Madison's Everyday Engineering

Dredging is a standard practice for stormwater projects, scooping out the mud, weeds and sediment from the bottom of the space to help with water flow. However, it’s not just mud or sediment at the bottom of ponds in our area, there are likely herptiles and other living water creatures who need delicate care in the process. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts City of Madison Engineering Division Landscape Architect Sarah Lerner to learn a new approach that the City of Madison Engineering Division is trying out to keep the frogs, snakes, salamanders and others safe during the Wexford Pond Project.

If you’re a person who loves the outdoors, digging, planting and being outside, imagine being paid to enjoy nature and improve greenspaces, it could be the best first step toward making a career in nature! The Conservation Trainee Program is a part of the City of Madison Engineering Division, and it’s a great way to get into the dirt, help out your community and spend time with our amazing conservation crews while learning something new! City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts the supervisor of the program City of Madison Engineering Division Greenway Vegetation Coordinator Maddie Dumas and Conservation Technician Emily Jorgensen to talk about how the program has changed and how it can create space into a career at the City of Madison Engineering Division!

https://media.cityofmadison.com/Mediasite/Play/888f0e262cc5424ca92bc554f3a65da81d

Dredging is a standard practice for stormwater projects, scooping out the mud, weeds and sediment from the bottom of the space to help with water flow. However, it’s not just mud or sediment at the bottom of ponds in our area, there are likely herptiles and other living water creatures who need delicate care in the process. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts City of Madison Engineering Division Landscape Architect Sarah Lerner to learn a new approach that the City of Madison Engineering Division is trying out to keep the frogs, snakes, salamanders and others safe during the Wexford Pond Project.

Getting your foot in the door at the City of Madison can look different for so many people, with different backgrounds, apprenticeships, hourly positions, seasonal positions, part time positions, internships and training programs. In the past few years, we have been building on some key positions that are developing our workforce, and our #TeamCity. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Engineering Division Facilitites Coordinator Stephen King and Fleet Services Superintendent Mahanth Joishy to talk about two successful programs, and one new program anyone trying to work for the City of Madison should know about: GreenPower, Fleet Apprenticeship Program, MI-TE Program. Thinking about applying? Listen to this 20-minute episode to know what you can expect!

https://media.cityofmadison.com/Mediasite/Play/bef223c2536d420fa3f3fff1bb5b41f81d

Little did you know, in the City of Madison Engineering Division, we have pollinator specialists. Our team focuses on best practices, and also is part of a state-wide group Bumble Bee Brigade. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Engineering Division Greenway Vegetation Coordinator Maddie Dumas and Conservation Technician Emily Jorgensen to talk about the City’s involvement in the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade, and give you some useful tips and tools while out in nature that can help you identify different species with a quick click of a question to a pool of experts. Learn what we’re talking about in this quick buzz-tastic episode of Everyday Engineering! The Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade is coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. As a citizen-based monitoring project, we partner with volunteers from the public to conduct long-term monitoring of the state's native bumble bees.

https://media.cityofmadison.com/Mediasite/Play/4e5d1753c182467c8397597b4619ae581d

You may see color and culture across the City of Madison, but the Public Art Program has so many layers that help bring beautiful art to life on public structures and in the community. The Percent for Art ordinance, passed in October of 2017, officially created a mechanism to increase the rate of our investment in public art. Through the Percent for Art Program one percent of the city funds committed to any capital project exceeding $5,000,000 will be designated for public art. In 2020, Madison’s Percent for Art ordinance initiated its first project with the Metro Transit Maintenance Facility project on East Washington Avenue. Learn more about this and other public art projects and how the program works in this 20-minute podcast episode. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts City of Madison Planning Division Principal Planner Bill Fruhling to explain about the ordinance and how it’s a part of our community.

https://media.cityofmadison.com/Mediasite/Play/508da8f810af43cb988dc3a031cbc3651d

If you’re a person who loves the outdoors, digging, planting and being outside, imagine being paid to enjoy nature and improve greenspaces, it could be the best first step toward making a career in nature! The Conservation Trainee Program is a part of the City of Madison Engineering Division, and it’s a great way to get into the dirt, help out your community and spend time with our amazing conservation crews while learning something new! City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts the supervisor of the program City of Madison Engineering Division Greenway Vegetation Coordinator Maddie Dumas and Conservation Technician Emily Jorgensen to talk about how the program has changed and how it can create space into a career at the City of Madison Engineering Division!

https://media.cityofmadison.com/Mediasite/Play/888f0e262cc5424ca92bc554f3a65da81d

Public transit is part of a growing conversation in the City of Madison, Wis. You may even be listening to this podcast episode on your way riding on the bus! Whether you use public transit—or join in the conversation—if you travel in the City of Madison, you’re impacted by it in some form or another, and if you aren’t already—you most likely will in the future. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts City of Madison Engineering Division City Engineer Jim Wolfe and City of Madison Transportation Department Director Tom Lynch to talk about themes the country is seeing in terms of public transit use and design, and how it holds true in the City of Madison.

What in the world would soybeans have anything to do with the City of Madison Fleet Services? Way more than you probably know! City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts City of Madison Fleet Superintendent Mahanth Joishy to talk about all the ways the City of Madison is trying to use soybeans to help the environment., from biodiesel to soybean tires on police cars, you'll learn something new in this episode guaranteed!

There’s a need, and we’re filling it with concrete…. Literally. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts City of Madison Engineering Division Facilities Services Coordinator Stephen King to talk about the City’s newest program, the City of Madison Infrastructure Training Engineering Program, also known as “MITE.” In this episode you’ll learn what the program is, how it came to be, and how to apply and start a career in the City of Madison, City of Madison Engineering Division and City of Madison Public Works Department. We’ll walk through the application process, what you’ll learn in the program and how anyone, with any background can apply and have a successful career in public works if they’re willing to work and learn.