Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention
Meeting
July 25, 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 9:40 am.
Introductions were made.
The minutes of June 27, 2006 were approved.
II. Safety Events:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the McGrath Safety
Fair in California, MD on July 20th. He stated that
it was a well attended event and that he gave out a
lot of brochures and tip cards. He said that Matt Ruddo
(Miss Utility) would be attending another one for McGrath
on July 26th in the District of Columbia.
Wayne said that he and Matt are going to be attending
a safety day and damage prevention presentation for Childs
Landscape Contractors on August 4th at Sandy Point State
Park in Annapolis, MD. He also said they would be taking
the trade show booth and passing out materials at the
Frederick County Employee Picnic on August 3rd.
III. Trade Shows:
Matt Ruddo attended the June 25th-28th Maryland Municipal
League Convention in Ocean City, MD with Tony Gersitz
of USPCD. He stated that several cities and towns contacted
him after the Convention requesting color code cards,
tip cards, brochures, etc. Matt also said he would
be attending the Maryland Association of Counties Summer
Conference in Ocean City, MD from August 16th-19th
with Tony Gersitz.
Several trade shows are scheduled this fall and volunteers
would be needed to work the trade show booth. Wayne asked
everyone to contact him, Lisa Howard or Matt Ruddo if
they could spare a few hours to work a shift.
IV. Locator Achievement & Dig Smart Awards:
Tom Baldwin stated that a Locator Achievement/Dig Smart
Awards meeting would be held in September to gear up
for the 2006 Awards. He gave a brief history of the
Awards and the qualifications necessary to become a
winner. He stated that he is looking for volunteers
from all stakeholder groups between now and when the
committee meets.
V. Marking Standards Committee:
Wayne Gilmer stated that the Marking Standards Committee
is made up of all stakeholder groups and their goal
is to come to a consensus on common marking standards
for all types of underground facilities. He said that
the Committee will meet monthly following the damage
prevention meetings.
A few had suggested that the Marking Standard Committee
meeting minutes be added to the Miss Utility website.
Matt Ruddo said that he would post the previous meeting
minutes, but he needed them electronically. Wayne stated
that he would email the minutes to Matt.
VI. Contractor Events:
Matt Ruddo stated that two contractor events are scheduled
for October 17th and 19th in the Hughesville and Laurel
areas of Maryland. He said the events are being funded
by the money the MDPSC received from the Federal Office
of Pipeline Safety. He said the events would consist
of a guest speaker, dinner, Miss Utility Presentation
and door prizes. He also stated that Subscribers who
have facilities in the Hughesville and Laurel areas
of Maryland would have the opportunity to promote their
companies by having a trade show booth or table on
the evening of the event.
VII. FTTP/FIOS Progress Report:
Verizon provided the following trench footage projections
which will remain the same for August and September;
AA County 140,000 feet
Howard County 140,000 feet
PG 220,000 feet
Pat Knickman (Verizon) stated that on average they are
receiving 3,000 FIOS orders every 8 to 10 business days.
He indicated that video service should be available in
early August for Anne Arundel County and that parts of
Bowie should have it in the middle to late part of August.
He said that the locators should anticipate a 15% to
20% increase in ticket volumes in these areas.
VII. Open Discussion:
Representatives from Penn Line Service expressed concerns
with MDSHA not being a member of Miss Utility. Robyn
Showalter (Penn Line Service) wanted to know what they
are doing wrong and what the Dig Smart winners are
doing right. She said it would be a good idea to schedule
a Miss Utility presentation for their employees. Tom
Baldwin stated that the Dig Smart winners demonstrate
proactive damage prevention programs by test pitting
to verify the marks are accurate, have zero at fault
damages, attend the monthly damage prevention meetings,
hold company sponsored safety days, utilize ITIC and
Ticket Check and follow all CGA best practices.
Wayne told Robyn that the Miss Utility presentations
are offered free of charge and that folks would come
to their office to provide the training. Tom Baldwin
also said that safety training videos can be rented free
of charge by visiting the lending library section of
the Miss Utility website.
Tony Goodman (Washington Gas) expressed concerns with
a telecommunications contractor installing yellow conduit
in front of one of their buildings. He urged contractors
to make sure they are installing the proper color coded
conduit so that confusion and delays could be avoided
when utility owners attempt to identify their facilities.
Tom Baldwin stated that the 30 minute Miss Utility program
was completed and should be airing on the various local
Maryland County access channels in the very near future.
He said the program consists of the videos from Miss
Utility, BGE and Underground Focus.
There was another general discussion about the challenges
of working around MDSHA lines and the issues everyone
has with them not being member of Miss Utility. Tom Baldwin
stated that MDSHA claims that they don’t need to
be a member because anyone that excavates in the MDSHA
right-of-way needs to have a permit.
Upcoming Damage Prevention Presentations:
4th Childs Landscape Safety Day at Sandy Point State
Park in Annapolis, MD
Upcoming Trade shows:
July
- 26th McGrath Contractors Safety Fair at the US Navy
Yard in Washington DC
August
- 3rd Frederick County Employee Picnic at the Middletown
Community Park in Frederick, MD
- 4th Childs Landscape Safety Day at Sandy State Point
Park in Annapolis, MD
- 16th-19th Maryland Association of Counties Summer
Conference at the Roland Powell Convention Center in
Ocean City, MD
September
- 30th & Oct. 1st Harford Live Home & garden
Show at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD
October
- 20th-22nd Fall Maryland Home and Garden Show at the
Timonium Fairgrounds in Timonium, MD
- 27th-29th Suburban Maryland Fall Home & Garden
Show at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD
Upcoming Meetings:
The next Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting is scheduled
for August 22, 2006 at the Miss Utility Center. Coffee
and donuts will be served at 9:00 am. The meeting will
begin at 9:30 am.
The next Maryland/DC Marking Standards Committee will
meet immediately following the Damage Prevention Meeting.
Lunch will be available for those that attend.
The Maryland/DC Subscribers meeting will be held September
6, 2006 at the Miss Utility Center. Coffee and donuts
will be served at 8:30 am, and the meeting will begin
at 9:00 am.
There being no further business to be brought before
the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 am.
| Attendee List |
 |
| Name |
|
Company |
|
Phone |
|
Email |
| Wayne Gilmer |
|
|
|
| Mark Hamrick |
|
|
|
| Tom Hastings |
|
|
|
| Matt Ruddo |
|
|
|
| Tim Kempa |
|
|
|
| Don Drenning |
|
|
|
| Mike Berzansky |
|
|
|
| Nancy Stull |
|
|
|
| Robyn Showalter |
|
|
|
| Robert Timon |
|
|
|
| Cal Brooks |
|
|
|
| Tim Van Cleve |
|
|
|
| G. M. Johnson |
|
|
|
| Jay Spence |
|
|
|
| Karen Watkins |
|
|
|
| Lyle Bolyard |
|
|
|
| Brian Sink |
|
|
|
| Kevin Woolbright |
|
|
|
| Kelly Hardy |
|
|
|
| Denise Collins |
|
|
|
| Mike Collins |
|
|
|
| Dave Dubs |
|
|
|
| Sean Davis |
|
|
|
| Albert Thomas |
|
|
|
| Dora Parks |
|
|
|
| Rick Behrens |
|
|
|
| Pat Knickman |
|
|
|
| Bill Hymes |
|
|
|
| Tony Goodman |
|
|
|
| Scott Brown |
|
|
|
| Alex Baquie |
|
|
|
| Andrew McCorison |
|
|
|
| Joe Feronti |
|
|
|
| Norman Moore |
|
|
|
| Dave Roberts |
|
|
|
| Kelly Hardy |
|
|
|
| Nelson Sneed |
|
|
|
| Bob Norman |
|
|
|
| Vic Giordani |
|
|
|
| Ken Payne |
|
|
|
| Mario Beiiaty |
|
|
|
| Tanya Pettie |
|
|
|
| Gary Shulties |
|
|
|
|
