Morgantown, Kentucky<br />As the first CAO in Morgantown, KY, Jerrod Barks was facing some serious challenges for the town of 2,500 that lost 60 jobs and was saddled with a large amount of debt when Kentucky Copper went bankrupt. But instead of guessing or acting on anecdotal information, he conducted a survey, researched deeply, and came up…
Working in local government calls us first to serve our own community, but the work we do does not stop at our political boundaries. Our impact regularly extends regionally, nationally, and even sometimes globally. Exceptional city and county leadership has the power to change the world not only by example, but also through the dissemination of…
They are an important part of the infrastructure toolkit, but they can't replace tax-exempt debt.
Midland, North Carolina<br />Local leaders incorporated Midland, N.C. 16 years ago with a vision to cultivate the small town (pop. 3,073) into a desirable place to invest and live, while preserving the rural fabric of the community. The leaders hired professional staff to carry out their vision and this council/manager partnership has resulted in continuing success for the community, says Town…
Life, Well Run published two seemingly very different Success Stories this month. But both have a foundation in leadership and partnerships. In Roswell, Georgia, City Administrator Kay Love has made it a priority to recruit and keep top-notch staff at her organization. And the programs have shown to decrease attrition, all the while having some fun. Be sure to…
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma<br />By 2010, so many people had moved out of the core of Oklahoma City that neighborhoods were suffering from apathy, vacancy, and blight. The city assisted people with home repairs and made some small improvements, but these efforts were too scattered to have an impact. Recognizing the problem, the city council and the…
We are so excited about the success of the first Life, Well Run photo contest that we decided to share some of the contestant entries here. Take a look at the future of local government and feel the energy and passion they have for the profession. Some contestants even submitted more than one photo/project. We…