The Iowa Utilities Board issued an order on Aug. 14 outlining the timeline for comments on the proposed report forms. Initial comments must be filed by Aug. 30 with reply comments by Sept. 13. Although IAMU has not heard anything definitive, we don’t expect to hear anything until after Sept. 13. IAMU is monitoring this issue and will provide an update as we know more.

If you have any questions, you may contact IAMU General Counsel Tim Whipple at twhipple@iamu.org or Krista Wenzel at eefiling@iamu.org or by phone at 712-579-6000.
 
Here is a link to the order if you would like to review it: https://efs.iowa.gov/cs/groups/external/documents/docket/mdax/ody0/~edisp/1864224.pdf

IAMU is planning to hold its Equipment Demo & Exhibit Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 1 – 6 p.m. on our Training Field. Demo Day is a time for IAMU members to connect with vendors who can demonstrate or showcase their equipment, tools, processes, and materials in a real-life setting.

The event is FREE for utility members and associate members. If you’re not a member, contact us to find out how you might be able to participate. For more information or to register for the event, click here.

Mark your calendars for the IAMU Water Distribution & Leak Detection/Line Locating Workshops.  The workshops will take place September 10th - 11th at the IAMU Training and Office Complex.

Water Distribution Training topics will include:

• Fire hydrant maintenance
• Water main tapping / HydraStop
• Water main installation / repair & fittings

Water Leak Detection / Line Locating topics will include:

• Water leak detection (with various equipment)
• Line locating
• Trenching & shoring
• Fittings

0.6 CEUs each day for Water Distribution.

Cost:
Early Registration (on or before September 6th)

• IAMU Members - $65/day or $115 both days
• Non-Members - $105/day or $190 both days

Late/At-the-Door Registration

• IAMU Members - $75/day or $135 both days
• Non-Members - $115/day or $210 both days

Registration is open.  For more information about the workshops, brochure, and online registration, click HERE.

IAMU is hosting a luncheon on Friday, August 23, 2019, at IAMU, as part of Water and Wastewater Workers Week. The event will go from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The menu includes hamburgers, brats, salads, chips, and cookies. We will also be drawing for door prizes.

The Iowa Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Fund was created in 2018 to give grants to water and wastewater projects.  The Fund was established by Senate File 512 and is described in Iowa Code Section 16.134.

The application for the first grant awards is now available.  Applications must be submitted to the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) by September 13, 2019.

The grant priorities are:

• Disadvantaged communities (Note: communities must have received disadvantaged designation)
• Projects that will significantly improve water quality in the watershed
• Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies (Note: all projects proposing alternative technologies must be approved by the Iowa DNR)
• Communities with the highest sewer or water rates
• Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction
• Projects that will improve source waters for drinking water utilities

The grant awardees are determined by a committee consisting of the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture (or designee), the Executive Director of the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) (or designee), and the Director of the Iowa DNR (or designee).  Awards will be announced in October.

The application form and more information are available at the IFA website. 

IAMU has developed a series of materials for high school guidance counselors to provide their students. The materials focus on careers in utilities and are designed to expose high schoolers to the many opportunities in – and benefits of – utility careers.

The materials include:

• A brochure
• A poster
• Four social medial posts

An email explaining the materials along with PDFs of the materials have been sent to all Iowa high school guidance counselors. The files are also available on the IAMU website on a new page dedicated to high schools. You can find the page by going to www.iamu.org > Resources > High School Career Info. The downloadable PDFs are available at the bottom of the page.

In addition to making these files available electronically, IAMU has offered to print and mail kits of materials to schools that request them. The offer was included in the email that went out to guidance counselors.

If you have any questions about this campaign, please feel free to contact Jen Cronin, IAMU Communications Specialist, at jcronin@iamu.org.

Mark your calendars for this year’s Underground Electric Distribution Workshop.  This year’s workshop will take place September 18 – 20, at the IAMU Training and Office Complex.
 
An Underground Installation Project consisting of a variety of topics and hands-on stations will be offered at this year’s workshop.  This training will include:
 

1. Directional Boring & Duct Handling
2. Technical Locating
3. Elbows & Terminations
4. Troubleshooting / Protective Grounding
5. Cable Identification
6. Primary & Secondary Splicing
7. Trencher Operation

 
Apprenticeship testing is available on September 17 and the morning of September 18.  Apprentices are able to take their Year-end/Module Final Exams as well as Year-end/Module Final Skill Evaluations.  *Apprentices must pre-register for testing and skill evaluations.*  These are the only available times, during the workshop, for evaluations and registration is limited.
 
The workshop luncheon allows attendees to mingle and network in an informal setting.
 
Registration is open.
The registration deadline for this workshop is Friday, September 13.  You may mail, or fax the registration form in.  You may also register online at the IAMU website at www.iamu.org and clicking on the workshop under the “Events” link.
 
*Registration is capped at 48 participants.*
 
For additional information regarding the workshop, including online registration, brochure, agenda and schedule, please click HERE.

Mark your calendars for the fall Gas “Boot Camp” Operator Qualification Training Workshop.  This workshop will take place September 23-27, 2019 at the IAMU Training & Office Complex.
 
Who Should Attend:

• This workshop is designed to give personnel new to the natural gas industry all of the basic fundamentals needed to aid in the day-to-day operations as well as the ability to perform certain “On-Call” tasks.
• In addition, any office personnel who may receive a report of a natural gas leak (Dispatch personnel) should attend to obtain all the qualifications that are needed to perform their duties.
• This workshop is also beneficial to natural gas operators who are looking to gain additional training, re-qualify on tasks offered, as well as providing a great opportunity to network with other operators from around the State addressing problems, concerns, techniques, etc.

Dispatch personnel should plan to attend Monday, September 23rd.
 
Qualifications will be offered for topics covered.
 
Registration is open.
 
NOTE:  This class is limited to 15 attendees.  The first 15 that register will fill all available seats.  If more than 15 attendees sign up, you will be notified that an additional workshop will be scheduled at a later date.
 
The registration deadline for this workshop is Friday, September 20, 2019.  You may register online, mail, or fax the registration form in.  For additional information and online registration, please click HERE.

We take our member’s safety seriously and we know that you do, too! So, this year IAMU is participating in OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week, which runs through Aug. 18. This is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and shares ideas on how to keep workers safe.

Here are a few simple suggestions from OSHA that you can follow to make a difference in your employee’s perception of safety:

• Create a board for workers to display suggestions to help find and fix workplace hazards.
• Hold a demonstration on proper use of safety equipment.
• Host an informal “lunch and learn” on a part of your safety program.
• Recognize a safety milestone and employee contributions with a party.

One of the most effective ways to promote safety year-round is to make a “why I work safely” board with pictures of your employee’s loved ones. We will be sharing extra Toolbox Talks during Safe + Sound Week about the importance of hearing conservation and the proper fit of hearing protection. Take a few extra minutes during Safe + Sound Week to promote safety and health (at home, too).

IAMU has created two Toolbox Talks on workplace hearing issues. Workplace hearing loss is one of the most common work-related injuries. You can download the Toolbox Talks by clicking here.

From Lessons Learned and Toolbox Talks to webinars and workshops – we make every effort to make safety easier for you. If you have a safety suggestion, please send it to mmeade@iamu.org so that it can be shared. If you observe Safe + Sound Week in any way, please share what you did with us by sending a message to mmeade@iamu.org. IAMU will be providing appreciation gifts to all those who participate.

IAMU is hosting a luncheon on Friday, August 23, 2019, at IAMU, as part of Water and Wastewater Workers Week. The event will go from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The menu includes hamburgers, brats, salads, chips, and cookies. We will also be drawing for door prizes.