Madison's Everyday Engineering

We’ve introduced you to so many people so far as guests on Everyday Engineering, but now, we continue to kick off a new segment that shares what went into getting here, and maybe help anyone planning their path forward. Life’s Blueprint: an episode focusing on the career journey of one of our staff members, to share more about them, how they got here and hopefully some information on how to move into a career in this industry. Brent Pauba is a project manager in the facilities management section of the City of Madison Engineering Division. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Brent to learn about a career path toward a place in the division that has a hand in some of the most major, visual projects the community uses. You can reach out to Brent by emailing [email protected].

We’ve introduced you to so many people so far as guests on Everyday Engineering, but now, we continue to kick off a new segment that shares what went into getting here, and maybe help anyone planning their path forward. Life’s Blueprint: an episode focusing on the career journey of one of our staff members, to share more about them, how they got here and hopefully some information on how to move into a career in this industry. Jojo O’Brien is a stormwater resource engineer at the City of Madison Engineering Division, but not before traveling the world to get a whole new perspective on water quality. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Jojo for a trip around the world to hear how her experiences factor into everything she does for the City of Madison Engineering Division. You can reach out to Jojo by emailing [email protected].

Every little bit helps. The City of Madison has a 1,000 Rain Garden Goal, and if everyone plants just a little rain garden, not big or expensive, you rcan really help the whole stormwater system, however, in this episode, we talk about a big effort by some awesome watershed stewards, and they’re going to tell us how they did it. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Engineering Division Stormwater Engineer Phil Gaebler, Community Volunteer Sandy Stark to talk about the massive rain gardens, and how working together with local government can actually cut the cost for the community project.

John Nolen Drive— it needs some improvements in the City of Madison, and the public planning process began in 2021, which is years before any digging or disruption happens. However, it’s not that easy getting to the construction phase, especially fo the people in charge of designing and re-imagining the most popular street in the community. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts the two people tasked with hard jobs leading teams on the generational project: City of Madison Engineering Division Principal Engineer and Section Manager Chris Petykowski and City of Madison Parks Division Landscape Architect Mike Sturm. Learn how the City’s most-traveled path accommodates bikes, pedestrians and vehicles — and how it’ll all change with reconstruction fused with a brand new vision for the waterfront.

We’ve introduced you to so many people so far as guests on Everyday Engineering, but now, we want to kick off a new segment that shares what went into getting here, and maybe help anyone planning their path forward. Life’s Blueprint: an episode focusing on the career journey of one of our staff members, to share more about them, how they got here and hopefully some information on how to move into a career in this industry. Phil Gaebler is a stormwater resource engineer at the City of Madison Engineering Division, but not before having some of the smelliest jobs. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Phil for a fun conversation and candid approach to his journey to the City of Madison Engineering Division, full of fun roadblocks and pathways that guided him to success in our City. You can reach out to Phil by emailing [email protected].

The City of Madison is one of many municipalities in the United States looking for creative, healthy and safe solutions to help community members experiencing unsheltered homelessness find a path forward, especially during the pandemic. The City of Madison constructed its Dairy Drive Sheltered Campground in record time, from buying and selecting the land, to working with Seattle-based Pallet to build 30 temporary structures with heat, air conditioning and electricity. The City’s newest and first approach to constructing a sheltered campground is the first in the midwest of its kind. Everyday Engineering Podcast Host Hannah Mohelnitzky interviews City of Madison Community Development Department Director Jim O’Keefe and City of Madison Engineering Division Facilities Management Section Manager Bryan Cooper to talk about how the City approaches this work, and is able to complete a project of this size in such a short amount of time.

As the City works to plan reconstruction on an iconic passage into the City of Madison, so many people and ideas contributed to the current skyline and beautiful drive into the heart of the City on John Nolen Drive. Everyday Engineering Podcast Host and Engineering Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts a Madison Historian and Author David Mollenhoff to talk about what ideas and designs were initially planned for the city’s most well-known street, the vision of John Nolen, collaboration with American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright (among many impressive others, too!) and the lasting legacy that may have you saying “Thank you, John Nolen!” the next time you drive downtown.

Anyone who walks, bikes, drives or travels in any way in the City of Madison knows how valuable street space is. There are so many options with use or reconstruction—sidewalk space, rain garden space, bike lane space, space for café dining and so much more. These options and questions are what are driving the City’s Complete Green Streets Initiative. And if you are asking yourself, 'will this impact me?' Short answer: Absolutely, yes.

In this podcast episode, listeners will learn what the process is for new street reconstruction, the differences of standard streets vs. green streets, and ultimately how the Engineering Division and Traffic Engineering Division work together. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts the City’s Bike and Pedestrian Administrator Renee Callaway and a principal engineer in the Engineering Division’s Streets and Paths Design Section Jim Wolfe to discuss the future of our City’s street design.

When we're in landscaping and yard season, a lot of people may be trying to cut cost by doing a lot of the work themselves. So we’re here to help you in a number of ways: so you don’t create more issues for yourself from a stormwater perspective and so you can landscape without worry so that you truly are improving your yard not only to beautify but also to improve the environment.

In this podcast episode you will learn how to landscape with a purpose by improving drainage around your home, which stormwater impacts you should be looking out for, what to do with yard waste and so much more. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Stormwater Engineer Phil Gaebler to discuss what people can do to help better their lawns while improving the stormwater infrastructure. You will also learn the impacts that salt, lawn chemicals and fertilizers have on your lawn as well as the environment.

It takes all of us to improve our stormwater system. It's a total team effort. But, if you have someone like the late Roger Bannerman leading the way through hard work and dedication, the difference for the community is huge. In this podcast episode, you will learn more in depth about Roger Bannerman, his passionate work that he accomplished for the City, and the strong influence he had on the stormwater community- which ultimately lead to the Rain Garden Initiative to be named after him. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky hosts Roger’s Wife, Jane Bannerman and Stormwater Engineer Phil Gaebler to discuss the impact Roger’s work made on the greater Madison area, including Wisconsin as a whole. You will also learn about the new rain garden that was dedicated to Roger on the corner of Fox Avenue and Sheldon Street, next to the Southwest commuter bike path in the City of Madison.