Missouri LICA News. Volume 70, Number 4 Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association Summer, 2011

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1 Missouri LICA News Volume 70, Number 4 Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association Summer, 2011 A Year of Work... and Fun! EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Larry LaFollette Chairman Jim Bledsoe President Ozzie Wallace Vice-President Chris Brauer Secretary/Treasurer DISTRICT OFFICERS Jeff Lance District #1 President Mont Gilbert District #2 President Melvin Beckemeyer District #3 President Elwin Yoder District #4 President Ken Balkenbusch District #5 President With President Jim Bledsoe at the helm, Missouri LICA has had a very successful year! We ve increased our contractor membership by more than 20%; provided 10-Hour OSHA training to more than 100 LICA members, employees and prospects; and represented Missouri LICA members on three Task Forces directly impacting our members businesses... the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Soil and Water Commission s Task Force, Missouri Public Service Commission s Underground Damage Prevention Stakeholders Committee, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service s State Technical Committee. Now it s time to gear up for next year. We encourage you to take a part in YOUR association... put your dues to work! Use your benefits! Attend a District Meeting! Pictured above: Jim Bledsoe, Missouri LICA President, takes the helm during a dinner cruise at the National LICA Summer Meeting in Rochester, MN; Below left: LICA members gather for the Missouri LICA Summer Meeting in Warsaw, MO; Below right: Jerry Biuso, National LICA CEO has a little fun at the National LICA Summer Meeting and Noah Miller, Region IV VP Steve Miller s son, tries to dodge the camera! AUXILIARY OFFICERS Mona Bledsoe President Sally Bauer Vice-President Rhonda Schnitker Secretary/Treasurer

2 Page 2 Summer, 2011 Want FREE Training? August Happy Birthday! 1 Jason Edgar 5 Kenna Levings 11 Richard Gercken 13 Syble Cretzmeyer 14 Patricia Morrow 16 Brad Stieferman 17 Ken Balkenbusch Maryann Jacquin 18 Roger Zink 22 Virginia Beckemeyer 27 Ron Morrow 29 Craig Stubinger 30 Stephen Champlin 31 Arvel Lee Schneider September 2 Dean Yoder 3 Don King 4 Don Libhart 6 Greg Hall Darren Wilcoxson Albert Balkenbusch 8 Sharon Cain 11 Terry Johnston 12 Dayrel Adkison 15 Sanford Reynolds September (Cont.) 16 Rex Combs Larry Gilson Lois Haile 20 Dennis Showalter 24 Brian Flora Jeff Utz 25 Debra Utz 26 Ginger Matthews Ryan Poston 29 Junior Eichler October 2 Jeff Lance Craig Spencer 3 Jerome Boedeker 5 Chick Acker 6 Melvin Beckemeyer Brenda Milne 19 Jerry Heath 20 Joe Hedrick Gayle Matthews Marilyn Rufenacht 22 Roger Levings 23 Dennis Brinton 24 Doug Schnitker 26 Lisa Davis 27 Bill Bader Gene Rotert Damage Prevention Summit November 9 & 10, 2011 Fairgrounds s Columbia, MO The Damage Prevention Summit will offer almost 40 hours of FREE training, including 10-Hour OSHA, Competent Person, Trench Safety, Hydroexcavation, Pipeline Safety... and more. There will be an Excavator Rodeo with prizes for the winners, an Exhibit Hall, Outdoor Equipment Display... and FREE meals!! More details are included in this newsletter. Don t miss this opportunity! Missouri LICA News is a quarterly publication of the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association. Please send your comments and suggestions to: Missouri LICA Executive Director: Deb Dickens 7016 East North Shore Drive Hartsburg, MO Ph: s Fx: MLICA@aol.com s Web:

3 Summer, 2011 Page 3 President s Message Welcome! We d like to welcome the following new members to Missouri LICA! Contractor Justin Smith; Erica Central Missouri Excavation Contracting Inc Hwy 42 Belle, MO Ph: Fx: Em: cmec.justin@gmail.com MLICA District: 5 County: Maries Work Categories: Excavation/Grading, Site Prep/Development, Concrete Company Associate Jack's Municipal Sales & Service MLICA Contact: Eric Edwards Brick School Road Clarksburg, MO Ph: Cell: Fax: jackssales@gmail.com Web: Products/Services: Field Tile (Springfield Pipe), Double Wall Polyethylene Pipe; Metal Culvert Pipe; P.V.C. Pipe; Signs; Posts; Brackets; Cutting Edges; Tire Chains; Road Salt Greeting fellow members, I hope everyone has had a busy summer. It was an unusual spring with tornadoes and flooding issues. I was through Joplin and viewed the damage, which was devastating. The Missouri River levees are breached from here to the Dakotas. Many acres of crop land are flooded and lost. There will be repair work for some of our members. Our Summer Meeting was held August 6 in Warsaw at Jester s House, owned by Missouri LICA members Colleen and Elwin Yoder. Thank you to all the members who attended and to Ozzie Wallace for making the arrangements for a great meal! On November 7, Jerry Biuso, National LICA CEO, will help us gain new members at the Missouri LICA Membership Meeting sponsored by Murphy Tractor and Equipment in Kansas City, MO. On November 9 & 10, the first annual Damage Prevention Summit will be held in Columbia, MO. We will need volunteers to help with our equipment rodeo and work the LICA membership booth with Jerry. I would like to see as many members and prospective members as possible at both of these membership events. Last year s membership meetings were successful and these can be, too. Your support and help is much needed and appreciated. The 2012 Missouri LICA Winter Convention will be held in Columbia, MO. We are planning a Contractor Boot Camp, complete with specialized training and/or certification for our members and their employees. We will also have our Annual Auction and recognition of the Missouri LICA scholarship winner. This will be an opportunity to gain valuable training for you and your employees. Remember, you only get out of an organization what you put into it. Please attend as many District and State meetings as you can. It will be beneficial to you and your business. Looking forward to seeing you at the Winter Convention. Work Safely, Jim Jim Bledsoe, Missouri LICA President Savannah, MO SALES s RENTALS s PARTS s SERVICE KANSAS CITY, MO 5701 E. 87th Street CHILLICOTHE,MO Highway ST. JOSEPH, MO 3619 Pear Street SEDALIA, MO 1040 Sedalia Road OLATHE, KS S. 169 Hwy

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5 Summer, 2011 Page 5 DRAFT MLICA General Membership Meeting Jester s House - Warsaw, MO August 6, 2011 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by President Jim Bledsoe at 12:50pm. WELCOME/INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS President Jim Bledsoe welcomed LICA Region IV Vice President Steve Miller and all the Missouri members to the August, 2011 General Membership Meeting. ROLL CALL District #1 1 District #4 7 District #2 0 District #5 3 District #3 3 District #6 0 Ladies Auxiliary President: Mona Bledsoe - present Associates Chairman: vacant Staff: Debbie Dickens - present MINUTES APPROVAL A motion was made by Greg Muenks and seconded by David Dittmer to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2011 Membership Meeting as printed. The motion carried. NATIONAL REPORT - Steve Miller, National LICA Region IV Vice President Steve reported that the overall membership numbers for National LICA were in good shape and growing. He reviewed plans for the 2012 Winter Convention to be held in San Diego. He also reported that the National Ladies Committee will be hosting a raffle for a diamond necklace. The drawing will take place at the 2012 Winter Convention with proceeds benefitting the National Scholarship program. Steve reminded members that the benefit package is only of value to them if they use it. He reviewed some of the benefits, including the Safety Manual and Petrocon. Greg Muenks reported that he has tried the Petrocon benefit and is pleased with the results. PRESIDENT REPORT President Jim Bledsoe reported the following: Since the National Winter Convention in Las Vegas, Missouri LICA has been planning events for this fall and winter.on November 9 & 10, Missouri LICA will be participating in the first Damage Prevention Summit to be held at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia, MO. Jerry Biuso, a Petrocon Representative, and Bruce Mosier will help us work a membership booth and Missouri LICA will be holding an equipment rodeo for contractor attendees. We have also been working with Jerry Biuso and Murphy Tractor on a Missouri LICA Membership Meeting to be held November 7 at Murphy Tractor and Equipment in Kansas City, MO. The original plan was to combine efforts with the Kansas LICA chapter, but they will not be able to participate in this fall s membership drive. The Missouri Executive Director has made contact with Murphy Tractor and will be finalizing details. Members are encouraged to attend the meeting and to bring prospects. The Missouri LICA 2012 Winter Convention will be held in Columbia, MO. We re going to extend the Convention and hold a Contractor Boot Camp with specialized training and/or certification for members and their employees on Thursday. The Convention will also include our Annual Auction and recognition of the 2011 Scholarship Winner. TREASURER/SECRETARY REPORT Chris Brauer reviewed the financial statements, the budget, District accounts, Auxiliary account, and membership counts for fiscal A motion was made by Larry LaFollette and seconded by Ken Balkenbusch to accept the Treasurer/Secretary s report. The motion carried. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT See Committee Reports, Old Business and New Business below. COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget/By-Laws - The committee did not meet. Convention/Education - Chairman Ken Balkenbusch reported that the committee recommends holding the 2012 Convention in Columbia at the Holiday Inn East. A motion was made by Ken Balkenbusch and seconded by Dave Dittmer to hold the 2012 Convention on January 5, 6, & 7, 2012 at the Holiday Inn East in Columbia, MO. The motion carried. Thursday s events will take place at the Bobcat facility with an emphasis on employee training. The committee reviewed a list of possible topics and made selections. Summer Meeting Minutes >p6

6 Page 6 Summer, 2011 Summer Meeting Minutes (from page 5) Field Day/Drainage - The committee did not meet. The Executive Director reported that Dr. Kelly Nelson has applied for a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant for a 2012 Drainage Workshop. MLICA is exploring the possibilities of including Technical Service Provider (TSP) training with this Workshop. Governmental Relations - Chairman Jeff Lance was absent. The committee did not meet. Ladies Auxiliary - Mona Bledsoe reported that the Auxiliary officers and Scholarship Committee have selected Nicole Martin as the winner of the 2011 LICA Scholarship. Ms. Martin has been invited to attend the Saturday Night Banquet at the 2012 Winter Convention. One half of the scholarship funds ($500) will be distributed to Ms. Martin during the first semester; the second half will be distributed after she has attended the Winter Convention. The Ladies Auxiliary are working on classes for the 2012 Winter Convention. The Auction will take place on Saturday night and the Ladies will work on getting baskets for the auction. The Ladies will also research possible entertainment for Saturday night. The Ladies Auxiliary will continue the scholarship program with Linn State Technical College for Legislative Committee - Gerald Bauer, Chair, reported that the Committee reviewed the Public Service Commission s current proposed changes to the Underground Damage Prevention Act. The committee is concerned about the portion of the proposal which will establish a database for locates and utility hits. The committee will continue to monitor this issue as the 2012 session approaches. In addition, they will be monitoring a proposed change to the required number of votes to overturn a public vote. Membership Committee - Chris Brauer reported that Missouri LICA will be holding a membership drive at Murphy Tractor in Kansas City in early November, possibly the 7th. Buddy Hostetter, Melvin Beckemeyer and Larry LaFollette volunteered to attend the meeting and help recruit new members. The committee also reported on the Damage Prevention Summit which is scheduled for November 9 & 10 at the Fairgrounds in Columbia, MO. Ken Balkenbusch, Dave Dittmer, Larry LaFollette, and Greg Muenks have volunteered to help run the Excavator Rodeo, as well as work the LICA booth for the event. Jim Bledsoe reported that he has researched the cost of purchasing new LICA ballcaps. A motion was made by Melvin Beckemeyer and seconded by Dave Dittmer to purchase 12 dozen hats, 6 dozen closed and 6 dozen mesh, at a cost of $4.80 each. The motion carried. Jim Bledsoe will order these hats. A motion was made by Gerald Bauer and seconded by Ozzie Wallace to purchase a Past President s and a President s lapel pin from National LICA at a cost of $10 each. The motion carried. These pins will be passed down to state officers at the Conventions. A motion was made by Melvin Beckemeyer and seconded by Greg Muenks to accept the Committee Reports. The motion carried. OLD BUSINESS A Auction Proceeds - The Executive Director reported that the 2011 Auction raised approximately $5,000, $1000 of which was donated to the Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship Program. B. PSC One Call Legislation - See the Legislative Committee s Report. C Bobcat Rodeo - The Executive Director will contact Bobcat to see if they are still interested in hosting an equipment rodeo for next spring. NEW BUSINESS A Membership Drive - Murphy Tractor - See Membership Committee Report. B Damage Prevention Summit - See Membership Committee Report. Summer Meeting Minutes >p7

7 Summer, 2011 Page 7 Using GPS to Identify Your Dig Site by David Jones, Missouri One Call System The remote locations where LICA members routinely work makes accurately describing the dig site on their locate request difficult, for both the excavator and the MOCS operator. If the excavator hasn t visited the dig site prior to calling in, using distances and directions to identify the dig site can be awkward and inaccurate. Accuracy When Mapping the Dig Site Is Essential. If the dig site location is not described accurately and work is conducted off of the designated dig site, facilities may be present that were not listed on the ticket, resulting in damages. MOCS has for some time been able to receive GPS coordinates to help identify the dig site. When the correct coordinates are given and entered, the location of the dig site appears on the operator s screen. They are then able to work with the excavator to verify the accuracy of the location of the described dig site. Distances and driving directions from the nearest known intersection are still necessary in order to direct the locators to the dig site. Problems Using GPS? Problems using GPS arise when the excavator doesn t know the projection and format of his coordinates. MOCS has the ability to take lat-long, UTM and state plane coordinates, but the caller must be able to specifically name the projection and format being used before the operator can proceed. The exact same coordinates entered under the wrong projection or format can result in different locations being mapped as the dig site. When the excavator is uncertain of the projection and format of his coordinates, the call center has no choice but to map the ticket using distances and driving directions. Using GPS coordinates on your locate request is a strong tool ensuring mapping accuracy but can only be used when the excavator is certain of the projection and format being used. The most commonly used projection and format is NAD 83 and degrees and decimal degrees. To ensure your ability to submit GPS coordinates to MOCS simply be aware of the projection and format you are using before starting your locate request. Summer Meeting Minutes (from page 6) C. LICA Safety Insurance Program - The Executive Director reported that Prins Insurance has announced a change in the LICA Insurance Program. United Fire and Casualty will replace Continental Western as the underwriter for the Program. As described by Bruce Mosier with Prins Insurance, the new endorsed program will provide better coverage for the contractor, both small and large, with a better pricing structure and a continuation of the dividend program. The exact date for the change has not been announced. Contractor members will receive a letter from Prins outlining the changes. Missouri LICA is working with Prins to make the transition as smooth as possible and to provide our members with the best coverage for the best price. D Fall District Meeting Dates - District #1 - TBA District #2 - October 6 District #3 - TBA District #4 - October 3 District #5 - October 4 E Fall Board Meeting Date - The Executive Director will contact Bobcat to see if they would be willing to let us use their facility on October 22 for our Fall Board Meeting. F Winter Convention - See the Convention/ Education Committee Report G Drainage Workshop - TSP Certification - See the Field Day/Drainage Committee Report. The meeting adjourned at 3:15pm. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Dickens Executive Director

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16 2011 Scholarship Winner With Deep Sympathy Nicole Martin Linn State Technical College Nicole Martin has been selected as the 2011 LICA Scholarship Winner. In her thank you note, she wrote: I would like to thank you all for awarding the 2011 Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association Scholarship to me. I feel very honored to have received this scholarship to help further my education and to help a new generation of women in construction to grow. As you know, every scholarship that I receive helps me to pursue my goals and I want to thank you again for your amazing generosity. We have invited Nicole to join us for the Saturday Night Banquet at our 2012 Winter Convention so she has a chance to meet our members and you have a chance to meet the future of your industry! Cecil Stephen Koechner died Wednesday August 3, Cecil was the brother of the late Melvin Koechner, a Missouri LICA contractor member; brother-in-law to Irene Koechner; and the uncle of Jerry Koechner, a Missouri LICA supporting member. If you would like to express your condolences, you may send them to: The Koechner Family; c/o Jerry Koechner, P.O. Box 531; Cameron, MO Derek Leffert s father, Larry Gene Leffert passed away on August 7, Derek works for Missouri One Call System, a Missouri LICA associate member. If you would like to express your condolences, you may send them to: The Leffert Family; c/o Derek Leffert; Missouri One Call System; 824 Weathered Rock Road; Jefferson City, MO