Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention Meeting
June 23, 2009
Miss Utility Call Center
Hanover, MD 21076
I. Call To Order and Introduction:
Wayne Gilmer (Utiliquest) called the regular monthly meeting to order at 9:35 am.
Introductions were made.
The minutes of May 26, 2009 were approved.
II. Safety Item:
Wayne Gilmer’s monthly safety topic covered hearing conservation.
III. Diamond Dig Event:
Nick Kelly (MGH) provided the following update and showed everyone a PowerPoint
presentation of the event which was held on June 14, 2009.
Event Details:
- One Diamond- approx 1ct. to be won by a lucky Frederick Keys fan following the game.
- Prior to the game, 106.9 The Eagle will promote the event and select some of the
contestants who will be invited onto the field following the game to participate in
the “Miss Utility Diamond Dig”.
- During the game, additional finalists will be randomly selected via registration drawing on
the stadium concourse and invited to come onto the field following the game.
- As part of this event date, Miss Utility will also be the evening’s event sponsor and sponsor
of that evening’s post-game Fireworks Spectacular!
- Miss Utility will be given a given the opportunity to set up a marketing booth in the concourse
along the first base line.
- Two representatives will be given the opportunity to throw out the first pitch prior to the start
of the game.
Promotion of event:
- All Keys advertising promoting the Diamond Dig (pocket schedules, website, playbill ads &
upcoming events section, newsletters/email blasts, etc.)
- Name mention of Miss Utility in up to 250,000 Keys pocket schedules distributed around
the region as sponsor of the event.
- Weekly Keys E-Newsletter (April- event date)- The event will be promoted in each
newsletter prior to the event.
- The newsletter goes out bi-weekly leading up to the season and then once every home stand
once the season has begun. There are approximately 8,700 subscribers.
- Event will be listed on www.frederickkeys.com all season (on the schedule of events page)
- Keys Game Day Magazine (free playbill)- Leading up the Diamond Dig, there will be 4 editions
(34 games) in which the magazine will mention the Diamond Dig in the upcoming event
- The Frederick Keys will print and will hand out fliers (and place at guest service booth)
promoting the Diamond Dig prior to the event- this can start as early as opening day (April 17)
- In stadium promotion of the diamond dig through PA Announcements/ video board messages for a
minimum of 2 home stands prior to event date
- Press Releases to area media outlets to promote event and generate interest in pre-publicity
and coverage of the event.
IV. Dig Smart/Locator Achievement Awards:
No report.
V. Damage Prevention Presentations:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the following damage prevention presentations/safety events:
- CJ Miller 3514 Basler Road Hampstead, MD on June 5, 2009
- Walter Reed Army Medical Center Safety Day at 6900 Georgia Avenue Building 83 on May 27,
2009. Wayne read aloud the thank you note he received from them.
- US Department of Energy, Office of Health, Safety & Security Training Day at 23730 Frederick
Road Clarksburg, MD on June 3, 2009
- DCWASA Safety Day 2009 at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 5000
Overlook Ave. in Washington DC on June 12, 2009
Wayne Gilmer referenced upcoming damage prevention presentations/safety events:
- Chesapeake Region Safety Council’s Conference & Expo at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab located at
11100 Johns Hopkins Road in Laurel, MD on September 15, 2009.
VI. 2009 Greater Chesapeake Damage Prevention Training Conference (GCDPTC):
Matt Ruddo gave a brief update on the GCDPTC that will be held at the Clarion Fontainebleau Hotel on October
21-23, 2009:
- Matt distributed a sample of the postcard that was being mailed to approximately 4,000 companies
- Early bird discounts are available through July 31, 2009
- A Planning Committee meeting with breakout session speakers would immediately follow today’s MD/DC Damage
Prevention meeting
Please visit the following link for more details on registration options:
http://www.missutility.net/2009Conference/registration.asp
Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are still available and can be found at the following links:
http://www.missutility.net/2009Conference/sponsors.asp
http://www.missutility.net/2009Conference/exhibitors.asp
VII. Title XII Steering Committee:
Tom Baldwin stated the Steering Committee is talking about having two stakeholder meetings. One would be held at the GCDPTC in Ocean City, MD
and the other one at BGE”S Woodlawn facility. He said the text portion of the Law was completed and the committee agreed on the Maryland
Damage Prevention Authority (MDPA) as the enforcement authority. He also said the Steering Committee plans to meet every Monday morning
through August.
IX. MD/DC Subscribers Committee Meeting:
Next meeting is tentatively scheduled at Washington Gas’ Springfield, VA facility on August 19, 2009 at 9:00 am.
XI. FTTP/FIOS Progress Report:
Mark Hamrick (Verizon) provided the following FTTP trench footage projections:
| |
July |
August |
| Anne Arundel |
20,000 |
30,000 |
| Baltimore |
101,000 |
48,000 |
| Charles |
190,000 |
237,000 |
| Howard |
51,000 |
6,000 |
| Harford |
319,000 |
460,000 |
| Montgomery |
204,000 |
160,000 |
| Prince George’s |
56,000 |
93,000 |
There were general concerns raised with the large increase in the projections for certain counties
from the previous month. Tom Baldwin stated that it is important to know when the crews are
coming so that utility owners can gear up for the locating effort. He said it will be a
challenge to get all tickets located and responded to with a limited amount of advance notice. Mark
Hamrick stated that he understands the concerns being raised and he will pass them on within Verizon.
Open Discussion:
Alex Dankanich (DOT/Pipeline) said that federal grants are available for the 2009-2010 damage prevention awareness
campaign. He said one call centers can seek the grant as longs as the get an approval letter from the Governor. There
was a brief discussion about the difficulty submitting the grant through the FedStar application. Alex suggested that
Sam Hall (PHMSA) be contacted for assistance.
Alice Gilmore asked if the Miss Utility Center plans to discontinue use of the 2 digit ADC map books. Dora Parks (Miss Utility
Center) said that Miss Utility would continue to use the 2 digit maps until approximately 70% of all users have switched
over to the 4 digit books.
Mark Hamrick stated that Verizon lines are being damaged in Washington DC and the impact on customer service is a very serious
concern. He stated that Verizon will continue to encourage the scheduling of damage prevention training through the MD/DC Damage
Prevention team. Verizon is also encouraging all excavators they come in contact to utilize the MD/DC damage prevention resources
and he would like to ask the other Subscriber members to do the same.
Upcoming Trade Shows:
The following tradeshows are schedule for 2009:
| Show name: |
|
Maryland Municipal League |
| Date: |
|
June 28-July 1, 2009 |
| City, State: |
|
Ocean City, MD |
| Place: |
|
Ocean City Convention Center |
| Website: |
|
http://www.mdmunicipal.org/cv09/cvgeneralinfo.cfm |
 |
| Show name: |
|
Maryland Association of Counties |
| Date: |
|
August 12-15, 2009 |
| City, State: |
|
Ocean City, MD |
| Place: |
|
Roland Powell Convention Center |
| Website: |
|
http://www.mdcounties.org/events/default.cfm |
|
| Show name: |
|
Chesapeake Region Safety Council Conference & Expo |
| Date: |
|
September 15, 2009 |
| City, State: |
|
Laurel, MD |
| Place: |
|
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab |
| Website: |
|
http://www.chesapeakesc.org |
|
| Show name: |
|
Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show |
| Date: |
|
September 11-13, 2009 |
| City, State: |
|
Germantown, MD |
| Place: |
|
Discovery Sports Center at Maryland Soccerplex |
| Website: |
|
http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/DSF.html |
|
| Show Name: |
|
Harford Live! |
| Date: |
|
September 26-27, 2009 |
| City, State: |
|
Aberdeen, MD |
| Place: |
|
Ripken Stadium |
| Website: |
|
http://www.harfordlive.com |
|
| Show Name: |
|
Maryland Home & Garden Show |
| Date: |
|
October 16-18, 2009 |
| City, State: |
|
Timonium, MD |
| Place: |
|
Maryland State Fairgrounds |
| Website: |
|
http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/HAF.html |
|
| Show Name: |
|
Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show |
| Date: |
|
October 30th-November 1, 2009 |
| City, State: |
|
Upper Marlboro, MD |
| Place: |
|
The Show Place Arena |
| Website: |
|
http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/HAF.html |
Upcoming Meetings:
The next Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting is scheduled for July 28, 2009 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 Subscribers meeting will be held August 19, 2009 at Washington Gas which is located at 6801 Industrial
Blvd. Springfield, VA 22151. Coffee and donuts will be served at 8:30 am, and the meeting will begin at 9:00 am.
There being no further business brought before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:35 am.
 |
| ITIC % Report for Maryland and Washington D.C. |
|
| Month |
|
Call Center Tickets |
|
ITIC Tickets |
|
Percentage |
| May-08 |
|
60,597 |
|
41,305 |
|
68% |
| Jun-08 |
|
61,717 |
|
42,510 |
|
69% |
| Jul-08 |
|
63,231 |
|
44,582 |
|
71% |
| Aug-08 |
|
58,606 |
|
40,823 |
|
70% |
| Sep-08 |
|
60,176 |
|
42,587 |
|
71% |
| Oct-08 |
|
63,374 |
|
44,378 |
|
70% |
| Nov-08 |
|
44,680 |
|
31,772 |
|
71% |
| Dec-08 |
|
48,953 |
|
36,569 |
|
75% |
| Jan-09 |
|
44,393 |
|
32,250 |
|
73% |
| Feb-09 |
|
44,597 |
|
33,304 |
|
75% |
| Mar-09 |
|
54,095 |
|
39,670 |
|
73% |
| Apr-09 |
|
58,278 |
|
42,368 |
|
73% |
| May-09 |
|
54,805 |
|
39,824 |
|
73% |
|
