by Ed Greiner, President 

It is fitting that the directors and officers of the Iowa One Call Board are selected in April, as this marks the beginning of Iowa's proverbial "dig season." Already the beginning of June and a little more than one month into my term as Iowa One Call President, excavations across the state are being ramped up at an incredible rate. With the recent transition to a new call center vendor completed, all systems at the call center are effectively up and running on all cylinders. Iowa One Call will continue to provide excavators, underground facility operators and industry stakeholders with a state of the art notification and damage prevention system throughout the 2011 dig season and beyond.

The 2011-2013 Iowa One Call Strategic Plan (click on the link to open a .pdf brochure outlining the plan), developed by the Iowa One Call Board and finalized this past March, is the blueprint from which all current and forthcoming programming will be developed and implemented these next three years. This plan will provide the framework for Iowa One Call to execute strategies designed to enhance system efficiencies, program effectiveness, user compliance and long-term fiscal strength.

The primary purpose of Iowa One Call is to protect underground facilities essential to the well-being of all Iowans. The primary goal has always been to prevent damage to the state's underground facilities infrastructure. Through a series of meetings and processes that took place in April and March of this year, the Iowa One Call Board developed a three-year plan based on key objectives and strategies. By defining the most significant key results areas pertinent to overall system effectiveness and efficiency, the Board developed a series of action plans with specific objectives. The execution of these action plans will be based on strategies designed to meet specific objectives identified and established in key areas including technology, communications, governance, legislation and finance.

Past Iowa One Call President Dan Klopfer, whose vision was instrumental to the 2011-2013 strategic plan, contributed a great deal of his time to spearhead the efforts as he effectively guided the Board throughout the process. As President, I will continue to guide Iowa One Call based on the same vision that Mr. Klopfer and the entire board and staff helped to establish. The mission for Iowa One Call is to provide a technologically advanced notification system designed to provide effective and efficient communications to protect the citizens and underground facilities of Iowa.

As reported previously, One Call Concepts (OCC) has taken over operations at the Davenport, Iowa call center. February 1, 2011 marked the beginning of OCC's thirty-five month contract term. Call center operations were previously handled by One Call Systems (OCS), until their closing in early fall of 2010. As the new call center vendor, OCC brings new technologies, including new ticketing software. The old ticket entry systems, IBIS and ONTRY, are no longer available. The new online ticket entry system is called " ITIC" and it is a very intuitive and user-friendly software solution. Iowa One Call users can set up their own ITIC user accounts by registering online at www.iowaonecall.com. More information on this process can be found below in the Mapping Corner article by Steve Halstead. 

The next year will bring many positive changes and enhancements to the Iowa One Call system, including a new website to be implemented in early August, enhanced features to the ITIC online ticket entry system, and other software system solutions (e.g.: enhanced Positive Response). I look forward to a safe and productive year as excavators, operators and stakeholders across the state adhere to uncompromising safety standards, which always includes effective use of the Iowa One Call Notification System and the Common Ground Alliance's Recommended Best Practices.

Dig Safe.

With the transition from our previous vendor to One Call Concepts, many of the committee's activities were placed on hold until the transition was complete. 

At the time of the February 1st transition, the ticket entry process was operational, facility owner data had been effectively transferred to the new system database, and the Call Center was fully functioning.

However, shortly after the transition, the Design Request System had to be taken off-line for a short time to correct system inefficiencies. Temporary measures were taken to provide services to those using this system. OCC diligently worked with Dan Klopfer and Steve Halstead to review system functionality requirements, implement corrections, complete the revised user's manual and as of April 4, the Design Request System and Design Locate System are once again operational.

The last system to be addressed with OCC is the Ticket Search and Iowa One Call Positive Response System. The Ticket Search and IOC Positive Response tools provided by OCC were operational as of February 1st. Both excavators and facility owners could search for their tickets and view responses. Facility owners also had the capability of updating their responses on the IOC Positive Response system. Unfortunately, automated users of this system were not clearly identified during the data handoff to OCC and they were not contacted to transition to this system. With setting priorities, Dig Tickets and Design Request System first, the committee is now working with OCC to get all previous automated users identified, contacted, and transitioned so that they can begin using the IOC Positive Response System.

During this transition, some changes have occurred. ONTRY and IBIS, IOC's previous online ticket entry tools, have been replaced with ITIC and Fax-a-Locate was eliminated. The biggest obstacles to date with the new ITIC online entry system have been user training and getting used to the new tool. OCC is currently assisting users of this system by providing an online training video and holding webinars for new users to assist them with their ticket entries. These services will continue as the need for training on these tools continues.

(From left to right) Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, IOC Public Relations Manager Ben Booth and Governor Terry Branstad on April 13th

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds participated in a tree-planting ceremony in April at the Iowa Utilities Board. The event, which was coordinated by Common Ground Iowa and Iowa One Call, kicked off the 2011 safety awareness and damage-prevention public service campaign by recognizing April as National Safe Digging Month and by reminding all Iowans to "call 811 before they dig."

Brian Poock

IOC Board Director Brian Poock accepted an award for his outstanding service and dedication to the IOC Board from 1994 to April, 2011. Mr. Poock has stepped down from the board to dedicate his time to a new position and career with a different organization. IOC greatly appreciates Brian's years of excellent service and wishes him the best of luck in his new endeavors. Brian is a true friend to damage prevention. 

The Advertising Committee continues to focus on the campaign of "Protect What Really Matters," which draws awareness to the fact that any excavation can have dire consequences to those closest to us. In April, we distributed our new TV, outdoor, and radio public service announcements (PSAs) that we think will be very successful. We're very proud of the final products-- check them out for yourself!

Iowa One Call 2011 PSA - Protect What Really Matters

2011 Outdoor PSA (click on image to see larger graphic)

2011 Protect What Really Matters Radio Spot 

Another area of focus for the Ad Committee will be to update the website and make it easier to navigate. We realize the website is an important communications tool with you, our customers, so we want to improve it significantly. 

Brian Mueller

Brian Mueller, Pipeline Operations Supervisor with Enterprise Products, is the newest member to the Iowa One Call Board of Directors. Brian, who began serving on the Iowa One Call Board on April 21st of this year, has previously served on the Illinois One Call Board (JULIE) and has spent his career heavily involved in the pipeline industry. 

A founding member of the Northern Central Illinois Pipeline Association (NIPA), Brian also assisted in the development of the Pipeline Association of Missouri (PAM) and the Kansas Pipeline Association (KPA). Brian is approaching his eighteenth year with Enterprise Products. Prior to his position as Operations Supervisor for the Iowa City operations area, he was with the company's safety group. Residing in North Liberty, Iowa, Brian and his wife have three children and eight grandchildren.

by Steve Halstead, Mapping Coordinator

Since the cutover to One Call Concepts (OCC), things have been pretty exciting in the Mapping Corner. Not so much with mapping, but more on how to use the mapping applications. OCC's online ticket program is called "ITIC." This takes the place of IBIS and ONTRY, our previous online ticketing processes.

If you have tried to use either IBIS or ONTRY since February 1, you have probably gotten an error message saying that the server could not be found. That is because it no longer exists! 

To use ITIC, you must first register and receive a username and a password. To register, please visit the Iowa One Call website (www.iowaonecall.com) and click on "Contractors." Then click on the "ENTER A NEW TICKET ONLINE" link just below the grass in the header graphic. Finally, click on the "Create an account now!" link that you'll find on right side of the screen. Here you'll be able to complete the registration form and submit it.

When you return to ITIC, you will now be able to log in using your email address and the password you created when you registered. You will then be directed to view a tutorial showing you how to use ITIC. You must view the tutorial before you will be cleared to use ITIC.

Before you enter your first ITIC, you will want to be sure that three criteria are met: 1) that your computer is using Internet Explorer 8.0 or newer (click on the link to download the newest version for free) 2) that you are using the latest version of Java (again, a free download when you click on the link) 3) and that you have turned off your pop-up blockers. If these three are in place, you should have no problems using ITIC.

On the first page of your form, most everything will be filled out from the information you provided when you registered. You must fill in every blank that is marked with a red asterisk (*). If you fail to fill in such a blank, you will be reminded to do so when you try to go to the next page. It's easier just to do it the first time!

On the second page, you will identify the location of the proposed excavation and indicate your marking instructions. We sincerely hope you all are "white-lining" proposed excavation with white paint or flags, in which case your instructions can be as easy as "locate within the area marked in white." Note that if your excavation is outside the city limits, you must provide the section number and quadrant. If you have a GPS location, you will have to enter the section and quadrant, but the GPS location will take precedence.

Page three will require you to map the dig site. Choose enough grids (simply put the cursor in the grid and click on it) to encompass the dig site, but remember there are no prizes for selecting more grids than you need. When you are ready to submit the dig ticket, just click on the green check mark and you will instantly see a list of the utilities that will be notified and your dig ticket will be emailed to you.

 ITIC will store your tickets for you so that any time you want, you can refer to them. When you are logged in, just click on "View a Ticket" and then enter the ticket number. You can also go to Search and Status and search your tickets by a variety of selection criteria. No more messy file cabinets!

We are now working to improve ITIC and considering such options as voice recognition and text messaging. We will keep you informed of our progress.

by Ben Booth, Manager Public Relations/Communications

Implementation of the Required 48-Hour Timeline to Change This July

Beginning July 1, 2011, the method in which the 48-hour timeline protocol is currently implemented will change to coincide with the specific requirements mandated in Iowa Code, Chapter 480.

Currently, the established 48-hour timeline in which operators must complete the locating and marking of their portion of underground facilities owned and operated within the designated area of proposed excavation, is implemented based on traditional business-hours. As of July 1, 2011, the method in which this 48-hour timeline is implemented will be based on real-time ("clock" time). 

This change in protocol will affect the point (time) when the 48-hour timeline commences. Under the current 48-hour timeline protocol, all locate requests received by the Iowa One Call Center after 5:00 p.m. during the week are "clocked" at 7:00 a.m. the next business day (at which time the 48-hour timeline commences - excluding weekends and legal holidays). Under "real-time" the timeline will commence immediately upon operator receipt of the locate transmission sent from Iowa One Call (excluding weekends and legal holidays). All locate requests received by Iowa One Call will be immediately processed and transmitted to operators, at which time the 48-hour timeline will commence (excluding weekends and legal holidays).

Iowa Code, Chapter 480, section 480.4(3)(a)(1) states that, "...The operator shall complete such locating and marking within forty-eight (48) hours after receiving the notice, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, unless otherwise agreed by the operator and excavator..." 

Truly effective damage prevention, regardless of the systems put in place, can never be fully realized without the diligent efforts and partnerships of all stakeholders groups.Your organization's continued support and contributions to damage prevention and safety awareness are vital to preventing damage to Iowa's essential underground facilities infrastructure.

Dig Safe!