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G34673_APWA-Reporter_Mar09.indd 1 2/4/09 10:43:15 AM October 2009 Vol. 76, No. 10 The APWA Reporter, the official magazine of the American Public Works Association, covers all facets of public works for APWA members including industry news, legislative actions, management issues and emerging technologies. WINTER MAINTENANCE INSIDE APWA 2 President’s Message 8 Technical Committee News 10 Future City Program: Making a difference in children’s lives 14 A statewide public works agencies summit 15 Board of Directors election results COLUMNS 6 6 Washington Insight 16 Cleaning up the Kitchen 18 International Idea Exchange 52 Ask Ann FEATURES 24 Salt Sheriff: May I see your license please? 26 Proper Calibration: Are your solid materials spreaders and liquid distribution systems calibrated properly? 26 30 Optimizing snow routes: factors to consider 34 Don’t forget snow and ice training in lean budget times 38 Transportation and Moisture: What is the Point? 42 The Blizzard of 1947! 44 Illinois Department of Transportation improves safety and savings 46 Even in a slippery economic environment, we know snow 48 Anti-icing migrates south for the summer! WORKZONE 46 54 WorkZone: Your Connection to Public Works Careers MARKETPLACE 55 Products in the News 58 Professional Directory CALENDAR 23 Education Calendar 60 World of Public Works Calendar 49 60 Index of Advertisers Cover photo by Sandy Small, www.smallshot.com October 2009 APWA Reporter 1 Making public service a priority Larry T. Koehle, P.Eng., MPA APWA President Editor’s Note: As has been the cus- served at the national level on the Board tom in the past, each new APWA of Directors as Region V Director since President is interviewed by the APWA 2003 (President-Elect, 2008-09), on the Reporter at the beginning of each pres- Finance Committee (2006-07; Chair, Official Magazine of the idential term. In this manner, presiden- 2007-08), National Audit Commit- American Public Works Association tial plans are laid out, hopes revealed tee (2005-06), National Membership PUBLISHER and observations noted. Committee (Chair, 2006-07), National American Public Works Association 2345 Grand Blvd., Suite #700 Nominating Committee (2001), Nation- Kansas City, MO 64108-2625 First, some background on President al Awards Committee (1996-98; Chair, (800) 848-APWA (Member Services Hotline) Larry T. Koehle, P.Eng., MPA, who is (816) 472-6100 (Kansas City metro area) 1999-2000) and House of Delegates Ex- FAX (816) 472-1610 currently the Director of Public Works ecutive Committee (1998-2000). e-mail: [email protected] and Engineering for the Town of Cale- Website: www.apwa.net don, Ontario. Koehle has worked in the How did you get involved in EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR public works field for 40 years, most of public works? We spend a lot Peter B. King which have involved municipal govern- of time today promoting our pro- EDITOR R. Kevin Clark ment. He began his professional career fession in the hopes of attracting GRAPHIC DESIGNER working for the City of Brampton, On- younger generations to public works, Julie Smith tario, as a Project Engineer but quickly but that was certainly not the case ADVERTISING SALES became Operations Engineer. After sev- as I progressed through school. My Amanda Daniel R. Kevin Clark Erin Ladd Kansas City Liaison en years he temporally changed career father worked in an engineering de- Jennifer Wirz (800) 848-APWA direction to become Commissioner of partment of a large stamping plant, (800) 800-0341 Building and Bylaw Enforcement, but so I saw plant engineering as a good APWA WASHINGTON OFFICE 1401 K. Street NW, 11th floor after five years his department was career. But my summer employment Washington, D.C. 20005 amalgamated with the Public Works through high school was in an area (202) 408-9541 FAX (202) 408-9542 Department. With his return to public that gave me a desire to be either Disclaimer: The American Public Works Association works he became Commissioner of Pub- an electrical engineer or a chemical assumes no responsibility for statements and/or opinions advanced by either editorial or advertising lic Works and Building, a position he engineer. And then I decided to at- contributors to this issue. APWA reserves the right held for a further seventeen years until tend the University of Waterloo, a to refuse to publish and to edit manuscripts to conform to the APWA Reporter standards. his retirement from Brampton. well-respected engineering school Publisher’s Notice: The APWA Reporter, October in Ontario that specialized in a co- 2009, Vol. 76, No. 10 (ISSN 0092-4873; Publications Koehle then entered the private sector op program of four-month terms, al- Agreement No. 40040340). The APWA Reporter and operated his own consulting busi- ternating between academic courses is published monthly by the American Public ness specializing in Project Manage- Works Association, 2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite and work experience opportunities. 700, Kansas City, MO 64108-2625. Subscription ment and Government Affairs. During rate is $159 for nonmembers and $25 for chapter- his consulting years he had the oppor- When I came to apply for my first sponsored students. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices. tunity with two partners to create ASI work-term experience, the most at- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the APWA Technologies Inc., an extremely success- tractive job offer came from a com- Reporter, 2345 Grand Boulevard, #700, Kansas City, MO 64108-2625. Canada returns to: Station A, P.O. ful Internet-based business solutions munity near my home, working on Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5. consulting company. The allure of pub- a survey crew in the Public Works Reprints and Permissions: Information is available at lic service remained a priority, however, Department of the City of Bramp- www.apwa.net/Publications/Reporter/guidelines.asp. so Koehle has now returned to munici- ton. It was a great place to work, © 2009 by American Public Works Association pal government with Caledon. and my commitment to public ser- Address Change? vice was then established. I spent all To alert us of a change to your membership record, Koehle is a Past President of the On- contact an APWA Membership Specialist at (800) six of my work terms with Bramp- 848-APWA or [email protected]. tario Chapter, served as the chapter’s ton and stayed in public service my The APWA Reporter is printed by Harmony Printing Delegate, and is the recipient of his whole career. & Development Co., Liberty, MO. chapter’s Long Service Award. He has 2 APWA Reporter October 2009 What are some of your major ac- Soon after, I led the implementation complishments? After graduating of a performance review of the Public APWA Reporter from university with my engineer- Works Department, and that resulted Circulation Statement ing degree, I briefly worked with the in the development of a new mainte- City of Kitchener before returning to nance management system, capable Brampton where I remained for thirty of extremely accurate measurement years. As a growing city, Brampton in- of performance levels of the mainte- vestigated and implemented many de- nance staff, enabling administrative velopment and asset management pro- decisions to be made with promptness. cesses to manage their businesses. For Brampton became a leading public instance, in 1979 I led the formation works department because of the im- and development of an independent plementation of a great many techno- building department that consolidat- logical improvements to its internal ed all of the enforcement functions processes. For instance, we were the under one department. Without this first in Ontario to employ full-time use reorganization, Brampton could not of GPS satellites for survey work; we have managed the explosive growth completed very successful test projects from thirty thousand people to over in state-of-the-art management tech- four hundred thousand people over niques for pavement; we were the first the following twenty-five years. in Canada to implement a completely “We all have to live here together… I want you to respect one another, see the best in each other, share Diversity each other’s pain and joy.” Awareness – Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State (2001-05); Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Corner of Staff (1989-93) AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION Mission Statement: The American Public Works Association serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge.