Archive for January, 2010
Oldest City in Tennessee host Region 1 TAUD Quarterly Meeting
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 | TAUD, Where we will be | No Comments
Located on historic Boone Street in the heart of Jonesborough, members from Region 1 gathered at the Jonesborough Visitors Center to hear the latest news from the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts. Fred Hicks, General Manager of Bloomingdale Utility District and Region 1 Leader served as host for meeting and program. Region 1 includes Utility Districts from Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington Counties and has held attendance records boasting over 110 attendees back in 2008 for a single meeting. Roger Booher who serves as a Field Circuit Rider for TAUD recorded 82 members for the January 17th meeting.
Serving as sponsor for the program, Vaughn & Melton Inc. provided a power point presentation by Stuart Humphries of EnviroMix and Tom Kazmier of Kazmier & Associates Inc. on mixing technologies and applications for water & wastewater utilities.
Members also heard reports from the Johnson City Environmental Field Office on regulatory updates. Also, a brief report from Rural Development on the low interest loan program still available. John Hall of TAUD gave a report on the upcoming training opportunities along with encouraging utilities to attend the upcoming Legislative Rally to be held in Nashville on February 15th, 16th and 17th. Next Dan Martin of TAUD gave a report on Wastewater regulations that will be put in place over the next few years.
Kirk Smith of Next Generation Underwriters Inc. informed members about the upcoming Basic Safety Training opportunities available on June 2nd. This will take place after the Region 2 meeting to be held in the Knoxville area. Be sure to contact Region 2 Leader Wayne Watson for class availability. Also, Holly Austin of TN811 gave attendees an update on making sure to contact them before digging. New laws have gone into effect before earth can be turned. Underground utilities must be marked or fines will be leaved against the contractor.
At the conclusion of the meeting, lunch was sponsored by Vaughn & Melton and catered by the Firehouse Restaurant
We want to thank the Firehouse Restaurant and Fred Hicks along with the Jonesborough Visitor Center for their hospitality. Be sure to check the TAUD website for continuous updates.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com
TOOT-N-TELL-IT Host Region 8 TAUD Meeting in Dyer Tennessee.
Monday, January 18th, 2010 | TAUD, Where we will be | No Comments
Grey Scott, General Manager of the Gibson County Municipal Water District serves as the Region 8 Leader and also President of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts. To say his plate is full would be an understatement. Grey put together another great program for the Utility Districts from Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion and Weakley Counties. The main program presenter was Kevin Young with the HD Supply Company. Kevin presented a power point presentation on AMR Meter Systems. This was the first time HD Supply has brought their package information to the Utility Districts in Region 8.
Next, attendee’s heard reports from Rural Development and the Jackson Environmental Field Office. Brenda Horner was on hand from the Union City office of USDA. Kirk Smith of Next Generation Underwriters gave members an update on the CE Credit Safety Classes which will be available on July 8th for the West Tennessee Region. Chris Stites along with Mark Bilyeu of Safety Engineering Consultants will be presenting a program after the regularly scheduled Region 8 meeting. The class will start at approximately 12:30 and run until 3:30 to 4:00 on the 8th of July.
Dewayne Culpepper of TAUD gave members a report on Wastewater guidelines and updates. Tony Wyatt with TAUD gave members a report on the upcoming training sessions for CE Credit and updates pertaining to the TAUD website. Greg Baker of TAUD was on hand to give members a report on the upcoming NIMS Training for 2010. Larry Lewis of TAUD re-emphasized to the members that TAUD wants utility districts to use the TAUD website for all updates and additional information pertaining to meetings and training. Larry stated, in our effort to cut down on the cost of providing information, TAUD will no longer mail meeting reminders to utility districts. We are now providing the meeting planner booklet which will give members a one year’s notice of scheduled events. These booklets were made available at the meeting. Next Holly Austin of TN811 gave a brief report on the new laws involving location of utility lines underground.
Mike Wetherington of America Development Corporation, informed members of the retirement party for long time employee Glen ‘Piggy’ Parks on January 26th. This will take place in Fayetteville and prior to the Region 6 meeting on January 27th. Mike has invited everyone associated with the membership of TAUD and let’s help send a big ‘Thank You’ to a man who has served ADC and the Utility Districts of Tennessee with honor, class and respect. Piggy’s presents will be missed.
We would like to thank Kevin Young of HD Supply for sponsoring the lunch plus, thank you to Grey Scott and the TOOT-N-TELL-IT Restaurant for their Hospitality in hosting the meeting.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com
Region 7 Holds first TAUD Meeting of 2010 in Waynesboro
Thursday, January 7th, 2010 | TAUD, Where we will be | No Comments
Annie Chiodo serves as the Manager of Waynesboro Water & Wastewater along with the responsibilities of Region 7 Leader. The meeting took place at Bradley’s Restaurant in downtown Waynesboro and attracted some new attendee’s for this Region. Typically, this has been one of the smallest regions but, a new realignment of adding Decatur and Hardin Counties to Region 7 should boost attendance figures. The move was made to give Utility District’s located in the eastern part of West Tennessee south of I-40 a better chance to attend the quarterly meetings without having to travel down to Memphis. Larry Lewis of TAUD felt that the realignment would serve the Decatur and Hardin County’s Utility Districts better and pushed to make the change. Lewis said in a statement during the Wayne County meeting, we try to make each Region accessible for all Utility’s travels as we are sensitive to the amount of time needed to attend meetings.
The first presentation of the meeting was from Alliance Water Resources with Dick Tuttle providing a power point presentation. The presentation centered around the I&I issues and how to construct a program. Dick discussed the reducing infiltration and inflow as an important component of CMOM. He also presented the information on the benefits of I&I reduction for communities as efficiencies result from fewer complaints. This information will help achieve fewer sewer system overflows, less time spent on sewer backups, lowered energy cost, and less wear and tear on treatment plant machinery.
On a more somber note, Members learned of an accident involving David Money’s daughters from Summertown. David serves in the Columbia Environmental Field office and attends the Region 7 meetings regularly. Information can be obtained on the TAUD website involving the accident and the Funeral arrangements. Please keep David and his family in your prayers.
Next, Executive Director of TAUD, Bob Freudenthal gave a report on the upcoming legislative rally to be held in Nashville on February 15th, 16th and 17th. Region 7 was also the first to receive the new Conference Planner Guide for 2010. This new publication contains all the Conference and Rally information along with registrations for each program.
Kirk Smith with Next Generation Underwriters Inc. gave members a report on the upcoming sessions being offered as CE Credit from Safety Engineering Consultants. This free program to TAUD Members will be held in Jackson, Tennessee at the Jackson Energy Authority(JEA) training facility on February 11th. Smith stated that in the event members could not attend this session, they would have an option of going to the Region 9 quarterly meeting sessions which will be held on June 24th in Dickson at the Dickson Country Club.
Additional reports from TAUD Staff Members, Tony Wyatt gave a report on upcoming training for water operators, Dewayne Culpepper gave a report on the EPA updates to Wastewater Operators and Holly Austin of TN811 reported on the new laws involving the services they offer.
After the reports were given, Members enjoyed a fantastic lunch at Bradley’s sponsored by Alliance Water Resource. We want to thank Annie Chiodo and Bradley’s Restaurant for their hospitality in hosting this meeting.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com