Local Government

As governments at all levels continue to embrace new developments in artificial intelligence, cities are using automation for everything from reducing first responder paperwork to streamlined permitting.

Lorain County Transit has received a $2.7 million federal grant to expand its Via Lorain County microtransit service. The offering uses intelligent algorithms to serve riders more efficiently.

A township in eastern Washtenaw County has adopted rules that limit data centers to land zoned for industrial and commercial revitalization uses. The facilities are not allowed on land zoned for any other uses.

The Marin County Digital Accelerator takes an agile approach to gov tech, moving fast to get work done. A recent project found a “single source of truth” to modernize planning and permitting.

The Bismarck Municipal Court system handled nearly 87,000 new cases from 2020-2024 and saw a 40 percent caseload increase in 2024. Officials are examining what systems might be upgraded to handle the additional burden.

The chair of the City Council introduced a measure last month that would mandate using online software to enable better visibility into city and county budgets and finances. The bill passed its first of three Council readings.

The renewal of a state grant program for local public agencies focuses on cybersecurity and other areas that involve gov tech. Officials encourage governments to partner on projects that could receive funding.

The County Council signed off on $34 million in contracts to update the enterprise resource planning system, which manages a variety of processes. A councilman wondered if it might streamline other county functions.

The Town Board approved the installation of the cameras on municipal property at its work session earlier this week, with the number of planned cameras dropping from eight to four.

The young company’s backers and supporters include several gov tech veterans along with officials from Nevada. Madison AI offers a chatbot and other AI-backed services to cities and counties and other local agencies.

Daniel Rister, a 26-year veteran of Cumberland County government, has been named its permanent chief innovation and technology services director after serving on an interim basis for about four months.

The state Office of Science, Innovation and Technology is partnering with a vendor to deliver broadband to Laughlin and Cal-Nev-Ari. American Rescue Plan Act funds are driving the work.

Pamela McKnight will serve as the city’s inaugural chief AI officer. Officials first announced plans to hire a CAIO and build out an AI team earlier this year, powered by a $2 million budget expansion.

A proposed one-year moratorium on large hyperscale data centers in Starke County, Ind., is headed to the County Board of Commissioners there for consideration.

The city’s police chief reviewed its contract with the vendor providing the cameras and will brief the Common Council, as officials contemplate placing more devices. The city, not the vendor, owns the data collected.

Martha Norrick left her job earlier this year and has since joined the incoming mayor’s transition team on technology. She was an advocate of open data and data literacy.

A new policy guide from the nonprofit Public Citizen is intended to support the public sector with concrete recommendations on transparent data center projects that are respectful to residents.

The startup, backed by two government technology veterans and other investors, uses AI to speed up the permitting process as many cities face housing shortages. Bellevue, Wash., is among the company’s early clients.