Link to City of Eau Claire Article and Presentation Video 

As Director of Public Works for the City of Eau Claire, Wis., Brian G. Amundson has responsibility for major operating activities consisting of street maintenance, rolling fleet, engineering, mapping, stormwater management , emergency preparedness, flood control, parking utility, fixed-route transit system, wastewater treatment and collection, and water treatment with distribution to more than 66,000 residents and over 25,000 utility customers. Prior to his current position, Amundson served as Eau Claire's City Engineer for 10 years. His career in public works operations and management has spanned more than 37 years.

Amundson was instrumental in introducing the concept of a stormwater utility to the City of Eau Claire, as one of the first communities in Wisconsin to embrace the idea, and he led the community through the implementation process. The existence of the stormwater utility was a key component in funding the improvements needed to address the flooding that resulted from the extreme rainfall that occurred in September 2000.

Amundson has been very involved in Leadership Eau Claire, a program run by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation that combines leadership skill building with community education. He worked with the Junior Achievement organization for ten years, service as an instructor to first- and third-grade students in the Menomonie and Eau Claire School Districts. His long and substantial participation with APWA's Wisconsin Chapter was recognized in 2009 by receipt of the John Curtis Chapter Service Award, and he has also received two Outstanding Public Employee awards from the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.

"Brian is soft-spoken, humble, and quick to credit others when in fact it is his contribution that usually is the primary reason for a project's success. We in Eau Claire have been blessed to have such a dedicated public official." - Patrick J. Quinn, P.E., President, Ayers Associates, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

(Above reprinted from the APWA Reporter Vol. 77, No. 5 May 2010)

Brian has been a long-term member and staunch advocate of APWA. He has held many positions in the Wisconsin Chapter, including conference host, committee chair, director, chapter president and currently, treasurer. Be sure to congratulate Brian on this well-deserved recognition!

Nominations for the Annual WCMA / WAMCAM Awards Program will be accepted until April 10th. This awards program serves to recognize the achievements of outstanding WCMA and WAMCAM members. Nominations are accepted for two award categories:

1. Meritorious Service Award, and
2. Futures Award.

A description of the award program and award critieria along with nomination forms are available at this location:  http://www.wcma-wi.org/resources/AwardsProgram2009.pdf 

The Wisconsin City/County Management Association (WCMA) is an organization of professional managers and administrators from counties, cities, villages, and towns throughout the state. The WCMA has two primary objectives: (1) To promote the development of professional municipal management in Wisconsin, and (2) to contribute to the professional development of its members.

If you have questions about the program you are welcome to contact Awards Committee Chair Darrell Hofland<http://www.wcma-wi.org/members/display.php?id=96> at 262-375-5300 or by e-mail at dhofland@village.grafton.wi.us. WCMA's eight Regional Coordinators serve on the Awards Committee<http://www.wcma-wi.org/about/committees.php>, and they may be contacted with questions as well.

Final awards will be announced at the summer conference.

Completed nominations should be submitted to Darrell Hofland by April 10 in any of the following ways:

By mail at address below or email at address above

Village of Grafton
860 Badger Circle
Grafton, WI 53024

By fax: 62-375-5312

Bruce Slagoski from the City of Beloit is strongly encouraging public works and forestry professionals to become aware of important developments with respect to invasive species management in Wisconsin. Bruce sits on the Wisconsin Urban Forest Council and has just received this information to share with you.

First, a new handbook for invasive species managemnet is available for Urban Foresters in Public Works or Parks departments to use in the field. The handbook cost is $2.25 and it is available until October 16th. There may be some available for purchase at the APWA Wisconsin Chapter fall conference, but you can order your copy through the link below.

Also, the DNR is developing a set of BMPs for invasive species. Opportunities to review the draft rules and comment on them are scheduled for 10/21 and 10/22, with a registration deadline of 10/9 but possibility of still signing up through the link above.

Below is information published in the October 9th issue of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider. To read the information directly online, click the following link:

 http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/UF/resources/Insider/20091009.htm

Here is a summary of this issues contents -

• Biggest, Tallest Tree Photo Ever - NPR
• Smell Has Some Cities Ripping Out Ginkgo Trees - Associated Press

• A Tree Falls in Madison - Isthmus Daily Page
• Transportation and Utility Rights-of-Way BMPs for Invasives

• Wisconsin Shares - City of Stevens Point
• New Strategies Target EAB - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Thiensville Presents EAB Plan for Village Park -Mequon NOW
• Wisconsin EAB Newsletter
• EAB National News Coverage

• NEW - A Field Guide to Terrestrial Invasive Plants in Wisconsin
• Grants Available for Urban Wildlife Abatement and Control
• Job Opportunity - Arborist II Lake Mills
• ISA Today

• Invasive Species Management Workshop - Register Today
• Workshops & Events for Natural Resource Educators
• Climate Change & Adaptation in Agriculture and Forestry

MADISON, WI - APWA Wisconsin Chapter members are eligible for a $100 discount off the regular registration fee for any public works short courses offered through the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Engineering Professional Development (EPD).

EPD offers many courses in public works courses include streets, roads, highways, bridges, stormwater, traffic, geotechnical, soils, etc. To take advantage of this APWA Chapter member discount or to view a complete list of upcoming courses and locations, visit our website at:http://epd.engr.wisc.edu/partnerwithAPWA

EPD is one of the nation's largest university-based providers of continuing engineering education. In addition, EPD offers course topics of interest to non-engineers, architects and other technical professionals.

Note: all University of Wisconsin continuing education classes are approved for Continuing Education Units (CEU's), Professional Development Hours (PDH) and APA/AICP CM continuing education credits.

• Dale Hexom, President (City of La Crosse)
• Peter Harris, President-Elect (AEComm)
• Mike Dailey, Vice President (City of Madison)
• Mike Lemens, Director 2011 (City of Kenosha)
• Paul Woodard, Director 2012 (City of Fitchburg)
• Jack Messer, Treasurer (City of Janesville)
• Terry Kiekhaefer, Secretary (City of West Bend)
• Brian Amundson, Past President (City of Eau Claire)