Podcasts about public works director

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Followell, Public Works Director for the City of Paragould. Adam gives us an inside look at how his team helps keep Paragould clean, safe, and beautiful—from street repairs and sanitation to long-term infrastructure planning. You'll hear about the day-to-day challenges of public service, the heart behind the work, and why it all matters to the people who call Paragould home. Whether you've lived here your whole life or you're new to the area, this conversation will give you a deeper appreciation for the people behind the scenes who keep our city moving.

Send us a textIn Episode 25 we sit down with Pilot Point Public Works Director Nestor Ramirez to discuss engineering, programming, and the future of water in Pilot Point.Episode 25 Content Warning: Mild language and potentially controversial subject matter.About the Pilot Point Podcast:Welcome to The Pilot Point Podcast, a podcast dedicated to exploring the fascinating history, unique culture, and current events of the City of Pilot Point, Texas. Co-hosted by City Manager Britt Lusk and local business owner Jimerson Adkins, this podcast takes you on a journey through the city's past, present, and future. Each episode features interviews with residents, business owners, and community leaders who share their personal stories and insights about life in Pilot Point. From the historic downtown district to the surrounding countryside, this podcast covers everything from local festivals and events to notable landmarks and hidden gems.Whether you're a longtime resident, a visitor planning your trip, or simply curious about the history and culture of this small Texas town, the Pilot Point Podcast has something for everyone. Join us as we uncover the secrets and stories of Pilot Point and celebrate the unique character of this vibrant community.       

Terrell is the Public Works Director for Henrico County, who detailed the county's extensive road system and the department's diverse responsibilities. Terrell discussed his typical workday, the award-winning pedestrian safety outreach program, and the early influences and career path that led him to his current role. Key talking points included the importance of communication for a public works director, lessons learned from past experiences, strategies for continuous learning, and addressing misconceptions about the profession, all while emphasizing community service and mentorship. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals. 

Hometown Radio 05/15/25 4p: Guest Host Jeanette Trompeter talks with SLO County Public Works Director John Diodati

Chapin Spencer, Public Works Director for Burlington, joins Kurt & Anthony to give an update on all the projects in the works.

Former Public Works Director on the state of the agency full 1700 Tue, 13 May 2025 19:34:28 +0000 IORCau0Pg2HYmpKT3rh1CX5IbkiQcynK news,a-newscasts,top picks Marty Griffin news,a-newscasts,top picks Former Public Works Director on the state of the agency On-demand selections from Marty's show on Newsradio 1020 KDKA , airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News News News News news News News News News News False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.co

Jefferson Public Works Director Dave Morlan joins us for part two of the two part series.

Jefferson Public Works Director Dave Morlan joins us for part one of his two part series about updates of projects this spring and summer.

Tom Wachholder, Public Works Director for Wenatchee, Washington, who discussed his daily routine, prioritizing methods, and the complexities of the $335 million Confluence Parkway project.  Key themes included the importance of strong internal and external relationships, proactive risk mitigation, and continuous improvement through leadership coaching and team feedback.  Next steps include exploring apprenticeship programs and adjusting prerequisites to address the aging workforce, and developing a community awareness campaign. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

In this special episode, four of us sit down in Austin Texas to discuss the State of Civil Engineering, Infrastructure, entrepreneurship and the future of the A&E career. We also take a deep dive into Scott's career and the origins of Level Engineering & Architecture, as well as Level Design Partners.Scott Zurn (Founder and CEO of Level Engineering & Level Design Partners) observed some serious issues in his profession. His peers were dissatisfied and things started heading in the wrong direction.In 2015, Scott Zurn founded Level Engineering, a national firm of independent design professionals collaborating and ensuring that our built world is positively impacting the planet we live on. Level Engineering & Architecture aims to create a new level of entrepreneurial success for designers while simultaneously creating designs that contribute to a thriving planet.The idea for Level Engineering didn't come to fruition without the extensive experience he had in the engineering and public works sector. Scott has worked as the Public Works Director for the City of Estes Park, Civil Engineer for the City of Longmont, and a Project manager for the City of Thornton. In 2013, Scott was named the Transportation Professional of the Year by ITE. He was also designated as a Public Works Leadership Fellow by the American Public Works Association (APWA). He has secured and managed 100s of millions of federal grants and grant-funded NEPA studies and transportation projects. He earned the ENR Best Project of 09, for a 300-acre Brownfield Redevelopment including $250 million dollars in infrastructure bridges and 650,000 sf of retail development.We're also joined by Peter Modica, P.E. (Structural Engineer in Austin, Texas) who joined Level in 2024 and Andrew Dominguez (Entrepreneur and Growth Strategist) to extract unique perspectives of Scott's story and paint a picture of the future.Some of what we discuss includes:Interstates, pollution and the state of infrastructurePolitical impactLeaning into technologyGoing out on your own as an EngineerHow Scott got the idea for Level and how he proved it could work110k salary director level (after 30 year career) to making $450k on his ownStarting and building a new business model in A&EThe Human ConvenienceFor Benefit business modelWhy Peter (PE) joined LevelStamping for the first time (and the stress that can come with it)Being connected to the work + mentorshipMarketinghttps://levelengineering.com/about-scott-zurnConnect with us: The Level Design Podcast is a podcast for Architects and Engineers who want to thrive in this industry by creating more freedom, fulfillment and financial security.Dive deeper, fill out the form, and our leadership team will personally connect with you, address your questions and explore reclaiming your professional independence.www.levelengineering.com

This week we're joined by Congressman Rick Larsen of Washington State, Ranking Member for the Democrats on the House Transportation Committee. We chat about USDOT's recent guidance for stripping sustainable projects of funding and why active transportation advocates should focus on safety. Find committee hearing schedules here.  Find the TNI Democrats page here. +++   Follow us on Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, Substack ... @theoverheadwire Follow us on Mastadon theoverheadwire@sfba.social Support the show on Patreon http://patreon.com/theoverheadwire Buy books on our Bookshop.org Affiliate site!  And get our Cars are Cholesterol shirt at Tee-Public! And everything else at http://theoverheadwire.com

Ridgefield Public Works Director Chuck Green has announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2025. After 43 years in public service, Green looks forward to traveling and remaining active in the community. Read more at https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/ridgefield-public-works-director-chuck-green-to-retire-this-summer/ on www.ClarkCountyToday.com#RidgefieldWA #PublicWorks #CityDevelopment #InfrastructureProjects #ClarkCountyWa #localnews

FLATHEAD CO. PIO TANATH BRADLEY, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DAVE PRUNTY TRT: 10:56 CHANGING WEATHER ROAD CONDITONS/SPRING THAW/WEIGHT LIMITS

Washington's Public Works Board is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. While the board is not well known to most Washingtonians, chances are it has helped pay for an infrastructure project in your community -- from roads and bridges to drinking water, stormwater and sewer systems, recycling and solid waste, and more recently, broadband.Established by the Legislature in 1985, the board's low-interest loans have funded more than 2,000 critical infrastructure projects in towns and cities across the state. In 40 years there's never been a default on a loan.This week we dig into the history, mission, and future of the Public Works Board with its Executive Director, Maria Jawad, Board Chair Kathryn Gardow, and board members Kelly Snyder, Public Works Director for Snohomish County, and Gary Rowe, who retired after a career in public works in Jefferson and Skagit Counties, plus working for the Washington State Association of Counties.

The Super Bowl matchup is set. A little-known rule in the NFL! Donald Trump's very big weekend. Trump met with victims in North Carolina and California and laid out plans for recovery. Trump tells inept elected officials how terrible they are to their faces. Pete Hegseth gets confirmed as secretary of defense by the slimmest of margins! Deportations are ramping up, as illegal aliens continue to be shipped out of the United States. Tom Homan spits fire directly at the pope. Blue cities are pushing back after decades of Democrat Party rule. In the field with ICE, Homan, and … Dr. Phil? The president of Colombia got his head handed to him by President Trump … and he's not handling it well. Vice President JD Vance sticks to his guns. Senator Lindsey Graham is upset about President Trump's J6 pardons. Barron Trump continues to grow. More confirmation hearings this week, but will the nominees all get through the Senate? 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED 00:13 Is Pat Stuck in Mexico? 01:31 Football Talk 05:12 Trump in the Morning 07:16 Trump & Melania with The Press 07:50 Trump Lands in North Carolina 11:47 Trump's Opening Statement in NC 12:49 Trump Questions Victims 13:45 Where is Sen. Adam Schiff? 14:29 Trump on Fauci & Bolton Security 15:44 Trump in California with Karen Bass 21:15 Trump Destroyed Rep. Brad Sherman 22:06 Reporter Joel Pollak's Story 25:22 Melania Trump Consoles Family 26:09 Secretary of Defense Hegseth Confirmed! 34:37 L.A. Public Works Director on Clean-Up 36:58 Trump at Craps Table 39:15 IRS Agents Going to The Border? 40:54 Pete Hegseth: The New Secretary of Defense 45:05 Tom Homan Ensures Deportation Flights 51:41 Tom Homan's Message for The Pope 53:24 Illegals Sent Back to Guatemala & Mexico 55:08 Chicago Residents Go Off on Mayor 1:00:06 Dr. Phil with Tom Homan in ICE Command Center 1:02:02 Dr. Phil with Tom Homan in Chicago 1:05:11 What Does “Mission Accomplished” Means? 1:08:48 Colombian President gets Ass Kicked 1:17:46 JD Vance on Illegals Getting Vetted 1:20:18 JD Vance on Tulsi Gabbard 1:22:28 JD Vance on Lowering Prices 1:25:15 Lindsey Graham on J6 Pardons 1:28:39 U.S. Army on The Border 1:32:23 Barron Trump Keeps Growing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allen County, Kansas is not a place most people will be familiar with, but the story is one you've probably heard before. Located in southeast Kansas, an hour and a half from the nearest major city, it features much that's typical of rural America. Iola, the county seat, is a city of 5,300 people. It has a classic town square and lies at the junction of a couple of state highways. The beautiful Flint Hills and its majestic cattle ranches are not far away.But after the community lost its hospital in the early 2000s, the usual questions emerge - is Iola, and the whole county on the verge of permanent decline?Out of this tragic circumstance was born Thrive Allen County Jared Wheeler, their Economic Development Director, joins me to talk about the path that Iola, Humboldt and the whole county have taken since that time. And, the remarkable successes they've achieved. Humboldt, for example, was featured in 2024's “15 Best Small Towns to Visit” in Smithsonian Magazine.You might not know much, or even care much, about rural Kansas. But I think you'll still find this to be an inspiring conversation and story. Jared and I cover a lot of ground, talking about rural community development, place-making, a culture of experimentation, and even bike paths.Find more content on The Messy City on Kevin's Substack page.Music notes: all songs by low standards, ca. 2010. Videos here. If you'd like a CD for low standards, message me and you can have one for only $5.Intro: “Why Be Friends”Outro: “Fairweather Friend”Text Transcript:Kevin Klinkenberg (00:01.158)Welcome back to the Messy City Podcast. This is Kevin Klinkenberg joined in studio today by a special guest from Central, what did you call it? Central Kansas? Southeast Kansas. Southeast Kansas, yeah. Southeast Kansas, all right. Well, shout out to my buddy Jason Carter-Solomon who hooked us up. He said, you know, just was out in Iowa, Kansas and I met this guy doing really cool stuff and it's like, you've got to talk to him.And it sounded intriguing and here we are. So welcome to the show for Jared Wheeler. You got it. Jared Wheeler. I am economic development director for a nonprofit in Southeast Kansas called Thrive Allen County. So I'm thrilled to be to be here today. Well, it should be a lot of fun. I have I've been through the area a little bit, have not stopped in Humboldt, which I know is like the big.tourist draw now. Right, right. Who would have thought that a community of 2,500 people would be in the Smithsonian magazine, New York Times, all these national publications saying you got, you have to come check this place out. Yeah. So why don't we start a little bit by just talking about, first of all, what thrive Allen County is, and how you came to be a part of it. So thrive Allen County.was initiated when the hospital in Iola, Kansas was closing. And as part of the agreement, anytime a hospital closed at that point, the idea that assets would be sold and then the money put it into the, with the intention of creating a 501c3 nonprofit, specifically dedicated towards public health initiatives. So Thrive Allen County was born out of really a crisis. So it's kind of birth from a crucible.the hospital in a small town closes. If you speak rural life fluently at all, that is a recurring theme that the hospital in town closes and you are left with some amalgamation of clinics or some specialty shops or just a general practice with limited beds, no overnight stays, that sort of thing. So the hospital closes, thrive, Allen County is born.Kevin Klinkenberg (02:20.988)And its initial mandate is to improve the community health. Just to interrupt for just a sec. So give people perspective. How big is Iowa? Yeah. Iowa, Kansas is about 5,200 people. Relatively small. It's the county seat of Allen County, Kansas. The next largest community is humble of 2,500 people. So the entire county's population is 12,000. Right. So for those of you who are in urban context, you are.probably struggling to imagine that sort of lack of population density, population scarcity. It's funny. It reminds me. So I went to high school in a small town in central Missouri. That was about 12,000 people. Okay. But when I hear you say, you know, Iowa is 5,200, it just reminds me that like when you're in a smaller town, like the hundreds matter. my. Saying 5,200 versus like 5,600, that's like a big deal. Right. It's the same way, you know,parents of young children still measure their kids age in months. It's like, is it about 27 months? It's the same situation for those of us who are doing our best work in rural communities, like 5,200. Because if I say, it's about 5,000 people, somebody out there is listening going, my graduating class was 5,000 people. That makes no sense. So Thrive, that's our context in which we work. And for the last,17 years Thrive has existed to enrich the health of citizens in Allen County. And that was initially in specifically related to physical health. So we have healthcare navigators that try and make sure that as many people as possible are insured. We operate vaccination clinics throughout the county, especially in even more rural and remote context. And thenabout halfway through the lifespan of Thrive, economic development was added. And economic development is really pursued from the perspective of community health. What is going to be a source of good, benevolent disruption? That's my approach constantly is what is going to disrupt the systems that are in place that contribute to the lack of health?Kevin Klinkenberg (04:45.788)for our community members through economic development. So that's my role and I am part of, technically I'm a one man department, but we all work together at Thrive and with our partners, both public and private partners in the communities. So how big is the organization overall? We have just under 30 employees right now. Yeah, and so we're fortunate in that some of those employees are in a transition period because we operate Allen Regional Transit.which is a public transportation organization in a rural context, which I know some of y'all out there are picturing like covered wagons. That's not exactly what's going on. But so we operate a public transit organization. And then we also have within our organization, the seed of another nonprofit that will probably spin off called Thrive Kansas, which is working for the same sort of rural community health goals.that we do in Allen County, but is trying to create statewide networks to do that. And how did you, are you from the area? Man, my rural bona fides are legit. I am, I am from a town of 500 people originally called Thayer, Kansas and in the same region, Southeast Kansas again, born and raised there. And really, so you have to remember I grew up in the nineties, early two thousands. So my experience of the wider world.was purely through pop culture. We didn't go anywhere. I was as hasty as they come. I knew what sushi was. did not eat. I had not had a bite of sushi until probably when I was on my honeymoon. And my cousin and I had a wonderful time. I'm just kidding. And so that's my baseline understanding of the world. But then I...I lived and worked in churches and schools after that. Did my grad school in Portland, Oregon. And so I did intensive weeks out there. So I was spending time in Portland in the Pacific Northwest for a couple of weeks at a time for four or five semesters. And so I've experienced a lot of different contexts. And then we moved back to Southeast Kansas, my wife and family and I from Kansas City actually. And so we lived up here.Kevin Klinkenberg (07:12.294)and then moved back about nine years ago with the choice to locate our family in a rural context. that's my route towards economic or community development is incredibly circuitous. And I really, I've found that that was a point of embarrassment for me initially when I took the job, because I just thought, everybody knows this stuff better than I do. And now I'm learning more and more about our conversation off mic before that.You were in architecture school before you got into community development. And I think that's, that is true for so many people that the reason they end up in community development, economic development, especially in a rural context is because they love the place. They love the place. They are invested in it and they have lived it. And again, bear the burden of what could be, or they have lived it and they are so quintessentially formed by it.that they believe other people should benefit from that formation as well. And the same is true for me in both directions. So, really the only experience I have with your area has been driving back and forth between Kansas City and Tulsa, which is kind of like the most direct route, really. Maybe not the fastest route, it's hard to say, but it's more interesting anyway, a little more scenic.been through Iowa. don't think I actually have driven through Humboldt yet. Humboldt, as you mentioned, has been a place that's gotten a lot of attention in recent years and it's kind of on the radar for, you know, like glamping and for cycling and everything else. Why don't you talk a little bit about like how and why has the area started to get the level of attention that you mentioned before?I think there's two categories I should speak to. The first is material and then maybe the second is going to sound a little weird, but it's mythological. So materially, one of the reasons that the area has gotten attention is because quite frankly, it's cost effective to develop and to try things in Allen County. The economic ecosystem in rural Kansas has typically been one of either extraction or exploitation historically.Kevin Klinkenberg (09:35.81)It is a wildcatting pioneering economy since my goodness, since the 19th century. And so the, industries that boomed the turn of the 20th century into the 19th century were extraction based businesses. Let's pull things as pull natural resources out. mean, my goodness, near Iola, Kansas, there is literally a city called gas and it is called gas because you, you made your bones.as part of a natural gas business there, that that's the way you made it so that the name stuck and in Humboldt and Iola there, there were massive, concrete businesses. there are these huge firms that, mined a mineral from that area and then use it to turn it into cement and concrete. So it's one that's still an operation monarch cement company in Humboldt, Kansas, butThat is the case. either you're pulling a resource from the landscape and when that is exhausted, you leave. And so that that also funnels into that exploitation idea. It's extraction or exploitation. So there's a sense amongst the folks who live and this may be true if you're a real person listening, you might be nodding along or you might want to fight me either way. WhereThere's an idea, the scarcity mindset that blends in that says, well, everybody who could have left did. Everyone who had the chance and the means and the capacity to leave when it was time to leave did, and we are what remains. I don't think that's accurate. I think that's sometimes, unfortunately, the way that small communities understand themselves. They either become bitterness factories or hope factories. That's very rarely.in a community that is somewhat remote and rural, is it in between those two extremes. You're either a community of hope or you're a community of bitterness. What could have been and what might be. So those are your two extremes. And I'd love to talk to people if they feel like they live in a community that exists right in the middle of those.Kevin Klinkenberg (11:51.238)So the first reason why the community, the area is getting more attention is because materially it's more cost effective to try something new there. That economic ecosystem of extraction or exploitation is given way to one of experiment. Let's try something new. And so there are people who are either coming back to the area or they are relocating from other parts of the country.because they have an idea that is impossible due to the cost constraints of where they live. I am assuming even for our folks who are listening in Kansas City, that if I started doing cost analysis comparison between opening a storefront business of some sort in Prairie Village compared to Iola, Kansas, you will not get the population density for traffic or tail lights, butfor your permit cost, you might be able to buy a building in Iola. So that's really at end of the day, it's more cost effective in our area just because things are cheaper. I don't mean to be crass, but that's what it comes down to. That's the material side. The second one, the one that I'm maybe even more interested in is the mythological side. Why are people so interested in that area? And I wanna ask this question as I hold this off in my head.How do you think people from non-rural contexts experience or how is their perception of the rural world formed by what pop cultural artifacts, so to speak? in the fifties and sixties, I would say it's probably Mayberry, you know, it's the Andy Griffith show. And what's the essence of the rural experience? Well, everybody knows you, you're not going to get away with anything because you'reyour mom's hairdresser's aunt saw you do that. And so they're going to report back. And then as it moves forward, what there's kind of this, it's dearth of pop cultural artifacts that have, kind of monolithic effect, except I believe there is now a new pop cultural phenomenon that everyone at least is aware of that is giving people a lens to look through.Kevin Klinkenberg (14:16.988)and see the rural context. And this is going to be absolutely ridiculous to most people, but stay with me. If you're familiar, if you, if you are familiar with the incredible pieces of art, they're known as hallmark movies. You have had a rural experience because those movies never take place in urban settings. Or if they do, it's only momentary because they're trying to escape it to getto the rural place in which you are going to fall in love, achieve your dreams and feel your stress melt away. And that's silly, it's ridiculous. But at the same time, I believe there is a, I think that is a very kitschy way of seizing on a groundswell ofCollective emotion right now where people are looking for something that is more simple. Our lives are incredibly hectic. We know they're hectic. We know that we are addicted to everything and anything. So how can I simplify? And then how can I take charge of my life and do what I want to do and have some agency? And with a little bit where your dollars go a little bit farther and maybe the pace of life slows down, people feel like they have a little bit more agency.And then finally, where can I still access some version of the American dream, whatever that is? And I think that is a piece of mythology that has been so twisted and turned, but there's, it's still baked in somewhere to us. And I think at the end of the day, part of that dream in a rural context is can I be known by people and can I know other people? I'm sure you are aware of thethe emphasis and the buzzwords of, you know, quality spaces, place making third spaces. mean, we are, we are addicted to those. And in a rural context, I think the perception is when you look through the lens of an artifact, like a hallmark movie, that the entire community is a third space because you're going to bump into the person you work with elsewhere. You're going to see someone.Kevin Klinkenberg (16:38.764)at one of the three restaurants in town that you saw yesterday crossing the street or so on and so forth. So I think that's one reason why the community has been so, or the area has been of interest is because mythologically, it provides an avenue towards some essential thing that we want out of living life in community that may be a little bit more difficult.in, if not an urban context, certainly a suburban context. So if I were to put a dot in Iowa and then draw like a circle 100 miles around it, there's an awful lot of small towns within that circle. Right. What has distinguished Iowa and Humboldt that you see more positiverebound and attraction than maybe some other towns that are within that context. One thing that has really helped so much are collectivist approach to problem solving. for example, my organization Thrive Island County, especially in the area of economic development, we would be completely inept and ineffective if we didn't haveclose and active partnerships with local government and local business leaders and confederations of industry leaders as well. So that's one of the first reasons that Iola Allen County has been successful is because it's taken a collectivist approach to problem solving without any sort of political machinations behind that, or sometimes even completely devoid ofpolitical ideology, just because, something needs to change. What do we do about it? Another reason is because folks who have been successful in Allen County have taken it upon themselves, even though there isn't a whole lot of philanthropic infrastructure, or they don't see philanthropic models that you might see in a larger community. you start a foundation, that foundation does this, this is the way in which you...Kevin Klinkenberg (18:59.088)you know, are able to recoup some of what you've given away through tax breaks and so on and so forth. That infrastructure doesn't really exist in Southeast Kansas and small communities, but successful individuals have taken it upon themselves to think critically about the complex issues that their communities face, identify the areas in which they can have an impact and aggressively pursue that impact. So, andI'll be somewhat discretionary simply because the individual in question is not a huge fan of publicity, but there's an individual, a family in Humboldt, Kansas, that at the time of the pandemic redirected a considerable amount of its workforce towards making community improvements as opposed to laying off workers at their industry. That's turned into almost a parabolic story.but it is exemplary of this individual and this company's approach to community improvement. And even without a model that said, is how you do this. There's no, there's not a Carnegie library in Humboldt, Kansas, even serving as a beacon of what philanthropy looks like. This individual became a quintessential philanthropist to solveproblems and it's in his small community again, because he loves it. And that example has had a profound impact throughout the region where there are more and more folks who have been successful and have realized that their success has resulted because someone else made a provision for them and they've turned around and said, okay.How do I address the complex issues? Not merely I'm gonna endow a scholarship, which by the way, we love that, keep doing that everyone, but we need new curb and gutters in the road. I bet I could do something with that. I bet I could have an effect in that direction. So we've been very beneficial through collectivist solution making and then also,Kevin Klinkenberg (21:19.676)the inspired philanthropy of successful folks. mean, that's so interesting. It kind of hits on a broader topic. know Aaron Wren on his podcast has he's talked about this as well. But like one of the real differences today versus in communities, say 100 years ago, is that 100 years ago, the bank in town was locally owned. Right. The department store was locally owned.Right. You know, most of the, and this is true in cities of towns of almost all sizes, that your local leadership class were people who owned prominent businesses in the town. Right. And that is something that has been lost in an awful lot of communities because of, you know, just changes in the economy and so muchSo much of a shift towards sort of larger corporate owned Businesses that then just have branches in places and you just never have the same buy-in right you're like if you're like the branch manager of a bank that's got 500 Locations right you're gonna have a different buy-in than if you're like the owner of the bank. Yeah and and the same goes for for a lot of industry so I think that's it's really interesting what you mentioned that you sort of start starting from a kernel of somebody who ownedan important business and lives in the town and says, just like you said, I'm not going to just do a scholarship fund, but I'm going to invest in things that make, improve quality of life where I am. Right. And I guess that's, as you were, as you were talking about that, I, I couldn't help but wonder, and I'll, I'll ask you directly if you, do you think a community can outsource its self identity? no. Okay. Okay. So, but that's, that's the tug.When so many things are operated or owned remotely is what happens is this, I really think an existential crisis for a community to go, then what are we and who are we? And if you don't have a thing to point to that provides an place of orientation for your community, it gets really hard to then invite people to invest in that community.Kevin Klinkenberg (23:44.63)And so I think that's, I think you're exactly right. That when, when that autonomy evaporates, then you do have a, identity crisis, so to speak. And so that's one thing that's been really interesting in both Iola and Humboldt is, you know, the businesses that are added, we have some community investment, groups and, some microloan groups andso on and so forth. The businesses that have been added are not, mean, there is no retailer that's saying we'd love to drop a branch in your town of 5,000 people. It doesn't make sense for them. So what's added is homegrown. It's local entrepreneurs who we claw to find capital for them and then they take a swing and we're fortunate in that. I sit on a board of what we call a entrepreneurial community.a lending group, micro loans. although, you know, to us, they're not micro to other folks. might be, we have over 25 loans on the book right now and 99.9 % of them are making their payments with regularity. And we have businesses that are crossing that year to five to year six, year six threshold, which is enormous for anybody in the entrepreneurial world. And we've just been fortunate because, there's nobody coming to rescue us.think that is, that is a shift in mindset for small communities. That's so important and it requires a bit of, I mean, you, have to be brutally honest with yourself that you, you need to empower the folks who are there to ask why not instead of why here. Yeah. AndIf something else comes along, if something locates itself in your community, that is an extra. But if you can empower the folks who are local to take a chance, then I think you're onto something that could be sustainable. Yeah. I wonder if you can talk a little bit more, maybe some specific examples of like the homegrown approach. The reason I ask that is I'm old enough to rememberKevin Klinkenberg (26:09.818)that the standard approach to rural economic development for a long, time was go plat an industrial park on the edge of town, put the infrastructure in, and try to attract what basically were like low wage industrial jobs from big companies. that's how you will save your community. what you're describing is a really different sort of a bottom up approach to working with people who are already there.I wonder if you could talk more about like some of the successes or some of the other couple of stories you can share. Absolutely. and we still do that. I mean, I, got, I got two industrial parks right now that are planning and ready to rock. So if you're out there listening and you, and you want to, know, you need a spot for your biofuel company, hit me up. Cause I am ready to talk. so we're not, we're not opposed to that approach. I just think that, charting that as the only course is, really risky.And to be honest, I don't know how much, how reliable it is. I think it's a part of a solution model. But so for example, we have a coffee shop in Iola, Kansas. Every community has got a coffee shop at this point. It doesn't matter how small you are. This coffee shop, shout out Wild Bloom Coffee in Iola. And this coffee shop got started as alower level commercial space on the square. Like every other cute coffee shop in a small town bought the bare minimum square footage that they could afford as just one half of a building, one half of the lower level of a building. And the coffee shop has been so successful and it's been able toapply for and receive grant funding. It's been able to benefit from a neighborhood revitalization program that's a tax rebate program when they made improvements to the space. It works considerably with our organization in small business coaching and in capital pursuit through our micro loan program. And this coffee shop has now purchased the entire building that they're in. They offerKevin Klinkenberg (28:29.468)kind of a subscription based bourbon taste in nights and cigar bar evenings. And they're going to expand to catering and they they serve brunch now. And in our little coffee shop in Southeast Kansas, the other day I had the best ramen I've had in years. we have, they're really talented folks who are owning and operating that shop, but it's been able to expand consistently.due to again, these collectivist approach because there's so many people, it's not only that they serve a great product, they do. It's not only that they provide a great customer experience, which they do, but it's also because they have been willing to not only want help, but ask for help. And that's an enormous difference. Wanting help is just the awareness that you need something. Asking for help is putting your hand in the air,I said, okay, I'm willing to reach out and grab whomever is going to help out, but I'm asking for it. And so that's an example that we've had in Iola. In Humboldt, Kansas, and I can take no credit for this, there's a group known as a Boulder Humboldt. And that is a confederation of business owners, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers who have added businesses throughout Humboldt. So the best...And from my money, the best little honky tonk in Kansas is the Hitching Post in Humboldt, Kansas. And they have live music every night, every weekend night, excuse me. Probably the most expansive collection of whiskeys that you could want or need. And it is an incredibly successful business and an incredibly successful gathering place. And again, was started.by an individual who moved to Humboldt who had connections with people who had multiple generations of their family within Humboldt. And they were able to continue to build that business and be patient as it was built. they live, to your point earlier, they live and work in the community. The gentleman who owns that business is a city council person in Humboldt, Kansas. And...Kevin Klinkenberg (30:48.88)is really devoted towards overall community health and community growth. those are, and those businesses are now moving beyond. So Hitching Post is moving towards, I think it's third year of operations. So kind of living past that initial start at birth. Wild Bloom, I believe is to year four and five in Iola. So we have some wonderful businesses that are outside of what people would expect in a small community.again, because there've been collectivist approach. So hitching posts exists because of the collective that is a bold or humble and humble. Wild Bloom exists because of multiple collective groups within Iola that were, had a vested interest in these success stories. So the one, I confess the one business I remember from going through Iola is I stopped at the butcher shop right off the highway, which was a pretty incredible operation.And I think at the time I was kind of thinking about, we're not very far from ranch country. I had a cooler with me. want to buy some steaks or whatever and take them home with me. And of course the selection was incredible. The prices were way better than when I get in the city. And it's pretty much like fresh off the ranch. Right. I mean, you might have driven by cattle that were lamenting that their buddy was gone and ended up in your cooler instead.Yeah. So one of the thing I definitely I know about the area is you have this north south bike trail. Yeah. That comes through that goes for, I don't know, 100 miles or something. Yeah. Is that the Prairie Spirit? Prairie Spirit Trail. Yeah. What impact has that had on the area? So one, we have a very high rate of folks who bike or walk to work. Comparatively, I just pulled that data.We are higher than the state average, I think almost twice as high as the state average and people that walk or bike to work. So to me, that signifies two things. is it's pedestrian or bike traffic is built into the community. think part of that is because of the trails. There's 60 miles of trail in Allen County alone.Kevin Klinkenberg (33:09.622)so that's around the, what will become the new state park, Lehigh Portland state park. That's going to be on the edge of Viola. let's say it was a lake that was publicly owned and privately owned and then was deeded over to the state of Kansas and, Kansas department of wildlife and parks is turning that into a new state park. So there's a lot of trails around that and people have access to those trails for a while. Thrive Island County, maintenance is those trails on behalf of KDWP right now.we have trails though, that also we, we think of in, in rural communities, you think of your trails as out somewhere out towards the woods. I mean, you're go ride around and walk around, but there's also dedicated trails in Iola, that go to the hospital. spoiler alert, we did get a new hospital. I started the story talking about the, this, closing of the hospital, new hospitals added, to the elementary school, a new elementary school and to the high school, middle school, and also to around.Not to, we're working on getting trails all through the main thoroughfares in town, but there's also trails around Allen Community College in Iowa as well. So we are addicted to trail building and maintenance because we have a population that in many respects is income challenged. And an automobile, even though to most of us is an automatic purchase to a lot of our neighbors and friends, it's a luxury.And so if you do not have an automobile, but you need to get to work or you need to make your appointment or you need to get to school, you need to have a safe way to do so. And so I think that that trail system is. It's part of a wider, pedestrian and bike travel understanding and folks in our community are not embarrassed to do so. And it's because there's not.There's not the income stratification that exists. I mean, in some communities, if you see someone that is riding their bike to work, there's three categories either, they're, they're a granola type that just wants to show us that they're more fit and better than the rest of us. They are too poor to purchase a vehicle or they get a DUI and they can't drive right now. I mean, that is the truth in, our community because the, because of the prevalence of the trail system.Kevin Klinkenberg (35:35.002)If someone is walking or biking to work, it's really hard to codify them. I wonder if they fall into this category or that category just because it's the norm. So we're very fortunate that those trails exist and they do. It also affects, as you mentioned, the glamping outdoors, outdoor recreation, infrastructure and commercialization that exists in our area. That's very helpful. So again, in Humboldt, there is a camping, kayaking,and BMX riding facility known as Base Camp. And it is located at a trailhead. And so you can jump off Prairie Spirit or Southwind Trail. You can go into Base Camp. The, again, the state park is full of trails and also on Prairie Spirit and connect to Southwind Trails as well. Yeah. And then if you ride it far enough, you'll connect to the Flint Hills Trail. Yeah, exactly. Which is.over a hundred miles East West trail. Right. Exactly. My wife and I have ridden a few times. Okay. Cool. Yeah. we, we, one of our favorite events of the years, we go to the symphony and the foothills. Yeah. which is, I almost hate to talk about it because I don't want, I don't want it to become too popular. You don't want people to show up. Yeah. I really don't want people from the coast flying in and, and, making this, you know, too expensive, but my God, it's an incredible thing. Right.just one of the coolest events that we do on a regular basis with where the Kansas City Symphony goes out onto a active cattle ranch in the Flint Hills and performs a concert. But we've made a habit of going and writing a different section of the Flint Hills Trail every year, which is really a fun experience as well. But haven't done the Prairie Spirit, so I'm...Interested to do that. You absolutely should. mean, we, we talked to cyclists who do the same thing, who are connected using the Prairie Spirit to get to the Flint Hills. We're doing a major ride and they're always impressed with the quality of the trails. the Prairie, I, I can only say I only ride or have ridden a portion of it. so, and if you happen to see me riding, can, you can, guess a, is it.Kevin Klinkenberg (37:46.192)Poverty is a DUI or is it granola? one? What's the reason? But no, we're very fortunate that that trail system exists and fortunate that we are the custodians of that trail system. And that's one thing that I would say to, if you're in a rural context and you're just trying to think of something that you could add that would improve quality of life, would be a quality of life amenity, which by the way is an absolute necessity now.That's reason people are choosing to locate themselves in different places. Obviously housing matters, obviously childcare matters, obviously the possibility of earning a comfortable income matters. But if those three things are satisfied, they're making decisions about where to land based on, you know, is there a quality of life, amenity that I can connect myself with? You have, you have space and you have dirt. You are almost there. You are almost to the, to having a trail.or a system of trails in your community on the edge of your community. Please, please talk to Thrive Allen County. We have a lot of experience of doing trail work. We have blown it and messed it up in different places so we can help you avoid those problems as well. But that is a way in which you can activate your community and you can also contribute to the overall health of your community as well. So I want to talk a little bit more about the place making aspect of this.Like I mentioned before, went to high school in a small town in central Missouri and before that I did first through eighth grade in a small town in southern Minnesota.things that were memories that really stick out for me was, know, if you live in a small community and you're a kid, like riding a bike is a normal thing. Yeah. And I used to ride my bike everywhere. And it was accepted. It was normalized. It was easy to do and safe. There's very little traffic on most of the streets. But as soon as you hit 16 years old, like it is theKevin Klinkenberg (39:54.78)uncoolest thing in the world. You've got to have a car. You've got to be cruising around. there, one of the things that has really interested me that I've tried to, I've tried to articulate, I haven't done a great job of it, but I've thought a lot about, which is most small towns are absolutely natural places for the sort of walking, biking lifestyle that.quote unquote urbanists talk about all the time. it's actually, they were built for that originally. But it also bumps up against like the, there's a culture aspect, which seems to not embrace that in most small towns. And I experienced that. I still see it all the time. And I've often thought like really, I guess maybe I want your reaction to this. One of the things I've thought is thatone of the best economic development approaches for a lot of small towns is to be the antithesis of the big city and the big city, people think of it as urban with all this cool stuff to do. But the reality is most people are spending a ton of time in a car, getting from place to place, commute, whether not just commuting, but going shopping, kids activities, et cetera. Looking for a parking spot. Looking for a parking spot. but in a small town,those, it almost ought to be like, that's the place where you could really sell this idea of a lifestyle where you get on your bike and get to a lot of places. You could walk to the town square and that should be a real competitive advantage. wonder if you could, you think that's. Yeah. So why does that not happen? No, I think that's a, I think that is such an insightful question. and one that we struggle with a lot. so I want to, I want to tackle it in a couple of different ways.One is back to the mythology. What's a marker of success? Marker of success is to be able to have your preferred automobile and typically multiple automobiles. And that doesn't end just because you're in a small town. People still want to virtue or virility signal with their automobiles. And because of the work and the terrain in which people live in small towns in rural Kansas, automobiles are typically bigger. Automobiles are bigger anywhere.Kevin Klinkenberg (42:13.868)Always constantly. that again, back to the American dream model, excess is our love language as a culture. so at the same way you got, you have a lot of big vehicles and we need, we're going to signal that we're doing well via this big vehicle, especially if you struggle with multi-generational poverty. Here's a purchase you can make that is a signal that does not require the type of overhead as a home.So I'm going to buy this vehicle. It's going to show everyone that I'm doing okay. The only way to show everyone that is to use said vehicle until I can't make the payments on it anymore. that's not a, that's not a purely rural experience, but it's one that shows up a lot, especially in socioeconomically, depressed areas. Yeah. Here's my $50,000, vehicle in front of my $40,000 house. Sure. Sure. yeah. So that, that, that occurs a lot. There's still,There's still status signaling through via vehicles. That's the first one. Second one is it costs communities more to provide the infrastructure necessary for safe pedestrian and bicycle traffic. If you have X amount of dollars in your county budget or in your city budget to build roads and it's going to take, you know, 5 % more to add a bike lane.to change the width of your sidewalks and you have to decide either we do the project without those things or we don't do the project at all because everyone is clamoring for those things. In most cases, they're going to choose to add the infrastructure without these dedicated spaces. Part of my organization's efforts is to educate communities that you can do that in a cost effective way. You can add those things in a way that's cost effective. So,I think we're moving the needle in that direction. I think that that's still a big issue. we have some, so there's some cultural status signaling. We have some infrastructure cost challenges there. And then also the antithesis of the big city idea is very interesting because typically when people see adults riding their bikes, if you are from a rural community,Kevin Klinkenberg (44:34.576)You only see that when you go to larger communities. I remember having, again, I did grad school in Portland and Portland is an incredibly bike friendly community. If you talk to people who drive in Portland, who do not also cycle there, they lament how bike friendly it is. But if you are a person traveling in a large city, from a rural context to a large city, you see for the first time.city infrastructure that has bike lanes, has bike crossing, pedestrian cross, a lot more foot traffic, a lot more bike traffic. And it can be really alarming to your sensibility of what it is to get from place A to place B. And so, man, did we have a scare, I almost hit that person on a bike. Do I really want to deal with that back home? In a place where you're sharing literal traffic lanes as opposed to driving next to a bike lane.so on and so forth. So I think you're right. think there there is a sense in which, you do want to be the antithesis of the big city. But where you say that and you go, so make yourself more walk walkable and bikeable. There are folks in smaller towns who go, yeah, man, there's a lot of cyclists in that big city that I that I visited. And it was really difficult to navigate. I think that's shifting. We're very fortunate in that even in our town of five thousand people, there are folks who are interested in.making a transition from predominantly using their vehicle, their automobile to get around to using their bike or just walking again, twice as high as the state average of folks who getting to work that way. So I think we're seeing that, that shift. And I think that is a selling point for why we're inviting people to spend time in our area or consider moving to our area. Because if that is a lifestyle change you would like to make or that you've already embraced, thenThere's probably a way in which you can get everywhere you need to go in Iola or Humboldt or elsewhere in Allen County on your bike or on your own two feet.Kevin Klinkenberg (46:38.566)Another thing that has been really interesting the last few years, in the wake of COVID and all of the policies and changes that happened, there's been an awful lot written and talked about in regards to like people moving. People leaving cities, looking for smaller towns. Sometimes they're leaving the city and moving to the suburbs. Sometimes they're maybe moving from the suburbs to a small town or an exurb.And obviously, I don't need to rehash all of that, but there's been a lot of conversation about that for the last few years. And it feels a little bit like there's been a shift in perception in the culture about small town living in a positive way. What have you noticed the last four or five years? First, a little bit of a, I don't want to dampen that.that exuberance for small town living. But I think the data is starting to show us that people dip their toe into rural life and then they have went back to the cities or to the suburbs or so on and so forth. But in some cases, that's that's true. Just people have chosen a city, a new city, and they've left. So Austin's a great example. Austin boomed post pandemic and now their vacancy rate in particular apartments, condos, things like that.is astronomical because people are like, well, this was cool. And now I'm ready to go back to where my job is or where I lived previously. And so I think that's happening. The shuffling of the deck is resettling itself, so to speak. I do think you're right that there is a more positive perception of rural living than there used to be. I think it's because COVID taught us that everything could be truly remote.And if you can survive and maybe even thrive, and you talk to some folks and the best years of their life, with all due respect to people who lost loved ones during COVID or struggled with that, or still dealing with the health effects following COVID, there are some people who will tell you that COVID changed my life. I was at home with my family. I was taking more, more direct self-care. I was making efforts toKevin Klinkenberg (49:00.964)identify some things in my character that I want to change. It changed my life. So being remote was a positive. And so I think, what if I did that geographically as well? What if I did that socially as well? And I located myself in someplace a little more remote. Would that also be advantageous to me? And I think COVID also reminded us of the power of knowing people and being known by people.I think that is probably the primary reason in which people are choosing, if they're not business owners or entrepreneurs, people are choosing to live in smaller communities or move to smaller communities, even if the numbers aren't as great as they were immediately post-COVID, because they see an opportunity to be known by their neighbors and to know their neighbors. Because when that was taken away from us, for so many of us,that was relationally cataclysmic. And it made us, it gave us all, but it also gave us time to go, okay, how well do I really know the folks that I'm not seeing anymore? And does that bother me that I don't know them? And could I know them better? And I think in a rural context, there's still that capacity to know the people that live on your street and to really interact with them. And not that it's impossible.in an ex-urban or suburban or urban context, but it might be a little less immediate than it is in a rural context. Yeah, it kind of reminds me of the joke that the best thing about living in a small town is everybody knows everybody. The worst thing about living in a small town is everybody knows everybody. For sure. That's absolutely true. I think maybe COVID reminded us though.The worst thing isn't as bad as the best thing could be good. doubt. What are, what are some of the things that your communities need to get better at? like what, if you were to chart a positive course or continue the improvement, what, what do you need to do better? What are you trying to work on now? So one thing we need to do is accentuate a positive that I mentioned earlier, more firm and reliable collective approaches to problem solving.Kevin Klinkenberg (51:22.138)So that's one thing. A second thing that we need to get better at is our anchor institutions need to position themselves as irrepressible agencies for good. So, for example, our school districts, our community college in Iowa, Kansas, and then the city governments and county governments, they need to, we need to work together to see ourselves as innovation agents.and benevolent disruptors as opposed to status quo maintenance agencies. And again, I think that's applicable in most rural contexts and probably applicable in a lot of community contexts, because again, you are either moving towards becoming a hope factory or bitterness factory and status quo will lead you to bitterness because those who don't achieve it will become in bitter that they didn't achieve it.or those that you're trying to force feed it to as the end result of their life will wonder why you didn't chart a more hopeful course for them. So we need our anchor organizations to see themselves as agencies of good and do so without shame. And I think that is obviously a difficult thing to map out or reverse engineer, but what it requiresis leadership that is constantly in pursuit of not utilitarianism or what works, but what is going to have the best long term effect on the quality of life of the people that work for the organization or that the organization serves. those are two things that I would say even more collective approaches to problem solving. So housing is a great example.Everybody's struggling with housing right now, whether you're in an urban context or a rural context. And the old ways of solving that, just, you know, here's a here's a platable era, you know, several plaits, plaited land that the city owns. And we want a developer to come in and you can build a subdivision. And we're going to give you these tax breaks. We're going to incentivize this in so many different ways. I think that's still maybe possible in certain contexts and rural contexts. It's just not possible.Kevin Klinkenberg (53:44.828)One, because the city typically doesn't own that much land. And two, a developer then has to say, can I, what are the margins going to be? Because I'm going to have to bring a crew down here. I'm going to get supplies down here. Are there already contractors down here? There's already people. There's master craftsmen and so on and so forth. But there's not a contractor and there's not a readily available crew. So, for example, the state of Kansas right now, the Department of Commerce has offered the frame grant.that is going to give capital to community colleges that have a building trades program, construction program to help identify the gap in the housing ecosystem and address it. And I think things like that, ideas like that are going to be so important moving forward because they're going to be necessary for everyone to get on the same page. In Humboldt, Kansas, the most reliable developer, with the exception of maybe in the past year,was the school district. High school built one house every two years or so. And it was a guaranteed reliable development. One house in Kansas City, who no one will notice, in a community of 2,500 people, a new house is, I guarantee you, is the talk of the town. So I think that is something that's going to be necessary is that we continue to embrace and expect collective solutions.collaborative solutions to complex problems. And then that our anchor agencies, and this could even include our anchor institutions and maybe even our industrial partners, see themselves with a responsibility to be benevolent disruptors.One thing kind of as part of that conversation, I might be reading a little bit into this, but I certainly know from my experience that oftentimes in rural communities, there is more of an acceptance of just status quo. It is what it is. I don't mean to say this like an insulting way to anybody, but.Kevin Klinkenberg (55:58.22)not necessarily a push for excellence or striving. Maybe the better way to say it is not as much striving to achieve. And I think part of that's because it's more comfortable and easy to live in a smaller town, costs are less, et cetera, et cetera. In a big city, you find a lot more people who really striving for something. Is that an aspect at all of kind of like, as you think aboutthe next phases are achieving more in your county? No. I'll elaborate. No, if you don't, if you don't believe that striving for excellence is part of the rural expectation, you have not been to a county fair. So if you go to a county fair and see the effort that people put into things that will neverbe recognized outside of a three day event and the sweltering heat at the end of July in rural Kansas, then I don't know what to you. if it's speak with, communicate with folks who are trying to grow the best stand of wheat that they have in their life every year, speak with people who aredo not care about commodity prices, but are proud of the way that they're being fields look, or the person that is growing the best beef you've ever eaten in your life. and I think that pursuit of excellence is still there. I understand what you're saying that, and I think the, what you're, what you're actually articulating is something that's present in rural communities, which is the reluctance to be disruptive. I don't, I don't want.to in any way rock the boat because rocking the boat will, could potentially bring shame on myself. And they still on the honor and shame, social economy and small towns is still very real because most people are multiple or are part of a multiple generation. you know, family tree it's been in that area. So my gosh, if you mess up, then the shame that bring on your family.Kevin Klinkenberg (58:21.628)it moves up and down that family tree. It's not isolated to just yourself. If you are an entrepreneur in Atlanta and you have no connection to the community, you just landed there, and you try a business and it flops, but then you're able to go somewhere else. There's no shame involved in that. You, you are.a pioneer. You are, you know, you're an entrepreneur and everyone is going to be impressed by you because you had a great big idea that just didn't work. And here's 18 reasons it didn't work that you had no control over. If you're an entrepreneur in Iowa, Kansas and your business flops and you still have to live in that community and everybody's going to ask your aunt when she goes to church on Sunday, well, you know.We saw that he started that your, your nephew started that auto body place. Is this, is it still open? Didn't seem like there were many cars there. Didn't seem, didn't seem like he's doing, is he doing okay? he's, they had to close. that's terrible. And your aunt's the one who has to answer that question for you. And so I think, I don't think it's a reluctance to pursue excellence. I think it is a fear that they will somehow.do something that will be shameful. Interesting. And I think that that's very real. And that burden of failure sits heavy in a rural community. failure in a rural community historically is very obvious. It is driving by a field that is fallow. It is driving by a farmhouse that's in disrepair.because there's not money to take care of it. So it is so much louder than it can be in other places. Interesting. I appreciate that. last thing I wanted to ask about, as I've looked before at coming to Humboldt in particular, I was really impressed by just the amount of activity that is programmed in the town on a regular basis.Kevin Klinkenberg (01:00:33.979)That's something that most small towns don't do much of. I wonder if you could speak to a little bit. So like, I always think about that, like in a community there's hardware and there's software and that's like the software side and talk a little bit about what Humboldt has been doing and what that has meant for the overall success of the place. And the credit again goes toward Boulder Humboldt, that group, and then also theirCity Administrator Cole Herder, shout out Cole Herder. Listen, if you want to know what it is to be a good City Administrator in a small town, which is part PR Director, part Public Works Director, part Ombudsman and Accountant and everything else, Cole Herder and Humble Matt Rader in Iowa, those are dues that you need to put on your radar and have a coffee with.In Humboldt, that software analogy is so perfect because that directly connects to their sense of self. And so all of these events take place. For example, they brought back an event called Water Wars in the summer in which the municipal fire department is involved and it's a part parade, part massive citywide water balloon fight, part public water sports.events on the town square. And there is, it is pure frivolity, but they have embraced it because it is a spectacle of joy for the community. And in that capacity as a spectacle of joy, it ceases to be frivolous because again, if you are driving or trying to move your community toa becoming a hope factory, you need spectacles of joy. You need reasons that people can revel in the fact that they live in that place, because so often we are told as rural people, it's a shame you live there. Gosh, wouldn't it be great if you just moved somewhere else? So these spectacles of joy in which people can fully embrace, my gosh, I'm so proud or even because we don't have to defend it.Kevin Klinkenberg (01:02:54.96)And that's typically what a small town person is told they have to do. Defend why you want, why do you live there? No, I'm just going to be happy that I'm here right now. Iola just had their Christmas block party on the square in which, you know, Santa visited and kids played games and the businesses served hot chocolate. And it's, mean, it's, it is very Hallmark movie. By the way, one of the, one of the largesttown squares in Kansas. So come and visit if town squares are your thing. First of all, you and I probably aren't going to hang out at parties, but if that's what you love, come to the Iowa block party for Christmas and you will get a taste of Americana that you have been hankering for. But again, it's just a spectacle of joy and communities need those things.They need those spectacles of joy. And I think that's also to your point earlier about why people are choosing to locate themselves in rural communities, because they can do it in an unabashed way. They don't have to defend why they're doing it. doesn't have to be cool. It doesn't have to be on trend. It can just be a thing that's fun that you can revel in. And in in Humboldt and in Iowa, in Humboldt especially, there have been a group of folks who have sought to addto the community calendar, these spectacles of joy that have become a collective experience of hopefulness and celebration. And I don't know that you need to defend that. And I think we would probably all live in healthier communities if we engaged in those things without the need to qualify why they exist.Jared, I think that's a great place to wrap. Very, very, very interesting. This was a lot of fun. I think at some point down the road, I might like to have you on again and talk some more. There's probably four or five more questions that I still have in my head. I'd love to talk about. But this is super interesting. If people are trying to find you and find your communities, what's the best way to do it?Kevin Klinkenberg (01:05:09.084)ThriveAllenCounty.org. You can find out everything about the organization that I work for and you can connect with all of my colleagues there. You can email me at Jared, J-A-R-E-D at ThriveAllenCounty.org. And that's the best way to get in touch with me. I'm on LinkedIn because I'm trying to be a grownup right now. But other than that, I am willfully disengaged from social media.beyond that, for minutes, not because I'm a rural lead, but because I'm trying to protect my peace in that way. So shoot me an email, find my phone number on, on the internet. And I'd love, I'd love to talk to you. If you are rural and you want to argue with me about this stuff, please, if you are a person living in a different context and you want to chat more about this, I would love to do so. Fantastic. Jared, thanks so much.Good luck with everything and I'll definitely make a point to bring the family down and come visit one of these days. Sounds great. Thank you so much Kevin. Thanks Get full access to The Messy City at kevinklinkenberg.substack.com/subscribe

Phillip Lilley, Clinton's Public Works Director, has intentionally worked to influence the culture within the City of Clinton's Public Works Department. He talks on how building leaders internally have had a direct impact on the efficiency of the department. He shows that it's more than fixing pipes or laying asphalt. It works around trust and taking pride in your work. As always, thanks to Ty Garvey, Drew Mellon and the rest of Don Quixote's Horse for allowing their music to set the local tone for these podcasts.

Brittany is the Public Works Director at City of Winter Haven in Florida. In this episode we talk about the City of Winter Havens growth and what it means for Brittany's team. We also chat about her career path and how "Saying Yes" has led her to new heights. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals. 

For more information https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/public-works/

12/04/24: Joel Heitkamp is joined the Public Works Director for the City of Fargo, Ben Dow, to talk about their Name a Snowplow contest. To submit entries and learn more about the contest, please visit FargoND.gov/NameaPlow. The deadline for entries is Thursday, December 5.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toki Talk: Solid Waste Services and RecyclingJoin us for a tour of the Kestrel Court Recycling Center with Public Works Director, Brian Gottschalk. Learn about the town's solid waste services, including curbside pickup, brown trash, and household hazardous waste disposal. Discover tips on proper recycling and composting, and how to use the recycling equipment at Kestrel Court.

Helenans have likely noticed a change in the taste and smell of the water coming out of their taps. There are a number of contributing factors, but there's no reason to be alarmed.

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

Today is Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

Joe talked about Fall Fest and The Mora Fly-In events coming up and more.

elitefts Limited Edition Apparel: https://www.elitefts.com/shop/apparel/limited-edition.html               Support and help the Podcast grow by Joining The Crew:  https://www.elitefts.com/join-the-crew           Note: The best all-around training bands ever: https://www.elitefts.com/shop/bands.html        On today's 291st episode of Dave Tate's Table Talk podcast, David Ricks joins us!   Mr. David Ricks is the Director of the Engineering and Public Works Department for Palm Beach County, Florida, providing services to a population of nearly 1.5 million. He oversees a transportation system with over 1,300 intersections, 3,600 thoroughfare lane miles, and 314 bridges. Leading a team of over 450 personnel, he manages an operating budget of over $60 million and a five-year capital program of almost $700 million. Recently, he updated a Strategic Plan for the department.   With over 30 years of experience in organizational management, construction management, and infrastructure, Mr. Ricks has held various prestigious positions. He has served as the Public Works Director for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, the Director of Facilities and Transportation Services for Fulton County, Georgia, and the Director of the Public Works Department for Montgomery County, Ohio. He is licensed as a professional engineer in Florida, Minnesota, and Ohio.   David Ricks was also a United States Naval Officer for 22 years as a Civil Engineering Corps Officer and graduated from the United States Naval Academy. He has been competing in powerlifting since 1980, starting as a senior at the Naval Academy. Mr. Ricks is a 32-time National Powerlifting Champion and an 11-time I.P.F. World Powerlifting Champion. He has competed in eight I.P.F. Equipped World Championships and seven I.P.F. Classic World Championships, holding 71 I.P.F. records. Notably, he broke the Open Classic Squat record three times as a Master.   Awards: 1993 Navy Male Athlete of the Year Summit County Ohio Sports Hall of Fame Barberton Ohio Sports Hall of Fame 2011 co-winner of the Brother Bennett Award from USAPL 2012 inductee into the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Hall of Fame 2021 inductee into the USAPL Men's Hall of Fame    David's IG: https://www.instagram.com/dricks205/     ABOUT THE HOST   Dave Tate is the founder and co-owner of elitefts.com. He is the author of twenty books and has logged more than 40,000 hours of training and consulting. Dave is married to elitefts co-owner Traci Arnold-Tate, and they reside in London, Ohio, with their two sons. Personal Credo: Live, Learn, Pass on™.   Dave's IG: https://www.instagram.com/underthebar/?hl=en                SPONSORS   Marek Health       A telehealth platform specializing in hormone optimization and preventative medicine. Offers self-service labs and guided optimization with competitive pricing.   Save 10% on your first order with code TABLETALK.   Visit Marek Health today: https://marekhealth.com/tabletalk       LMNT       A zero-sugar, naturally-formulated electrolyte drink mix suited for athletes and those on hydration-focused diets.   Receive a free 8-flavor sample pack with any purchase. https://partners.drinklmnt.com/free-gift-with-purchase?utm_campaign=agwp&rfsn=6760586.28b9b1e&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_source=tabletalk&utm_content=&utm_term=       RP Hypertrophy App     An advanced training app designed for maximum muscle growth. Early access pricing starts at $24.99.   Visit the provided link for more details and discounts. https://go.rpstrength.com/hypertrophy-app/   CODE: TABLE TALK       sleepme       Invest in better sleep and improved life quality with Chilipad's bed cooling systems and mattress toppers.   Save up to $315 plus free shipping with code TABLETALK.   Visit sleepme: https://sleep.me/TABLETALK        1st Detachment       1st Detachment     Field Rations is a workout supplement designed to enhance performance and recovery.   Use code TABLETALK for a 10% discount on your first purchase at 1stDetachment.com.   Vist 1D: https://1stdetachment.com/?sca_ref=3163134.5GUtwKKhG9       elitefts       Offers a wide range of gym equipment and apparel.   Support the show: https://www.elitefts.com/content/table-talk/   Save 10% with code TABLETALK.   CODE: TABLETALK     All profits support Dave Tate's Table Talk Podcast.   SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support and help the Podcast grow by Joining The Crew:  https://www.elitefts.com/join-the-crew   All profits from elitefts Limited Edition Apparel, Table Talk Coffee, and Team elitefts Workouts, Programs, and Training eBooks support Dave Tate's Table Talk Podcast. Shop these elitefts items: https://www.elitefts.com/content/table-talk/          elitefts Shop: https://www.elitefts.com/         elitefts IG: https://www.instagram.com/elitefts/ elitefts Limited Edition Apparel: https://www.elitefts.com/shop/apparel/limited-edition.html

As the Northfield City Council prepares for upcoming 2025 budgeting discussions, Public Works Director and City Engineer David Bennett gave an update during the Council's work session last week on the city's Capital Improvement and Capital Equipment plans.   Bennett touched briefly on most of the planned street improvement projects, which are mostly decided and scheduled, […]

In this episode of the Infrastructure Hot Seat podcast, host Chad Smeltzer welcomes Nick Egger, the Public Works Director for the City of Rosemount, Minnesota. The conversation dives into Nick's extensive involvement with the American Public Works Association (APWA), his journey into civil engineering, and the ongoing and future infrastructure projects in Rosemount that are shaping the city's rapid growth.Nick shares his early career experiences and how an internship at the City of White Bear Lake pivoted his career path from mechanical to civil engineering. The discussion also covers Rosemount's exciting developments, such as the construction of a new public works and police campus and the arrival of Meta's $800 million data center. Nick provides insights into the challenges of growth, from infrastructure demands to labor shortages, and emphasizes the importance of technology and AI in the future of public works.### Key Takeaways:* **Involvement with APWA**: Nick's 20-year journey with the APWA, including his rise to president of the Minnesota chapter, has been pivotal to his professional growth.* **Career Path**: A serendipitous internship altered Nick's career path from mechanical to civil engineering, showcasing the importance of hands-on experience in career decisions.* **Rosemount Development**: Exciting developments, such as a new public works and police campus and Meta's major data center project, underscore Rosemount's rapid growth.* **Technology and AI**: The potential for AI and new technology to revolutionize infrastructure planning, project efficiency, and public works operations.* **Challenges and Opportunities**: Addressing labor shortages, managing budgets in times of inflation, and the importance of preemptive infrastructure planning in rapidly growing communities. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-infrastructure/message

 Iris Lee, Public Works Director of Seal Beach, CaliforniaShane Silsby, CEO and Founder of Silsby Strategic Advisors(2:10) Question 1: "What's your advice to encourage, nudge, (borderline force) employees to use and make the most of their available training programs and professional development funding?"And how can local government leaders effectively implement workforce development programs to enhance the skills, knowledge, and overall professional growth of their employees in today's landscape of generational transitions?(17:27) Question 2: Complaints about permitting are always one of the biggest issues for our support and communications teams. This remains a huge rift between residents and local governments. What can local government do better? (26:23) Question 3:I serve in a public works department for a fairly large county. Our team constantly sees high profile projects get the budget and media attention while less visible but arguably more critical infrastructure needs are delayed or ignored. Even after increased Federal funding over the last few years. As leaders of a public works department, how do you set priorities? And how do you advocate during the budget/decision making process?Resourcesemail podcast@icma.org to send questions or ideas for the next Local Gov Life Advice.Managing for Meteors: Preparing Local Government Leaders Before the ImpactPublic Works Podcast

Joe shared information about a survey earlier this year. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wcmp-news/message

Mike is the Public Works Director at the City of Hutchinson in Minnesota. In this episode we chat about how to be both flexible and diplomatic in the workplace. A concept that Mike touched on is an "Emotional Bank Account" and how a high vs low balance can effect staff positively or negatively. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/public-works-podcast--3064636/support.

Joe talked about checking homes for lead pipes and why the City is doing that. Oakwood cemetery upkeep, and an outlet project for Mora Lake. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wcmp-news/message

Join us on the Good Morning Show with John and Robin as we welcome Flathead County's Public Information Officer Tannath Bradley and Public Works Director Dave Prunty for an insightful discussion on community updates and upcoming projects!

Kevin Blanchard, CEO of Downtown Development Authority ("DDA") and Downtown Lafayette Unlimited ("DLU"), and Jessica Hauerwas, Executive Director of DLU, join Discover Lafayette to discuss their organizations' missions, focus and programming. The two organizations work together to preserve and enhance Downtown Lafayette's place as the heart of Acadiana, providing resources for businesses, developers, and community members to keep Downtown Lafayette thriving and successful. DLU was formed in the November 1983 as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization as the oil bust was causing people to relocate, as a mechanism to reinvigorate downtown; DDA was created in 1992 by Louisiana legislation not long after and is supported by a dedicated tax of 15 mills paid by downtown property owners. Kevin was hired to take over the helm of the two organizations earlier this year upon the departure of Anita Begnaud, who served as Downtown Lafayette's CEO for the past several years. He brings rich experience to the table, having served as Executive Director of the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority, COO for Southern Lifestyle and Development, and Chief Development Officer and Public Works Director at Lafayette Consolidated Government under the Joey Durel Administration. He practiced as an attorney with the Onebane Law Firm, was Editor-in-Chief of the Louisiana Law Review and covered government and politics as a reporter for The Acadiana Advocate newspaper. Jessica was hired in November 2023 to oversee DLU's day-to-day operations and promote downtown as an economic driver, cultural epicenter and key element of the region's quality of life. She leads its fundraising strategies, nurtures relationships with the organization's members, donors, and partners, and works on programming DLU's events (such as Bach Lunch, Downtown Alive, and Lunch and Learn) and helps downtown businesses promote their own events. Jessica previously worked in marketing and operations with Acadiana Center for the Arts and had served as president of the DLU board. Family friendly programming is a key focus of Downtown Lafayette, as it not only provides wonderful entertainment for our community, but it serves to drive people downtown who may not have experienced its growing attractions. DDA and DLU are working to have people see downtown as a safe neighborhood, "as a great place to feel free to play, get entertained, work and live," says Kevin. Downtown Alive is celebrating its 40th year Longtime goals of Downtown Lafayette have focused on the construction of residential spaces to attract permanent residents and achieve infrastructure improvements supporting the needs of a vibrant downtown. A residential market study commissioned by DDA shows a demand for 1,000 residential housing units in the downtown area over the next five years. New properties recently completed downtown include the Vermilion Lofts, The Lofts at the Municipal Apartments, and the Monroe Apartments. Building downtown brings its own unique challenges as the streets were built in the late 1800s and properties were placed on postage-size spaces. Kevin explained that there is a higher cost to the developer in repurposing these existing older sites, but the benefit to the community is great as existing infrastructure is utilized and the increased density creates a bigger tax base. "I am so optimistic about where we are in Downtown Lafayette. In 2016, we had a 5,400 person capacity in our downtown bars. Today, that number is 3,000. In 2017, the moratorium on bars was lifted and a conditional use process was put in place. It has promoted a health, active nighlife situation. Six or seven years ago, there were 19 restaurants downtown; now, there are 29." says Kevin Blanchard. Private individuals are seeing the benefits of donating dollars to downtown, and one shining example is the new 6,000 square foot, $1 million state-of-the-art Playground at Parc Sans Sou...

Jacqueline Rhoades joins Inside Arvada to talk about all things transportation in Arvada!Jacqueline is the Public Works Director who oversees an expansive department that includes engineering, inspections, streets and traffic operations, mobility planning, facilities and much more. In this episode, we dive into a variety of topics related to the City's transportation including:Updates on the Ralston Road and W 72nd Avenue widening projects, including the pause in construction coming on W 72nd Watch the 4/12/24 W 72nd community meeting recordingThe annual Pavement Program and some of the challenges the program faces in maintaining our roadsConnecting Arvada, the City's first comprehensive transportation system planPlus, Jacqueline helps explain some of the complexities related to construction that often lead to construction fatigue, funding and managing projects, and how we work with other organizations who provide services in Arvada. Other news and events:Upcoming City Council workshops:May 6: Updates on parks maintenance practices and naming a new parkMay 13: Waste hauling rates and fees adjustment recommendationsOlde Town Transit Hub top level closed until end of JuneTake the sustainability surveyFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X and learn about upcoming celebrations:Drinking Water Week (May 5 - 11)National Public Works Week (May 19 - 25)Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

Join us for Take 2 of the Nerds Unplugged where I sit down with Deb Heiser, Engineering Director for the City of St. Louis Park, MN, and Richard McCoy, Public Works Director and City Engineer for the City of Robbinsdale, MN. We recap the last four episodes and chat about some random topics like college tours, bridge collapses, and infrastructure funding. I plan to have these Unplugged episodes about once every two months or so. If there is any topic you would like us to discuss, or have a question, feel free to send it in via the podcast website listed below. Thanks for listening!www.thepublicworksnerds.comShow Notes:https://www.pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/mpca-brings-cutting-edge-technology-to-minnesota-to-remove-pfas-from-water https://www.startribune.com/why-is-the-epa-regulating-pfas-and-what-are-these-forever-chemicals/600357849/ https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/minnesotas-pfas-blueprint Baltimore Harbor Bridge Collapse and state by state bridge condition data: https://www.axios.com/2024/04/25/baltimore-bridge-collapse-new-channel https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/24/arkansas-bridge-conditions-baltimore Mpls Bridge Collapse: August 1, 2007https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-35W_Mississippi_River_bridgeAI Generated Episode Description:Ever wondered about the people shaping our city landscapes, the minds behind the concrete, and the tales etched in our urban forests? Buckle up for an enlightening voyage with Deb Heiser and Richard McCoy, as we raise our glasses to Richard's National APWA Award win and dive into Deb's preemptive strike on pavement management. But hold on, because we're not just talking shop—get ready for a heartwarming detour through personal anecdotes, from navigating college tours to the dynamics of family life. It's a candid peek behind the hard hats, blending professional pride with the connective threads of our everyday lives.Now, let's saunter down the green path where city forestry meets cutting-edge technology. You'll hear the triumphant story of a new graduate taking root in her city forester career and how cities like Robbinsdale and Minnetonka aren't just standing by as the Emerald Ash Borer looms. Discover the arsenal of tools—from GIS to AI—that's revolutionizing how we safeguard our leafy canopies. And as if that wasn't enough, we're also painting a picture of how public works and park spaces can come together to create vibrant, community-centric spots you won't want to miss.But we're not shying away from the grittier side of things. Enter the labyrinth of infrastructure challenges, where the battle against time and decay calls for ingenious fixes like pipe lining and live sewer monitoring. Learn how we're calibrating our strategies for a smarter future, balancing the scales of high-tech aspirations with the stark reality of budget constraints. And in the shadow of past tragedies like bridge collapses, we're reminded of the unyielding importance of vigilance in infrastructure maintenance. So, if you're ready to ignite your passion for public works and peer into the blueprint of comm

Jeff is the Public Works Director at the City of Martinsburg in West Virginia. In this episode we chat about his path into Public Works and how he landed the position he is currently in. Also we chat about how Public Works is starting to get the recognition that it deserves. Give the episode a listen and remember to thank your local Publc Works Professionals.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/public-works-podcast--3064636/support.

Robert Knecht discusses Public Works' budget and their involvement in Memphis City Beautiful, residential and commercial code enforcement, illegal dumping, and blighted properties. In addition, Knecht discusses funding, wastewater treatment and how the city handles any findings of forever chemicals in the water supply.

Dana In The Morning Highlights 4/25Public Works making changes to fix high water billsAtascocita Eagles track team competing at state next weekendWhat's the thing (or thingS) that make a guy look uncool??

What public works projects are on the horizon for Grand Junction and how does that impact you? REALTOR®  Jen Taylor sits down with Public Works Director Trent Prall from the City of Grand Junction to get the inside scoop on what's happening in the Grand Valley in this month's Full Circle Podcast!Visit Grand Junction's website - it's a great resource for all your GJ needs!If you prefer to watch your podcasts, head over to our YouTube page to see this and all of our episodes.

Stephanie Boyce is the currently serving Public Works Director in Mission, Kansas. With a career that took an unconventional turn, Boyce transitioned from being a school teacher to diving into public works. She started her journey in local government almost 17 years ago and climbed the ranks through various public works roles. Stephanie's commitment to learning and expanding her expertise has seen her take on critical infrastructure projects and city improvement initiatives. She has been instrumental in leveraging technology and resources to enhance city planning and operations. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-infrastructure/message

Ramiro is the Public Works Director at City of Tacoma in Washington. In this episdoe we talk about his Ecuadorian roots and how it led him into Public Works and now the Director. We also talk about his reasoning behind running and how it helps him stary level-headed within all the demands of his position. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/public-works-podcast--3064636/support.

Joining John and Robin on the KGEZ Good Morning Show, Public Works Director Susie Turner! Tune in for important insights on the solid waste management plan!

In this episode I sit down with my hometown Public Works Director, Sean Kershaw. As any public works nerd knows, we are at times over critical of those that serve us where we live, and we most likely have experienced that heightened scrutiny from current and retired public works professionals that live in our communities. It can be good, reaffirming, constructive, and frustrating. I know most of you reading this have been there.Sean takes this all very well. He is not your traditional public works professional. His background is more diverse and involves a stint as a planner and roles in the non-profit realm. The perspective he has gained through his professional journey is well applicable to public works and our overriding goal of public service. I enjoyed learning more about Sean and his background and what has surprised him in this role. Sit back and listen in on this conversation with one of the most sincere, approachable and self-accountable people I've met. Show notes:The proverb Sean and I were searching our grey haired minds for:Luck favors the prepared mind.Sean and his husband's Backyard Concert Series Site:https://grandoakopry.com/

On today's newscast: Garfield County commissioners denied Carbondale's request to help support dozens of new immigrants who have arrived in the valley, Pitkin County will help fund the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition's new buydown program, Aspen's Public Works Director will be retiring this spring after roughly a decade in the role, and more.

Join Ramiro Adeva, Agoura Hills Assistant City Manager, the City's Public Works Director Jessica Forte, as she unveils the groundbreaking Ladyface Greenway project!    The Good Life Agoura Hills podcast episodes are available for free in both video and audio formats. Find The Good Life Agoura Hills Podcast atwww.AgouraHillsPodcast.com Missed Our Previous Episodes? Catch up at www.AgouraHillsPodcast.com ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Tyler is the Deputy Public Works Director of the City of Tehachapi in California. In this episode we chat about his career path leagind up to his current position and also how a summer internship led him into Public Works. We also cover topics like "never be bored" and "constant development" as a way he has kept his sword sharp. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/public-works-podcast--3064636/support.

Welcome to the first Nerds Unplugged episode! Deb Heiser, Michael Thompson and Mark Ray join me as a panel of opinionated Public Works professionals talking about random issues related to Public Works.  This is planned to be a monthly or so feature where we recap recent podcast episodes, talk about public works issues in the news and give updates to what's going on in our public works worlds.For this first episode we are joined by Richard McCoy, Public Works Director and City Engineer with the City of Robbinsdale, MN. Our Australian native colleague talks about his multi award winning Water Treatment Plant project and how things are a little different in Australia.The panel also talks about the City Engineers Association of Minnesota's (CEAM) Annual Conference which concluded on February 2nd, the day we recorded this episode.We hope you enjoy this experiment in the episode format. We would LOVE to hear from our listeners on topics to talk about. Let us know if you have a suggestion or want to share something interesting that is going on in your career and/or community.Below is the AI generated recap for this episode. I figured I would keep it here in the show notes so you can see what AI thinks of this episode. As always, thanks for listening!NERDS OUT! Ever wondered how the seemingly mundane world of public works is actually a high-stakes game of strategy and innovation? Strap in as we take you beyond the orange cones and into the heart of our communities' unsung heroes with Deb Heiser, Michael Thompson, and Aussie newcomer Richard McCoy. Discover why Minnesota's unseasonable warmth isn't just good for your tan but also for street maintenance, and how our playful podcast download rivalry underscores the passion that drives public works professionals across the globe.This episode isn't just about the concrete and pipes beneath our feet; it's a celebration of the milestones marking the journey of our colleagues, like Mark Ray's exciting new chapter as Public Works Director in Burnsville. As we chat with these industry mavens, we uncover the crucial blend of ethics, culture, and communication that propels our field forward. You'll gain insights into the intricate dance of long-term infrastructure planning, the human touch needed in crisis management, and the cultural shifts that are redefining our workspaces from the inside out. Join us for a discourse that ventures into the lesser-seen realms of public works, from the complexity of waste management in the face of changing policies to the surprising efficiency of trash-to-energy processes. Learn how cities like Plymouth are navigating the organics collection conundrum and why Aussie asset management might just be the blueprint for future-proofing our infrastructure. This isn't just talk; it's a masterclass in the art of balancing technical prowess with the finesse of community service. Grab your hard hat and let's get to work understanding the world that works for us.

It's the final episode of 2023. The year flew by, didn't it? This installment of the #LovinLebanon Podcast features Department of Public Works Director Jason Lawson. After two months on the job, we find out how things are going, and what changes are in store for the DPW. Jason also shares some new technology being rolled out in City snow plow trucks. Feel free to reach out to Jason to welcome him to the City of Lebanon! JLawson@Lebanon.IN.gov

In Episode 25 of the Town Manager Download, Kevin and Taylor are joined by Department of Public Works Director, Jeff Howland, PE, to talk about the Department of Public Works, the different divisions that are part of the Public Works Team, recent accomplishments, and future projects!