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A Note on Iowa DNR and COVID-19

3/26/2020

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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with state and local officials to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and has transitioned employees to work remotely. DNR offices are closed to the public during this time and only available by appointment.

In another effort to further reduce the spread of COVID-19, the DNR is encouraging the use of the online services for submitting applications, payments and other daily tasks and interaction with DNR staff.

Full list of DNR’s online services:
https://www.iowadnr.gov/about-dnr/about-dnr/online-services-databases

Up-to-date information on DNR services, facilities and events impacted by COVID-19: 
https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Covid-19

Technical information for regulated businesses in regards to COVID-19:
https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Social-Media-Press-Room/Disaster-Assistance#3057321-covid---19-outbreak

We thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. If you need to contact DNR staff you can reach them by email or phone or by calling 515-725-8200.
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IAMU Webinars to Address Key Broadband Issues

3/26/2020

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It was obviously a disappointment that we had to cancel the IAMU Broadband Conference this month. We are working with the hotel to reschedule the conference, hopefully late this fall. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, we have decided to present two of the planned conference sessions as webinars, and we'd love to have you participate! These webinars are free of charge and do not require pre-registration. We will also be recording them for people who could not join us live.

"Regulatory Compliance Review"
Thursday, April 2, 2020
2:00pm
https://zoom.us/j/644074462

Jim Baller of Baller Stokes Lide PC will review the annual regulatory requirements that all telecommunications companies should be aware of, including the new "Truth-In-Billing" requirements that are set to go into effect this summer. Curtis Dean of IAMU/SmartSource Consulting will moderate the discussion. In addition to Jim's presentation you will also be able to text in your questions to (515) 236-5075 or use the chat function in the Zoom webinar platform.

"Retransmission Consent 2020"
Thursday, April 16, 2020
10:00am
https://zoom.us/j/442902618

The next round of retransmission consent negotiations at the end of 2020 could be the most painful yet. TV stations are expected to ask for big increases in the fees they charge cable operators while continuing to crowd their broadcast frequency with digital subchannels of questionable value.

During this webinar, Curtis Dean will discuss the upcoming round of negotiations with Jean Edhlund, Video Products Partner with Cooperative Network Services in Minnesota. Jean is a familar name for many of us, having served as the primary contact for Fox Sports Networks for many years.  

The webinar is open to up to 100 participants on a first-come, first served basis. You will be able to log in the webinar waiting room up to 15 minutes before the start time to ensure a spot.

Feel free to share this email with anyone in your organization that we may have missed. 

Please contact Curtis Dean with any questions, (515) 650-0251 or [email protected].
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Use of Half-Mask Respirators

3/25/2020

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Over the past couple of days I have had several members asking about the feasibility of wearing half-mask respirators for protection against CoVid while picking up garbage, working at the wastewater plants and near lagoons and reading meters. Most do not have filtering face pieces, or commonly known as dust masks, available. Filtering face pieces, when worn properly, provide good respiratory protection against certain sizes of particulates. While OSHA’s respiratory protection standard (1910.134) does allow half masks to be worn on a voluntary basis, it requires the employee to be medically cleared before they are used. The filtering face piece type does not require that clearance because it does not tax the pulmonary system like a half mask. The questionnaire for the medical evaluation is Appendix C of 1910.134; this questionnaire is to be completed by the employee and a licensed health care provider will use this document to evaluate the employee’s capability to use the respirator. The employer must also provide the employee with Appendix D of 1910.134 when allowing the employee to wear respiratory protection on a voluntary basis. If you have any questions regarding respiratory protection, please call or email Margret Meade at [email protected] or call 515.210.6617.
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MunEE Bucks Program Membership Streamlined for COVID-19 Effected Communities: Join today to start providing rebates online in just a few short days

3/24/2020

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As conditions evolve from the impacts of COVID-19 your utility is focused on providing safe, reliable and affordable services to customers. IAMU remains committed to doing our part to help you deliver those services.

Through our MunEE Bucks Energy Efficiency Rebate Program we’ve recently created a streamlined implementation model that allows utilities to migrate your existing rebate program to the online MunEE Bucks portal within just a few short days. This ensures that despite office closures, reduced staffing and resources, you can continue to provide your customers access to money saving rebates when they need them most.

 
When you sign up for MunEE Bucks now, we will create a portal for you with up to 15 of the most popular MunEE Bucks standard rebates used by customers. Once this portal is online we will work with you over the next several weeks to add any additional MunEE Bucks rebates you would like, as well as implement any unique rebates your utility would  also like to offer.
 
To sign up, or for additional information, please contact Jeremy Caron at 515-289-1999 or [email protected].
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Public drinking water safe to drink; Know what to and what NOT to flush down your toilet

3/23/2020

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Public drinking water safe to drink
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is providing this important information about COVID-19 as it relates to public drinking water to provide clarity to the public. The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies is very low. Disinfection methods used in drinking water treatment plants are effective for inactivation of coronaviruses and all other viruses. Iowans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.  The Iowa DNR recommends obtaining your potable water from your tap as much as possible to conserve bottled water for emergency situations if needed.  

Stay up to date on the latest news regarding coronavirus with the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Know what to and what NOT to flush down your toilet
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reminding Iowans of the importance of flushing ONLY toilet paper and human waste down toilets to avoid disruption of sewer systems.

The Department recognizes the temporary shortage of toilet paper products during the Covid-19 outbreak, but warns items such as flushable wipes, disinfecting wipes, surface cleaning wipes, baby wipes, even though advertised as flushable, are not recommended for disposal by flushing down a toilet. Diapers, paper towels, tissues and feminine hygiene products should also not be flushed down toilets.

Even though these products may not clog your sewer system at your residence, when deposited together, in an entire community, can pose a serious risk of overwhelming a community’s sewer system. If a sewer system is clogged, it can lead to backups of sewage into residences and overflows into the environment. Additionally, it can cause pump failures and lead to several hours of repairs and expenses to city wastewater systems.

Residents are encouraged to dispose of the items in bags and dispose in the trash.
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act Webinar

3/23/2020

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IAMU's endorsed employee benefits broker Mark J. Becker and Associates (MJBA) has opened this important webinar on complying with the Families First Cornoavirus Response Act to all IAMU members, not just those that participate in our benefits program through MJBA.  Please join us in participating in this important education event to help understand your obligations under the Families First Act.

Register below for our March 26th webinar covering the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that was recently passed into law.
 
We will cover which employers are subject to the new requirements and provide step-by-step guidance on how to comply. The new law includes two separate mandates regarding Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) and mandated sick leave. Small employers are NOT exempt from these mandates, therefore we encourage attendance of all of our clients and subscribers. Benefit eligibility, should an employer enact a lay-off or furlough, will also be covered in this webinar.
 
We look forward to visiting with you on Thursday, March 26th from 2:00 – 3:30 pm.
 
REGISTER HERE
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New U.S. Senate Law, COVID-19 Coronavirus Response Act

3/23/2020

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In response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States, the U.S. Senate passed the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" on March 18, 2020, which has now been signed into law. The expanded leave provisions are to become effective within 15 days of the enactment, or by April 2, 2020. The law is set to expire on December 31, 2020.

Click here for more information.
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COVID-19: Labor & Employment Webinar Recording

3/23/2020

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Below is a link to the recording and slides from the Labor & Employment webinar from Nyemaster Goode, P.C.
 
https://nyemaster.com/news/new-covid19-families-first-coronavirus-r/
 
Click here for a downloadable PDF.
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COVID-19 Update and the Governor's Executive Order

3/23/2020

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On March 17, 2020 Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency. Whereas this act does activate the public health response and recovery aspects of the State Disaster Emergency Plan, it does not alter the requirements of the Underground Facilities Information Act - Iowa Code chapter 480.

Utility Services are considered life sustaining operations and do not fall under the current Iowa Governor's executive order.

The requirements of the Iowa Code chapter 480 have not changed.

Iowa One Call remains fully operational through both our call center and online services, to receive underground facility locate notices and to transmit those notices to the utilities throughout Iowa.

Excavators:
If you have an active ticket and are delaying the work, please call to cancel the notice to prevent utility locators from unnecessary activities.

Please know that the utilities may reach out to you in an effort to negotiate mutually agreeable locating timelines in order to mitigate time constraints due to potential decreases in the utility's locating workforce. Whenever possible, please work with the utilities to establish reasonable, and mutually agreeable scheduling alternatives.

Underground Facility Operators:
Iowa Code chapter 480 permits an underground facility operator to reach out to an excavator in order to negotiate a mutually agreeable locate date/time.

Once a mutual agreement has been reached between the operator/locator and the excavator, the operator/locator must use the Ticket Check response code, "Agreed To Marking Schedule." It is important to note that agreements must be mutual, and will therefore require direct contact between the operator/locator and the excavator - which must be initiated by the operator/locator.

Please visit the IOWA One Call website at http://www.iowaonecall.com for further
COVID-19 updates.

We wish everyone continued health and safety!
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Update on IUB Coronavirus Response Call

3/18/2020

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In an update call today, the Chair and the other members of the Iowa Utilities Board announced the following:
  1. There is concern that public anxiety is increasing and that it is important for utility service to be available during this crisis.
  2. Press releases from IUB, the Governor, or both will soon be issued and will address all utility services, including water and communications. This release will include a reminder to continue to pay for service.
  3. All investor owned utilities, gas, water, and electric, will be ceasing disconnects and will issue press statements to that effect as soon as today.
  4. Municipal gas and electric utilities and RECs are officially requested to follow the same policy as the IOUs which means not disconnecting for the remainder of the current extended gas and electric moratorium.
  5. All water utilities, including rural water, are also officially requested not to disconnect any customers. It’s unclear for how long, but it seems likely to be for the same period as the extended moratorium.
  6. IUB and DNR will help IAMU coordinate finding certified water operators to help if a community lacks backup.
  7. We will forward all press releases as we get them.
  8. Questions and problems can be coordinated through IUB by using this email address: [email protected]
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