HADC Informational Resource - 2010 Green Award - MUNICIPALITY OF THE YEAR: City of Hartford

Friday, June 11, 2010

2010 Green Business Awards

MUNICIPALITY OF THE YEAR: City of Hartford

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Corrinne Hess

Gary Koppelberger . . . "I think this city has always emphasized quality of life as an attraction to its citizens and also for economic development."

From the annual Arbor Day tree planting party to the green design of the city's new Jack Russell Memorial Library, Hartford has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to being environmentally friendly.

"I think this city has always emphasized quality of life as an attraction to its citizens and also for economic development," said Gary Koppelberger, Hartford city administrator. "It's also part of our natural geography. The area is beautiful, very hilly and a river runs through the town."

Koppelberger said he is most proud of the city's Rubicon River Parkway, a project that was started more than 20 years ago that connects trails across the entire city. When it's completed, the trail will be close to six miles from east to west and four miles north to south. Hartford will add another quarter-mile to the trail this year.

Koppelberger also is excited about the new library, on which construction will begin next year.

In 2002, the city began planning for the library on the banks of Hartford Millpond. The location was selected as a way to reclaim a blighted site and integrate the library into the Rubicon River Parkway.

Building the library there will demonstrate how government buildings can be constructed with minimal environmental impact, Koppelberger said.

The city also was instrumental in protecting the future of the Pike Lake Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest, located about 25 miles north of Milwaukee on Highway 60 between Hartford and Slinger.

A portion of Pike Lake was annexed to the city with no adverse impact to the park's natural areas, Koppelberger said.

Koppelberger credits much of the city's green success to former Hartford Mayor Scott Henke, whose term ended in April after 12 years.

Whether it was talking to the utility workers about trimming trees or purchasing energy-efficient street lighting, Henke said he worked to make the city green for its current and future residents.

"We're the ones paying the bills, so let's try to be as efficient as possible," Henke said. "I think our residents expect their government leaders to do that."

Under Henke's leadership, the city initiated a street lighting reduction program two years ago, which included using LED lamps in every school and the launch of an annual project at Hartford Union High School where students work to turn solar radiation into direct-current electricity.

The city also convinced developers of the Schwendimann Hill subdivision at the east end of Hartford to preserve a glacial kame feature on the property. Plans are now under way to donate the site to the Ice Age Trail Alliance.