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Join Our List
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Iowa One Call Officers, Directors & Staff
2010 - 2011
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President
Dan Klopfer
Des Moines Water Works
515-283-2610
Vice President
Ed Greiner
Interstate Power & Light Company
319-786-3773
Secretary/Treasurer
Neil Drefke
Spencer Municipal Utilities
712-580-5842
Chairman
Curt Hodges
Mediacom
641-842-2988
Directors
Charles Bruggerman
Iowa Telecom
641-787-2555
Greg Pavelka
East-Central IOWA REC
319-443-3564
Terry Fox
MidAmerican Energy Company
515-281-2316
Neal Drefke
Spencer Municipal Utilities
712-580-5842
Tim Flickinger
PAETEC
515-309-1135
Dan Childers
Interstate Communications
641-765-4201
Leon Hofer
Iowa Network Services
515-830-0441
Brian Poock
Northern Natural Gas
402-530-6607
Steve Stone
Black Hills Energy
641-792-1548
Ross Wendell
Qwest Corporation
515-286-6613
Paul Wiegand
Iowa State University
ISU Center for Transp. Research & Education
515-294-7082
Mike Wildung
Central Iowa Water Association
641-792-7011
Class B Director
Mike Heggen
Communication Technologies, Inc.
515-597-2294
Class C Director
Mick Secory
Consolidated Utility Services, Inc.
515-321-6220
IOC Center Manager
Nancy Jensen
563-322-2400
IOC Administrative Staff
Craig Walter - Administrative Director
Shellie Petek - Executive Administrator
Ben Booth - Manager, Public Relations/ Communications
benbooth@netins.net
Steve Halstead - Mapping Coordinator
stevehalstead@mchsi.com
Phone: 515-278-8700
Fax: 515-278-0245
Email:
onecall@iowaonecall.com
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
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by Danny Klopfer, President
The Iowa One Call Board of Directors approved a three-year contract with One Call Concepts (OCC) during the IOC Board meeting held November 4, 2010 for operation of our call center in Davenport. We are pleased to welcome One Call Concepts on as our new IOC call center vendor and on behalf of the entire IOC Board we look forward to partnering with them for many years to come.
Based in Hanover, Maryland, OCC was founded in 1982 and currently handles the call center operations for fourteen states and the District of Columbia, including Missouri, Kansas, North Dakota, Texas and New York. In 2009, OCC handled a total of 5,870,277 Incoming Transmissions that equated to more than twenty-five million Outgoing Transmissions (locate notifications sent to underground facility operators). A significant factor in the selection criteria established by IOC was the capabilities of the software systems. OCC software systems were designed to maximize overall call center efficiency and allow for a multitude of customized programming (e.g.: Internet-based ticket entry systems, the Design Request System and the Electronic Positive Response System, etc.).
Beginning February 1, 2011, OCC will begin operations at the IOC call center located in Davenport, Iowa, where the previous and current call center operations have been handled. The logistics involved with a transition of this nature are extensive and IOC has been working diligently with OCC since early November to ensure a seamless transition. Currently, all base maps have been loaded into the system and the data transfer and conversion (from IOC to OCC) has been finalized. Additionally, all data for facility operators has been loaded into the database and the process of customizing ticket entry solutions is underway and on track. With all of the necessary hardware in place, station testing has begun and all systems are testing positive.
During February and March the Board of Directors and Staff will be updating Iowa One Call's Strategic Plan. If you have items of concern or suggested areas that should be addressed please pass that information along to staff or one of our board members.
Have a Safe and Happy New Year.
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| EXCAVATION SAFETY AWARENESS PROGRAM 2011 SCHEDULE | | |
We all know what really matters in life. To protect our families, friends, homes and communities,we do so many simple things every day -- we put our kids in car seats, we don't let friends drive when they've had too much to drink, and we look out for our neighbor's homes when they're out of town.
Now think about what happens on a daily basis at your job site. As professional excavators, the work you do every day has the potential to affect the lives, health and safety of everyone in the community. What can you do on the job to help protect what really matters? Attending the Excavation Safety Awareness Program, sponsored each year by Iowa One Call, is one way to learn more. Please join us as we share critical information about damage prevention and excavation safety.
REGISTER ONLINE or email Nancy Jensen at njensen@iaocmail.com
- Creston, 1/10, Eagles Lodge, Luncheon
- Lake Rathbun, 1/11, Honey Creek Inn, Luncheon
- Altoona, 1/12 Adventureland Inn, Luncheon
- Ames, 1/18, Quality Inn & Suites, Luncheon
- Waterloo, 1/24, Electric Park Ballroom, Luncheon
- West Union, 1/25, Echo Valley, Luncheon
- Charles City, 1/26, Elk's Club - Clark Street, Luncheon
- Sioux City, 1/31, Bev's, Luncheon
- Council Bluffs, 2/1, Mid-America Center, Luncheon
- Thompson, 2/7, Branding Iron, Luncheon
- Clear Lake, 2/8, Best Western Holiday Lodge, Luncheon
- Fort Dodge, 2/9, Best Western Starlite, Luncheon
- Des Moines, 2/14, Airport Holiday Inn, Breakfast
- Des Moines, 2/14, Airport Holiday Inn, Luncheon
- Marshalltown, 2/15, Best Western Regency, Luncheon
- Spencer, 2/21, Clay Cty Reg Event Center, Luncheon
- Cherokee, 2/22, WIT Conference Center, Luncheon
- Carroll, 2/23, Carrollton Inn, Luncheon
- Davenport, 2/28, Best Western Steeplegate, Breakfast
- Davenport, 2/28, Best Western Steeplegate, Luncheon
- Iowa City, 3/1, Quality Inn & Suites, Luncheon
- Cedar Rapids, 3/7, Best Western Longbranch Hotel, Breakfast
- Cedar Rapids, 3/7, Best Western Longbranch Hotel, Luncheon
- Clinton, 3/8, Rastrelli's, Luncheon
- Dubuque, 3/9, Best Western Midway Hotel, Luncheon
- Pella, 3/14, Central-Graham Center, Luncheon
- Burlington, 3/21, Pzazz Complex, Luncheon
- Mt. Pleasant, 3/22, Golf & Country Club, Luncheon
- Ottumwa, 3/23, Hotel Ottumwa, Luncheon
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STATE OF THE ART COMMITTEE UPDATE
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by Tim Flickinger, SOTA Committee Chairman
The State of the Art Committee met recently with representatives of One Call Concepts (OCC), our new call center vendor. The highlight of the meeting was a demonstration of a number of features that will be available to Iowa One Call's owners/operators and excavators through OCC. The formal transition from our old vendor to OCC is scheduled for February 1, 2011. OCC has already begun the transition process and will begin training the Davenport Call Center staff on the new software in January. The goal is to keep the transition as seamless as possible to users. The ticket entry system will have a new software package. For dig tickets, callers will not see any change. ONTRY, the online ticket entry system, however, will be replaced with a new system. The Design Request System and Ticket Search features will also be converted to new software packages and we are in the process of working with OCC on these systems as well. As previously announced, two entry systems will no longer be available: IBIS and Fax- A-Locate.
Perhaps the best way to approach these upcoming changes is via questions and answers for some common questions we have received:
- Will the name change? No, we will still be Iowa One Call.
- Will the phone number change? No. The phone number will remain as 811 or 1-800-292-8989.
- How will I receive tickets? As an owner/operator, you will receive tickets the same way you do currently. OCC will be working on the transition to the new software to allow this.
- How will I enter tickets? You will be able to enter tickets by calling the Call Center (811 or 800-292-8989) or via on line with a new ticket entry system.
- If I currently enter tickets by fax, how will I do it in the future? You will be able to call them in or enter them online
- How will I enter tickets online? We are planning to set up training classes for the new online entry system, in addition to providing an online tutorial. You will have to register and receive a username and password. Your online tickets will be monitored for accuracy and completeness during a probationary period. The review process will be transparent unless there is a problem with your ticket as submitted.
- If I am registered to use ONTRY, will I still have to register to use the new method? That decision has not been made yet, but the answer is probably "yes."
- Will the new method be like ONTRY? Every effort is being made to mirror the existing features as much as possible. There may be some minor changes due to changing software systems and potential future enhancements.
- Will I be able to search tickets? Single ticket views will be available if you know the ticket number and the telephone number from which the ticket was entered (in the case of online submissions it will be the telephone number listed by the ticket submitter). For an excavator to see all their tickets at one time, they must be registered and have a username and password.
- What about the IOC Positive Response System? We anticipate that this feature will be a part of the ticket search process as it is now. See Question number 9.
- If I am an owner/operator, how will I change my mapped underground facility locations? This will be done in much the same way as now, either by an online submission or via hard copy to our mapping database department. This information will be available shortly on the Iowa One Call website (www. iowaonecall.com)
- Who will be taking the tickets via telephone? Our Call Center in Davenport will remain and be staffed by nearly the same people you have been working with. One change that is being reviewed is to send after hours/weekends/holiday calls to a centralized location where the CSR will have the exact same software and mapping ability as we have in the Davenport Call Center.
Did this answer many of your questions? If not, please submit your questions to Steve Halstead, Mapping Coordinator (515-278-8700 or 515-314-1469 or stevehalstead@mchsi.com) or Ben Booth, Manager Public Relations/Communications (515-278-8700 or 515-707-3998 or benbooth@netins.net).
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MAPPING CORNER
| | by Steve Halstead, Mapping Coordinator
When One Call Concepts takes over the operation of the Call Center on February 1, I doubt that any of you will recognize that anything different is taking place. I have never had anyone tell me that they noticed anything different when Iowa One Call took over the operation of the Call Center last summer. That was seamless, and I am confident that the cut over on February 1 will be just as seamless and maybe even more so!
One of the behind the scenes changes that will be taking place is in the area of mapping. OCC will be using a totally different source for the street maps from what One Call Systems was using. In fact, OCC uses three sources of mapping that they combine into one map that they use in the database and call center. They also make use of a more sophisticated mapping system that will allow them to update their maps much faster. Since the program that you and I will be using form OCC are all server based, updating the maps available to us "consumers" will be much faster. In most cases, we may not even know it has been done until we suddenly see a street on the map that wasn't there earlier.
For me, this means back to the field in search of up-to-date maps. That is what I was hired to do for IOC when I started. In that time, nearly every county has added a Geographical Information System (GIS) and one of the first things they do is generate a digital map called street centerline with address ranges. These data are then used by the assessor's office, the law enforcement people, the fire/rescue folks and the Treasurer's office among others. It is also the very thing we need. Thus the county GIS office is a prime source of maps that are as fresh as yesterday. Being able to get these data into the IOC database quickly completes the picture.
I am confident that this is going to be an exciting 2011 and quite frankly I am excited to be a part of it.
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WHAT'S UP BELOW
| | by Ben Booth, Manager Public Relations/Communications
Welcome to 2011. Farewell to another great year. That's right, they're all great and 2010 was no exception. Sure, there were challenges - there always are - but if you're reading this, you have much to be thankful for. What really matters in our lives extends beyond economics, politics and even personal challenges. We have our families, our friends, our communities...we have life, challenges and all. Every day that we are on this earth there is an opportunity to "stop and smell the proverbial roses," to appreciate all the things that make life so precious. Did you stop to "smell the roses" today?
As part of an ongoing educational outreach program, Iowa One Call is targeting Iowa stakeholders with a variety of marketing programs, which include the campaign theme, "Protecting What Really Matters." The campaign objective is to reach stakeholders with a message that leaves a personal impression, one that will influence their approach to damage prevention. The idea is simple: encourage people to equate damage prevention with what matters most to them - their families, friends, communities, environment, etc. Damage prevention is about safeguarding life, heath, essential services, the environment and property. That the actions or lack of actions of one excavator, locator or operator may impact the well-being of any given family or community is cause for serious concern. While it is unthinkable that any of us would intentionally, or even unintentionally, put another person... another family... or someone's children in harm's way, the reality is that this is a legitimate concern within our industry.
Underground facilities are an integral part of our society's essential infrastructure, which when disrupted may result in an interruption of essential services, loss of property, damage to the environment, or much worse... Safety and damage prevention begins at the planning stage and continues on through the execution of any and all projects in the field. Remembering what matters most not only at the time of planning, but during the course of any project that entails working in proximity to underground facilities, will help protect what really matters.
Make it part of your new year's resolution to reflect upon what matters most in your lives. Do stop to smell those proverbial roses and take a moment each day to appreciate the things that we all too often take for granted because we are under a timeline or preoccupied by our business affairs. Cherish and protect what really matters and always plan and execute all of your projects with that first and foremost in your mind.
Happy New Year...and dig safe!
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This newsletter is published by Iowa One Call, Administrative Office, 9001 Hickman Road, Suite 220, Des Moines, Iowa 50322.
Copyright © 2010 Iowa One Call. All rights reserved. These materials may not be reproduced without permission of Iowa One Call.
Disclaimer: This publication is designed to provide general information in regard to the subject matter covered and should not be used as a substitute for professional service, advice or actual wording of regulations or standards in specific situations. The reader is cautioned that the publisher does not endorse or recommend specific manufacturers, industry standards or practices and reliance should not be placed upon the information within this publication without confirming independent research.
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