Wednesday, April 27, 2011

gbaSI Staffers Fill Sandbags to Help Protect the City of Davenport, Iowa, from Mississippi Floodwaters


When floodwaters threatened the City of Davenport, Iowa, a dedicated group of gba Systems Integrators’ staff immediately pitched in to help by filling sandbags for the City’s Public Works Department. “All of us live in the Quad Cities area on the Mississippi,” said gbaSI’s Chuck Metzger. “We all know someone, either family or friends, who suffer either property loss or damage when the river floods.” In addition to Chuck, staffers Jayne Robnett, Tuan Nguyen, and Collin Dyer went to work with four other volunteers to fill enough sandbags to consume three truckloads of sand! Special thanks to our committed – and weary – volunteers!

According to Chuck, the river crested on Saturday, April 23 at 20.7 feet and although flooding was significant, it could have been even worse without the help of hundreds of volunteers. “We were very pleased to be a part of that group,” said Chuck, who explained that both gbaSI and GBA have worked with the City of Davenport. This was the sixth highest river crest on record. Now the cleanup has begun. A record crest of 22.63 feet occurred during the floods of 1993! In addition to Davenport, the Quad Cities area includes Bettendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois. 


gbaSI - a GBA Company headquartered in Rock Island - provides traffic coordination for complex corridors and develops traffic-responsive programs in newly designed coordination systems. gba SI also designs, installs, and manages computerized communication networks and camera systems for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Advanced Transportation Management Systems, traffic signal control systems, and communication systems for sewer treatment plants and for college campuses, manufacturing complexes, and other large-scale facilities.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Governor Supports Changing Environmental Outlook for Kansas; Attends Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for 'Resourceful Kansas'



A brisk breeze sent turbines spinning, setting the scene for a very successful ribbon-cutting ceremony for Resourceful Kansas on April 13. (See coverage on WIBW here.) The program is designed to encourage more energy-efficient communities throughout the state.  Governor Sam Brownback joined the Resourceful Kansas team of GBA, Riley County Public Works, and Kansas State University at the Riley County Public Works facility to celebrate the launch of the program, which is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. 
Governor Brownback added his support for changing the environmental outlook for Kansas communities, saying that the key to an energy-efficient transition is a balance of the three Es...Environment, Economy, and Energy.
GBA's Resourceful Kansas Project Manager Jennifer Gunby, P.E., LEED AP, explained that eight seminars involving a total of up to 120 organizations throughout the state will be held at the Riley County Public Works facility.  These seminars will focus on practical applications of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies. Following the seminars, GBA will provide customized energy assessments to a selected group of 80 participants and will provide the technical assistance needed to implement recommended strategies.
For more information or to apply visit www.ResourcefulKansas.org.







Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Governor to Attend April 13 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for 'Resourceful Kansas'

Governor Sam Brownback will join "Resourceful Kansas" partners Riley County Public Works, GBA Architects and Engineers, and Kansas State University on April 13 at 2 pm at the Riley County Public Works facility, 6215 Tuttle Creek Blvd., Manhattan, Kan., for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of "Resourceful Kansas: A Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Blueprint for Communities Across Kansas." The public is invited. 

The program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is designed to engage communities throughout the state in making a fundamental shift toward a less energy-intensive, more efficient economy.

“Resourceful Kansas is a very exciting program designed to reduce energy consumption, increase efficient energy practices, help Kansas harvest its abundant, nonpolluting wind and solar resources, and cultivate new economic opportunities throughout the state,” said GBA Project Manager Jennifer Gunby, P.E., LEED AP. “This innovative program will engage local governments and others in implementing projects that will save energy and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of sustainable energy and economic development strategies for Kansas and surrounding states.”

Governor Brownback gave a nod to renewable energy in his State of the State address, saying "I want Kansas to be known not only as the Wheat State, but as the Renewable State."

Guests will have an opportunity to tour the facility immediately following the ceremony.

For more information and to apply for the Resourceful Kansas program, visit the website at ResourcefulKansas.org.