Archive for November, 2009
Next Generation Underwriters and Safety Engineering Consultants address TAUD Members of Region 4
Monday, November 23rd, 2009 | TAUD, Where we will be | No Comments
Members of Region 4 located in the Counties of Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Roane, Smith, Trousdale, Warren and White gathered in Crossville on November 19th. Vickie Houston serves as the Region Leader and Office Manager of Crab Orchard Utility District in Crossville. The meeting took place at the new Fairfield Glade Community Center on Stonehenge Dr.
With an attendance of over 81 members present, Executive Director of TAUD Bob Freudenthal opened the meeting with a welcome statement and introduction of presenters. Bob also gave members an update on State Legislature activity and reported on the upcoming Legislative Rally that is very important for Utility Districts to attend in February. Please check the TAUD website for registration and information.
Due to a schedule commitment, the program was retooled to allow for Kirk Smith of Next Generation Underwriters and Chris Stites of Safety Engineering Consultants the opportunity to address the upcoming Safety CE Credit programs for 2010. Utility Districts will have 5 opportunities to obtain the free seminars with Region 4 options being; attending the meeting after the scheduled Region 2 meeting in Knoxville on June 2nd.; or attending the meeting after the Region 10 session on May 26th in Chattanooga. Evaluating the different Regions, we have tried to make the opportunities for every Utility District as easy as possible for them to obtain the CE Credit states Bob Freudenthal of TAUD. Next, Chris Stites of SEC gave a power point presentation on Behavioral Safety in the Workplace. Touching on the importance of looking out for your fellow co-worker and assisting in making smart decisions, Chris informed the group of our policy, We want everyone to return home safe after work from injury.
Next, the Staff of McGill Associates gave a presentation on the “Big Bears On the Horizon”. Federal laws that will impact the way Utility Districts do business in the future. Staff members from McGill Associates were Bill Keaton and Ben Simerl. Harold Corum was unable to attend due to illness.
Brain Holt of IPW gave a demonstration outside in his trailer for members looking at improving their pump systems. Mary Ann Brannan and Ken Jones of the Corps of Engineers discussed the issues with the cleanup at Watts Bar and its impact on the area. Steve Chappell of Central Services Association (CSA) gave members a report on some good positive news on the rates for electricity from TVA would be less this upcoming winter than previous winters. Steve also handed out reports from CSA and their programs from Orbits and Utili-Link.
Next, John Hall of TAUD gave a report on the upcoming Training Center opportunities for Utility Districts. Will Taylor of TAUD gave a brief report on the Low Interest Loan program from TAUD and Wiley Bros. Aintree Capital.
Members also heard a report from Dan Martin of TAUD on Wastewater updates and regulations coming soon. Bruce Trotter of TAUD who joined the Association back in the spring of 2009, introduced himself as the new Circuit Rider for West and parts of Middle Tennessee. Bruce comes to TAUD from the Dickson Water Authority.
Representatives the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation were also on hand to answer questions. Tennessee 811 (TN811) were also in attendance. Rural Development (RDA) personal were on hand from the Knoxville office to answer questions concerning the loan programs made available to Utility members.
At the conclusion of the program, members enjoyed a terrific lunch at the Fairfield Glade Community Center sponsored by McGill Associates.
We wish to thank Vickie Houston of Crab Orchard Utility District, Gary McGill of McGill Associates and the Fairfield Glade Community Center for their hospitality in hosting this event.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com
Blackmon Training Center host TAUD Region 11 Quarterly Meeting
Friday, November 13th, 2009 | TAUD, Where we will be | No Comments
Nick Newman of Memphis Light, Gas and Water serves as the Region 11 Leader for Utility Districts located in Chester, Fayette, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, Haywood, Madison, McNairy, Shelby and Tipton Counties of West Tennessee. The Region 11 meeting was held on November 10th at the Joyce M. Blackmon Training Center on Raleigh LaGrange Road in North Memphis. The Training Center provides an excellent setting for employees of MLGW to continue their education for CE credits in all phases of Electricity, Gas and Water regulations. The Center is also open for the public to use in providing a place to host local business seminars or community functions.
Staff members for TAUD on hand were Larry Lewis and Dewayne Culpepper. Nick Newman opened the meeting by welcoming a crowd of over 40 attendees to the Blackmon Training Center. Next on the program was Kevin Brown of HD Supply. Kevin made a presentation on ‘Can You not Afford to have Automatic Meter Readers’ (AMR). The power point presentation provide information on the down time associated with Utility District personal reading and obtaining correct numbers on the meters manually.
Next on the program was Boots Summers of BAM2. Boots provided a program on the techniques of equipment calibration and Key Points on Lift Station Maintenance. Larry Lewis of TAUD gave attendees a report on upcoming meetings and training opportunities for CE Credit. Kirk Smith on Next Generation Underwriters gave members in attendance a report on the new Safety Training opportunities from Safety Engineering Consultants. This program will be made available at 4 different locations throughout the state and will count as 3 CE Credits for water operators. The training is free of charge and will take place at the Region 8 quarterly meeting on July 8th. Please check the TAUD website for additional information.
Next, Bish Thomas of the Rural Development office gave a report on the Stimulus Money Programs and the low interest loan programs that Utility Districts can take advantage of. Members then heard a report from the Jackson Environmental Field Office. Dewayne Culpepper of TAUD gave members an update on Wastewater Guidelines.
Following the meeting, attendees enjoyed a lunch sponsored by HD Supply and BAM2.
We would like to thank Nick Newman of Memphis Gas, Light and Water for Hosting the event.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com
Region 5 Meeting gets retooled but, Members still receive a Quality Program
Friday, November 6th, 2009 | TAUD, Where we will be | No Comments
Region 5 Associate Leader Tom Faulk of West Wilson Utility District did a marvelous job of overcoming a program presenter who was unable to attend at very short notice. With an attendance figure of 34 TAUD Associate and Utility Districts members gathered at the West Wilson U.D. Board Room, Tom Faulk introduced Cale Fuller or Ferguson Enterprises. Cale spoke about the new stores that have opened in Middle Tennessee and addressed the options that Ferguson now has in place to provide products to Utility Districts. Up until now, the public has known that we service the commercial plumber and retail customers at our Showrooms and Shops. Now we are expanding our products to service the very demanding needs of the public utilities. We have opened a new store in Cookeville that will expand its distribution of our HDPE line of pipe. Although these products will be available at any Ferguson location, the pipe will be shipped from Cookeville along with a line pumps we are starting to carry. Cale also gave a demonstration on the new fusible HDPE pipe machine that makes joining the length together with a very strong smooth finish.
Next, attendees heard updated reports from the Tennessee Department of Conservation on new guidelines involving water loss within a system. Also, TDEC spoke in length about the new Federal Regulations that will be coming on line pertaining to a national average or percentage water loss regulation. The Federal guideline looks to be starting at around 30% but could be dropped a few numbers as time goes along. Currently, California sets the standard that the Federal Regulatory Authority is very much in favor of. TDEC Officials area staying abreast of this and will be reporting the changes to TAUD and Water Operators as soon as the guidelines are finalized.
Next, Members heard reports from Rural Development concerning the availability of their low interest loan program. TAUD staff members that were on hand included John Hall, Will Taylor and Larry Lewis. Larry gave a report on the upcoming Training opportunities and the new calendar of events for 2010. Kirk Smith of Next Generation Underwriters spoke about the new Safety Training Seminars designed to give water operators CE Credit that applies to their license. These special sessions will take place following the regular scheduled Region Meetings and will be placed in locations to allow for equal opportunities for utilities to attend. Please check the TAUD website for locations and dates.
John Hall of TAUD gave members an update on the upcoming Business Officials meeting that will take place in Nashville at the Radisson Hotel near Opryland in early December.
Missing from the meeting was Sonny Griffin of G & C Enclosures. Sonny had to back out at the last minute due to health issues. Keep Sonny in your prayers.
At the conclusion of the meeting, members drove over to Bakers Café’ to enjoy a great meal and fellowship. The lunch was sponsored by Ferguson Enterprises of Nashville.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com