Wall Lake experienced a gas leak and disconnection on April 5. The community had 295 customers without gas service. Nine communities, as well as the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, sent help through the Mutual Aid Program to re-light furnaces and the like. Some 14 certified gas operators along with firemen spent six to eight hours performing no-flow tests and re-lighting appliances.
 
Wall Lake would like to thank all those who responded to the Mutual Aid call for doing an awesome job:

• Coon Rapids – 2 employees
• Harlan – 2 employees
• Manilla – 1 employee
• Manning – 2 employees
• Waukee – 1 employee
• Woodbine – 1 employee
• Alton – 1 employee
• Sac City – 1 employee
• Sioux Center – 1 employee
• IAMU – 1 employee

A friendly reminder that the 2018 IAMU Overhead Electric Transmission and Distribution Workshop is quickly approaching.  This year’s workshop will take place May 16-18, 2018 at the IAMU Training and Office Complex.
 
Once again, we will be having an official T-shirt for this workshop.  This keepsake for workshop attendees is a great marketing tool!  Display your company name proudly as an official workshop sponsor during and after this year’s Overhead Electric Transmission and Distribution Workshop.
 
Your sponsorship also provides for the workshop reception.  Taking place after training on Thursday, May 17, this event allows participants to network in a social setting.  Sponsors are welcome to attend the reception to network with workshop attendees.  Sponsors may also have a display booth during the reception.
 
Location:
This year’s reception location will be at the Holiday Inn Des Moines - Northwest, located at 4800 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale, IA 50322.  Please mention the IAMU workshop when booking your room for the IAMU workshop rate.  A block of rooms has been reserved for a short period of time.
 
T-Shirt & Reception Sponsorship is $130 for IAMU Associate Members and $155 for Non-Members.  This includes one complimentary T-shirt.  (Additional shirts are available at $15 each.)
 
The registration deadline for the T-Shirt sponsorship is Tuesday, May 1, 2018.  After this date, you may still register to be a reception sponsor.
 
For additional information including online registration, please click HERE.  If you have questions regarding the workshop, please contact IAMU Electric Services Coordinator, Dan Llewellyn (dllewellyn@iamu.org).

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities in conjunction with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming asset management workshop. As a water/wastewater system, you are responsible for meeting your customer’s expectations at the right cost while efficiently operating and managing your system. Asset Management can help you get through efficient operation and management. It includes 5 components: asset condition, customer service, asset criticality, life cycle costs, and long-term planning. The session provides participants with an understanding of what to include in an asset management plan, who should be involved and why it’s important to implement a plan. The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion.
 
*5 CEU hours available for Water Treatment, Distribution, or Wastewater.

Who Should Attend?
This training would be beneficial for very small systems with populations of 500 or less, as well as Financial/Accounting Staff, Utility Directors, City Managers, City Clerks, Board/City Council Members, and Operators.
 
Cost:
$25.00  (Funding for this workshop is provided by Region 7 EPA.  Charges for the workshop are to cover lunch and administrative costs.)
 
Location:
IAMU Training and Office Complex
1735 NE 70th Avenue
Ankeny, IA  50021

Click HERE for registration and additional information.

April 18 is Lineman Appreciation Day. IAMU would like to say, "Thank You," to all of our hardworking electric members -- those on the lines and those behind the scenes. You go above and beyond to not only provide your own communities with safe, reliable, and affordable electricity, but you're always willing to step up to respond to Mutual Aid calls and help other communities when needed. You're the best!

Mark your calendars for the IAMU Plastic Pipe Fusion & Operator Qualification Workshops.  Two sessions will be available again this year.  Both workshops will take place at the IAMU Training & Office Complex.

Workshop 1 – May 8-9, 2018
Tuesday, May 8:  8:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9:  8:00-11:00 a.m.
Registration link - http://members.iamu.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1090805&group=

Workshop 2 – May 9-10, 2018
Wednesday, May 9:  1:00-4:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 10:  8:00-4:00 p.m.
Registration link - http://members.iamu.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1090812&group=

This workshop is designed for gas distribution system fusion technicians and distribution operators who work for municipal utilities or contractors.  Participants will familiarize themselves in the properties of:

• Polyethylene (PE) piping materials
• Polyethylene fusion procedures
• Individual and system safety practices
• Mechanical fitting joining procedures
• Backhoe and trencher

Training Topics & Operator Qualification Tasks:

• O&M and Emergency Plan Review & Updates
• Sizing of EFV’s, Meters, Regulators, & Piping
• Customer Installation Materials, CSST, 2 PSI vs. 4 oz., etc.
• Proper Firefighting Techniques
• Installing Tracer Wire
• Installing Meter Sets
• Operating Mole Equipment

Hands-on qualifications will be available for polyethylene fusion procedures, mechanical fitting joint methods, and squeeze-off procedures.

Additional information including brochure, schedule, and registration may be accessed at the links above.

We look forward to seeing you this year.

Mark your calendars for the Arc Flash & 2018 NFPA 70E Updates class.  This one-day course will take place on Wednesday, May 30 at the IAMU Training & Office Complex.

This course will be taught by Dave Sullivan of Sullivan Training & Consulting, LLC.  Dave has taught electrical training courses for over 25 years covering topics such as National Electrical Code updates, grounding and bonding, power factor correction, arc flash, and the NFPA 70E.  He is a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and conducts trainings throughout the Midwest.

This course will cover Arc Flash and explain the rules and changes in the new 2018 NFPA 70E Codebook.  Course highlights will include:

• Short circuit hazards
• Codes and standards
• Steps to upgrade for arc flash
• Future recommendations
• Proper FR PPE
• NFPA 70E 2018 Edition
  
  

Who Should Attend:
Managers, safety professionals, water/wastewater supervisors, electric utility engineers & supervisors, designers, technicians, and all field personnel who are responsible for or who make decisions concerning electrical safety and operations. The course is conducted at a practical level and is appropriate for degreed professionals, including engineers and engineering technicians, as well as skilled craft personnel, field supervisors and non-degreed high school graduates with a general knowledge of the electric system.

Need Flexible Credit Hours / PDH?  A certificate good for four (4) contact hours will be awarded.

Where and When:
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
IAMU Training Office
1735 NE 70th Avenue
Ankeny, IA  50021

Minimum 20 participants; Maximum 60 participants.

For additional information and registration, please click HERE.

Mark your calendars for this year’s IAMU Overhead Electric Transmission and Distribution Workshop.  This year’s workshop will take place May 16 – 18, 2018 at the IAMU Training and Office Complex. 

This classroom topics and/or hands-on activities include:

• Anchors
• Electrical Line Tool Basics
• Transformers and Regulators – Testing, Maintenance, Repairs, Controls
• Stringing
• Pole Change-Out

Pre-workshop activities including apprentice evaluations and beginning pole climbing will occur the day before the actual workshop on Tuesday, May 15.  Apprenticeship testing and skill evaluations will be available.  Please note that the number of apprentices is limited to the first 8 that sign up.  Pre-registration is required for apprenticeship testing and evaluations.  Testing and evaluations will be available May 15 and the morning of May 16 ONLY. (For questions about testing, please contact Dan Llewellyn – dllewellyn@iamu.org, or Meredith Hibbs – mhibbs@iamu.org.)

The registration deadline for this workshop is Friday, May 11.  You may mail, or fax the registration form in.  Registration is also available online.

Cost:

• IAMU Members - $410
  
• Non-IAMU Members - $470
  
• Beginning Pole Climbing - $165
  

For additional information regarding the workshop, including registration, agenda, and schedule, please refer to the brochure HERE.

Mark your calendars for the IAMU Water Distribution & Leak Detection/Line Locating Workshops.  The workshops will take place May 23 - 24 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
• Line locating
• Trenching & shoring
•  Fittings
  
  

0.6 CEUs each day for Water Distribution.

Cost:

Early Registration (on or before May 18)

• 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 utilities should be receiving their IAMU Member Window Clings in the mail this week. When yours comes, be sure to place it in a front window or glass door. Snap a photo of it, post it to the IAMU Facebook Page and/or post it to your own Facebook page and tag @iamupage. You'll be entered into a drawing for one of two prizes -- a basket of IAMU merchandise or a $100 credit to your utility's account to be used toward anything -- workshops, trainings, etc.

Submit your photo by the close of business Monday, April 16.

Facebook is in no way sponsoring, endorsing, administrating, or associated with this giveaway.