Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention
Meeting
June 27, 2006
Miss Utility Call Center
Hanover, MD 21076
I. Call To Order and Introduction:
Wayne Gilmer (Utiliquest) called the regular monthly
meeting to order at 9:35am.
Introductions of attendees were made.
The minutes of meeting held May 23, 2006 were approved.
II. SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Kelly Ruddo (One Call Concepts, Inc.) and Sonia Miles
(One Call Concepts, Inc.) gave a presentation on the
new web based product; National Ticket Management System
(NTMS) and the improvements made to Search and Status
and Ticket Check.
NTMS – the four components of this system are;
- Positive Response – Ticket Check
- Search and Status
- Excavator Ticket Management (future)
- Member Ticket Management (future)
NTMS can provide the ability to status the Ticket Check
system from a desktop application or via the web. Users
will be able to change their contact information for
tickets displayed on Search and Status. The ability to
view and sort tickets will be available. Kelly stated
this new system would allow an expansion of searchable
fields regarding Search and Status and invited the members
to provide their ideas for what these fields should be.
This new platform will open the doors to many future
enhancements.
Ticket Check and Search and Status were moved to a single
database system on June 20, 2006 and as a result of that
move, afforded the following:
- Excavators have real time access of Ticket
Check member coding
- Ensures 100% accuracy for Search and Status
and Ticket Check data
Kelly also provided insight to the issues resulting
from this cutover. Some members received Ticket Check
No Responses on Emergency tickets. Some members received
pre-mature No Responses on Insufficient and Short Notice
tickets. Manual coding had problems with accessing some
ticket numbers and recognizing some member access authorization
codes. There were a few member firewall issues that were
being dealt with.
Mark Hamrick stated he appreciated the center notice
and communications regarding the cutover issues.
There were some general conversations as to what the
new system would allow, such as;
- Set up member user preferences within cookies.
- Being able to log a Ticket Check code discrepancy
on line.
- Emailed reporting.
- Expanding the date range for Search and Status.
Tom Baldwin (BGE) suggested a sub committee be formed
to discuss future aspects of Search and Status and Ticket
Check.
III. DAMAGE PREVENTION PRESENTATIONS
Wayne Gilmer stated that the MOSH presentation on June
14, 2006 was attended by 35 to 40 persons and was well
received. Information regarding improved damage investigating,
education, partnership and the importance of test pitting
was provided.
A second presentation was provided to Corman Construction
on June 20, 2006. Tom Baldwin stated there were about
120 attendees and the discussions revolved around the
aspects of safe digging and the purpose of Miss Utility.
Wayne Gilmer stated that Matt Ruddo was attending the
Maryland Municipal League Convention in Ocean City (June
25 – 28, 2006) and would report on that trade show
at the July meeting.
IV. LOCATOR ACHIEVEMENT & DIG
SMART AWARDS
Dora Parks
(Miss Utility) stated the Miss Utility website has posted
information regarding the awards for the 2005 Locator
Achievements and the excavator Dig Smart awards and provided
copies of the website information. The website also included
information on the Awards Banquet, complete with pictures
of the keynote speaker, Earl Lewis, Jr. (Assistant Secretary
of the MD Dept. of Transportation) and the Dig Smart
winners and the Utiliquest Locator Achievement winners.
Dora provided an overview of the awards purpose and benefits.
Each year, enhancements to the program have been implemented
and will continue into the awards program for 2006.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Marking Standards Committee: Wayne Gilmer
provided a handout for group feedback regarding the committee’s
progress regarding acceptable identification of buried
utility plant. The next committee meeting will be held
directly following the Damage Prevention Meeting.
Vehicle Signage: Wayne Gilmer passed around a sample
of what New York and Virginia are using as vehicle signage
to promote safe excavation. There was a brief conversation
regarding possible utility specifications regarding additional
vehicle signs. No conclusions at this point in time.
VI. CONTRACTOR EVENT
Lisa Howard was not available for
comment; Wayne Gilmer will contact her.
VII. FTTP /FIOS REPORT
Ken Rupert (Verizon FTTP) provided
the following county projections which will be the same
for July, August and September;
AA County 140,000 feet
Howard County 140,000 feet
PG 220,000 feet
Ken stated that as of June 24, 2006, Verizon had installed
477,000 feet of a projected 500,000 feet for the month
of June. Additionally, as of June 27th, nothing has been
projected for Baltimore County.
Pat Knickman (Verizon FIOS) stated they have secured
the video franchises in Howard County and City of Bowie
in PG County. They have a tentative date of July 5, 2006
for Anne Arundel County. Pat said that Verizon is receiving
about 9,000 FIOS requests per month.
VIII. OPEN DISCUSSION
Alex Dankanich (DOT/PHMSA) talked
about the benefits of becoming a regional partner with
CGA and provided some website handouts. Alex stated damage
prevention is the number one issue for CGA and invited
the committee to visit their website; www.commongroundalliance.com
to learn more about Best Practices, data reporting, education,
OCSI and membership. He reported that USPCD had joined
the CGA organization.
Dennis Lescalleet (Pleasants Construction) stated he
was not having much success in finding material on certification
requirements for operating backhoes, skid steers and
other heavy equipment. He contacted OSHA and reported
they stated certification is not enforceable. Wayne Gilmer
offered Safety Council of Maryland and Priority One Consultants.
There may be a fee for their educational and certification
services. Tom Baldwin offered; MOSH for educational materials
and to contact local contractor associations for feedback
on this issue.
Tim Vancleve (Verizon) inquired about the possibility
of having the Miss Utility website converted to Spanish.
A general discussion regarding the benefit of such a
costly venture ensued. For now, this inquiry has been
tabled.
IX. UPCOMING MEETINGS
Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting
will be held on Tuesday July 25, 2006 at 9:30am at the
Miss Utility Center. Coffee and donuts will be served
at 9:00am.
Maryland/DC Subscribers meeting will be held on Wednesday
September 6, 2006 at 9:00am at the Miss Utility Center.
Coffee and donuts will be served at 8:30am.
There being no further business to be brought before
the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:10am.
| Attendee List |
 |
| Name |
|
Company |
|
Phone |
|
Email |
| Wayne Gilmer |
|
|
|
| Mark Hamrick |
|
|
|
| Jimmy Jennings |
|
|
|
| John Eichhorn |
|
|
|
| Joe Shelton |
|
|
|
| Tom Baldwin |
|
|
|
| Jay Spence |
|
|
|
| John Payne |
|
|
|
| Ken Rupert |
|
|
|
| Joe Burton |
|
|
|
| Cal Brooks |
|
|
|
| Beverly
Walsh |
|
|
|
| Norman
Moore |
|
|
|
| Z. Sushko |
|
|
|
| Karen Watkins |
|
|
|
| Joe Feronti |
|
|
|
| Bob Norman |
|
|
|
| Alex Baquie |
|
|
|
| Kelly Hardy |
|
|
|
| Rick Behrens |
|
|
|
| Sherell Stone |
|
|
|
| Dave Dubs |
|
|
|
| Sean Davis |
|
|
|
| Vic Giordani |
|
|
|
| Dennis Lescalleet |
|
|
|
| Ron Rose |
|
|
|
| Pat Knickman |
|
|
|
| Paul Gibbs |
|
|
|
| Tony Goodman |
|
|
|
| Scott Brown |
|
|
|
| Alex Dankanich |
|
|
|
| Dora Parks |
|
|
|
|
