To make it easier for you to take good ideas with you, in 2016, we developed the ICMA podcast, Local Gov Life. Through a mix of stories, insights, and advice from municipal and county government leaders and experts, Local Gov Life highlights successful programs and strategies that have enhanced the quality of life in our communities and made the local government workplace more fun.

As you look ahead to 2017, take a look back at some of the best quotes from leaders featured in the 2016 episodes of Local Gov Life:

 

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"Engaging citizens and working on issues and projects in the community that they love breeds a powerful sense of ownership and loyalty."

Edward Lavallee, city manager, Venice, Florida, on the impact of volunteering on a community.

 

 

 "I think it's really important that we smile [and] that we laugh because we spend a great amount of  time in our professional world [and] we need to enjoy it and take pride in what we do." 

Opal D. Mauldin-Robertson, city manager, Lancaster, Texas, explaining why humor should be an important part of the workplace. 

"What we have developed is a really high quality of life. What is the cost of that for people [who] are economically disadvantaged?"

Peggy Merriss, city manager, Decatur, Georgia, discussing the positive and negative impacts of downtown revitalization. 

 "I was able to immediately apply some of the information I learned [at ICMA's Annual Conference] as a resource to [the] things we were needing to help us deal with staffing changes."

Bridgette Smith, grants coordinator, Dallas, Texas, on attending her first ICMA Conference. 

"As we all work toward addressing [the opioid epidemic], we have to make sure that our solutions are evidence based."

Dr. Patrice Annette Harris, chairwoman, American Medical Association Board of Directors, discussing the opioid crisis.