2017 Individual Winner
Tyler Palmer – City of Moscow: Inland NW Streets Maintenance Co-op

• Problem: In the spring of 2013 the City of Moscow contacted several local agencies with responsibility for road maintenance, and invited them to join us in forming a regional cooperative called the Inland NW Streets Maintenance Co-op. We were pleasantly surprised by the response, and started holding meetings each spring and fall, which we have consistently done since. At these meetings we have roundtable discussions about maintenance challenges and opportunities in our area. We also arrange for experts to present on topics that range from thermal plastic, to crack fill, to winter maintenance to public involvement and outreach. We have had several demonstrations of products and equipment.
• Solution: In the spring of 2013 the City of Moscow contacted several local agencies with responsibility for road maintenance, and invited them to join us in forming a regional cooperative called the Inland NW Streets Maintenance Co-op. We were pleasantly surprised by the response, and started holding meetings each spring and fall, which we have consistently done since. At these meetings we have roundtable discussions about maintenance challenges and opportunities in our area. We also arrange for experts to present on topics that range from thermal plastic, to crack fill, to winter maintenance to public involvement and outreach. We have had several demonstrations of products and equipment. 
• Labor, Equipment, Materials: N/A
• Expenses: Cost of lunch for participants by hosting agency.
• Savings: We currently have 26 participating entities, with over 60 members with representation from very small municipalities, highway districts, universities, and mid-size cities. We have shared specifications for processes and equipment, making available to small entities things that had previously been beyond their resources or expertise. We have coordinated the release of bids for specialized work, saving tens of thousands of dollars by creating economies of scale by combining purchasing power with other local entities. We have helped entities save as much as 35% on road salt purchases, and work to get discounted rates on rental equipment that can be shared by members of the co-op. These are just a few examples of the advantages realized by participation in our co-op. One of the largest benefits has been the comraderie and communal feeling that it has generated between entities. We know the other professionals in our area, and are able to reach out when we have questions or need assistance, and this has led to innumerable efficiencies when a brief phone call or email has saved what could have become a much larger problem.