By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland
November 12, 2007

Few communities have a comprehensive community asset management plan. Each city has its own infrastructure issues, and the budgetary process has individual departments budgeting funds for asset management projects that are specific to their mission. Departments hire firms to maintain current assets, and lifecycle costs are calculated by Finance.

Imagine a municipality that integrates financial planning with operational departments, creating a single asset management plan — where landowners, landlords, businesses and schools work with the city to create a roadmap for a sustainable community. It’s possible.

Your asset management strategy does not have to be complicated, and it is one of the most effective ways to curb costs and improve constituent service, according to St. Paul-based EMA, Inc., business management and technology consultants who customize asset management programs for municipalities throughout North America. The right plan is the strategy that is tailored to meet your specific needs, EMA consultants explain, emphasizing that the benefits can bring substantial improvements to your municipality.

• Optimization of assets. Optimization is all about leveraging what you have to reduce capital costs and O&M expenses. The results are tangible: improved roads, sound pipes, well-maintained maintenance fleets, better service, improved technology and a more efficient staff.

• Increased efficiencies/improved service. An effective asset management plan is tech savvy and uses technology to link departments together to improve employees’ use and bolster communication between departments. It’s improved functionality that reduces workload redundancies and streamlines process flow.

• Innovative technology also implements best practices, which boost the quality of service throughout your municipality. One example: real-time access to electronic service call data enables employees to dispatch a service crew already in the field to handle a service call just phoned in from a nearby location. The request is handled nearly immediately, eliminating the need to dispatch another crew at a later time, which translates into better use of time, reduced vehicle wear and tear, savings on fuel and labor costs, not to mention superior service.

• Cost savings. The bottom line is your bottom line. Increased efficiency throughout your municipality (improved work practices, streamlined staffing, less overtime hours, improved management of existing assets and cost-effective service) results in better performance and reduced costs.

• Performance Management. Make your data work for you. Measure, report and monitor performance levels throughout your municipality to gauge progress and promote continuous improvement.

• Satisfied Constituents. Constituents know good service when they experience it and appreciate when their tax dollars are spent wisely. Prompt responses to questions. Better service. Improved communication. Cost reductions. The benefits of a sound plan translate into satisfied constituents.

A sound asset management program is a winning strategy. Customized to meet your municipality’s specific needs, the plan will implement best practices, considering the needs of constituents as well as the municipality and sustaining both for the long term.

For additional information about Asset Management Programs or EMA Inc, contact Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland at 301-460-5251 or send email to kweyland@usmayors.org.