Tennessee Utility News 2019 Operator Issue

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A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E T E N N E S S E E A S S O C I AT I O N O F U T I L I T Y D I S T R I C T S

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R E G I O N M E E T I N G N E W S | U P C O M I N G O P E R AT O R T R A I N I N G | C O N F E R E N C E R E G I S T R AT I O N | A W A R D S O F E X C E L L E N C E

Tennessee Utility News O P E R AT O R I S S U E

18 W i n t e r i z i n g Yo u r Sy s t e m 2 4 Fr o m D i g g i n g D i t c h e s to General Manager

TAUD Wins State Association of the Year

4 4 To u r n a m e n t Tr a i l C e l e b r a t e s 10 t h S e a s o n


Operators! we want to hear from you...

TENNESSEE Public Water Systems Operator Survey

During the summer of 2018, Vanderbilt University piloted a survey among 21 public water system (PWS) operators throughout the eight TDEC field offices. Now, the Vanderbilt Research Team is partnering with TAUD & TDEC to conduct a statewide survey so that all operators will have an opportunity to participate and share their insights. Surveys were sent to active, certified operators in mid-October. We encourage you to participate in this survey as it will provide you with an opportunity to express crucial needs in delivering safe drinking water to all Tennesseans, and to help develop training that is designed by operators, for operators.

Questions? E-mail kayla.m.anderson@vanderbilt.edu

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


TAUD SUPERBOOSTERS >>> Superboosters are Associate Members that provide sponsorship for TAUD events and more...

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ECO-TECH, Inc. John Bouchard & Sons Company M&H/Kennedy Valve McGill Associates, P.A. OHM Advisors

American Utility Contractors Carter & VerPlanck Ferguson Waterworks Industrial Plastic Works Insituform Technologies Kazmier & Associates, Inc. Kentucky Glass Lined Tank Systems, Inc. Magnolia River Services Pay N Seconds Southern Pipe & Supply Stringfellow Inc. USDA Rural Development Veteran Management Services WK Dickson & Co., Inc.

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Over 700 members strong, TAUD is the source for utilities and industry enterprises to network, share knowledge and strengthen the water, wastewater & natural gas utilities in Tennessee.

Join today by visiting www.taud.org.

tn utility assistance Tennessee Utility Assistance, LLC (TUA) provides the following services for Tennessee’s water, sewer, & natural gas utilities:

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Cross Connection Control Management GIS/GPS Mapping Services Municipal Advisory Services Accounting/Bookkeeping Services Utility Rate Reviews Annual Budget/Audit Preparation Assistance Capital Asset Plan Preparation UMRB & WWFB Order Compliance For more information, please contact: Brent Ogles, Cross Connection Control (615) 556-6002 / brentogles@tnutility.org Mark L. Butler, Municipal Advisor (615) 557-5780 / marklbutler@tnutility.org Melanie Sain, Accounting Specialist (615) 900-1015 / melaniesain@tnutility.org

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Pat Riley | President Gibson County Utility District

OFFICE FAX WEB EMAIL

ADMINISTRATIVE

TAUD 2019-20 Officers & Board of Directors

Nick Newman | Vice-President Memphis Light, Gas & Water Michael K. Adams, Secretary Water Authority of Dickson County Carter Woodruff | Treasurer Consolidated Utility District

Phillip Combs | NRWA Director Alpha-Talbott Utility District Bruce Giles First Utility District of Knox County Drexel Heidel West Knox Utility District

TRAINING STATION

Charlie Anderson Bloomingdale Utility District

Allen Joslyn Big Creek Utility District Jay Mullin Eastside Utility District Tim Pelham West Warren-Viola Utility District Freddie Weston West Wilson Utility District Ernie Milteer | Associate Representative M&H/Kennedy Valve

VITAL FOR TENNESSEE’S FUTURE

CIRCUIT RIDERS

Michael Johnson County Wide UD of Crockett County

(615) 896-9022 (615) 898-8283 www.taud.org taud@taud.org

Bob Freudenthal | Executive Director BobFreudenthal@taud.org Penny Funk | Office Manager PennyFunk@taud.org Beth Hardiman | Event Planning & Member Services BethHardiman@taud.org (615) 900-1014 Vanessa Sol�s | Publications & Advertising VanessaSolis@taud.org (731) 352-8256 Carol Mims | Bookkeeper CarolMims@taud.org (615) 900-1013 Melanie Sain | Accounting Specialist MelanieSain@taud.org (615) 900-1015 Mark L. Butler | Finance MarkLButler@taud.org (615) 557-5780 Kirk Smith | Business Development KirkSmith@taud.org (615) 243-6490 Donald L. Scholes | General Counsel DonScholes@taud.org (615) 579-7569 Larry Lewis | Government Relations LarryLewis@taud.org (731) 234-0360

Brent Ogles | Education Manager BrentOgles@taud.org (615) 556-6002 Kevin Gilliam | Training Specialist KevinGilliam@taud.org (931) 636-1671 Allison Stephens Hite | Education Assistant AliStephens@taud.org (615) 900-1000

Tony Wyatt | West TN Field Supervisor TonyWyatt@taud.org (731) 415-9101 Johnny Walker | Middle TN Water Circuit Rider JohnnyWalker@taud.org (931) 261-5826 Adam Hale | East TN Water Circuit Rider AdamHale@taud.org (423) 418-2283 Michael Keeton | Energy Efficiency Technician MichaelKeeton@taud.org (865) 660-6454 Greg Baker | Groundwater Specialist/IT Specialist GregBaker@taud.org (731) 225-5240 Dewayne Culpepper | Wastewater Technician DewayneCulpepper@taud.org (931) 607-6981 J.W. Griffin | Source Water Protection Technician JustinGriffin@taud.org (731) 819-2679


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IN THIS ISSUE >>>

9 Event Calendar 10 CUD Employee Earns FAA Certification As Drone Pilot 12 Retro Recap: Y2K - The Millennium Bug 14 Are You Ready for Windows 7 End-of-Life? 16 TAUD Receives NRWA's State Association of the Year Award 18 Preparing Your System for Winter 20 Responding to Crisis: Lessons Learned from the 2019 Flood 24 From Digging Ditches to General Manager 26 Highlights: 2019 Business Conference 32 2019 Awards of Excellence 36 New Energy Efficiency Program Available for Members 40 Enrich Your Network: TN Utility Professionals of Tomorrow 44 TAUD's Tournament Trail Celebrates 10th Season 52 Region Meeting News 58 Upcoming Classes: TAUD Training Station Schedule 60 Conference Registration: Administrative Professionals 62 Game: Spot the Differences 63 Advertiser Index Can you find the frog hidden somewhere in the graphics or photos of this issue? Same size & color as shown here. Answer on page 62 Happy Hunting! Executive Editor Managing Editor & Art Direction Assistant Editor Article Contributors Image Credits

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Penny Funk Vanessa Solís Beth Hardiman Bryan Burns, J.W. Griffin, Beth Hardiman, Ali James, Michael Keeton, Larry Lewis, Brett McArdle, Chloe Pool, Kirk Smith, Vanessa Solís, and Tony Wyatt | freepik.com

Tennessee Utility News is published quarterly by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts. TAUD assumes no responsibility for opinions or statements of facts expressed by contributors. Advertisements and editorials do not represent official policies of the Association. The right to publish, edit or deny publishing and material submitted for publication is reserved by TAUD. To submit editorial or advertising content, or to update your mailing information, please contact Vanessa Solís at (731) 352-8256 or vanessasolis@taud.org.

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


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As a water utility, you have clear goals. You want to reduce non-revenue water, conserve resources and improve customer service. With the right residential water meter, you can achieve more—and boost your revenue. So, how do you choose? What metrology features really matter? Is there a superior technology?

Sensus wants you to make the most of your residential meters. Download our infographic to learn how to measure smarter. sensus.com/1051 4th Quarter | Volume 33

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Read the online! A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E T E N N E S S E E A S S O C I AT I O N O F U T I L I T Y D I S T R I C T S

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N E W B O A R D M E M B E R S | R E G I O N M E E T I N G N E W S | U P C O M I N G O P E R AT O R T R A I N I N G | C O N F E R E N C E R E G I S T R AT I O N

Tennessee Utility News BUSINESS ISSUE

18 C o l l e c t i o n o f S a l e s Ta x By Utilities 2 6 O p e r a t o r o f t h e Ye a r Aw a r d s 32 C r e a t i n g t h e To p Wo r k p l a c e Yo u r Te a m D e s e r v e s

Operator Expo

Highlights from the 25th Anniversary

51 Fa l l C r a m S e s s i o n R e g i s t r a t i o n

TUN Latest Issue & Archives, Schedules & More Available at issuu.com

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EVENT CALENDAR >>> Conference & event details subject to change. For the most current information or to register, please visit www.taud.org or call (615) 896-9022.

Administrative Professionals Conference

9 hrs TAP & 6 hrs Municipal Utility Official/Commissioner Training Credit

Airport Embassy Suites Nashville Register ASAP Utility Technology Conference

12 hrs TAP & Commissioner Training Credit

Crowne Plaza Hotel Knoxville Register by Feb. 21 Operator Expo

6 hrs Operator CE Credit

James E. Ward Ag Center Lebanon Register by May 8

DEC

5-6 MAR

4-6 MAY 21

Follow TAUD! @TAUDtweets 4th Quarter | Volume 33

Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

@TAUDwater 9


CUD Employee Earns FAA Certification As Drone Pilot Brett McArdle | Communications Officer Consolidated Utility District

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he work is part Indiana Jones, part mapmaking, and part drone flights — all in service of water quality. In addition to that, Pam Sykes, a GIS Analyst (geographic information system) with Consolidated Utility District since 2015, now holds certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“I found out about the FAA training through my supervisor, Bethany Hall, who has a drone license already,” said Sykes. “We wanted to expand our program, and she showed me the drone school she used. The course takes about 10 hours, and it’s selfpaced. The school is based out of Nashville. I took the course, watched the videos, and went through the practice test. The real test runs about two hours.” With this certification, Consolidated Utility District now employs two FAA-licensed drone pilots – which enables the utility to perform more aerial mapping work than ever. Using video and images from these flights, CUD can more easily perform inspections of new and existing infrastructure. “Right now, we want to map our water storage tanks,” said Sykes. “We have about five tanks left, and we can also fly over the water treatment plant. Plus, we can map our new and existing STEP system fields and our pumping stations.”

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Pictured: Pam Sykes, CUD's newly FAA-licensed drone pilot.

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


“Flying drones over our water tanks and mapping them helps us locate any damages – which is a great help for our guys. That means they don’t have to climb up there for inspections, so it’s useful for safety. It’s much more than just going out and mapping sites or water lines to make sure everything is operating.” “Rutherford County is growing so fast that we can’t wait half a year to get aerial footage,” Sykes noted. “We’re growing so fast we need it almost monthly. For wastewater drip fields, pump stations, and our water treatment plant, it helps us get better information that helps us maintain water quality.” Each drone flight is a two-step process that begins with advance work at CUD’s Engineering Building. “We start by programming the flight in our office. When we’re at the site, the flight usually takes an hour to 90 minutes. We have to make sure the area is clear and that there are no vertical obstacles such as cell towers or nearby trees. Thankfully, we fly above the tree line. Then we set up our real-time kinematic base station for accuracy, we create control points, and prepare our GPS.” Kinematic positioning – sometimes called the geometry of motion – improves the precision of data from global navigation satellite systems such as GPS. The measurements from CUD’s drone are accurate to within a few centimeters. Even now as a federally certified drone pilot, Sykes calls upon skills gained early in her career. “I started doing GIS work about 2006, and I moved to California after college,” she said. “My degree is in anthropology, and I did archeological work for state parks out there. So, I learned on the job, and I used Measure GIS because it was an interesting way to Every map old sites.” Drop…

Bill Every Drop...

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AMR / AMI | SOFTWARE | WATER LOSS

4th Quarter | Volume 33

Will Taylor (615) 388-4877 Region Manager, South willt@united-systems.com

“When I first started with CUD, I had no clue there was so much involved with water. I thought: Turn on my tap, there’s my water. I didn’t realize there was so much involved, especially with our STEP systems and drip fields. Plus, there’s the work of replacing aging pipes with new ductile iron. My job is really fun because I learn more about Rutherford County than I would ever have known.”

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Retro Recap

y2k

the millennium bug Vanessa Solis | Publications & Advertising Coordinator Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

MM/DD/YY.This simple date format, programmed for decades into a countless number of embedded computer chips across the globe, sent the world into a bit of a frenzy in the years leading up to Y2K. Due to memory space issues, computer programmers had relied on this two-digit format when writing software and there was a growing concern among them as the millennium neared. What was going to happen when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve 1999? Would computer systems interpret the date change from 12/31/99 to 01/01/00 as January 1, 2000? And if it didn’t, would society collapse around us as we all shouted "Happy New Year!" and clinked our champagne glasses together? Everything from VCRs to nuclear power plants were thought to be vulnerable to the millennium bug. People scrambled to withdraw their money because it was feared that banking systems could fail. People scrambled to stock up on grocery essentials and gasoline in case of massive power and fuel outages. People did not scramble to the airport thoughplanes were theorized to potentially fall out of the sky thanks to glitches in air traffic control systems. #yikes! Thanks to the tireless efforts of hundreds - if not thousands - of computer programmers working countless hours behind the scenes, several different approaches were used to fix and upgrade computer systems worldwide, ultimately averting what had the potential to become mass chaos.

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


In the days and months following Y2K, there were a number of reported issues related to the bug, but the majority of these were minor. 01/01/00 The U.S. Naval Observatory, which runs the master clock that keeps the country's official time, gave the date on its website as 1 Jan 19100. France's national weather forecasting service had this same problem. It was also reported that 150 Delaware racino (a combination racing track and casino) slot machines stopped working and bus ticket validation machines in two Australian states failed to operate. Japan saw quite a bit of Y2K-related action, including the failure of radiation-monitoring equipment at midnight in the Ishikawa Prefecture. Two minutes later, an alarm sounded at a nuclear power plant only 13 miles away. Officials reported that the public was not at risk. 03/01/00 & 12/31/00 In addition to the date format issue, another Y2K bug in some software did not recognize 2000 as a leap year, causing additional yet still minor issues on March 1, 2000 and wouldn't you know it- New Year's Eve 2000. Almost twenty years later it's hard to believe how far technology has advanced. A number of devices we were so concerned about then are no longer widely used. Looking back, it can be easy to laugh at all of the hype and hysteria surrounding Y2K but for those that lived it, the fear of the unknown was real.

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Are You Ready for Windows 7 End-of-Life? Bryan Burns | Information Technology Kentucky Rural Water Association

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icrosoft recently announced that it will officially begin the Windows end-of-life phase on January 14, 2020. On that day, the company will stop supporting Windows 7 on laptops and desktops and will no longer patch it with security updates. Of course, that might cause some concern with consumers and enterprise users alike. Windows 7 is still a wildly popular operating system that, even 10 years after its release, is still relied upon by millions across the globe.

But – alas – all good things must come to an end. And soon enough, Windows 7 will be put out to pasture, leaving those who stick with the operating system at potentially higher risk of being targeted by hackers. So, to alleviate some of those fears and answer some questions you may have about Windows 7 end-oflife, we’ve compiled the following FAQ.

What is Windows 7 end-of-life?

End-of-life is the term that Microsoft uses to identify

Article reprinted with permission from the Kentucky Rural Water Association. 14

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


the period when the company will no longer support an operating system or application. In this case, it means that, as of January 14, 2020, Microsoft will move on from Windows 7 and no longer patch security holes in the operating system. And if things go awry and bugs develop, you won’t be able to call on Microsoft to fix the problem.

How many people are still using Windows 7?

You might be surprised to learn that Windows 10 only became the most popular Windows version in the world at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018, taking the crown from Windows 7. At that time, Windows 10 captured 39% of market share, compared to 37% for Windows 7. To put that into perspective, there are more than 1 billion Windows users around the world. So, hundreds of millions of people are going to be affected by this change.

What does Windows 7 end-of-life mean for my security?

Well, this is where things become difficult. One of the nice things about not being in end-of-life is that the operating system or software package is fully supported and patched. In Windows 7, all that support will go by the wayside after January 14, 2020. In years past, when Microsoft has put software into end-of-life, the company has offered up some hefty patches in the run-up to the date, to secure the operating system as much as possible. And while that was a welcome decision, it also meant that hackers had free rein after the endof-life period hit. The fact is, the sooner people can get away from Windows 7 and switch to Windows 10, the better.

How do I move to Windows 10 from Windows 7?

Like it or not, even if you don’t want to move to Windows 10 initially, eventually you’ll have little choice. PC makers will be bundling Windows 10 into their machines, with no option to

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downgrade to Windows 7. Also, you won’t find Windows 7 anywhere for purchase aside from eBay, Craigslist and other places outside of standard retail channels. If you want to upgrade to Windows 10, you can do so free of charge and with a full Windows 10 license if you have a PC that meets all the requirements needing to run the operating system.

Can I keep using Windows 7 if I like it?

There’s no one stopping you from staying with Windows 7 if you really like it, but you’ll be using an operating system that is no longer supported nor comes with security updates. Windows 7 will operate after the end-of-life date just as it does now, so you shouldn’t see any problems with your computer’s functionality. However, over time, you could start to see more security problems.

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TAUD Receives NRWA's State Association of the Year Award T

he Tennessee Association of Utility Districts has been named the 2019 Association of the Year by the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) at the National Water Pro Conference held September 9-11, 2019 at Gaylord Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.

“The State Association of the Year Award goes to the association that projects a team effort in all areas of professional association operations and membership services,” said NRWA Communications & Special Projects Director Carol Booth. “Tennessee was ahead of the pack this year specifically in training and its innovation to diversify its membership. The impressive leadership and teamwork shined through for Tennessee by the creation of the firstever Associate of Science degree programs for Water Treatment Operation and Wastewater Treatment Operation.” The Associate of Science degree programs, approved by the State Board of Regents, include a semester internship at a public facility and curriculum using the same reference materials required for certification examination. This degree program is currently offered at Pellissippi State Community College. “Training in our association means a multi-faceted delivery of services and opportunities to our membership, and it also means creating opportunities for the next generation of utility professionals,” said TAUD Executive

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Pictured: Members of TAUD's staff and Board of Directors accepting the 2019 State Association of the Year Award (back row l-r): Allen Joslyn, Drexel Heidel, Kevin Gilliam, Bruce Giles, Michael Keeton, Tim Pelham, and Nick Newman; (front row l-r): JW Griffin, TAUD Board President Pat Riley, TAUD Executive Director Bob Freudenthal, NRWA State Director Phillip Combs, Dewayne Culpepper, Tony Wyatt, and Johnny Walker

Director Bob Freudenthal. “The creation of these degree programs will provide opportunities for future utility professionals and personal development of existing staff.” Also in 2018, TAUD created a new Women in Water initiative focused on expanding the presence of women within the profession. This new networking group is dedicated to women actively engaged in the water and wastewater profession and increases awareness of the myriad of opportunities available to women. It is now being replicated by NRWA and was a featured element of the 2019 Water Pro Conference. TAUD in 2018 also created the Tennessee Utility Professionals of Tomorrow program to attract the next generation of utility professionals and leaders to the rural

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water community. Designed for industry professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 or those new to the industry, the program develops and provides mentor opportunities for young professionals seeking education and advancement. “These two new groups were created by grass-roots support within our existing staff and membership this past year to respond to the need for increased diversity within the utility profession and to attract the next generation of industry workforce,” said Freudenthal. “These programs are indicative of how TAUD and its member utilities are dedicated to making a substantial, positive impact to citizens across Tennessee through their water, wastewater and natural gas services.”

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Preparing Your System for Winter Tony Wyatt | West TN Field Supervisor Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

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hese days the leaves are starting to fall, the late afternoon air has a chill in it more often than not, and the grass finally doesn’t need mowing every week. All of these are signs of one thing. No, I don’t mean that “It’s football time in Tennessee” or that hunting season has finally arrived. These are all signs that winter is just around the corner and you should be preparing your utility ready for the cold weather ahead. Winter can mean a slowdown from the fast pace of warm weather months for many utilities- a time to perform routine maintenance that you never seemed to have time for during the summer. But if your utility isn’t prepared for the falling temperatures, it can mean long miserable hours trying to keep your water system operating and your customers in water. So what can you do now to insure that your utility is ready for the colder months ahead? All water systems are required to maintain a flushing program. What denotes a good flushing program and the frequency of flushing needed varies from system to system. Your program should be adequate to maintain a clean supply of water with a good free chlorine residual to all of your customers. With most water systems, flushing the entire distribution system twice per year is a good starting point. Fall is a good time to conduct a systematic flushing of your entire distribution system. There are several advantages to flushing at this time of year: • Flushing before cold weather arrives may prevent the need for line flushing during the dead of winter. Winter flushing can be miserable for utility workers and hazardous for others. Water flushed onto roads

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can freeze causing dangerous driving conditions. • Flushing will allow your personnel to inspect fire hydrants before freezing weather arrives. Leaking hydrants may fail during cold weather. Water leaking from weep holes in these hydrants can also loosen the ground around the hydrant allowing it to move and possibly blow off. • Hydrants should also be checked for proper operation of the weep holes. Weep holes should allow 5 oz. per minute of drainage from the hydrant barrel. Weep holes that are plugged will cause the hydrant barrel to remain full of water. Freezing temperatures can then damage the hydrant or the frozen hydrant may not operate if needed during a fire. Weep holes can be checked by holding your hand over the hydrant nozzle after flushing. Listen for air rushing in around your hand as water is drained from the barrel. Plugged weep holes can sometimes be cleared by opening the hydrant a few rounds with the nozzle caps installed. If this doesn’t work, the hydrant may need to be dug around and the weep holes manually cleaned. • Any missing hydrant nozzle caps should be replaced. • Blow-offs should be inspected to insure that they are protected from freezing.

Fall is also a good time to check on water lines that have had problems during past winters. If lines run under or near drainage ditches, check to make sure that cover has not been washed away exposing the line. Thirty (30) inches of cover is normally sufficient to protect water lines in Tennessee. Remember that lines under gravel roads and driveways may need even more cover.

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Insulation should be checked on lines that must be left exposed to the elements, such as raw water lines running from wells or intakes or lines suspended from bridges. Small lines connecting tanks to controls, as well as the control boxes themselves, should be checked to ensure that heaters or heat tape is operating properly. Meter readers should also be especially observant during this time. Broken meter box lids should be replaced. Dirt that may have washed away from boxes should be replaced. Any service lines found leaking should be repaired before bad weather arrives. Extremely cold weather for extended periods of time can still cause problems for the best prepared utilities. There are certain measures, that you and your customers can take during these colds spells to avoid problems, such as: • Placing straw on top of meter boxes can help insulate shallow meters or those exposed to north winds. After the temperature rises, the straw can be scattered in the yard so that it doesn’t have to be hauled away. • Utility newsletters can be used to remind customers to prepare for winter. Under house vents should be closed. Outside faucets and exposed piping should be insulated. Remember that hoses left attached to frost proof hydrants will not allow them to drain properly. You should also warn customers of the dangers of using space heaters to thaw plumbing under houses. • Fall is also a good time to remind customers to prepare backflow preventers for falling temperatures. Reduced pressure backflow preventers (RPBPs) on irrigation systems should be well insulated or removed if the system is not to be used during winter months. Hose bibb vacuum breakers should be drained after each use if possible. If a customer has a hose bibb vacuum breaker that cannot be drained, it should be removed to allow the faucet to drain to prevent freezing. No backflow prevention device should be removed if the line or hydrant that 4th Quarter | Volume 33

it protects will be used during the winter. Don’t forget to check next spring to be sure any devices removed during cold weather have been reinstalled. Now is also a good time to inspect and test any backflow prevention devices owned by the utility. • It seems that the first thing a customer with no water wants to do is to remove the meter box lid and leave it off. This will ultimately lead to a frozen meter when most of the time the original problem was with the customers plumbing. Use your utility newsletter or an ad in the local paper to caution customers about this practice. • Use the local media during cold periods to advise customers to leave cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate under sinks. Customers may also need to allow a small amount of water to flow from faucets during very cold weather. While it is never possible to foresee every problem that cold weather may cause, a little preparation now can save a lot of work later. Remember “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Or in the case of a water system, “a few hours work now can be worth a lot of miserable hours and thousands of gallons later”.

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Responding to Crisis:

Lessons Learned from the 2019 Flood

Chloe Pool | Communications Manager First Utility District of Knox County

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


M

onday February 17th felt like the start to a typical week for our team at First Utility District of Knox County. Little did we know, the record-breaking rainfall at the end of 2018 would combine with a very wet January and February 2019 to create the perfect formula for a crisis. That week held day after day of incessant rain. By Saturday night, we were hearing consistent reports of flooded roads, flooded homes and individuals stranded by flooding throughout our district. We mentally prepared for the worst knowing nothing too negative had yet transpired, but we stayed alert to the reality that we could be facing significant and unknown challenges if the rain continued. All the while, flood waters began to rise rapidly on the Ebenezer and Ten Mile waste water pump stations (pictured left). By Sunday the 23rd, we knew the pump stations were in serious jeopardy, and later that day our fears became reality: the flood waters completely submerged both stations.

“During a disaster is not the time to develop a strategy for crisis response. But, no plan can ever truly prepare you for all that a disaster holds.” -Bruce Giles, General Manager We knew our crisis response plan was in-depth and well thought out, but we also recognized that all the planning in the world could not prepare us for this exact moment, this unprecedented event with its many complications and factors. We instinctively looked to each other, feeling confidence in the trust we had forged over years of working alongside one another and communicating daily, talking through difficult decisions and learning to coordinate and perform as a team. This would simply be another opportunity to support each other through difficult decisions—decisions we would need to make quickly to salvage as much of the situation as possible.

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So, how did we make it through an unprecedented flood without violations and without our operation being compromised? While nothing can prepare a team for a disaster, we learned so much about both the tangible and intangible aspects of navigating a crisis as we faced the challenges of the February 2019 Flood. As soon as the crisis began to unfold, our General Manager Bruce Giles did what experienced leaders must choose to do—rather than seize control, he determined which person on our team had the most experience and expertise to make the key decisions necessary, and he trusted that person without reservation. That individual was Brad Brummett, Operations Manager. Though Brad communicated constantly with Bruce and the rest of our team, Brad knew management entrusted him with the necessary authority to move forward on crucial decisions. He was fully empowered by leadership to make the tough calls. “Having been entrusted to lead the disaster response, one of the keys things I learned is the importance of being trusted and there being an established chain of command with the ability to empower the right people in the right roles.” Brummett says. Another key to disaster response is the ability to consider all angles of a problem but also be prepared to make quick decisions when necessary. Our team had to hold both of these realities at once: we could not analyze things indefinitely, because as time ticked on, crucial windows of time also slipped by; but, we also had to stay calm, step back and analyze our options before moving into action. We did not want to make a hasty decision that would affect our operation for years to come. “Some of the crucial decisions we made were only made after Brad and I discussed all possible options regarding operations at the stations that 21


became totally submerged. One question posed was, ‘At what point do we shut the station down and try to save some of the equipment from catastrophic damage and loss?’ There was no crystal-clear answer, we simply had to assess it from the information we had and make a decision. Other questions we asked were, ‘How do we place the bypass pumps with a continued threat of rising water?’ and, ‘How do we keep our people safe while addressing the operational problems we face?’” said Marty Roberts, Facility Operations Foreman. Of the many decisions our team made, the most important came immediately after the rain stopped: do we begin the process of bringing in replacement pumps for every pump currently submerged in water, or do we wait to assess damage until the floodwaters abate? This question proved incredibly difficult, because, though the rain finally stopped, the flooding showed no signs of receding. To make matters worse, the high levels of water kept us from investigating the damage. We then learned that replacement pumps have a very protracted lead time of nearly six months. Our entire team knew that every day that went by without a decision was another day without the pumps we desperately needed. We had to make the call on whether to order replacements for every pump to avoid additional lead time delays or wait an undefined amount of time to investigate the damage to the stations. In the end, Bruce Giles gave the green light to order the pumps immediately, and we chose to order a replacement for every pump. In the end, the water took two long weeks to move out, and Bruce had made the right call—every single pump needed to be replaced. While we worked to make additional crucial decisions, Brad began to problem solve our response to an indefinite lead time on replacement pumps. He secured diesel bypass pumps to ensure there would be no threat of violating state regulations while our stations sat inoperable (Note: FUD did not have any violations from the flooding incident). These pumps help avoid problems in emergencies and in very short-term situations, but they also require 24/7 manning and were proving to be an expensive substitute for the ruined pumps due to the high price of diesel (nearly $800 per day). Brad knew 22

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


diesel bypass pumps would be an inadequate long-term solution for the six months lead time on replacement pumps. Brad chose to reach out to long-time friends in the industry Mike Adams, Executive Director of the Water Authority of Dickson County, and Scott Miller, Operations Manager of the Water Authority of Dickson County, to inquire about the possibility of utilizing the electric bypass pumps that of the Water Authority of Dickson County purchased during a construction project months earlier. Mike graciously agreed to help, which cut down on First Utility District’s bypass expenses as well as avoided the need for 24/7 supervision of the pumps. We owe so much appreciation to the Water Authority of Dickson County for their generosity and assistance. From there, Brad reached out to another long-time friend in the industry Mark Robinson with Lenoir City Utilities Board, and Mark agreed to help Brad set up a temporary transformer bank for the electric pump. Having done everything possible, all we could do was wait. We waited for nearly eight months. Finally, on September 16th, 2019, Marty Roberts radioed from Ten Mile pump station to the control room and received confirmation that the first pump would be tested shortly. Our Facility Operations team waited silently as the pumps sat motionless. After a few tense moments, the first pump kicked into action, and as each subsequent pump started up, we all breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we were able to put all the pieces of our operation back together.

“We’re a family, and we get through these things as family. I hate disasters, but this team does great work, and I would trust them to handle similar situations any day.” -Bruce Giles, General Manager

as our CMOM Department, headed by Pat Spangler and Steve Carmon. These incredibly dedicated teams spent countless hours assisting with any necessary repairs, installing bypass equipment, and tirelessly assessing anything that could be salvaged from the two stations. We’re proud of the work we do in our district, and we couldn’t do it without so many individuals choosing to serve our customers, our district, and their First Utility District Family. Yes, the entire team at First Utility District worked tirelessly to meet the challenges presented from the moment the rain began threatening the integrity of our operation until the new replacement pumps became operational nearly eight months later— but most significantly, we weathered this trial as a team, and we are proud of what we accomplished together. No one should feel alone in a crisis, and while we would never choose to go through such a difficult ordeal again, the circumstances proved the strength of the bond we have as a team. We truly are a family.

Of the countless employees who assisted our flood recovery since that eventful day in February, we feel two departments deserve special recognition for their tireless work ensuring our operation got back on track as quickly as possible: our Facility Operations Department, headed by Marty Roberts and Brad Brummett, as well 4th Quarter | Volume 33

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From Digging Ditches to General Manager Ali James | Freelance Writer Shopper News / Knoxville News Sentinel

Article reprinted with permission from the Knoxville News Sentinel, which can be found online at www.knoxnews.com

G

regg Morgan did not see himself attending college when he graduated from Carter High School in 1979. He was 18 and pictured himself with a baseball bat in his hands. Instead, he ended up with a shovel.

Photo by Ali James/Shopper News

“College was not an option,” said Morgan. “The grades probably weren’t good enough to get an academic scholarship and it would have been a great hardship for my parents without it.”

After applying for every industry including the railroad, he felt rejected. A Gregg Morgan started his career digging ditches and worked his way up within the ranks at contact at the Northeast Northeast Knox Utility District. He was appointed General Manager in 2018. "I started out as a Knox Utility District told laborer; I was a shovel operator and swept and cleaned a lot," he said. Morgan about a vacancy; he applied and got the job. “I remember what I did the first day,” said Morgan, who started as a “shovel” operator. “We had to do a meter set and get from the main line across the road using a jackhammer and lay iron pipe. I was laying in the ditch wondering what I had done – this is much harder than hitting a baseball.” The second day was spent reading meters. “We used to ride on the back of a truck bumper and get off the truck at each meter,” he said. “Those days were difficult, but I enjoyed being outside, and a couple of men took me under their wings.” 24

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Within a year, Morgan was approached to work at the water treatment plant. “I was afraid to say no, that they would say they don’t need me anymore,” he said. “But I discovered it was in my wheelhouse. I enjoyed taking the water from the river and making it potable for the public. I still had the worst shift of all, double shifts every weekend and three five-hour shifts a week.”

Rose to Leadership as Customers Soared

The utility company decided to invest in Morgan’s training, and he achieved his Certified Operator Grade 3 water certification. In 1981, Morgan’s career morphed into a leadership role. He was promoted to chief operator at the water treatment plant, where he served 1995-2004. One of Morgan’s key mentors was the general manager, Richard Phillips, whose shoes he stepped into in July 2018. On Sept. 20, he celebrated his 40th anniversary with the company. In that time, the number of residential customers has increased from 3,500 to 10,000. “Everything we did in 1980 has changed so much. The water treatment plant process to treat the water has not really changed but the technology and chemicals and monitoring is night and day,” said Morgan. “Everything Gregg Morgan and family, celebrating his 40th anniversary at was pencil and paper then. If we wanted to know how Northeast Knox Utility District. much water was in a reservoir we drove and looked; now encourage them to look into the utility operators; this is you look on the computer.” not a job, this is a career,” he said. Up until 2000-01 Morgan said they read meters with two trucks and four guys and it took 20 days. “Now I have one guy and one truck and it takes maybe five days out of the month,” he said.

Jobs in search of ‘good people’

“I’m sorry to see the vocational programs in local schools cut back,” said Morgan. “Pellissippi State has started a new program with an environmental angle. We have two issues – an aging workforce and infrastructure. We are hoping to gain some water and plant operators through this program.” Morgan would like to encourage graduates to look into the public jobs entry-level positions that have a longterm future. “Maybe college is not just for you. I would

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“You can do really well; an entry-level position has a much nicer starting salary now than even 5-6 years ago,” said Morgan. “In this industry you have to have good people, and you have to compensate those people. The benefits throughout are really incredible. It’s really a nice career.” Morgan does not regret starting from the ground up. “I like to see people succeed. Somebody had the confidence in me and gave me a chance to improve and move up,” he said. “Our team is incredible, 17 employees counting me ... and each of them I am very proud of the work. (We’re) family-oriented, small enough that we can take care of one another.” Get an online subscription to Knox News for comprehensive investigative, business and sports coverage at www.knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Highlights:

2019 Business of Running a Utility Conference Beth Hardiman | Event Planning & Member Services Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

T

he 2019 Business of Running a Utility Conference was held August 7-9 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, boasting an attendance of over 750 guests and our largest Exhibit Hall to date.

Conference events kicked off Wednesday morning with our annual TUPAC Golf Tournament and Trap Shoot, followed by the TUPAC Silent Auction during the opening reception Wednesday evening. TAUD's Women in Water initiative held a luncheon and educational session on Wednesday afternoon presented by the Director of TDEC’s State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) Program Leslie Gillespie-Marthaler, Ph.D. Following the keynote speaker, Leon Shields of Lenoir City Utilities Board taught a class on active shooters in the workplace. These sessions were also approved for four hours of TAP training. Back again for a second year, heavy equipment was on display in the Exhibit Hall, providing a number of Expo vendors the opportunity to join us at the Business Conference as well. This year saw Bobcat of Knoxville/Nashville, Buchanan Pump, Cleary Construction, Jet-Vac Equipment, Stringfellow, and United Rental/Trench Safety displaying trucks and heavy equipment in Hall 3. Attendees were greeted Thursday morning with breakfast and door prizes in the Exhibit Hall, followed by the opening Super Session in Mills Auditorium. Speakers featured this year included several dignitaries from the National Rural Water Association, as well as a special presentation by Greg Young with the Department of Environment and Conservation. Continued on page 30 >>>

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Then & Now: Tylan, son of Tyson Lamb with Chuckey U.D., visits the Pittsburg Tank & Tower booth in 2011 & 2019

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Also held during the Super Session is the statewide Best Tasting Water Contest. Each year a panel of judges sample water from 11 regional finalists, determining the utility that will represent Tennessee in February during NRWA's Great American Taste Test in Washington, D.C. Jamestown Gas & Water was named the Best Tasting Water in Tennessee for the second year in a row! After the Super Session attendees returned to the Exhibit Hall for lunch while a secret panel of judges determined the winners of the exhibitor booth competition. Vendors were judged for Most Creative Booth, Best Promotional Item, and Best In Show, with the winners announced during Thursday afternoon's Associate Member meeting. Cumberland Machine's booth was named Most Creative and Invoice Cloud was selected as having the Best Promotional Item, handing out webcam covers and cloud shaped stress balls to attendees. Cleary Construction was voted Best in Show. Their display in Exhibit Hall 3 gave attendees the opportunity to operate a virtual equipment simulator and play mini golf for a chance to win prizes. Their associates were also incredibly friendly and personable. Educational sessions began Thursday afternoon and provided six hours of continuing education for operators, engineers, utility municipal officials, TAP participants and commissioners. Sessions this year featured a strong presence from TAUD's Women in Water initiative, with five Women in Water members presenting throughout the conference. TAUD would like to thank all that presented, attended and exhibited this year. The 2020 Business Conference will be held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center August 12-14. We hope you'll join us next year!

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


YOUR PARTNER IN ADVANCED METERING TECHNOLOGY.

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FERGUSON.COM/METERS

4th Quarter | Volume 33

31 1563580 Š2019 Ferguson Enterprises, LLC 1019


2019 Awards of Excellence Presented by TAUD Board President Pat Riley

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Allan Gill Leadership Award Michael Adams Water Authority of Dickson Co.

Region Leader of the Year Jimmy Langley Luttrell-Blaine-Corryton Utility District

Administrative Professional of the Year Kimberly Greene West Knox Utility District

Associate Member Wall of Fame Rick Kirby WK Dickson Co.

Roger Booher Young Professional Award Jeremy Bailey First Utility District of Knox County

Associate Member Wall of Fame Kenny Diehl Smith Seckman Reid

Cecil Branstetter Legacy Award Tom Atchley Hendersonville Utility District

Associate Member of the Year Jason McGee American Development Corporation

Cecil Branstetter Legacy Award Tim Pelham West Warren-Viola UD

(accepted by Steve Lane)

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Women in Water Patriot of Courage Award Dina Gouge Southeastern Tank

10 Years of Service Brent Ogles TAUD

Women in Water Professional of the Year Award Candace Vannasdale Harriman Utility Board

2019 BEST TASTING WATER CONTEST FINALISTS Region 1: Cold Springs Utility District Region 2: South Blount County Utility District Region 3: Norris Water Commission Region 4: Jamestown Gas & Water Region 5: Portland Utility System Region 6: Fayetteville Public Utilities Region 7: Linden Utilities Region 8: Bradford Water System Region 9: Water Authority of Dickson County Region 10: Sweetwater Utilities Board Region 11: Jackson Energy Authority Best Tasting Water Contest Winners Jamestown Gas & Water

Pictured: (l-r) Steven McCoy, Janie Ramsey, Chris Ramsey, Mayor Lyndon Baines, & TAUD Board President Pat Riley.

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THE CLEARY WAY Cleary Construction lives by the principle of delivering quality through trust. We are an established company with a focus on municipal, industrial, & private underground utilities, pump stations, water & waste water treatment plants. We bring a highly-skilled workforce with unparalleled expertise in utility construction. We are a company that values Relationships, Integrity, Quality, & Safety. Cleary has all the heavy equipment, tools, test equipment and experience to safely install deep sewer, water and gas of all sizes. We find it very important in building strong relationships with owners and engineers, while developing a reputation of delivering a quality finished product on time and within budget.

OUR SERVICES WATER

SEWER

ROCK TRENCHING

GAS

TREATMENT

DESIGN BUILD

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www.clearyconst.com | 2006 Edmonton Rd | Tompkinsville, KY 42167 | 270.487.1784 www.facebook.com/clearyconst | www.twitter/clearyconst | www.vimeo.com/clearyconst TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


We would like to personally thank each Tennessee Utility District that we have had the opportunity of working with in the past 35 years! We look forward to our future together.

UTILITY DI STRICT PROJECTS A

B

C

E

D

A. KNOXVILLE UTILITY BOARD | B. HALLSDALE POWELL UTILITY DISTRICT | C. HORTON HWY UTILITY DISTRICT D. NASHVILLE & DAVIDSON CO OAP | E. SPRINGFIELD WATER AND WASTEWATER 4th Quarter | Volume 33

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New Energy Efficiency Program Available for TAUD Members Michael Keeton | Energy Efficiency Technician Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

E

nergy costs are a major expense that water and wastewater systems pay out each month. The Tennessee Association of Utility Districts is pleased to announce a new energy efficiency program available to its members. The Energy Efficiency Program is funded by USDA Rural Development and it helps systems improve their energy efficiency. USDA created the Energy Efficiency Program for rural and small community water and wastewater systems to help those systems reduce energy costs by evaluating energy needs, consumptions, and costs; recommend measures to reduce energy consumptions, needs, and costs, and identify potential funding sources for improvements.

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


This program accomplishes these goals by: • Identifying systems in need of energy improvements, • Gathering information about these systems, • Finding solutions to reduce energy consumption and needs, • Developing an Energy Efficiency Assessment, and • Implementing the solutions and adjusting as necessary

There are several benefits to this program, the most important being a better understanding of how your system uses energy. This understanding can help lead to savings in energy costs. Each assessment culminates in the creation of a report that details potential savings. This report will also include funding sources for capital improvements. By performing this assessment a system can increase your standing with the State Revolving Loan Fund and receive additional points toward your application to USDA Rural Development funding. While several states are already implementing the Energy Efficiency Program, Tennessee was one of eight states recently awarded this program. TAUD has tapped former East Tennessee Circuit Rider Michael Keeton as its Energy Efficiency Technician. If you are interested in lowering your energy consumption and maximizing your energy savings contact Keeton at (865) 660-6454 or by e-mail at michaelkeeton@taud.org.

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the third annual

TUEC Raffle Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the TUEC Scholarship Program

3 Cash Prizes of

$2,000 will be awarded!

drawings held

05.21.20 at the Operator Expo

$5 38

per ticket

Tickets are available to purchase from any TAUD Circuit Rider or staff member. You may also purchase tickets by visiting our main office during normal business hours. Questions? Call (615) 896-9022 or visit www.taud.org.

Tickets will be available until 1:00pm on 5/21/20. You do not have to be present to win! TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Women in Water is a professional networking group dedicated to women actively employed in the water and wastewater industry. Our mission is to develop and mentor young female professionals by facilitating their involvement on research and technical committees, engaging members in networking events, seeking additional opportunities for further education, and promoting the water and wastewater industry in local communities.

Administrative Professionals Conference Join us after Thursday's sessions for a Hospitality Hour sponsored by Janet Smith 4 Quarter | Volume 33 of Bailey Special Risk! th

Questions? E-mail admin@womeninwater.us Women in Water is an initiative of the

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Enrich Your Network:

TN Utility Professionals of Tomorrow J.W. Griffin | Source Water Protection Technician Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

H

ave you ever come across an issue at work and thought, 'What am I supposed to do now?' Would it not be nice to have a colleague to call? Maybe someone close to your age? Created in 2018, TAUD's Tennessee Utility Professionals of Tomorrow (TUPT) is a networking group designed with the younger utility professional in mind (ages 25-45). Members of this group can be either utility members or associate members and work in any of the many fields that can be found in the utility industry. Even though "professionals" is in our name, not all members of the group are engineers or accountants. We are also operators and clerks. We use the term because that is how we see our careers. We look at our work as more than just a job; we're here to make the drinking water better and the streams it is sourced from safer. The idea for this group is simple: to build an organization that facilitates networking and growth for the next generation of water and wastewater system personnel. We strive to involve the TUPT group in all that TAUD has

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to offer. This group will provide the utility professionals of tomorrow the opportunity to share our failures and our successes in an effort to learn and grow from one another. We plan to accomplish this goal in a few ways. First, we will begin hosting stated meetings. We are also planning to host meetings in each of the three grand divisions of Tennessee. This is an area that we plan to expand in 2020 in order to bring the group closer to members that may not be able to attend TUPT events held during TAUD conferences. These meetings will give members the ability to network and exchange knowledge. After all, knowledge is the key to success! If any member of the group would like to share a presentation, these meetings will provide an ideal time. Some meetings will be formal, others more casual. During these meetings we will also share updates from TAUD and enjoy light refreshments. Also, the group will be hosting special gatherings throughout the year. These gatherings can be as simple as meeting in the hotel lounge for happy hour during a

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Pictured: (top) TUPT members on a special behind-the-scenes tour of Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg; (bottom) J.W. Griffin & Cody Lovett at the Business of Running a Utility Conference; (right) J.W. Griffin, Cody Lovett, & Kate MacIndoe at a TUPT member dinner

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c a ll ( 80 0) 95 2 -4 2 36 o r vis it www.wa sc oninc .co m 4th Quarter | Volume 33

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conference, or a larger group outing that will be a great environment for getting to know one another and our families.

behind-the-scenes brewery tour, as well as the refreshments afterward. These outings have been a great way to socialize with our friends and colleagues from other water systems and industry suppliers.

In 2019, two social events were held for the Utility Professionals of Tomorrow. During TAUD's Utility Technology Getting involved with TAUD is vital Conference in March, members for our future, both personally and gathered at Mellow Mushroom in professionally. At the 2019 Operator Pigeon Forge for a networking and Expo, Seth Rye of Rye Engineering social hour. Members from James C. spoke to the TUPT group about the Hailey & Co. sponsored appetizers importance of getting involved and for us to enjoy. In September, shared with us his experience in how TUPT members attending NRWA's valuable the TAUD network is. I can WaterPro Conference toured Yazoo also say that being involved with Brewery and were able to share in a TAUD has given me the ability to new experience as a group. Members grow in ways I never thought were of the group from American Flow possible. This group is here for you to Control, Rye Engineering and Smith, experience the same on your journey Seckman, Reid sponsored the as a utility professional.

Currently, the TUPT planning committee is developing its event calendar for 2020. We are using our successes in 2019 to compile an agenda for 2020 that will allow us to reach even more utility professionals at more events. We plan on coming to a city near you! If you have an idea that you believe will be beneficial for the group, we encourage you to let us know! Your feedback and involvement in TUPT is the driving force for our future. For more information about the Utility Professionals of Tomorrow group, please contact J.W. Griffin (jwgriffin@taud.org or (731) 819-2679) or Committee Administrator Ali Hite (alistephens@taud.org or (615)900-1000).

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


TENNESSEE

UTILITY PROFESSIONALS

of T O M O R R O W

Who We Are

The TAUD Tennessee Utility Professionals of Tomorrow is defined as any person between the ages of 25-45, or new to the water industry (within the last 10 years). Persons that best fit this group are those that are currently in a leadership position (or will be in the future) with a utility or outside agency. Members of TUPT work at water or wastewater plants, utility offices, engineering firms, regulatory agencies, manufacturers, educational institutions, sales firms, and more.

43 For more information, contact: JW Griffin 731.819.2679 | justingriffin@taud.org

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TAUD's Tournament Trail th Celebrates 10 Season Kirk Smith | Business Development Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

N

ext spring, the TAUD Tournament Trail will celebrate its tenth season of fishing tournament events for the members of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts. Created for the purpose of engaging more of our members, TAUD built this program from a single tournament to a multi-series of stops across the Volunteer State. Originally known as the Operator Expo Bass Tournament, members participating in the tournament wanted an opportunity to fish with other members closer to their part of the state. This demand helped us create what is known today as the TAUD Tournament Trail. It also helped create a partnership between the Tournament Trail and the Tennessee Utility Education Corporation (TUEC) Scholarship Program. This partnership has been a winning combination and has built the core strength of the Tournament Trail allowing Associate Members the benefit of sponsorships which underwrite the cost of the TUEC Scholarship Program. The Tournament Trail is open to all TAUD members and we encourage anyone interested to join us for an exciting and most unique format of fishing. TAUD stands alone as the water association

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


Scholarship Application Details (3) $2,000 Scholarships Available

Deadline: April 1st

Each year, in conjunction with TAUD, the Tennessee Utility Education Corporation (TUEC) Scholarship Program offers a one-year scholarship in each of the three grand divisions of Tennessee. They are the: • West TN: Harold Clark Scholarship - $2,000 • Middle TN: Henry Elrod Scholarship - $2,000 • East TN: Sam Bruce Scholarship - $2,000

REQUIREMENTS...

Scholarships will be awarded to students intending to major in a field related to operations of a public utility at an accredited college or university. The recipient must be a dependent child of a full-time employee of a TAUD member or a TAUD governing board member or, the recipient must be employed by a TAUD member. Under certain circumstances, applicants that are the dependent child of a part-time employee of a TAUD member may also be considered. Each applicant’s ranking will be based on leadership responsibilities, awards, honors,

4th Quarter | Volume 33

academic record, career goals and financial need. The recipient must intend to study a major which is related to or can be used by the student in the operations of a public utility.

TO APPLY...

Visit www.taud.org and click on the application featured under “Latest News” on the front page of the website. Submitted applications should be typed and all questions must be completed. Additionally, the following items must be submitted with your application: • Two (2) letters of reference • An essay describing your goals as they relate to your education, career, future plans & the utility industry • Certification that the information provided is accurate Many applicants are considered, but only three (3) are chosen each year - one from West, Middle & East TN. Be sure to submit your application information no later than:

April 1st , 2020

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Different Purposes, One Goal It’s easy to tell if you’re using the right lure, that tug on the line is all you need to feel. A wellstocked tackle box is necessary for success on the water. When it comes to water treatment, you need the same options and flexibility from your chemical partner. American Development Corporation offers a full line of treatment options. We start with jar testing to find the right chemical for your treatment plant and finish with a mini-bulk system that eliminates drum and tote handling. And along the way, we offer 24/7 technical support and service. We can’t help you catch more fish, but we can help you maximize your treatment process.

Delivering much more than chemicals

46

1.888.542.8561

UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org TN 37334 • adc-chem.com • 821 William D. Jones Drive • P.O. Box 620TENNESSEE • Fayetteville,


offering its members the opportunity to fish some of Tennessee’s legendary fisheries in a true statewide series of tournaments.

our Bucket of Cash Big Bass Contest. This contest pays out first and second places, adding to the excitement of catching the tournament lunker.

Members can fish a single event or complete in all three, it’s their choice. Each tournament stands alone without the pressure of a points system. This allows more flexibility due to work schedule commitments. All tournaments are conducted on Friday's in order to steer clear of local club tournaments and national/regional pro tournament events.

Help Us Celebrate in 2020; Join us at one of three Tournament Trail events

As the Tournament Trail has grown, so has the participation and paybacks. This past season, the TAUD Tournament Trail awarded over $13,000 in cash and prizes to anglers in four contests. Each tournament, based on participation, saw teams receive tournament winnings for first through fourth place finishes. Each tournament stop also includes special door prizes for participants whose boat registration/team chip number is randomly drawn. In addition to the door prizes and tournament winnings, each team is participating in

The TAUD Tournament Trail Committee has set up some exciting opportunities for you to land that largemouth and grab some cash to boot! We kickoff the 10th Anniversary Season on Friday, March 20th at one of our anglers' favorite fisheries, Kentucky Lake. Paris Landing State Park & Marina will serve as the host location for this tournament. For those traveling and making plans to stay in the Paris area, please note that the State Park Inn is closed for a complete rebuild. The state has plans to reopen the Inn in 2020 but not in time for our tournament. Fish Tail Lodge is another angler favorite in the Paris area. Next, the Tournament Trail heads east and returns to Watts Bar Reservoir for its second tournament stop. Watts Continued on page 50 >>>

Show your pride!

th 10 Anniversary Sport Fishing Dry-Fit Shirts pre-Order Yours Today!

$15

To commemorate our 10th season of fishing with TAUD, we are offering tournament participants a Dry-Fit Long Sleeve Sport Fishing Angler shirt for only $15. These shirts will feature the Tournament Trail logo & the logos of the tournament's Deep Water sponsors. Contact Chuck Page at (931) 703-4786 or chuck@adc-chem.com for details.

www.fishtaud.com

for tournament participants

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


We wish to thank the following Associate Members who continue to support the efforts of the TAUD Tournament Trail & the TN Utility Education Corporation (TUEC).

DEEP WATER SPONSORS American Development Corporation Southeastern Tank Inc. Wascon Sales & Service Inc. ServLine Southern Sales Inc. A.Y. McDonald Mfg. J.R. Wauford Engineers Rye Engineers, PLC. M & H Kennedy Valve American Utility Contractors Rogers Hydrant Services Wilson Bank & Trust Alliance Water Resources LDA Engineering

TOP WATER

McWane Ductile Iron

FRIENDS OF FISHING Bar Environmental Core & Main, LP Cumberland Insurance Agency Hethcoat & Davis, Inc.

Th a n k You For more information about tournament sponsorship opportunities, visit www.fishtaud.com 4th Quarter | Volume 33

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Bar has been producing great catches and members who fished this lake last year are ready to return. The City of Kingston and the William B. Ladd Park will serve as host on Friday April 3rd. Headquarters for tournament staff and anglers will be the Holiday Inn Express in Harriman. The final stop of the 2020 Tournament Trail will take us back to where it all began - Old Hickory Lake. This tournament will take place Friday April 17th at Bull Creek Boat Ramp & Recreation Area (locally known as Flipper’s in Gallatin). The Tournament Trail Committee elected this stop to serve as our Big Bass Poker Style event. We will have eight hourly weigh-in sessions, a format that many anglers enjoy. No local hotel headquarters have been established for this event however, there are multiple hotels to stay at in Gallatin. The TAUD Tournament Trail is open to any employee of a utility district (including board members), any employee of a municipal water, police, fire, or public works and administration department, as well as all employees of an Associate Member of TAUD. "What if I’m just a weekend fisherman and not a tournament angler?" you might ask. Well, this tournament is for you! We have structured our Rules & Regulations to level the playing field. No pros, semi-pros, or guides are allowed to fish any TAUD Tournament Trail event. Our focus since the beginning has always been to bring these events to our members who just enjoy getting out on the water and wetting a line. So take a day off and come fish with us. No excuses! For complete details on the 2020 10th Anniversary TAUD Tournament Trail, visit our website at www.fishtaud.com.

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TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


4th Quarter | Volume 33

51


REGION MEETING NEWS >>> Region meetings are held quarterly throughout the year and provide unique opportunities to network with others in the utility industry. Speakers present topics that are current, informative and beneficial to utilities and related industries. Some recent presentations include: updates on training, industry rules, reporting and regulation, insurance provisions, workplace safety, and what’s upcoming in new and innovative smart technology. TAUD encourages you to be ‘in-theknow’ and get involved in your region.

For more information on how you can become involved with TAUD ‘s Region Meetings, please contact: Larry Lewis (731) 234-0380 | larrylewis@taud.org

Region 1 Meeting Jeremy Jones & Louie Stevens, Region Leaders July 18, 2019 Meeting Location: Blountville Utility District Attendance: 63 Speakers/Presenters: Jeremy Jones of First UD of Hawkins County, James Gibson of Consolidated Pipe & Supply, Dr. Alisa Cade of the TN Department of Health, Kathy Quartermaine of TN811, Greg Stothart of First TN Development District, and Bob Freudenthal, JW Griffin, Mike Keeton & Kirk Smith of TAUD. Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: ADC and Consolidated Pipe and Supply Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, McGill Associates, JR Wauford, Kazmier & Associates, Brann & Whittemore, W&W Engineering, TN811, and Rye Engineering

Regions 2 & 3 Joint Meeting Brad Brummett & Bryan Gipson, Region Leaders September 12, 2019 Meeting Location: Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros Attendance: 95 Speakers/Presenters: Josh Spradlin of BAR Environmental, Houston Daugherty & Tim Tucker of Cannon & Cannon, Kathy Quartermaine of TN811, Erich Webber of the Knoxville EFO, Kirk Morris of USDA RD, and Kirk Smith and Larry Lewis of TAUD. Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: Environmental and Cannon & Cannon

BAR

Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, McGill Associates, JR Wauford, Consolidated Pipe & Supply, Barge Design, Kazmier & Associates, The Trust Company, Walter A. Wood Supply, Fulghum MacIndoe, Hayes Pipe & Supply, TN811, and Rye Engineering Next Meeting: Regions 2 and 3 joint meeting on December 11, 2019

Next Meeting: TBA

52

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


REGIONS 2 & 3

Region 4 Meeting Buster Harmon & Anthony Pelham, Region Leaders August 21, 2019 Meeting Location: Golden Eagle Golf Club in Cookeville Attendance: 36

TAUD REGION LEADERS REGION 1: Jeremy Jones Louie Stevens REGION 2: Brad Brummett REGION 3: Jimmy Langley Bryan Gipson REGION 4: Buster Harmon Anthony Pelham REGION 5: Michael Clay Bruce Trotter REGION 6: Cathy Dradt Bill Dunnill REGION 7: Lisa Porter REGION 8: Michael Johnson Randy Gregory REGION 9: Scott Miller REGION 10: Tim Lawson Allen Joslyn REGION 11: Chandrika Winston

First Utility District of Hawkins County Blountville Utility District First Utility District of Knox County Luttrell-Blaine-Corryton Utility District LaFollette Utilities Byrdstown Water Department City of McMinnville West Wilson Utility District Harpeth Valley Utilities District South Giles Utility District Consolidated Utility District Lawrenceburg Utility Systems County Wide Utility District City of Dyer Water Authority of Dickson County Ocoee Utility District Big Creek Utility District Memphis Light, Gas & Water

REGIONS 2 & 3

Speakers/Presenters: Sam Linmark of CedarChem, Jonathan Cummings of Wascon, Region Leaders Anthony Pelham & Buster Harmon, Dina Gouge discussed Women in Water, Kathy Quartermaine of TN811, Chris Ables of USDA RD, and Mark Butler, Michael Keeton, Johnny Walker & Kirk Smith of TAUD. Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: CedarChem and Wascon Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, McGill Associates, JR Wauford, Southeastern Tank, Brann & Whittemore, TN811 and Rye Engineering

Follow us on Instagram! @TAUDWater

Next Meeting: TBA

4th Quarter | Volume 33

53


REGION MEETING NEWS >>> REGION 4

Region 5 Meeting Michael Clay & Bruce Trotter, Region Leaders August 15, 2019 Meeting Location: West Wilson Utility District in Mt. Juliet Attendance: 38 Speakers/Presenters: Brian Harstine of ServLine, Ernie Milteer of M&H/Kennedy Valve, Chris Leauber of the Water & Wastewater Authority of Wilson County discussed the Water Loss Report, Jason Kouba of TN811, and Mark Butler & Kirk Smith of TAUD. Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: ServLine and M & H/Kennedy Valve Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, Southeastern Tank, JR Wauford, ServLine, Core & Main, Aulick Chemicals, M&H/Kennedy Valve, McWane Ductile, Mueller Company, TN811, Hayes Pipe & Supply, and Rye Engineering Next Meeting: TBA

REGION 5

54

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


REGION 6

Region 7 Meeting Lisa Porter, Region Leader July 10, 2019 Meeting Location: David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg Attendance: 32 Speakers/Presenters: Jonathan Cummings of Wascon, Jason McGee of ADC, Will Pride of the Columbia EFO, Doug Shelton of USDA RD, and Bob Freudenthal of TAUD.

Region 6 Meeting Cathy Dradt & Bill Dunnill, Region Leaders July 24, 2019 Meeting Location: Consolidated Utility District in Murfreesboro Attendance: 43 Speakers/Presenters: Seth Rye of Rye Engineering, Matt Finney of MidSouth Tank Consultants, Chris Miller of Watson Marlow, Jason Kouba of TN811, Jamie Ray of the Columbia EFO, and Larry Lewis of TAUD.

Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: Wascon and ADC Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: Spirits of Tennessee, Wascon, and Rye Engineering Next Meeting: TBA

Region 8 Meeting Michael Johnson & Randy Gregory, Region Leaders Region 8 did not meet during the third quarter.

Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: Rye Engineering, MidSouth Tank Consultants, and Watson Marlow Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, Southeastern Tank, Hayes Pipe & Supply, Belzona, George Paris Company, TN811, and Rye Engineering Next Meeting: TBA

4th Quarter | Volume 33

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REGION MEETING NEWS >>> REGION 9

Region 10 Meeting Tim Lawson & Allen Joslyn, Region Leaders August 29, 2019 Meeting Location: Cleveland Chamber of Commerce in Cleveland Attendance: 48 Speakers/Presenters: Tim Rogers of Rogers Hydrant Service, Micah Kahn of TOSHA, Kathy Quartermaine of TN811, Jessica Rader of the Chattanooga EFO, and JW Griffin, Michael Keeton, Kirk Smith & Larry Lewis of TAUD. Region 9 Meeting Scott Miller, Region Leader September 19, 2019

After the meeting the Maklain Lawson Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament was held at the Chatata Valley Golf Course in Cleveland.

Meeting Location: Greystone Golf Club in Dickson

Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsor: Rogers Hydrant Service

Attendance: 46 Speakers/Presenters: Kelvin Colvett of Inflow Design Group, Seth Rye of Rye Engineering, Jason Fryer of TN811, and JW Griffin, Kevin Gilliam, Dewayne Culpepper, Kirk Smith & Larry Lewis of TAUD. Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: Inflow Design Group and Rye Engineering Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, Hayes Pipe & Supply, JR Wauford, Core & Main, TN811, and Rye Engineering Next Meeting: March 19, 2020

56

Best Tasting Water Contest on

Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, McGill Associates, Rogers Hydrant Service, Filter Magic, Consolidated Pipe and Supply, Jackson Morgan, Brann & Whittemore, Walter A. Wood Supply, Southeastern Tank, CTI, TN811 Thank You to the Tournament Grand Prize Sponsor: Rye Engineering Next Meeting: TBA

Like us on Facebook! Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


REGION 11

Region 11 Meeting Chandrika Winston, Region Leader August 14, 2019 Meeting Location: JEA Training Center in Jackson Attendance: 43 Speakers/Presenters: Jonathan Cummings of Wascon, Chuck Page of ADC, and Bob Freudenthal, Tony Wyatt, Dewayne Culpepper & Kirk Smith of TAUD. Thank You to Our Meeting Sponsors: ADC and Wascon Thank You to Our Door Prize Contributors: ADC, Wascon, G&C Supply, and Rye Engineering Next Meeting: TBA

Providing Products for Our Greatest Resource:

WATER

For more information on these and other products, call: NATURAL GAS, WATER & WASTE WATER PRODUCTS Atwood, TN: 1-800-238-3836 Dandridge, TN: 1-800-325-2305 SIGNS & SAFETY PRODUCTS

1-800-223-8594

Striving to Serve Since 1974

www.gcsupplyco.com 4th Quarter | Volume 33

57


UPCOMING CLASSES >>> Classes listed occur while this issue is current. For more information or to register for any of these classes, please visit www.taud.org or call Ali Hite, Education Assistant, at (615) 900-1000.

BLOUNTVILLE

Blountville Utility District Office | 3010 TN-126 1/27**** Fundamentals of Water Treatment

12 hrs. WT

CHATTANOOGA

TN American Water Building | 1490 Riverside Dr.

2/18 Cross Connection Renewal 2/19** Cross Connection Basic

Questions? Call us!

(615) 900-1000

Get complete information & register for any of these courses online at www.taud.org. Choose “Training”, then “List All” or select a specific category:

CLARKSVILLE

Clarksville Gas & Water | 2215 Madison St.

1/14 Cross Connection Renewal 1/15** Cross Connection Basic JEA Training Center | 320 Hwy 45 By-Pass

2/19 2/20

Wastewater Issues & Regulation Update Collection Systems Issues & Update

JEA Facility | 604 S. Royal St.

FEES VARY DEPENDING ON CLASS Members $85-$360 Non- Members $90-$720

2/4** Practical Math for Distribution Operators

58

6 hrs. Any Cert. 12 hrs. Any Cert.

JACKSON

Water Treatment / Distribution Wastewater / Collection Certification Prep Conferences Backflow Training Safety Natural Gas Commissioner Training Municipal Utilty Official Training

2-day class (*) 3-day class (**) 4-day class (***) 5-day class (****)

6 hrs. Any Cert. 12 hrs. Any Cert.

1/28 Cross Connection Renewal 1/29** Cross Connection Basic

6 hrs. WW 6 hrs. CS 6 hrs. Any Cert. 12 hrs. Any Cert.

KNOXVILLE

Knoxville Utilities Board | 4505 Middlebrook Pk.

2/12

Intro to GPS Data Collection

6 hrs. DS/CS

MARYVILLE

Alcoa Water Filtration Plant | 302 Sam Houston School Rd.

6 hrs. DS

MEMPHIS

MLGW Training Facility | 4949 Raleigh-LaGrange Rd..

2/4 Cross Connection Renewal 2/5** Cross Connection Basic

6 hrs. Any Cert. 12 hrs. Any Cert.

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


MURFREESBORO

TAUD Training Station | 840 Commercial Ct.

12/3 Bacteriological Sampling 12/3**Bacteriological Compliance 12/4* Bacteriological Monitoring & Reporting 1/7 Cross Connection Renewal 1/8** Cross Connection Basic 1/13**** Fundamentals of Water Distribution 1/21 Wastewater Issues & Regulation Update 1/22 Collection Systems Issues & Update 1/23 Safe Drinking Water Act Update 1/27**** Fundamentals of Collection Systems 2/4** Practical Math for Wastewater Operators 2/17**** Fundamentals of Water Treatment

4th Quarter | Volume 33

6 hrs. WT/DS 18 hrs. WT/DS 12 hrs. WT/DS 6 hrs. Any Cert. 12 hrs. Any Cert. 6 hrs. DS 6 hrs. WW 6 hrs. CS 6 hrs. WT/DS 6 hrs. CS 12 hrs. WW 12 hrs. WT

59


2019 Administrative Professionals Conference

December 5-6 | Airport Embassy Suites Hotel | 10 Century Blvd. | Nashville, TN | (615) 871-0033

HOTEL INFORMATION Airport Embassy Suites Hotel 10 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 871-0033 ROOM RATE: $149

TAUD's Administrative Professionals Conference is an opportunity for administrative personnel to learn valuable skills that benefit today’s workplace. Administrators interact extensively with people daily and this conference aims to address topics such as customer service, human resources, and utility policies. It is also host to the TAUD Administrative Professionals (TAP) program. The TAP program was designed to promote and educate those striving for administrative excellence. Requirements for the program cover a series of topics relevant to the skills necessary to become a certified Administrative Professional in the utility industry. The program requires completion of thirty (30) hours of course work in office management, financial administration, legal and personnel issues, personal development, and on-site system evaluation (applicable to your specific utility). In 2018, TAUD’s Women in Water (WIW) initiative was created to promote women working in our industry. There are several WIW members leading sessions at this year’s conference, as well as a hospitality hour hosted by Janet Smith of Bailey Special Risk immediately following Thursday’s sessions. For more information about this conference or to request an application for the TAP program, contact Beth Hardiman at (615) 900-1014 or by e-mail at bethhardiman@taud.org. 60

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Nine (9) Hours of TAP & six ( 6) hours of Commissioner Training Available!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5

8:30am 8:45am 9:45am 10:45am 12:00pm 1:00pm 3:15pm 4:15pm

Opening Comments Creating a Security Culture at Work [Shay Trembley, South Blount UD] Cyber Security & Windows 7 End of Life [Adam Bell, Sublime Computer Services] Obligations When You Accept Credit Cards [Don Scholes, TAUD] LUNCH Self Defense; Anytime, Anywhere [Leon Shields, Lenoir City Utilities Board] Cyber Coverage; Why You Need It [Janet Smith, Bailey Special Risk] Hospitality Hour Sponsored by Janet Smith, Bailey Special Risk

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

8:30am Public Records & Open Meeting Laws [Lee Pope & Rachel Buckley, TN Comptroller’s Office] 10:30am Q & A With TAUD’s General Counsel & the Comptroller’s Office [Don Scholes, TAUD; John Greer, TN Comptroller’s Office]

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


please print

Administrative Professionals Conference | December 5-6, 2019 Airport Embassy Suites Hotel | Nashville, TN You may also register online at www.taud.org REGISTRANT 1: _________________________________________________________________ REGISTRANT 2: _________________________________________________________________ REGISTRANT 3: _________________________________________________________________ REGISTRANT 4: _________________________________________________________________ UTILITY/COMPANY: ______________________________________________________________ BUSINESS ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________ CITY: ______________________________________ PHONE: (____) _____ - _________

STATE: ________

ZIP: ___________

E-MAIL: _______________________________________

REGISTRATION FEES:

By November 22, 2019 Number of Registrants TAUD Member $230 x_____ Non-Member $415 x_____ One day only $125 x_____ After November 22, 2019 Number of Registrants TAUD Member $255 x_____ Non-Member $440 x_____ One day only $225 x_____ Total Amount Due: $________ Please make checks payable to TAUD. If preferred, you may also pay by credit card. Only provide your credit card information on forms that are to be direct mailed or faxed. We cannot accept credit card information via e-mail, including attachments.

CREDIT CARD NUMBER: __________________________ EXP. DATE: _________ AMOUNT: ____________ CARD HOLDER NAME: __________________________ SIGNATURE: _____________________________ BILLING ADDRESS: ______________________________________________ ZIP: ________________ EMAIL FOR RECEIPT: _______________________________________________________________

TAUD Refund Policy: All cancellations must be received in writing. A full refund will be issued (less a $50 processing fee) if cancellation is received at least 15 working days prior

to the conference. Cancellations received between 5 & 14 business days prior to the conference are eligible to receive a half refund. No refunds will be issued if cancellation notice is 4th Quarter received less than| 5Volume business 33 days prior to the conference. Substitutes are always welcome.

REGISTRATION

Send completed form(s) & payment to: TAUD P.O. Box 2529 Murfreesboro, TN 37133-8041 Fax: (615) 898-8283 | Questions? (615) 896-9022

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE

REGISTRATION FORM

Please make copies of this form for more than 4 registrants

61


GA ME - SPOT TH E D I FFE RE NCE S

Find 10 differences between the original photo (pictured top) and the altered photo (pictured bottom).

frog Find age 10! on p 62

TENNESSEE UTILITY NEWS | www.taud.org


ADVERTISER INDEX >>> Alliance Water Resources 42 American Development Corp. 46 C2RL Engineers 55 C.I. Thornburg 19 Ferguson Waterworks 31 G & C Supply Company 57 Joel B. Spaulding 50 McGill Associates 15 Pittsburg Tank & Tower Co. 54 Principal Environmental 37 Sensus 7

Southeastern Tank Back Cover Tennessee Utility Assistance 4 United Systems & Software 11 Wascon, Inc. 41

Interested in Advertising?

TN Utility Ne

Associate Members are welcome to advertise in any of TAUD's publications, including the Tennessee Utility News (TUN) magazine, the annual TAUD Membership Directory and Training Station Wall Calendar.

Final Trim Size:

Business Card Horizontal

25”

By advertising in one, or all, of TAUD's publications, you're not only making an investment in your business, but also ensuring that your message directly reaches your target audience. For more information, please contact Vanessa Solis at (731) 352-8256 or by e-mail at vanessasolis@taud.org. 4th Quarter | Volume 33

7.375” x 8.87 5”

¼ Page

NUMBER OF

Two of TAUD's most valuable resources, the Membership Directory & Training Station Wall Calendar are published annually. While the Directory is only distributed to members of the Association, the Calendar is directly mailed to every active operator and utility in the state.

25”

½ Page

Full Page (no bleed)

8.5” x 10.875”

3.5625” x 4.31

A quarterly magazine, the TUN has an average annual circulation of over 20,000 recipients, consisting of readers in the water, wastewater and natural gas industries. This includes managers, operators, state legislators, rural and economic community development officials, as well as state and federal agencies. The TUN is also available to read on e-reader and tablet devices, via issuu.com.

ws Magazine

8.375” x 10.6

Full Page (w/bleed)

Business Card Vertical

3.5625” x 2.03 13”

ISSU

7.375” x 4.31 25”

2.0313” x 3.56 25”

ES: Full Year / 4 issues 1 st Quarter (Content Dead line: January st 2 nd Quarter 1) (Content Dead line: April 1 st 3 rd Quarter (Con tent Deadline: July st ) 4 th Quarter 1) (Content Dead line: October st AD SIZE: 1) Business card Full Page Quarter Page Inside Cove Half Page r Back Cover A PUBL ART WO ICA RK COLOR:

Black & Whi

te

DATE SUBMITT

Advertising

Black & White

Ads Business Card Quarter Page Half Page Full Page

Full Color Ads

Business Card Quarter Page Half Page Full Page Inside Cove r Back Cover

per issue

$200 $350 $500 $750 per issue

$400 $850 $1,425 $1,920 $2,400 $2,400

Rates Full Year

$500 $1,200 $1,800 $2,400

Full Year

$1,100 $3,200 $5,000 $6,670 $8,600 $8,600

Full payment advertisem should be received prior ent, has been made unless an installmen to running t agreement . Cancellation prior to the content deadl s must be received 30 placed (see days ine in which subm the will not be accep ission deadlines at left). ad would be will be publis ted once the deadline has Cancellations hed responsible for in that issue and the passed; your ad advertiser will the servic e payment are: rende company check red. Acceptable forms be and American of , VISA, Maste Express. rcard, Discov er All artwork dpi) & in onemust be submitted in JPEG. All fonts of the following formahigh resolution (300 TION O F THE artwork. Color and graphics should bets: PDF, EPS, TIFF, or TENNE embedded into files must be NEW BO SSEE A in ARD ME S S O C I A should be sent suppl the ied in CMYK mode Tthe I O N O F via e-mail to file is tooUlarge . Ads vane Full Color M B E R S | R E G I O N M E TILITY lis@t D I S T Rssaso to e-mai ETING make other arran I T S aud.org. If l, NEWS gements. pleaseCconta | UPCO ct Vanessa to 3 r d MING O Quarte PE r

Tennessee Utility News

ED: ______ ___

R AT O R

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2 019 |

Vol. 33 AINING | CONF _________ ERENC _ E REGI S T R AT I E ______ ON _________ CONTACT NAM _________ E ______ _________ _________ _____ PRO BILLING ADD _________ DUC T/SERVIC RESS ______ _________ E ______ _________ ___ EMAIL ADD ___ PHONE _________ _________ RESS ______ NUMBER (___ _________ _________ _________ _ ___ ___ CITY/STA )_______ If preferre _________ - _________ TE ______ d, _________ Only prov you may use you _________ __ ____ r ide _____ ZIP PLEASE INVO We cannot your credit card Master Card, Ame _______ ICE rican info accept cred PAYMENT ENC it card info rmation on forms Express, Discover BUSIN LOSED that or Visa rmation via ESS IS CREDIT CAR SUE email, incluare to be direct mai . D NUMBER led or faxe ding atta _________ chm d. ents CARD HOLDER _________ . NAME ___ _________ _________ _________ BILLING ADD _________ EXP. DATE RESS ______ _________ ___ ___ ___ ___ _________ _______ RECEIPT NEED _ TOTAL DUE SIGNATURE _________ ED? _________ YES _________ _________ _ NO SEND _________ ___ CITY/STA RECEIPT TO _________ TE ______ _________ _ _________ Please send _________ ___ ZIP ___ payment _________ info ____ _________ TAUD | P.O. rmation or chec _________ k (ma Box 8041 ______ | Murfree de payable to TAU

COMPANY NAM

sboro, TN Fax: (615 37133 ) 898-828 3

18 C o l l ection of Sale By Util s Ta x ities 26 Ope rator o f t h e Ye 32 C r e a a r Aw a ting rds Yo u r Te t h e To p Wo r k am Des place er ves 51 Fa l l Cram S ession Registr ation

D) to:

Operator Ex Highlights fro po m th 25th Annivers e ary

63


P.O. Box 2529 Murfreesboro, TN 37133-2529 www.taud.org

Just like water, we find a way. Tap our 40 years of providing outside-the-box solutions to utility districts, municipalities and water authorities. Knowing that water always finds its own way, Southeastern Tank has spent decades developing an understanding of how we can make water work best for you. Our commitment ensures long-lasting solutions and optimal operations. Whether it’s tanks, inspections or mixing, we make water work for you. Call 615-466-5220 for a quote, or visit setank.com. setank.com

60 Vesta Road • Lebanon, TN 37090 • p. 615.466.5220 • f. 615.466.5222 M U N I C I PA L WAT E R & WA S T E WAT E R

I N D U S T R I A L WAT E R , WA S T E WAT E R & F I R E P R O T E C T I O N

D I S I N F E C T I O N B Y- P R O D U C T M A N A G E M E N T


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