IAMU will be holding a webinar on April 25, 2023 for supervisors and safety personnel responsible for developing or overseeing a Heat Stress program. In response to the rise in the number of fatalities due to heat, OSHA published new enforcement policy regarding Heat Stress in April 2022. The focus of this webinar is to discuss the employer’s responsibilities to those working in hot environments and to assist in creating a Heat Illness Prevention Plan. This plan must be made site-specific and all employees that have the potential to be exposed to hot working environments must be trained using your specific plan. A template for the plan will be provided to all that attend.  

Registration is open! Click HERE to register.

Fort Dodge Fiber - Iowa’s newest municipal broadband provider - is in the process of building out their network and in May will start hooking up their first customers! As part of their utility ramp up, Fort Dodge has hired Pivot to conduct comprehensive Customer Service Training sessions for their staff, and would like to invite fellow municipals in Iowa to send their own people to the training as well!
Introduction to Customer Experience (CX)

How does creating a great Customer Experience look and feel? We’ll lay the groundwork on what CX means, why it’s possibly the most important trend in customer care, and how every staff member participates in this movement.

• Basics of CX
• Employee Experience as a foundational element of great CX
• Expected experience vs great experience
• Delivering a positive and memorable experience 

Two one-day training sessions will be held on April 12, 2023 and April 13, 2023 at Iowa Central Community College East Campus, 2031 Quail Avenue, Fort Dodge. Each day’s training will begin at 8:00am and end at 4:00pm. Continental breakfast and lunch will be included. With two days to choose from, you could send some of your staff each day so you are not shorthanded.

Cost: $400 per person. Fort Dodge Fiber will invoice your utility at the conclusion of the training.

We’d love to have other municipals participate in this training along with the Fort Dodge Fiber staff. It’s a great opportunity for in-depth customer experience training that would cost thousands of dollars to conduct on your own (Fort Dodge knows…that’s why their inviting you to help offset the costs!).

CLICK HERE to register your team for Introduction to Customer Experience!

If you have any questions about the training, reach out to me or to Nick Ekel, Fort Dodge Customer Experience Manager, nekel@fortdodgefiber.com

On March 16th, 2023 IAMU safety specialists Joedy Dennis and Don Heck, and regional safety coordinator Edith Hodgell, hosted an interactive, in-house Trenching & Shoring training opportunity. The workshop hosted 54 attendees and covered the roles and responsibilities of the competent person, while conducting trenching operations. Employee safety, interacting with mobile and pedestrian traffic, establishing safe work zones on roadways, soil Identification, and the proper methods of trenching and shoring were all topics covered under the responsibilities as the competent person.

The attendees were provided the opportunity to network amongst each other, share personal experiences, and assist in developing safe procedures for trenching and shoring, through different virtual interactive examples.

After a provided lunch break, the training resumed with a short presentation from Contractor Solutions, followed by hands-on training in properly assembling a shore box and utilizing hydraulic pressure systems. 

Each attendee was presented with a Certificate of Completion as well as 4 CEU’s for their participation. We thank all that attended for your dedication to safety, your willingness to learn, and lastly, your willingness to take on the responsibility as the “Competent Person” overseeing your work sites, fellow employees' safety, as well as your own.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, EPA released the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for PFOA and PFOS, along with four additional PFAS. EPA is proposing to set a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 4 ppt for PFOS. In addition to these two MCLs, EPA is proposing to address four additional PFAS (GenX, PFBS, PFNA, and PFHxS) as a mixture using a Hazard Index. The Hazard Index is a tool typically used to evaluate potential health risks from exposure to chemical mixtures. This approach has been used in other EPA programs, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), but this is the first time it has been used for a drinking water standard. Additionally, EPA is proposing Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for each of the six PFAS. A breakdown of the MCLs and MCLGs is shown on the table below.

For the Hazard Index, the rule proposes a ratio for each of the four PFAS to be used to calculate a compliance value based on detected levels of the four PFAS. If the combination of those four ratios is at or above 1.0, then water systems will be expected to reduce the levels of these PFAS. Depending on the level of contamination found, water systems may need to take action even if only one of the four PFAS is present. EPA will be creating a webpage with a calculator tool for water systems to determine their Hazard Index. 

The proposal has not yet been published in the Federal Register. The public will be given 60 days to provide comments after final publication, expected in the coming weeks.  EPA will be holding a webinar about the proposed PFAS NDPWR on March 29, 2023. Registration is required to attend. The webinar recording and presentation materials will be made available after the webinar. 

• March 29, 2023 (2:00-3:00 pm Eastern Time) Webinar Registration: Technical Overview of Proposed PFAS NPDWR 

EPA will also be holding a public hearing on May 4, 2023, where members of the public can provide verbal comments to EPA on the rule proposal. Registration is required to attend and the last day to register to speak at the hearing is April 28, 2023.  

• May 4, 2023 Proposed PFAS NPDWR Public Hearing Registration

EPA has provided facts sheets for the public and FAQs specifically for primacy agencies to help with the rollout of this proposal. See the links below: 

• Fact Sheet: EPA’s Proposal to Limit PFAS in Drinking Water
• Proposed PFAS NPDWR Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (for the public)
  

We are pleased to announce 2 new additions to our staff.

Jason Loots joined our staff in January as a Water Services Specialist. Jason comes to IAMU with extensive water/wastewater plant experience through his work as Plant Operator with the City of Story City, and Sales and Service Professional with Vessco, Inc.  His most recent position at ISG as Contract Operations/Plant Operator allowed him the opportunity to provided consultation to municipal/industrial water and wastewater facilities. He will primarily be providing technical assistance to water supplies in all aspects of system viability and SRF project identification.
 
Jason’s experience and knowledge will allow IAMU to continue providing valuable guidance to our members and assist with the development of new initiatives.

Rhonda Robinett joined our staff this week as a Communications Specialist. Rhonda has an extensive background working in the marketing and communication field.  She was most recently employed with Gannett Publishing as a Digital Marketing Specialist managing campaigns for Ventures Endurance Events.  Prior to Gannett Publishing, Rhonda was employed by American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), The ASHI School.  Her work at ASHI included developing email programs for students and ASHI members.  She created marketing materials such as flyers, brochures and newsletters for the ASHI school, plus managed the marketing and advertising budget.

Rhonda’s creativity and design expertise will provide a new perspective to our marketing and communication efforts.

Member’s 2023-24 annual dues invoices for Utilities and Affiliates will be sent out via email soon.  Please be on the lookout for those in your inbox.

IAMU Associate Membership expired on March 1st*.  Access will expire today 3/15/23.

To retrieve your Associate membership dues invoice, renew and maintain your membership:

• Visit the IAMU website at http://members.iamu.org
• Log into your company's main membership account
• Under "My Profile", click "Membership Info"
• Find the open dues invoice, and use one of the links under "Options" to either submit online payment via credit card or ACH, or print a paper invoice to mail to IAMU with a check
• While you're logged in getting your invoice, please feel free to update your member profile with any new information!!

If you have any questions, or do not remember your login credentials, please contact Ashley Ulrich at aulrich@iamu.org or (800) 810-4268.

Natural Gas Utility Workers started eight years ago. The designation is meant to recognize employees who provide one of their most valuable assets—their natural gas utility. The date of March 18 was chosen because it was the date of the New London, Texas school explosion in 1937 that led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety.

Ways in which you can acknowledge Natural Gas Utility Workers:

• Share IAMU’s Facebook Graphic to announce the day, you can find that here: https://www.facebook.com/IAMUpage
• Issue a company email or press release using information in the above paragraph or information found on the American Public Gas Association (APGA) website and provide more information about the projects you have been involved with in your community: www.apga.org/events/naturalgasutilityworkersday. You can also find some great posting suggestions for your social media channels, along with graphics you can use. 
• Thank your workers! Send the message out to employees showing appreciation for their hard work.  
  

The Iowa Economic Development Authority, in partnership with IAMU is planning on hosting a series of virtual meetings for IAMU members interested in Pay As You Save (PAYS) to ask their PAYS questions with representatives from utilities across the country with experience administering PAYS programs. This series of virtual meetings will provide an opportunity to ask local utility officials operating PAYS programs questions “peer-to-peer” about PAYS program design, implementation, benefits, and lessons learned.
 
If you are interested in participating in these virtual PAYS information meetings, please RSVP by emailing jgorrie@iamu.org
 
What is Pay As You Save?
“The Pay As You Save® (PAYS®) system enables utilities to invest in cost effective resource efficiency and renewables on the customer side of the meter and recover all of their costs. Participating customers have money-saving, resource-efficient upgrades installed with no up-front payment and no debt obligation. Those who benefit from the savings pay a tariffed charge on their utility bill, but only for as long as they occupy the location where the upgrades are installed. The monthly charge is always lower than the estimated savings and it remains on the bill for that location until the utility recovers its costs. While PAYS allows for payment over time, it does not involve any consumer loan obligation.” - Energy Efficiency Institute of Vermont, the founders of PAYS

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities is pleased to offer two scholarship programs this year – a scholarship program for students pursuing a post-secondary program with a utility focus and a general scholarship program for children or grandchildren of IAMU member employees.
 
“IAMU is pleased to have two scholarship offerings this year,” said Troy DeJoode, IAMU executive director. “Last year, we awarded four scholarships to students pursuing educations in utility-related fields to help the next generation of professionals to get the education and training that they need. Again this year, we are offering another scholarship to the children and grandchildren of IAMU members. This is a general scholarship, and the recipients do not need to be pursuing a utility-related certification or degree.”
 
Utility-Focused Scholarship
Each $2,000 scholarship will be distributed to the educational institution. To apply, candidates must fill out and submit the scholarship application. Applications are due March 21, 2023 to scholarship@iamu.org. A minimum of 4 scholarships will be awarded. IAMU will announce the award recipients by May 1, 2023.
 
To be eligible for consideration, candidates must:

• Live in a residence that is a verified customer of an IAMU member or attend a high school that is a verified customer of an IAMU member. If you are unsure whether your local area is an IAMU member, contact your city hall.
• Be a 2023 graduating high school senior or have previously graduated from high school.
• Be attending a post high school education program located in Iowa in the fall of 2023.

 
Preference will be given to applicants entering a utility-related career with a special preference to applicants entering utility-related trades programs leading to careers in difficult to fill utility careers such as, as an example only, electric line worker, water treatment or distribution operator, or operator qualified natural gas positions.
 
General Scholarship
Each $500 will be distributed to the educational institution. To apply, candidates must fill out and submit the scholarship application.  Applications are due March 21, 2023 to scholarship@iamu.org. A minimum of 4 scholarships will be awarded. IAMU will announce the award recipients by May 1, 2023.
 
To be eligible for consideration, candidates must:

• Attend college/technical school within the state of Iowa.
• Have a parent/grandparent/legal guardian who is an employee of an IAMU-verified member.
• Have a 3.0 minimum GPA.

 
IAMU members are encouraged to share this scholarship information with their communities. You might post information to your social media account(s) and website, and submit information to your local newspaper and/or radio station. IAMU is sending an email about the scholarships to high school guidance counselors, but you might also consider reaching out to your local guidance counselors as well.
 
If you have any questions about the scholarship program, please feel free to contact IAMU at scholarship@iamu.org.

Position Title
Safety Specialist
Reports To
Director of Member Services
Employment
Full-time
FLSA Status
Exempt

Workplace Introduction
IAMU represents more than 750 municipal electric, gas, water, and broadband utilities statewide, and maintains a marketing relationship with more than 185 associate member businesses. IAMU represents its members before the Iowa Legislatures, administers mutual aid programs, offers job training and safety programs, co-sponsors the Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust, and sponsors the Safety Group Insurance Program.

Position Purpose
This position provides direct assistance and consultation to the Safety Services department that includes training and education, developing and customizing written plans and processes for IOSHA compliance, and conducts reviews, audits and site assessments. In addition, the Safety Specialist will assist members with regulatory compliance. This position will work with IAMU staff members on matters of common concern; and other safety related duties. This position will work remote, with travel required within the State of Iowa and occasional work from our office in Ankeny, Iowa.

Job Functions

• Build relationships with member utilities to provide appropriate services
  
• Design and customize written safety plans and processes
  
• Develop and facilitate safety training as appropriate
  
• Assist members with regulatory compliance
  
• Attend training to stay up to date in safety regulations and best practices
  
• Represent the organization in public appearances
  
• Collaborate with IAMU team members to provide consistent service
  
• Create materials and communications for members
  
• Prepare reports and documentation as necessary
  
• Other duties as assigned
  

Knowledge Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety or related field or equivalent safety or training experience
  
• 1 to 3 years of experience in safety (at least 70% of experience in preventative measures, such as creation of safety plans, training, etc.)
  
• Knowledge of federal and state safety regulations
  
• Experience facilitating training sessions
  
• Ability to utilize a variety of A/V presentation equipment
  
• Proven customer service skills, demonstrating an ability to listen, understand, and respond appropriately to feedback
  
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem solving experience
  
• Ability to work independently, self-motivated in achieving deadlines
  
• Excellent Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills
  
• Valid Iowa Driver’s License
  
• This position requires overnight travel within the state of Iowa; typically, 2 or 3 nights per week. Home on weekends.
  

Physical Requirements
Pushing
Push up to 60 pounds to open/close vehicle doors. Push or pull up to 26# at 7-53” to access filing cabinets.
Pulling
Pull up to 60 pounds to open/close vehicle doors. Push or pull up to 26# at 7-53” to access filing cabinets.
Climbing
Climb up to 15 steps ranging from 13 to 23 inches to get in and out of vehicles, use ladders and step stools.
Standing
Stand for up to 7.5 hours per day.
Walking
Walk throughout various parks, fields, and grounds.
Sitting
Sit for up to 3 hours at a time to complete deskwork, drive, etc.
Lifting
Lift up to 40-pound tools and equipment from floor to 32 inches.
Carrying
Carry various equipment weighing up to 40 pounds up to 50 feet at a time.
Gripping
Grip up to 10# (wide grip) to pull files from cabinet at 7-53”.
Pinching
Pinch up to 5 pounds bilaterally to handle small parts and tools.
Low-level Work
Low-level kneeling activity for up to 5 minutes to perform various duties.
Above-Shoulder Work
Lift up to 10-pound part from 0 to 75 inches.
Hand Coordination
Hand coordination for writing, using keyboard and telephone, as well as operating various equipment and tools.

Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status or any other legally covered protected category. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

Job Type
Full-time
Salary Range
$70,000 - $83,000 annually

Benefits:

• 401(k) with employer contribution
  
•  Health Insurance
  
• Dental Insurance
  
• Vision Insurance
  
• Company Provided Short and Long Term Disability
  
• Company Provided Life insurance with Voluntary Life Insurance Option
  
• Paid time off
  
• Flexible Spending Account
  
• Employee Assistance Program
  

Schedule
Monday to Friday
Work Location
On the road

If interested please submit your resume to Laura at laurad@iamu.org