Maintenance and development of infrastructure is as the center of what municipalities do. Financing this is harder than ever. These stories will help you see what others are doing.
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Iowa, Considering Consolidating Three Public Works Departments.
The Fort Madison (IA) Daily Democrat (8/4) reported that City Manager Byron Smith will "continue to work on plans to consolidate three departments into a public works department. City Councilors discussed the idea with Smith on Tuesday at the regular meeting at Fort Madison City Hall. The proposed shift would create a public works director that would oversee three divisions currently operating as three departments, that of Public Works, Water Department and Wastewater Treatment. The divisions would be headed by superintendents directly under the public works director." The reason behind the consolidation is to save money, with Smith noting "said between $40,000 and $50,000 would be saved by proceeding with the plan. Councilman Bob Chesnut asked if there were any other benefits to the plan. Smith said he thinks it would take these three departments, which do some similar work and give them a chance to have better communication and perhaps even share some equipment."
Clark County, Washington, Calls For Public Light Rail Vote.
The Clark County (WA) Columbian (8/4, Rice, Robinson) reported, "Clark County commissioners on Tuesday adopted a resolution that calls for a public vote next year on funding for operations and maintenance of light rail. The resolution says 'a clear vote on light rail' is necessary to reduce confusion about public transportation planning and improvements, including proposals to enhance the bus and van services provided by C-Tran." "On numerous occasions, we have said there must be a public vote on light rail," Stuart said. "We need a clear vote that separates the issue of light rail from funding needed to continue core services." The article explains that "light rail from Portland's Expo Center to Clark College in Vancouver is part of the proposed Columbia River Crossing, including a new Interstate 5 bridge and related improvements on both sides of the river."
Lake County, Florida, Approves Bus Shelters Despite Official's Objection.
The Orlando Sentinel (8/5, Hudak) reports, "Riders of LakeXpress, Lake's venture into public transportation, soon will find shelter from the rain at more than two dozen stops after county commissioners voted to spend $255,000 to build canopies. Commissioners voted 4-1 to authorize the project with Jimmy Conner dissenting. Conner, an outspoken critic of the taxpayer-subsidized bus service, challenged county officials to justify the added expense for LakeXpress, which has struggled to gain a corps of riders in the Golden Triangle area." He stated, "We're expanding the role of government and this is just another example of it. At some point in time, when we're faced with [choosing between] sheriff's deputies or mass transit, we're going to have to make a decisions or raise taxes, which we said we wouldn't do." Commission Chairman Welton Cadwell argued that, "We can't have a bus service without those shelters."
Waste Management To Open New Recycling Plant Near Spokane, Washington.
KXLY-TV Spokane, WA (8/4, Showman) reported, "Inland Northwest residents are one giant leap closer to being able to recycle more items after Waste Management unveiled plans for a $12 million recycling facility this week." Waste Management also said "it will increase recycling by 40-percent and it will allow customers to put all their recyclables in one container. Right now Waste Management relies on recycle collectors to sort recyclables and weed out things that can't be recycled." "Without the automated equipment that costs in the millions of dollars you have to rely on human beings that sort," Ken Gimpel of Waste Management said of the current recycle process in Spokane. This new plant will contain all of the equipment necessary to separate recyclables: "It will process all items currently collected as well as all number 1-7 plastic containers." The final location of the center has yet to be chosen, but they hope to finish it by fall of 2011.
Alabama Utility To Spend Over $500,000 On Water System Upgrades.
The Birmingham (AL) Business Journal (8/5, Cooper) reports, "Birmingham Water Works said its board recently approved nearly $500,000 in upgrades and repairs to the water system." The plan assigns more than $242,500 for "repairs at its Mulberry Intake Station, replacing transformers and switchgear at Sipsey Pumping Station and a new casing and cover at its Cahaba Pumping Station." According to the water utility, "the upgrades and repairs will help ensure the facilities will continue to operate efficiently and reliably."
