SMALL CITIES/RURAL COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE
MEETING SUMMARY
January 3, 2013
PRESENT:
Scott Brandmeier, Chair
Stan Brown
Don Bruey
Geoff Benway
Jason Peek
Ann Daniels, Staff Liaison
ABSENT:
Bo Mills, At Large Director
Bob Lowry
Scott Brandmeier, Chair, convened the regular monthly conference call at 10:05 a.m.
The meeting summary from the November 1, 2012 conference call was approved as printed.
Bo Mills, Board Liaison, Board Liaison, was unable to participate in the call. Ann Daniels
reported the Board of Directors would be meeting in Kansas City the end of January.
A review of the Editorial Calendar for the next several months was given as follows:
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David Pinsonneault is confirmed for the December 15th deadline was submitted
Don Bruey will write an article for the January deadline
Fred Schattner has confirmed for the February 15th deadline
Jason Peek has confirmed for the March 15th deadline
Geoff Benway will provide an article on the public/private partnership utilized for the
Monroe County landfill.
Scott Brandmeier will prepare an article on the outcomes of the Meet and Greet to be held
with Wisconsin legislators on March 6.
Other potential topics but with undecided deadlines are: Stormwater Regulations, Advocacy Tool Kit for
Small Cities/Rural Communities, the Model Outreach Program.
Additional authors and topics will be needed for the remainder of the year. Ann Daniels will post a
request for same on the SC/RC infoNOW community.
The three guaranteed education sessions have been confirmed as follows:
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Bob Lowry – “A Small City’s Story on Asset Management”
Stan Brown - “New Tools for your Advocacy Kit”
Scott Brandmeier and Jeff Mazanec – “ Lighting the Way with Retro-Reflective Signs”
A discussion was held to review topics for the three remaining On Line Town Hall calls. Ann Daniels
reported that Don Bruey had presented an outstanding program on October 19 titled “Hiring the Right
People.” Approximately 20 connections were participating and the MP3file is available to download
from the SC/RC web pages.
Geoff Benway shared information that a program from a local agency had been given detailing their
experience in being audited by EPA. Geoff reported he had contacted his colleagues about a session on
the EPA Audit conducted for Greece, NY by EPA. He will solicit the best dates in either March or April for
that On-Line call.
Scott Brandmeier will continue to monitor the EPA Stormwater Regulations to prepare a session of the
regulations when and if they are finally adopted. He reported that no rules are expected to come before
Congress before September, 2013. The Water Resources Committee is also monitoring this issue. Julia
Anastasio, APWA Staff, will continue to provide updates.
Stan Brown and his subcommittee on the development of the Tool Kit for Advocacy may want to
conduct an on-line Town Hall call later this summer when their project is further along.
Stan Brown reported the Sub-Committee for development of the Tool Kit for Advocacy for Small
Cities/Rural Communities met by conference call on November 13th at 11:00 Eastern time. Those
agreeing to server were: Andy Haney, Ottawa, KS; Jason Peek, Stillwater, OK; David Pinsonneault,
Lexington, MA, and Bob Lowry, Colleyville, TX. He reported the group was making good progress and he
forwarded the meeting notes from the call for committee members to have available.
Ann Daniels reported that the Model Outreach Program subcommittee met by conference call.
Attending were: Matt Taylor and Shawn Hartness, Union Township, OH; Bob Lowry, Colleyville, TX; Scott
Brandmeier, Village of Fox Point, WI; and Geoff Benway, Penfield, NY. Discussion centered on
information about what chapters, branches, or local entities are already doing to try to encourage
networking between public works officials in small/rural cities. A new brochure is being developed and
Geoff Benway is preparing the first draft for the group’s review. By General Consent, a posting will be
placed on the SC/RC InfoNOW community to solicit ideas that other areas may have developed so that a
composite listing of what is already available can be shared, as well as new ideas for outreach.
Ann Daniels announced that the application timeline for nominations to the committees is being
streamlined in an effort to reduce the amount of time it is posted to allow for a better response with a
more compact time. She reported the following openings on the Committee for the coming year’s
election:
Scott Brandmeier has completed his six years and will not be eligible for re-appointment. Scott
was encouraged to seek out another area of interest and submit his nomination
Jason Peek, filled the unexpired term for George Haines, and is now eligible for his own
Second term
Stan Brown is eligible for re-appointment for his second two year term.
Geoff Benway is eligible for re-appointment for his third and final two year term.
Members were encouraged to watch the web site for the announcement of open filing and to submit
their nominations promptly.
By General Consent, Geoff Benway stated that his branch is planning to award the new APWA SC/RC
Project of the Year Award on their area level and he encouraged other members to get the information
out to their chapters and branches so there will be good participation in this first year. He will also post
a message on the SC/RC infoNOW community encouraging the submission of applications for the Small
Cities/Rural Communities new Project of the Year Award. The information is available on the APWA web
site as to the criteria necessary for submittal. Don Bruey will also share this information across the
country as he makes presentations.
The group discussed plans for the face-to-face meeting, to be held in Kansas City, on March 7th for
arrival, meeting all day March 8th, and return home on the night of March 8th or March 9th if
transportation requires such. Ann Daniels will confirm hotel space and report details in February. She
asked the members of the committee notify her of their preference of a return trip on Friday evening or
on Saturday morning.
Members were reminded to review the Business Plan online to see if there are additional topics that
should be addressed prior to the March meeting.
The next regularly scheduled conference call will be held on Thursday, February 7th at 8:00 a.m.
Pacific/9:00 Mountain/10:00 Central/11:00 Eastern time.
The conference call was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.