It’s that time of year again! Time to review and, if necessary, correct your OSHA 300 log entries and post the completed and certified 300A form. Make sure that each 300 log entry has a corresponding 301 form that has the required information entered.

This year, we are providing free, unlimited access to the OSHA 29 CFR 1904 Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses webinar. You may view that webinar by clicking here.  Please contact Margret Meade at 515.210.6617 or at mmeade@iamu.org with any recordkeeping questions that you may have.

There have been recent reports of vandalism – in the form of graffiti and physical damage – at several wind turbine sites in south central Iowa (not IAMU member sites). The vandalism occurred in December. It is unknown if the incidents are connected; there is an ongoing investigation. The graffiti is a combination of statements, unusual symbols, and various drawings of male genitalia. If you have had any vandalism incidents recently, please contact Russell Saffell, IAMU Director of Member Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection. You can reach Russ at 515.289.1999 (office), 515.988.8686 (cell), or by email at rsaffell@iamu.org.

Calling all hockey fans: You are invited to attend IAMU Night at the Iowa Wild game on Saturday, Jan. 25. The game at Wells Fargo Arena against the Manitoba Moose starts at 6 p.m. You will receive special discounted group pricing on tickets by clicking here.
 
In addition to action on the ice, the night will feature 2 for 1 Tallboys, $3-off Jim Beam Peach and Lemonade, a book signing of “100 Things Wild Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die,” by author Dan Myers, and a concert by Birdchild following the game. 
 
You may forward the group pricing link to friends, family, or anyone who might be interested in attending the game. 

You have until January 31 to nominate your utility, utility personnel, or policymakers for American Public Power Association awards.
 
Please take a moment to review the various awards and decide whether your organization (or someone at your organization) would be a good fit. All nominations are due in by Jan. 31, 2020. Award winners will be chosen at the upcoming Legislative Rally in Washington, D.C., and presented at the Association’s National Conference in Long Beach, California.
 
Visit www.PublicPower.org/Awards for more information or to submit a nomination.
 
Questions? Contact Awards@PublicPower.org. 

The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) has released the list of 2019 work-related fatalities that occurred in Iowa. Iowa saw 21 work-related deaths. This number just reflects the work-related deaths that IOSHA has jurisdiction over.  
 
To view the list, click here.
 
Workplace safety training is important and can make the difference between life and death in many incidences. If your workplace is not currently receiving safety training through IAMU, please feel free to contact Dave Hraha, IAMU Member Services Director, to learn how to get started. Dave can be reached by email at dhraha@iamu.org or by phone at 515.289.1999.

IAMU Associate Member Innovative Systems invites you to attend the 2020 eLation Staking and Mapping User Meeting, Feb 4 – 5, 2020 at the Highland Conference Center in Mitchell, SD. All General and Optional Sessions are Free of Charge.
 
Join Innovative Systems for two days packed with information regarding updates and enhancements to the software and optional training opportunities. The meeting promises to expand attendees’ knowledge of the eLation software and to demonstrate what the future holds for eLation.
 
Staking and Mapping User Meetings are a great opportunity for attendees to meet face-to-face with Innovative System’s Staking and Mapping Support Teams as well as to network with other Telco staff from across the country to see how they use the products.
 
Follow this link to register:  http://www.innovsys.com/innovsys/news-events/staking-mapping-user-meeting/

The Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) assesses that Iran is highly likely to retaliate against the United States and its interests following the airstrikes on Jan. 3 that killed a prominent Iranian military official. This assessment is based on historical Iranian retaliatory efforts. Iran specializes in asymmetric warfare, and its response will highly likely be physical or cyber in nature, targeting U.S. interests globally. If tensions continue to escalate, this response will likely include cyberattacks against U.S. critical infrastructure.
 
For more on this developing issue, click here.

To learn what your organization can do to prepare for the increased geopolitical tensions and threats of aggression with Iran, click here.

Read the latest Joint Intelligence Bulletin here.

Russell Saffell, IAMU Director of Member Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection, should be your first contact (before MS-ISAC or the DHS CISA Protective Security Advisor) in case of any incidents. Russ will report any incidents to all of the appropriate agencies and coordinate resources for response/assistance. You can reach Russ at 515.289.1999 (office), 515.988.8686 (cell), or by email at rsaffell@iamu.org.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is now accepting grant applications for two separate Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust funding programs.
 
The first funding program will offer $4.9 million across three eligible project categories listed below. Private organizations, public transit system operators, cities, counties and schools that own and operate diesel fleets and equipment in Iowa are eligible to sponsor projects. State agencies are not eligible, except for those that may serve as public transit system operators for projects eligible under Category 1.

• Category 1 - Class 4-8 School Bus, Shuttle Bus, or Transit Bus
• Category 2 - Freight Trucks and Port Drayage Trucks
• Category 3 - Non-Road Transport and Equipment

 
The second program will offer $1.1 million for Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Supply Equipment. Applications will be accepted for two project types. A total of $900,000 will be available for publicly accessible Direct Current (DC) Fast Charger Corridor sites along I-80 and I-35 that are no more than one road mile off these corridors and will help fill gaps in the developing charging equipment infrastructure network. The remaining $200,000 offered will fund applications for conveniently located and publicly accessible Level 2 Community Charging sites across the state. The ZEV Supply Equipment program is available to a wide variety of applicants, including for-profit businesses, incorporated non-profit organizations, government agencies of all types, and metropolitan or regional transportation planning organizations. All projects shall meet site and equipment requirements for each project type listed in the program guidance, as applicable.
 
The remainder of the press release can be found here.  More information can be found on the Iowa Volkswagen Settlement webpage.
 
The Iowa DOT and Iowa Clean Cities will be co-hosting two webinars to discuss the VW settlement funding opportunities.

• Category 1, 2 and 3 Vehicle Webinar
  Date: January 10, 2020
  Time: 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.
  Sign-up: https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/38382155738080001 
  
  
• Electric Vehicle Charging Station Webinar 
  Date: January 10, 2020
  Time: 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
  Sign-up: https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/1349942297512094209

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.