For a $25 donation to MuniPAC, you can select one of two RAYGUN utility-themed t-shirts. To get a t-shirt in time for Christmas, you must place your order by the end of the day Thursday, Dec. 19. To learn more or to donate, click here.
 
MuniPAC is a political action committee (PAC) that the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) formed to help strengthen Iowa’s community-owned nonprofit electric, gas, water, and communications utilities and municipalities by making contributions to the campaigns of political candidates who want to help municipalities and their utilities prosper.
 
Any donation is appreciated – no matter the size. We will combine your donation with those of others. If individuals from all Iowa municipalities and their utilities contributed something, imagine the collective impact the donations could have.
 
MuniPAC is the easiest and most direct way for you to engage directly in the political process. When you give to MuniPAC, your contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference because we will combine your contribution with the contributions of many others. By working together, you and your municipal counterparts can have a much greater impact on legislation than if you tried to do it on your own.

The 2020 Broadband Conference will be held March 18-19 at the Holiday Inn Airport in Des Moines.  Registration for vendors interested in an exhibit table or sponsorship is now open.

Click here to register.

IAMU will be holding NCCER trainings and testings throughout 2020. We will start the year with telescoping boom and rigger classes in January and February. The classes will be held at the IAMU Office in Ankeny.
 

• Certified Mobile Crane Operator – Telescoping Boom – January 20 – 24
• Certified Mobile Crane Operator – Telescoping Boom – February 10 – 14
• Certified Basic Rigger – February 19 – 20

 
For more information about any of the NCCER trainings, visit www.iamu.org/nccer.

The Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation is a best practices designation for utilities that show commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, renewable energy, and environmental initiatives.
 
Now in its second year, the SEP program aims to garner national recognition for utility efforts to incorporate energy efficiency and sustainability while providing affordable electric service. Additionally, obtaining the SEP designation will help public power utilities benchmark and evaluate their work in these areas against a set of industry best practices.
 
Currently 67 public power utilities hold an SEP designation.
 
For more information—or to start your application—visit https://www.publicpower.org/smart-energy-provider. Questions on the program? Contact [email protected].

The FMCSA Clearinghouse purpose is to provide a place where any Drug or Alcohol violations will be reported and record will be kept. This was done to ensure employers have a reliable source to obtain this information. Previously, this information was obtained from the previous employers; however, not all requests were being filled out and returned to the prospective employers. This does not replace the need for driving records. This annual query is in addition to the annual driving record report. The annual query is for commercial driver license holders who are included in the driver pool for random testing.
 
Driver registration is only needed to be completed by drivers if:

• They are looking for new employment where they would be using their commercial license. Drivers who are already with an employer and have no intentions of leaving are not required to register. If a driver is not registered only a Limited query can be obtained for that driver.
  
  
• There are any drug or alcohol violations, whether they are previously known or found on the Limited Query. This allows the driver the ability to provide proof that the violation has been resolved. The employer will then be able to get a Full Query as follow-up that will show violations as resolved or unresolved.

 
A Limited Query meets the requirements for the annual query for each Commercial Vehicle driver. The only time a Full Query is needed is if there are any violations on the drivers record or you are hiring a new driver. The cost for a query is the same for either a full or limited query.

Always remember you MUST have the driver’s written consent to obtain a query. Part of the driver’s registration process involves the drivers filling out and electronically signing a consent form. The following link is for a sample consent form provided by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Association for current drivers, https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/Resource/Index/Sample-Limited-Consent-Form .
 
The FMCSA has put together a very good FAQ page, https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/FAQ , if you have any other questions. This FAQ page is sorted for drivers and employers to help to speed up your search for answers.

Iowa One Call is taking reservations for its January and March Excavation Safety Awareness Program around the state. There are 17 dates and locations from which to choose. The event is free.
 
For all meetings, registration will begin at 11:30 a.m., lunch served at 12 p.m., and a presentation at 12:45 p.m. The meetings will close at 1:45 p.m. with a Q&A session and raffle drawing.
 
This year, event organizers will:

• Provide an overview of Iowa One Call protocol
• Focus on the importance of communication lines
• Educate attendees on private facilities
• Discuss best practices for communication between contractor and locating firms
• Instruct on how to effectively use NextGen for accurate and timely locates.

 
For Iowa One Call to continue providing complimentary meals and door prizes at the meetings, all attendees who preregister for a meeting must commit to attending the meeting or provide advance notice of any foreseeable cancellations. Event organizers ask that organizations refrain from registering a large number of personnel if it is at all likely that some may not be able to attend. Additionally, all preregistered personnel should mark their calendars accordingly to avoid scheduling conflicts. Event organizers would appreciate at least two-weeks advance notice of any cancellations. If it is known at any time, however, that a pre-registrant is unable to attend, event organizers ask that you notify us as soon as possible.
 
Here is the Link to registration page.

Mark your calendars for the 2020 IAMU Electric Superintendent and Foreman’s Meeting.  The workshop is scheduled for January 15 – 17, 2020, at the IAMU Training and Office Complex.  This workshop is specifically designed to cover topics of interest to electric superintendents and foremen.
 
The 2020 meeting highlights include:

1. Breaking the Cycle of At-Risk Behavior
2. Tree Trimming Best Practices & Invasive Species
3. Employee Safety
   
4. Electric Vehicle, Solar Purchase & Power Agreements
5. Energy Resilience Assessments
6. IUB Electric Inspections
7. Testing Meters & Verifying Meter Multipliers
8. Billing Adjustments

 
Also returning is the Product Show & Reception.  Come socialize with fellow utility personnel and meet with exhibitors to see their latest products, technology, and services.  The reception will take place at the Holiday Inn Des Moines–Northwest.

Hotel Information
The Holiday Inn Des Moines–Northwest is the designated hotel for accommodations at this upcoming meeting.  The product show and reception will also take place here.  Please mention the Group Name - “IAMU Electric”, Group Code – “ARC” when booking.
 
The room rate is $87+tax per night.  Book early!  Reservation block deadline is January 1, 2020.
 
Holiday Inn Des Moines-Northwest
4800 Merle Hay Road
Urbandale, IA  50322
 
Reservations:
Call (515) 278-4755

Registration & Cost
IAMU Members
$425

Non-Members
$480
 
Registration is open.  The registration deadline for the meeting is January 13, 2020.  For additional information in regards to the meeting, including full agenda and registration, please click HERE.
 
For questions about the workshop, please contact Jared Masker, IAMU Electric Services Coordinator at (800) 810-4268 or [email protected].

MuniPAC is a political action committee (PAC) that the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) formed to help strengthen Iowa’s community-owned nonprofit electric, gas, water, and communications utilities and municipalities by making contributions to the campaigns of political candidates who want to help municipalities and their utilities prosper.
 
Any donation is appreciated – no matter the size. We will combine your donation with those of others. If individuals from all Iowa municipalities and their utilities contributed something, imagine the collective impact the donations could have. For a $25 donation, you can select one of two RAYGUN utility-themed t-shirts. To learn more or to donate, click here.
 
MuniPAC is the easiest and most direct way for you to engage directly in the political process. When you give to MuniPAC, your contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference because we will combine your contribution with the contributions of many others. By working together, you and your municipal counterparts can have a much greater impact on legislation than if you tried to do it on your own.

The IAMU Gas Department and KGM will offer a one-day Gas Metering & Measurement Training Workshop. The class will take place Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the IAMU Training and Office Complex.

This training opportunity is designed to provide natural gas personnel, regardless of experience, with a very specialized, in-depth training into natural gas metering and measurement. Proper natural gas measurement is critical to your utility’s success. Without the proper knowledge and understanding of natural gas measurement and measurement principles, your utility’s lost and unaccounted for gas may be inaccurate, you may receive customer complaints of “not enough gas” due to improper meter sizing, or you may be losing money due to inaccurate metering.

For more information or to register for the workshop, go to https://members.iamu.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1298855&group=

Mark your calendars for the Hydrant / Valve Workshop and Plant Tour presented by Clow Valve Co.  This popular workshop and tour will take place Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the Clow Foundry in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
 
The workshop will include training on hydrant/valve components, hydrant/valve disassembly, best practices, applications, and maintenance & repair.  A tour of the foundry and machine shop will also take place.
 
0.5 CEUs for Water Distribution will be available.
 
*This workshop is limited to 30 participants.* Space is limited.  Register early to reserve your spot.

Workshop Location:
Clow Foundry
1607 17th Ave E
Oskaloosa, IA  52577
 
Cost:
IAMU Members – FREE
NON-Members – $35 per person
 
Registration:
For online registration and additional information, please click HERE.
*This workshop is limited to 30 participants.*
 
Questions?
Contact Steve Marsh at (800) 810-4268 or [email protected].