By now most of you have heard that the safety standards for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (formerly aerial lifts) and most material moving heavy equipment have been revised. The updated training and operating requirements include hazard recognition, assessing work site conditions, fall protection, developing safe use programs and a review of the operator’s manual including operator and supervisor responsibilities.

IAMU is conducting classes at our location. Sessions include classroom, testing and hands-on practical examinations. Successful operators will be provided with a certificate and a wallet card. Please see the brochure for class requirements, dates and times.  Registration is now open.

Jobsite safety should be everyone’s number one priority, and doing everything possible to keep people safe is our and your responsibility.

Need more CEUs? This upcoming workshop offers 5 hours for both water treatment and water distribution. Held at the IAMU office, these 2 days offer a variety of topics and speakers while also giving participants the opportunity to network with a small group of exhibitors.
View the full agenda and register here.

• Advanced Water Treatment Workshop - March 8, 2023
• Advanced Water Distribution Workshop - March 9, 2023
  Attend one... or both!

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Marsh at 515.289.1999 or by email at smarsh@iamu.org

 Registration is ALMOST FULL! Click HERE to sign up for this workshop!

Thursday, March 16, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch and breaks included
 
*** 0.4 CEU’s for WD or WW ***
 
OSHA requires a competent person be on-site at every excavation.
The competent person is required to evaluate site safety and resolve existing and potential hazards.  This workshop is an excellent opportunity to become qualified as a competent person (or stay current with the responsibilities).

Note: This is an in person workshop. No webinar will be offered.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Don Heck at dheck@iamu.org or 515-971-8481

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 6, 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 6, 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.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities will be holding mobile crane re-certification and examination classes for digger derrick, service truck, and mobile crane operators.  OSHA’s updated crane standard REQUIRES that operators of lifting equipment be trained, evaluated and tested in order to obtain re-certification.

Background Information:
Many of our members are coming up on the 5-year anniversary of our first NCCER mobile crane operator certification and now is the time to access your NCCER Registry and note the expiration date of your mobile crane license! Re-certification is required every 5 years. In order to re-certify you must retake and pass both the practical examination and the computerized test with an 80% score for each. There is no grace period after your certification expires.

We will be scheduling abbreviated operator re-certification classes for 2023, to see pricing and the full list of calendar dates go to https://members.iamu.org/page/NCCER.

IAMU has opened select registration for our NCCER Re-certification classes for March and April, 2023.  Please click HERE or visit the IAMU website to register. 

Who Should Attend:
Digger derrick and service truck crane operators who currently hold a mobile crane operator’s certification.

What Do These Classes and Certification Consist Of:
Classes will be a 3-days long, classroom instruction, an on-line exam that has an 80% pass requirement, a practical exam for re-certification of mobile crane. Students who pass the written and practical exams receive nationally recognized certification from the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).

When Will Classes Be Held:
Dates have been scheduled for 2023 at the IAMU complex.  Please click HERE or visit the IAMU website for available dates. 
May 8 – 12 (Operator Certification)
June 13 – 15 (Operator Re-Certification)
July 17 – 21 (Operator Certification)
July 25 – 27 (Operator Re-Certification)
August 21 – 25 (Operator Certification)
September 26 – 28 (Operator Re-Certification)
October 17 – 19 (Operator Re-Certification)
October 31 – November 1 & 2 (Operator Re-Certification)

Examination retakes are $100 and may be taken during any scheduled exam date.

Additional Notes:

• There is a maximum of 10 participants per class session.
• Lunch will be provided Tuesday through Thursday.
• All participants will attend classroom days. Exams will take place on the Wednesday of each class session. Depending on the number of participants, Wednesday evening and Friday may also be used for practical exams.
• Each participant will need to bring their PPE for the practical exam: High Viz clothing, hardhat, safety glasses, gloves, safety shoes, and long pants.

For additional information about the classes and online registration for each event, click HERE.

Questions?
If you have any questions in regards to the classes, or requirements, please contact:
Margret Meade, IAMU Safety Outreach Coordinator (mmeade@iamu.org)
Phone:  515.210.6617

IAMU will again hold a Legislative Reception in conjunction with the Energy Conference.
This year’s reception will be held on March 1, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 p. at Ken’s Speakeasy.
Ken’s is downstairs of the Iowa Taproom located at 215 E. Third Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

We look forward to seeing as many members as possible at this event. This is your opportunity to meet with legislators and let them know your views on important matters concerning municipal utilities.

If you still need to register for the Energy Conference, that can be done here.

IAMU will hold the annual member meeting from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Hilton Garden Inn West Des Moines located at 205 S 64th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa  50266.

Utility members registered for the Energy Conference will be automatically registered for the member meeting. Any other utility member is welcome to register for the member meeting free of charge by emailing Bri Kincart at bkincart@iamu.org prior to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

Union Pacific Railroad’s Hazardous Materials Team is committed to training first responders to assist in preparing for and responding to a railroad-related incident.

Course Overview
Overview of the UPRR system, pre-planning, railroad equipment (locomotives, tank cars (pressure and
non-pressure), contacting the railroad, discusses safety while operating on or near the railroad, railroad resources, markings, rail shipping papers, the emergency response process, and recovery operations.
The course is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes (course content, assessment, and survey). A certificate is awarded upon completion.

If you have any questions, please contact uphazmat@up.com

IAMU currently has two open positions.  Our electric services department is looking for an Electric Training Specialist for Power Lineman. This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and scheduling training workshops for Power Lineman, Apprentice Linemen, and Journeyman, and Line Mechanics; being the point of contact for the apprenticeship training program; reviewing and creating training materials; conducting annual safety training for members and being a subject matter expert for members.

Water services is looking to fill a Water Services Specialist post.  This position will be responsible for providing one-on-one technical assistance to Public Water Systems. Technical assistance will include lead service line assessment and planning, capital improvement planning, project funding options, and technical operator assistance.

Full descriptions and minimum qualifications can be found here.
 
Questions and resumes can be sent to Laura at laurad@iamu.org

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 6, 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 6, 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.