Friday, March 14, 2014

Fresh City Reads Available in March-April Issue of 'Minnesota Cities' Magazine

The March-April issue of Minnesota Cities magazine mailed this week to subscribers, and is available online for your digital consumption.

What’s inside? Take a look at these three highlights:

 Red Wing's Universal Playground, accessible to all children regardless of disability, opened in 2009. Some of the features include a rubber ground surface and ramps on some of the play structures. Looks like fun? You bet. Best of all, the park’s design features are also in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Is your city among those with parks and recreation facilities that are out of compliance with the ADA? You might be surprised to find out that there are low-cost ways to improve accessibility to your own city’s programs and facilities. Find out more in “Parks & Rec For All!

The “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) trend is projected to grow as employees become accustomed to accessing work email, calendars, and applications from the myriad of gadgets available these days. In addition to concerns about security and protection of public data, BYOD also raises the issue of device-induced overtime. Learn what other cities are doing to incorporate BYOD while keeping networks, data, and budgets safe in “Technology Trends: ‘BYOD’ and the City.”

While initially hesitant, the city of Albertville is now a big fan of the free public works ergonomics survey and equipment inventory they received gratis through LMCIT.  They emerged with a list of equipment modifications that now assist employees in getting the job done safer and more efficiently. The review also provided data that the city needed to prioritize investments in safety, and it made applying for an OSHA Safety Grant a cinch. Check out an interview with Albertville’s city administrator, public works director, and city engineer (one guy, many hats!) to see how the process evolved in “Safety First—Review Helps City Reduce Risk.”

Do these subjects grab your attention? Check out LMCIT’s spring Safety and Loss Control Workshops. These $20 workshops are being held in nine different locations throughout the state! See the list of locations and more information here.