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OUNC State Officer Meeting 5-21-2010 · Introductions were made · This meeting started 7 years ago in Bend – middle of state seems to work well for everyone, so Bend it is. Normally golfing is a big hit, but this year the snow put a damper on the event. (Yes, it was snowing in Bend) · This is like an office luncheon - once a year · Everyone reported out and/or presented information on their respective Council o Central Oregon - Jack -4 Contractor breakfasts per year in different locations – they figure it’s easier for council to get to them - attempting to get more contractors involved -Have pizza tailgates w/giveaways to spark interest and training – try to get different companies to sponsor the lunches. -typically meetings are Q&A -Have showed an educational video and powerpoint, which can be shared -participated in Home & Garden Show – had a drawing for stopping by the booth. Had $200 worth of prizes to give away. Had them draw questions out of jar to be put into drawing. -Used booth kit. o Wasco County -participate in Public works day, where they give out Digby gift certificates -Work to Educate kids on locates through Public works day. -Have Banners ($45 and $90) hanging @ Jerry’s and Home Depot -involved in local high school construction course – get teachers involved – need to educate the next generation -participate in Home & Garden Show -involved in Electrical Safety Education for kids -participate as council in local parade to advertise and educate -educating public and working to educate fence contractor’s o Baker -Once a month -yearly contractor’s breakfast – lots of giveaways -annual contractors bbq -Avoid Fall for events due to lack of participation due to hunting season -Buy advertising in local school newsletters etc – try to keep local -have banner @ Rodeo -Established events give community something to look forward to. o South Coast -Only have 2 members total -struggling – economy very bad, no building -Utilities won’t participate -Did not participate in Home Show – other member would only contribute one hour -Of the 2 members, they are both retiring and then there will be 0 members o Rogue -Quarterly Meetings – they also pay for their members lunch -35-40 people -Try to have guest speaker -Good topic has been all the changes in traffic control signs – there are lots of new laws that make current signs illegal. -have done golf tournament in the past, reviewing this due to does not seem to be best use of funds for recruiting purposes. -Would like to utilize utilities more o Klamath Falls -Looking to re-invigorate the council -looking at Shield Crest Golf Tournament -looking at participating in Klamath Home Show o Yamhill -Fishing Derby -Pizza tailgaters o Lincoln County -Giving away lots of t-shirts -looking at recruiting more -have an annual contractors dinner – gave away door prizes o Linn Benton -Contractors Breakfast -Safety Fair -Looking to do Pizza parties o Lane County – see attachment of highlightso Douglas County -Tailgate lunches – pizza -contractors breakfast – maybe a dinner in the Fall? -give away door prizes etc. – generous donators – everyone leaves with a prize -Avoid Fall – hunting -Lost their venue this year, need someplace different, maybe the fairgrounds? -10-15 members -officers do a good job -economy has impacted membership o Hood River -Contractor nights -Sept BBQ – 60-100 participants at the County park -Made DVD – local underground digging w/local companies. 5-7 minutes – will have link on the OUNC website to make this available to all. o I failed to write the name down? -on site pizza parties -Demo Day -Do struggle w/membership -Public Works day- 600 people and the council participates -Kaizer brings in life flight -contractors lunch – serve hot dogs etc. o Umatilla -3 Counties, so logistically not so easy -Really trying to have tailgate parties -try to meet monthly -Adding engineers -Go to Safety meetings as a guest -try to focus on those calling for locates · Treasurers Report – See Attached -Note LUCC was mailed $1000 · Dues Report Metro - $75 Wasco-? Mid-Willamette-? Yamhill-? Lincoln-$100 East Lin - $50 Lane - $60 for Contractors, $100 for Utilities Douglas-$10-$100 based on size KFalls-$35 contractors,$50 Utilities Hood River-$35 Baker-$50 Umatilla-$40 and sometimes waive fee for first year Malheur – no charge Central – no charge -it was noted charges greatly depend on the economy of the area · Damage Reporting -It was noted that every Council should establish damage reporting protocols -most councils are reporting -Concern about economic times causing contractors to cut corners -In LaGrande – every member reports to OUNC their own damages -some councils even report contract damage, can be confusing, since a lot of information · OUNC Concerns -OCC – really pushing everyone to use the ITIC system. They will be charging operators more for none ITIC requests (fax, phone calls to 811 etc.) . In other ways, all ways (but the internet) will have a higher charge. -Some feel they get quicker turnaround with faxes. -It was noted there is so much heavy advertising to call 811, yet they are pushing for the ITIC System? There seems to be a conflict there. · Reviewed advertisements on OUNC site – these are for everyone to use at their councils. Check around, as some media will advertise for non profits for free using these advertisements. · Request for Administrative Action Discussion -Advocate to communicate respectively first. If that doesn’t work, then file an RA -Just know need to provide lots of detail when you filed an RA -Need good documentation -Noted in Virginia, the law states that every reported damage is investigated and we don’t have the resources to do that. · Follow up Certification for Locators Discussion -Alaska still brewing at State level for locators to be certified for certain activities. -OUNC agreed to not disagree with locators being certified. They are not endorsing this quest, but rather respectively not disagreeing. · Washington Issue -Still chunking along with the law there on who enforces the digging law there and who owns it? -they are reviewing if they should have a state appointment Board or? -Revenue stream an issue – Alan Lundeen the contact for this in Washington · Contractors discussed their individual issues. · Note – Operators are the ones accountable for Locators. · Safety Survey from ODOT will be sent out. · Future Meeting Schedule 2010: Coos Bay – August 12 and 13 Klamath Falls – October Tacoma – State Meeting for councils – would like to send a representative – Sept 14th & 16th Spirit Mountain, Salem, December 8 and 9 · Schedule 2011: -March 9th & 10th – Lane County -June 8th & 9th – Bend -September 14th & 15th – Baker City -December 14th & 15th – Roseburg · It was noted the bar has been raised for locating. It’s really no longer about locates being accurate (although that’s what it is really all about), it’s more like accountability. Is the locator on time etc. The expectations are definitely higher. Highlights for OUNC Quarterly Meeting – May 21st, 2010 · Officers elected (or volunteered) each year that keep the council moving forward · Members pay their dues so that we can provide education · Each year come up with a plan to spend the dues – start with the officers and then incorporate to members · Members consistently come and participate (30-45 each meeting) · Open Communication · Applicable monthly programs · Address issues in a respectful manner so that participants can learn for future instances. · Successful annual contractors breakfast in February – this year 114 participants. · We invest in our participants · Officer meetings help keep council organized with who is doing what etc. · Consistent monthly agendas w/a program What are the frustrations? · Occasional lack of communication in field pops us (sometimes not respectively) in a monthly meeting · Public vs Private participation. Public Agencies (like EWEB and City of Eugene) tend to carry the majority of the responsibility of the council due to private sectors tend not to volunteer as much. As a result, the same core people tend to be in the officer role – whether they want to or not. What do we charge? · $60 a year for contractors · $100 for Utilities · Our treasurer sends a notice and reports out every month. What do we talk about at our local council meetings? · We take notes, so it’s all recorded and posted. Log onto www.luccdig.org · We have a standard agenda for every meeting: o Welcome o Meeting Minutes from previous minute approved o Treasurer’s report o Publicity & Education o Damage Report o Self Introductions o Web Page Update o Old Business o New Business o Program o Meeting Adjourned · Typically, a member will bring up a concern in the field during old or new business and there will be a discussion and agreement to resolve through communication after the meeting with the involved and appropriate parties. Other members offer ideas or their interpretation of the law. · We always keep a copy of the Standards Manual on hand to refer to. · The Programs are usually 20-30 minutes and are generally relevant to a majority of the members in the room. · A sample of the last 8 programs. Experts from their organization came to speak and give a presentation: o May 2010 – EMX Light Rail System – currently in execution o April 2010 – City of Springfield – Millrace Restoration Project o March 2010 – Stakecenter Inc o February 2010 – No Regular Meeting – Annual Contractors Breakfast o January 2010 – Open Discussion / address complaints in Field / No formal program o December 2009 – High Definition Scanner presentation o November 2009- Locating Inc o October 2009- Qwest Damage Reporting? · A damage report is distributed every month in the monthly meeting · We have a damage report officer · When our advertising is increased, we see a decrease in damages · Generally, we get everyone to report. We do have a couple of organizations that are consistently behind by a couple of months. Ideas for Future State Meetings?· |
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