work with your elected officials and community representatives.”
The cost for vacant homes and land available through the fixed pricing program depends on whether the buyer is an individual homeowner, nonprofit business or for profit business. Homeowners are charged $1, nonprofits are charged $1,000 and for profits are charged $3,000. During the 90-day period just for Baltimore residents, there are three homeowners moving forward. (Provided by city of Baltimore)
Homes available through the fixed pricing program must be in the E-J areas on the typology map. These areas tend to have the most availability of vacant homes that are in need of being rehabilitated. Buyers have 12 months and various milestones to make along the way after receiving approval for the city’s fixed pricing program. (Provided by the city of Baltimore)
Southwestern Pennsylvania unites efforts to unlock federal funding
By DANIELLE LUND | The Municipal
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Municipal Project Hub, announced in February, is a new regional initiative supporting local government and nonprofit leaders across 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania as they attempt to access federal funding. The hub serves the 10-county region of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland.
According to Chief Executive Officer Megan Zeigler, the SWPA Municipal Project Hub has been working hard to ensure that the region is able to obtain funding for its municipalities, school district and nonprofits to create sustainable economic development over time. It aims to provide support to collaboratively acquire federal infrastructure and sustainable economic development funding.
“From Brackenridge to Butler, Aspinwall to Aliquippa, no matter what we look like or how much money we have, all southwestern Pennsylvanians want to ensure a bright future for generations to come. But years without significant federal investment in clean energy policies and climate-friendly
manufacturing, and with a lack of dedicated funding for economic development, it has been hard for many local communities to imagine the kind of future we all want for our families,” Zeigler said.
“Finally, thanks to once-in-a-generation federal investments available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, our region has an unparalleled opportunity to access new federal infrastructure and clean energy funds.”
Like other local governments, southwestern Pennsylvania experienced a lack of capacity, resources and support to access and leverage the available federal funding. That’s where the hub comes in, helping to
ABOVE: Years without significant federal investment in clean energy policies and climate-friendly manufacturing made it hard for Pennsylvania communities to imagine the kind of future residents wanted. The SWPA Municipal Project Hub is changing that by helping communities access new federal infrastructure and clean energy funds.(Shutterstock.com)
provide capacity and technical support to access and leverage it and creating new jobs in new industries in the process.
“At the hub, we know and understand the daily challenges small towns across Pennsylvania face and the transformative impact these federal investments can have on rebuilding our main streets, creating good-paying jobs in clean industries and reducing energy bills for residents,” Zeigler explained. “We help local governments advance meaningful community and economic development initiatives that center on solutions and strategies that communities can feel good about for generations.”
The goals of the SWPA Municipal Hub are clear: To maximize federal investment that supports economic vitality, climate
Southwestern Pennsylvania Municipal Project Hub supports local government and nonprofit leaders across 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania to help access federal funding. Pictured is a meeting with the Fayette County Raid Response Team. (Photo provided by SWPA Municipal Project Hub)
readiness and community well-being across southwestern Pennsylvania, especially in designated environmental justice and energy communities; close local capacity gaps by rapidly coordinating and funding the technical expertise and services communities need on the ground; and catalyze shared success by fostering accountable and trusting relationships across communities and sectors and building a collective understanding of regional reinvestment barriers and opportunities, said Zeigler.
The SWPA Municipal Hub received its initial funding from The Heinz Endowments, which is, “committed to helping our region maximize the historic funding opportunity that the bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act offer for infrastructure, economic development and climate-friendly projects,” Matt Barron, program director for sustainability at the Heinz Endowments, said in a statement.
Zeigler discussed continued funding for the project.
“The hub is fiscally sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies
and supported by local philanthropic institutions,” she said. “But we continue to seek additional financial support so that we can broaden and expand our capacity. We look to support projects that show strong community and municipal support, and we will help them maximize the federal grant opportunities and tax credits.”
Standardized project readiness criteria are being developed to help the communities best pair technical assistance providers with the most impactful projects.
In just a few short months, the hub has had much success in its ventures. Since the launch, it has supported more than $72 million in federal grant applications across the 10-county region on projects ranging from energy efficiency and food systems to multimodal transportation and workforce development.
“The projects we are supporting are community priorities, making them all impactful in their own way. We’ve gotten a lot of really great feedback about the support we’re able to provide,” she said.
Zeigler and her team highly value the input of the community in their project selection process.
The team at the SWPA Municipal Project Hub tours the city of Conway, Pa. The hub helps local government officials across southwestern Pennsylvania access federal infrastructure and clean energy funding.
(Photo provided by SWPA Municipal Project Hub)
“In June, we participated in a series of listening sessions with multiple federal agencies to discuss community priorities in six of the counties the hub is serving. Federal representatives attended these sessions and were available to provide insight and advice.”
The hub has received some important feedback. One of the organizations it supported said that it gave the staff “the ability to dream.” After helping them to submit a transportation grant that would connect low-income neighborhoods to the downtown district, a city manager with whom they worked closely said: “Your team made this complex grant feel manageable, and I feel we just created a team.”
According to Zeigler, SWPA Municipal Project Hub is excited to continue community engagement through the fall and help ensure funding that will have lasting impact on Pennsylvania communities. They are following up with each of the counties to pair grant opportunities to their needs. Since those sessions, they have been closely tracking broadband grants, brownfield redevelopment and supporting an economic development planning grant opportunity.
“Every day, we work to meet communities where they are, understand what local challenges keep them up at night and help to connect the dots that bring to life the exciting and impactful projects that have the potential to benefit our communities for generations.” M
things you must know BEFORE buying a STREET SWEEPER 5
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 4-5 Utah League of Cities & Towns 2024 Annual Convention
Salt Lake City, Utah
https://www.ulct.org/annualconvention/
Sept. 9-11 WaterPro Conference
Savannah Convention Center, Savannah, Ga.
https://www. waterproconference.org/
Sept. 9-12 ARFF Annual International Educational Symposium
Congratulations to the latest companies earning MVP status
FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. Because standards don’t raise themselves, NTEA’s Member Verification Program (MVP) acknowledges the companies leading the industry to excellence. Fleet managers, truck dealers and OEMs know truck equipment manufacturers and distributors with MVP status have implemented specific business and quality standards and comply with federal regulations.
New MVP members (since April 1, 2024)
• Buyers Products Co. (Mentor, Ohio)
• Diamond Coach (Oswego, Kansas)
• Driverge Vehicle Innovations (Akron, Ohio)
• Driverge Vehicle Innovations (Kansas City, Kansas)
• John Guire Supply (Shrewsbury, New Jersey)
• Knapheide KUV Installation Center (Quincy, Illinois)
• Knapheide Truck Equipment Center Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Knapheide Truck Equipment Center Columbus (Columbus, Ohio)
• Knapheide Truck Equipment Center Phoenix (Phoenix, Arizona)
• Knapheide Truck Equipment Center Quincy (West Quincy) (Taylor, Missouri)
• Surefitters (Rosemount, Minnesota) Renewals
• Ace Truck Body Inc. (Grove City, Ohio)
• Bucher Hydraulics Inc. (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
• Cabot Coach Builders (Haverhill, Massachusetts)
• Carco Industries (Tualatin, Oregon)
• Demers Ambulances (Beloeil, Quebec)
• Driverge Vehicle Innovations (Ladson, South Carolina)
• Frazer LTD (Houston, Texas)
• HA Dehart & Son (Thorofare, New Jersey)
• Holman (Bartlett, Illinois)
• Holman (Simpsonville, Kentucky)
• Intercon Truck Equipment Inc. (Aston, Pennsylvania)
• J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers Div Somerset Welding & Steel Inc. (Somerset, Pennsylvania)
• Knapheide Truck Equipment Center Charleston (Moncks Corner, South Carolina)
• Knapheide Truck Equipment Center Portland (Troutdale, Oregon)
• Maintainer Corp. of Iowa Inc. (Sheldon, Iowa)
• Manning Equipment LLC (Louisville, Kentucky)
• Ohnsorg Truck Bodies Inc. (Belle Plaine, Minnesota)
• Reading Truck (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Current NTEA Distributor and Manufacturer members are encouraged to apply for MVP status at any time. There is no charge NTEA underwrites the cost of MVP as part of an ongoing effort to enhance the core competencies of its members. Once
qualified, companies receive MVP status for a three-year term. To renew, MVP members must again document compliance, ensuring their ongoing commitment to professionalism, industry knowledge and high performance.
Visit ntea.com/mvp to learn more and apply or contact NTEA’s technical services department for personalized assistance at (800) 441-6832 or mvp@ntea.com.
Stop
For Kids’ AI-enabled stop sign cameras expand nationwide to keep pedestrians safe
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Stop For Kids, the first company to help municipalities enforce stop sign compliance while improving driver behavior using AI-powered cameras, announced that its patented Road Safetyas-a-Service (RSaaS) is now available nationwide to any municipality seeking to improve the standard of traffic safety in their community.
Every year, approximately one-quarter of traffic fatalities and about one-half of all traffic injuries in the United States are attributed to intersections. To help mitigate this and contribute to the Vision Zero initiative, Stop For Kids provides automated detection of traffic violations with high-resolution cameras equipped with patented AI technology that tracks vehicle behavior at stop signs, verifies license plates, manages the mailing of warning or violation letters, and offers an easily accessible online portal for payment and disputes. The compact, all-weather cameras operate 24/7, delivering precise results in residential areas without disruptive flash or radar technologies. This turnkey solution enhances smart city initiatives and is an offenderfunded model, with no cost to municipalities or taxpayers.
Following successful pilot programs in New York, including the Village of Saddle Rock where Stop For Kids reduced stop sign infractions by over 82% within 90 days, the first-of-its-kind RSaaS is now available to municipalities across the country who seek to keep pedestrians and drivers in their residential communities and school zones safe.
Stop For Kids offers a range of features that foster a communityfocused approach to modifying driving behavior. These include warning letters instead of immediate violation notices to educate the driver, and leniency for first-time offenders. The implementation of these features is ultimately at the discretion of each municipality, allowing for tailored enforcement policies that best meet local needs.
“We are proud to be the first municipality in the world to utilize machine learning technology to monitor stop signs,” said Dr. Dan Levy, mayor of Saddle Rock, N.Y. “Stop For Kids has proven to transform driver behavior in areas with heavy foot traffic, protecting our village’s children and pedestrians while also serving as an educational tool for better driving practices.”
Stop For Kids is now available to any municipality in the United States seeking to elevate the standard of traffic safety in their community. For more information or to get started with Stop For Kids, visit stopforkids.com/gov. News releases regarding personnel changes, other non-product-related 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
IMPLEMENTS TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE
Whether you
SUMMARY NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND COURT-APPROVAL HEARING
This Document relates to: City of Camden, et al., v. BASF Corporation, No. 2:24-cv-03174-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 May 15, 2024.
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.
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. The term “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 this 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, the owner and/or operator of such Public Water Systems, 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. It is the intention of this 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 BASF Corporation (“BASF” 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 November 1, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. EST, 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? BASF has agreed to pay $312,500,000 (the “Settlement Amount”), subject to final approval of the Settlement by the Court and certain other conditions specified in the Settlement Agreement. BASF shall additionally pay $4,000,000 (the “Initial Payment”) to cover costs incurred by the Notice Administrator in the course of executing the Notice Plan. Together, these payments from BASF constitute the “Settlement Funds.” In no event shall BASF 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 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 to submit a Claims Form is sixty (60) calendar days after the Effective Date
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 BASF 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 Class Member and do not want to participate in the Settlement and receive a settlement check, you may exclude yourself, or “opt out” from the Class by completing and submitting a Request for Exclusion. The Request for Exclusion form will be available online and may be submitted electronically; if it is submitted via paper copy it must be served on the Opt Out Administrator no later than October 15, 2024. Requests for Exclusion may be withdrawn at any time before the Final Fairness Hearing.
YOU CAN OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT. Any Class Member that has not successfully excluded itself (“opted out”) may object to the Settlement. Any 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 BASF’s Counsel and Class Counsel no later than September 15, 2024. No Class Member who has submitted a Request for Exclusion may object, and any Objections submitted by any Class Member that later excludes itself shall be deemed withdrawn.
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 the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, located at 85 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, on November 1, 2024. 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 for more information:
1302 Av. Ponce de Leon San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907
Michael A. London
Douglas & London 59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor New York, NY 10038
Joseph F. Rice Motley Rice LLC 28 Bridgeside Boulevard Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464
Notice Administrator Claims Administrator
In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation
c/o Notice Administrator 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210 Philadelphia, PA 19103
AFFF Public Water System Claims PO Box 4466 Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Opt Out Administrator Rubris Inc.
P.O. Box 3866 McLean, VA 22103
Clerk of the Court: Clerk, United States District Court for the District of South Carolina 85 Broad Street Charleston, SC 29401
Counsel for BASF Corporation: Matthew A. Holian
DLA Piper LLP (US) 33 Arch Street, 26th Floor Boston, MA 02110 Matt.holian@dlapiper.com
John R. Wellschlager
DLA Piper LLP (US) 650 South Exeter Street, Suite 1100 Baltimore, MD 21202 John.wellschlager@dlapiper.com
Most charming Main streets
Main Street, USA: The heart of every small town beats the strongest downtown, in the place where the community gathers. Main streets in towns and cities across America are lined with local shops, cafes and restaurants, forming the center of the community’s culture and establishing a town’s identity.
Recognizing their allure and significance, the Mixbook website team embarked on a mission to celebrate main streets in a way they deserve. They conducted a survey of 3,000 respondents, and earlier this year compiled a list of the “Top 100 Most Charming Main Streets” in the nation.
“Among the array of main streets celebrated across the country, ten rose to the top, distinguished by their exceptional beauty, vibrant culture, and unparalleled charm,” they discovered. The list is “a celebration of America’s diversity, heritage, and the enduring appeal of its main streets.” Is your hometown on it?
