Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention Meeting
January 23, 2007
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 November 28, 2006 were approved.

II. Damage Prevention Presentations:

Matt Ruddo (Miss Utility) and Jack Sullivan (BGE) gave a presentation to the Independent Electrical Contractors Association in Odenton, MD on December 7, 2006. He said 20 people were in attendance and they asked a lot of good questions.

Wayne Gilmer gave a presentation to Southern MD Cable on December 20, 2006. He said the owner of Southern MD Cable was in attendance as well as 15 of his employees.

Wayne Gilmer, Jack Sullivan, Mark Hamrick (Verizon), Lee Morris (Washington Gas) and Matt Ruddo will be giving a presentation to the Water and Waste Operators Association of Maryland, DC and Delaware on January 25, 2007 at the Calvert County Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Matt said that about 40 people are expected to be in attendance that day.

Jack Sullivan and Matt Ruddo will be giving a presentation to CJ Miller on February 2, 2007 at the Best Western Catering & Conference Center in Westminster, MD. Matt said that about 85 people are expected to be in attendance that day.

Wayne Gilmer, Jack Sullivan, Lee Morris and Matt Ruddo will be giving a presentation to Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc. in Crofton, MD on February 21, 2007. Matt said that about 30 people are expected to be in attendance that day.

V. Trade Shows:

Wayne Gilmer distributed copies of the trade show coverage spreadsheet. He asked that everyone consider volunteering their time to work a three hour shift at the trade show booth.

VI. Locator Achievement/Dig Smart Committee:

Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the Awards night on March 29, 2007 at the Columbia Sheraton. He said the Locator winners would be announced February 20th. He also said that the Dig Smart entry forms were in the mail and the winners would be announced on February 28th. He thanked the committee for an excellent job and staying ahead of schedule.

Mark Hamrick (Verizon) thanked Kevin Woolbright (WSSC) for mailing the Locator ballots and the Dig Smart entry forms.

VIII. Marking Standards Group:

Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the Marking Standards meeting held at the Miss Utility Center on November 28, 2006. He said the committee talked about the use painted dots on driveways, brick walkways and landscaped areas. He said a best practice was established on when and where flags should be utilized. He also stated the group decided to change the name of the committee from the Marking Standards to the Marking Guidelines Group.

XI. Title 12 Steering Committee:

There was a lengthy discussion about proposed changes to the Maryland Miss Utility Law. Wayne Gilmer stated that a steering committee was created at the last Title 12 meeting on November 29, 2006. He also said the steering committee would break the Maryland Law down into different parts and create subcommittees for each.

The Title 12 Steering Committee is as follows:

Chairman: Jim Barron (Ronkin Construction)

Facility Owners:

Locator Representatives:

Excavator Representatives:

Public Service Commission Representative:

One Call Center Representative:

Kelly Hardy (Utiliquest) stated that he spoke to Jim Barron and he hoped to have the first meeting within the next couple of weeks.

Alex Baquie (AA County) requested that the meeting minutes be added to the Miss Utility website. Wayne Gilmer stated that Matt Ruddo agreed to add the minutes to the State law section of the website.

There was a general discussion about having a separate area on the website for those meeting minutes. Matt Ruddo stated that several requested that the previous meeting minutes be added with the Maryland Law section. He said the first meeting minutes are posted there for anyone to view.

IX. MD/DC Subscribers Committee Meeting:

There was a general discussion about some of the topics at the December 6, 2006 MD/DC Subscribers meeting.

Wayne Gilmer stated that Chris McMurry of MGH presented the public awareness/advertising campaign for 2007.

Tom Baldwin said he would contact Chris McMurry to setup a meeting to discussion the 2007 contractor nights.

Matt Ruddo stated that the PRISM mapping function would follow the ADC map/page/grid format changes. He said ADC plans to have some of the format changes done by the summer of 2007 and have all counties done, excluding Allegany and Garrett, by the end of 2010.

Tom Baldwin stated that 811 is coming, but there are issues with some telephone companies requesting that they be reimbursed for there implementation work. He also stated that a CGA rep would be at the February 21, 2007 meeting to do an 811 presentation.

X. FTTP/FIOS Progress Report:

Mark Hamrick (Verizon) stated that approximately 4,000 FIOS tickets are being called in a month for all areas except Baltimore County.

Shawn Breen (Verizon) provided the following three month FTTP trench footage projections:

XI. Open Discussion:

Wayne Gilmer stated that nominations for the MD/DC Damage Prevention Chairman position are held at the first MD/DC Damage Prevention meeting of the year. He said nominations would go to the MD/DC Subscribers Committee for review. Matt Ruddo made a motion for Wayne to continue as Chairman and Tom Baldwin seconded the motion. Several commented at the excellent job Wayne has done through the years.

Kevin Woolbright said he spoke with Chris McMurry and he would like to schedule the first contractor night meeting on the same day as the Locator Achievement/Dig Smart Awards meeting.

Paul Leatherman (Midasco) saidt he is having issues getting Code 5 statuses on the large jobs. There was a lengthy discussion about how large project tickets get statused through Ticket Check and how to better communicate with the locators in the field. A few suggested that Paul create a 2 part copy form and request locators to sign off on what they’ve located before they leave the job site. He also indicated that he is having issues getting locate marks from the MD State Highway Administration.

Mitzi Ambush (PEPCO) expressed concerns with fence companies installing posts right on top utility lines. She said that most fence companies are telling her that they are putting the fences where the homeowners want them.

Andy Kaldmaa (Long Fence) said that those issues comes up from time to time and they work with their sales staff to let the homeowners know of the dangers of putting fences on top of utility lines.

There was a general discussion about educating homeowners through county permitting offices. Matt Ruddo stated that letter is mailed each year to all the county permitting offices letting them know that we offer free Miss Utility materials they can give homeowners that apply for a permit.

Mitzi Ambush said she is having issues with contractors not calling in tickets when they are working in fenced areas in new subdivisions as well as townhouse communities.

Kevin Woolbright said that a lot of the people that attend the home and garden shows ask if they should call Miss Utility before they dig.

Alex Dankich (DOT/PHMSA) stated there is a new Federal Law that enforces excavation safety practices around hazardous liquid pipelines.

Subsequent to the meeting Alex emailed Matt Ruddo the link:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h5782enr.txt.pdf

There was a general discussion about the enforcement portion of the Miss Utility law and how it pertains to the Federal legislation.

Sherell Stone asked if there was a ticket size requirement in Maryland. Matt Ruddo said that ticket size is not addressed in the Miss Utility Law, but a policy of no more than three grids per ticket was established many years ago. He also stated that only one grid is permitted per ticket in the District of Columbia.

Alex Dankich said the CGA Excavation Safety Conference & Expo in being held March 6-8, 2007 in Orlando, FL. Matt Ruddo said there is a link to the Expo on the Miss Utility website home page.

Upcoming Damage Prevention Presentations:

January 25, 2007 Water and Waste Operators Association of Maryland, DC and Delaware at the Calvert County Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach, MD.

February 21, 2007 Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc. in Crofton, MD

February 22, 2007 Paddock Pools in Rockville, MD

February 23, 2007 Highway and Safety Services, Inc Gaithersburg, MD

Upcoming Trade Shows:

Show name:		Baltimore Construction Expo
Date:		February 1st
City, State:		Timonium, MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		N/A
Show name:		Suburban Maryland Home & Garden Show
Date:		February 2nd - 4th
City, State:		Upper Marlboro, MD
Place:		The Show Place Arena
Website:		www.americanconsumershows.com
Show name:		Landscape Contractors Association
Date:		February 13th - 16th
City, State:		Ellicott City,MD
Place:		Turf Valley Resort & Conference Center
Website:		www.lcamddcva.org
Show name:		Spring Maryland Home & Garden Show
Date:		March 2nd - 4th & March 9th - 11th
City, State:		Timonium,MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		www.mdhomeandgarden.com
Show name:		Washington Home & Garden Show
Date:		March 9th - 11th
City, State:		Washington, D.C.
Place:		Washington Convention Center
Website:		www.washingtonhomeandgarden.com
Show Name:		Frederick Home & Garden Show
Date:		March 17th - 18th
City, State:		Frederick, MD
Place:		The Great Frederick Fairgrounds
Website:		www.fcbal.org/html/homeshow.cfm
Show name:		Builder Mart
Date:		March 21st
City, State:		Timonium,MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		www.homebuilders.org/page/55597/index.v3page
Show name:		Spring Montgomery County Home & Garden Show
Date:		March 23rd - March 25th
City, State:		Germantown, MD
Place:		Discovery Center at Maryland Soccer Plex
Website:		www.americanconsumershows.com
Show name:		Harford LIVE!
Date:		April 21st - 22nd
City, State:		Aberdeen, MD
Place:		Ripken Stadium
Website:		www.harfordlive.com
Show name:		Maryland Municipal League
Date:		June 24th - 27th
City, State:		Ocean City, MD
Place:		Ocean City Convention Center
Website:		www.mdmunicipal.org/mmlhome/index.cfm
Show name:		Maryland Association of Counties
Date:		August 15th - 18th
City, State:		Ocean City, MD
Place:		Ocean City Convention Center
Website:		www.mdcounties.org/events/sc_overview.cfm
Show name:		Chesapeake Region Conference & Expo
Date:		September 14th
City, State:		Baltimore, MD
Place:		Martin's West
Website:		N/A
Show name:		Suburban Maryland Home & Garden Show
Date:		September 14th - 16th
City, State:		Upper Marlboro, MD
Place:		The Show Place Arena
Website:		www.americanconsumershows.com
Show Name:		Harford LIVE!
Date:		September 29th - 30th
City, State:		Aberdeen, MD
Place:		Ripken Stadium
Website:		www.harfordlive.com
Show Name:		Fall Maryland Home & Garden Show
Date:		October 19th - 21st
City, State:		Timonium, MD
Place:		Maryland State Fairgrounds
Website:		www.mdhomeandgarden.com
Show Name:		Fall Montgomery County Home & Garden Show
Date:		October 26th - 28th
City, State:		Germantown, MD
Place:		Discovery Center at Maryland Soccer Plex
Website:		www.americanconsumershows.com

Upcoming Meetings:

The next Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting is scheduled for February 27, 2007 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.

The 2007 Maryland/DC Subscribers meeting will be held February 21st, May 16th, September 19th and December 6th 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 11:55 am.

Attendee List
Name		Company		Phone		Email
Wayne Gilmer		Utiliquest		301-674-2769		walter.gilmer@utiliquest.com
Zenon Sushko		MDPSC		410-767-8113		zsushko@psc.state.md.us
Shawn Breen		Verizon		410-737-4042		shawn.p.breen@verizon.com
Matt Ruddo		Miss Utility Center		410-712-0056		matt@missutility.net
Tom Baldwin		BGE		410-291-3121		t.c.baldwin@bge.com
Dennis Lescalleet		Pleasants Construction		301-428-0800		dlescalleet@pleasants.org
Mark Hamrick		Verizon		410-610-1371		mark.a.hamrick@verizon.com
Karen Watkins		SMECO		301-274-4350		karen.watkins@smeco.coop
Mike Stecker		Premier Safety		301-829-2416		premier16@aol.com
Donna Stecker		Premier Safety		301-829-2416		premier16@aol.com
Tom Hastings		OCC Locating Services		410-712-0202		thastings@occls.com
Sherell Stone		NPL Construction		410-355-1083		sstone@nplcc.com
Rick Behrens		CableCom		916-712-5028		rlbehrens@bellsouth.net
Robert Vicks		PEPCO		202-388-2141		rvicks@pepco.com
Bede DuPree		Mastec		443-336-2842		bedee.dupree@mastec.com
Mitzi Ambush		PEPCO		240-508-4075		mambush@pepco.com
Bob Norman		Utiliquest		410-536-0070		bob.norman@utiliquest.com
Tina Shores		Cherry Hill Const.		410-799-2396		tshores@chconstr.com
Darren McClain		Cherry Hill Const.		410-799-2380		dmcclain@chconstr.com
Tim Kempa		Comcast		410-371-3304		tim_kempa@cable.comcast.com
Lisa Stephan		Midasco		410-579-6736		lshanestephan@midasco.net
Paul Leatherman		Midasco		410-579-6736		pleatherman@midasco.net
Kevin Woolbright		WSSC		301-206-8216		kwoolbr@wssc.water.com
Cal Brooks		Howard County		410-313-4952		cbrooks@co.ho.md.us
Andy Kaldmaa		Long Fence		301-350-2400		akaldmaa@longfence.com
Dena Walters		OCCLS		3410-712-0202		dena@occls.com
Joe Feronti		Utiliquest		301-343-8762		joe.feronti@utiliquest.com
Greg Johnson		PEPCO		301-670-8735		gmjohnson@pepco.com
Rudy McCumber		Rommel Engineering & Const		301-912-5740		rmccumber@rommelco.com
Alex Baquie		AA County		410-222-7344		alexboquie@aacounty.org
Anthony Goodman		Washington Gas		703-750-4708		agoodman@washgas.com
Alex Dankanich		DOT/PHMSA		202-260-8518		alex.dankanich@dot.gov
Kelly Hardy		Utiliquest		410-536-0071		kelly.hardy@utiliquest.com