* Please note..These minutes have not yet been approved.
NCATSSA
Annual Chapter Meeting
July 17, 2007, 8:00 A.M.
Comfort Inn, Otter Tail, MN
I. Call To Order
A. The meeting was called to order by President Jon Jackels. Introductions were
made and it was determined that the chapter had a quorum present. Those in attendance
were as follows:
Ken Russell, 3D Specialties, Inc.
Alan Petrich, SDDOT
Rick West, Otter Tail County
Dean Erckson, AAA Striping
Jay Blanchard, Safety Signs
Chad Weatherman, 3M
Lyle Landstrom, NDDOT
Ed Hagel, Newman Signs
Jeff Parkin, Douglas Co. Public Works
Lori Cuypers, Newman Signs
Karin Lowe, ATSSA
David McKee, ATSSA
Tim Marthe, M7 Monitoring
Marc Rue, Northstar Safety, Inc.
Dave Sather, Trail County Highway Dept.
Jeff Wilkens, M7 Monitoring
John Lester, Reflexite
Marv Sohlo, MNDOT
Dave Levi, NDLTAP
Mike Leaf, Highway Technologies
Gary Clark, 3M
Gary Thompson, MNDOT
John Schickert, MNDOT
Emily Fischer, SignCad
Scott Janke, Ramsey County
Ken Nelson, MNDOT
Judd Roby, SignCad
Rick Shomion, MNDOT
Melanie Myers, ATSSA
Tim Lewis, Highway Technologies
Jon Jackels, MNDOT
Wayne Zacher, NDDOT
Travis Cork, NDDOT
II. Treasurer’s Report
A. Treasurer Gary Clark handed out the attached Treasurers Report.
B. Gary requested a bill from Jay Blanchard for the posters so he can pay it.
C. The Northland Chapter is waiting on the check from ATTSA for @ $11,800 for the
2007 How To and a check for $1,850 for the NL Striper Meeting.
D. Rick Shomion made a motion to accept the report as written the motion was
seconded by Tim Marthe and passed by a unanimous vote.
OLD BUSINESS
III. Membership
A. Rick Shomion stated that the committee had not formally met since the past
meeting.
B. Emily Fischer asked that members continue to forward contact names to National.
C. Jon Jackles noted that the chapter meeting was attended by many new faces and
again thanked all for coming.
IV. ATSSA Update
A. David Mckee informed the group about the sign committee that ATSSA has set up
to recognize and inform the membership of the opportunities that the new MUTCD private
property signing requirements will create.
B. David noted the worker visibility proposal that is out that requires all people on
the highway right of way to wear at least a class 2 ANSI garment. ATSSA is working on
education in this area to address the concerns of some agencies (law enforcement). Shelf
life issues of garments are also being worked on by ATSSA.
C. Jon Jackels informed the group that MNDOT had a quality standard card for
vest/garment checks to verify the condition of a piece of clothing. Jon will send a sample
of this quality standard card to David Mckee per David’s request.
D. David noted that the Federal Highway would be using OSHA for the enforcement
of the vest/garment rules.
E. Karin Lowe handed out an ATSSA Workzone Safety Grant Newsletter to those in
attendance.
V. NCATSSA Strategic Plan Review and Update
The Strategic Plan topics from last September’s meeting were posted and reviewed by the
Chapter. The topics and discussion are as follows:
A. “How To” Training and Education Workshop
1.) Tim Marthe informed the group that the How to meeting was the previous day
and he would have a report later in the meeting.
2.) Jon Jackels commented that the How To has been the main focus of our chapter.
B. Membership/Communications
1.) Jon stated that the list-serve is being used and they are working on getting it
current/correct.
C. Public Officials
1.) Jon noted that the chapter now has a seat on the MN County Associations Safety
Committee. Jon also informed/reminded the Chapter of the letter of understanding
between the Chapter and the County Engineers of Minnesota.
D Elected Officials
1.) The chapter wants to work to inform/educate elected officials about the chapter.
The chapter set up a booth at the MN Co. Assoc. meeting and consensus was that it was
not a productive event. Rick West noted that working through the County Engineers
would be the best approach for reaching county elected officials.
2.) Rick suggested that the Chapter ask for time at the December Assoc. of Counties
meeting to announce/introduce the chapter. The chapter could also get information out
through the BI-Monthly County Assoc. newsletter.
3.) A suggestion was made that a one-page fact sheet about the Northland Chapter
be drafted to hand out at the December meeting. Jon J. volunteered to move this
forward, as he is the chapter representative on the county safety committee.
4.) Dave Levi, NDLTAP suggested that the chapter contact the ND, SD, and MN
LTAPs and get information published in the LTAP newsletters. Jon Jackels stated that he
would move forward with a letter to the LTAPS.
E. Chapter Booth
1.) Rick Shomion commented that Gary Clark has the Chapter’s display booth.
Members who know of a conference where the chapter’s presence should be made can get
the booth from Gary.
F. NDDOT and SDDOT chapter involvement
1.) Jon Jackels recognized the increase in the registration attendance at the How To
as well as the involvement of the running of the How To.
G. Northland Poster Contest-NEW ITEM ADDED.
1.) Jon Jackels and Rick Shomion asked that the poster contest be added to the
strategic plan and that it be noted in the minutes.
VI. How To Update
A. How To Chairman Tim Marthe and Vice Chairman Chad Weatherman gave a report
on the March How To meeting that was held on July 16th.
B. The How To has new people involved and good general and breakout topics
assigned.
C. Tim will work to continue the growth of the media exposure.
D. There will not be a fall committee meeting but a conference call will be set up for
mid to late September.
E. Jon J. stated that there would again be a MNDOT Safety Committee meeting the
Monday prior to the How to. He also stated that there may be a MN County Eng., safety
committee meeting also that afternoon. There may be an ITE meeting on Monday as well.
Jon will look into a joint lunch if this develops.
F. Tim stated that the format for the meeting will follow past years. Concern about
the transition between general and breakout sessions was discussed at the How To
committee meeting and further discussed at the chapter meeting. Time will be built into
the sessions.
G. Rick Shomion asked that anyone interested in being a moderator for the breakout
sessions contact Tim Marthe. The Moderators are responsible for announcing the
speakers, help with handouts, make sure the speaker is where they need to be when they
need to be there, verify that the presenters have the audio/video equipment in the room
that they requested.
H. Jay Blanchard and Gary Clark will approach the AGC and MAPA to discuss an
innovative effort to secure the continued assistance of Gary Ruud at the association’s
conventions.
VII. Bylaws Review and Revisions
A. Ken Russell brought three bylaw topics before the group.
1. Creation of a Board of Directors. Members have asked if this method of chapter
management might better fit the Northland Chapter.
2. Modification of election bylaws to reflect past and current practices. Members have
asked that the chapter modify the election bylaws to reflect the chapter’s election
practices so that the chapter’s elections are in accordance to the chapter’s bylaws.
3. Modification of the voting eligibility of transportation agency officials. Members
have asked that the chapter review and discuss if the transportation agencies should only
be eligible for a vote and not all the transportation agency officials. The concern of
reaching a Quorum at meetings and an overbalance of one agencies vote was discussed.
Dave Levi suggested that a large agency receive one vote per ten members. David Mckee
mentioned that the transportation agency officials could appoint from their ranks an X
number of voters as determined by the chapter bylaws.
B. Jon Jackles asked that a committee bring bylaw proposals to the chapter that
address the three topics noted above and the chapter discussion. The committee would
consist of Ken Russell, Al Weigel, Jon Jackels, Gary Clark, and Dave Sather.
C. John Lester, President of the California chapter, offered to provide a copy of their
bylaws to Ken Russell as they run a Board of Director format. Ken Russell will also
contact the Texas Chapter.
D. Emily Fischer and other members voiced concern that any bylaw change be made
so as not to adversely affect the operating of our chapter.
E. Adding email as a voting method was also mentioned as current bylaws only allow
mail or fax.
VIII. Northland Poster Contest
A. Rick Shomion challenged everyone to do one classroom presentation this coming
year. Rick described how easy it is with the power point and other tools the chapter has.
Rick noted that the latest edition of the Signal had a picture of a Northland poster in it.
B. Rick will work with Dean Erickson to have the PowerPoint and letters available on
the Northland Chapters website.
C. Rick suggested that the chapter consider calendars in the future. He gave cost
figures and noted that volume purchases and advertising sponsors would reduce the
chapters cost for this. Jon Jackels stated that the chapter would be considering this for
the 2009 year as it is too late for 2008. Rick will work further on this and bring it to the
chapter.
IX. MNDOT TTC Posters
A. Marv Sohlo displayed the three-poster set that he developed. The posters are a
quality standard, channelizing device descriptor, and TTC quick reference guide.
B. Marv distributed 170ea. to MNDOT, 250ea. to County and Cities, and Marv
distributed 450ea. to chapter members at the meeting to distribute across the tri-state
region.
X. Minnesota TZD Conference
A. Gary Clark informed the group that the Minnesota Toward Zero Death Conference will
be September 17 & 18 in Duluth. Gary Clark and Jon Jackels will staff the Northland
Booth at this conference.
XI. Move Over Law
A. Mike Leaf had researched what other states have for Move Over laws. Mike
distributed a handout with South Dakota’s 32-31-6.1 law and information on how a bill
becomes law. Mike stated that it is an eleven-step procedure to get this into Minnesota
Law. The first three steps were on the handout. It was agree that a lobbyist would be
required and years of work to move this item forward. Gary Thompson suggested that
the chapter partner with other groups such as the AGC and use their lobbyist.
B. Gary Clark and Jay Blanchard will discuss the Move Over Law with the AGC when
the Gary Ruud AV discussion occurs (see How To).
NEW BUSINESS
XII. MUTCD on Private Property
A. Jon Jackels noted that the MUTCD now applies to private property that is open for
public travel. This is an opportunity for chapter members.
B. David Mckee informed the group that the ATSSA Sign Committee will have a
brochure ready by the January 2008 New Orleans convention. Gated communities and
military installations are an exception to the MUTCD at this time.
XIII. Minnesota County Engineers Association Update
A. Rick West gave an update of the activities of the MCEA and MCEA safety
committee. Rick was appointed by the MCEA to work with the Northland Chapter. Rick
stated that the MCEA values the growing relationship with the Northland Chapter. Rick
discussed work they are doing in finding funding sources, development of accident crash
data, using safety audits to look ahead instead of reacting to what has happened, and
how counties are looking at how IT can work at the county level.
XIV. What Every Supervisor should Know(WESK) Training
A. Jon Jackels announced that ATTSA s holding WESK training in Fargo October 25th
and Minneapolis on October 26th. Jon will let the chapter know if/what the chapter can do
to help when he hears from Donna Clark.
B. Karin Lowe informed the group that information on WESK could be found on
ATSSA.com. The cost or public officials is $25.00.
XV. Other Training Needs
A. Jon Jackels informed the group that he will be working with MNLTAP to develop an
installation and maintenance training course for small signs. Jon said there is an
opportunity for the chapter to get involved with this.
XVI. Late Season/Cold Weather Markings
A. Jon Jackels announced that MNDOT has a training session set August 15th at
Arden Hills from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. NCATSSA, MAPA, everyone is invited to discuss
late season pavement marking. MNDOT has developed a policy for this and it will be
discussed at this meeting.
XVII. Rumble Stripes
A. Jon Jackels noted that MNDOT has a Tech memo on Rumble Stripes. A policy
statement of when or where to use Rumble Stripes has not been produced to date.
ROUND ROBIN
A. Rick Shomion thanked Dean Erickson for his work at keeping the chapter’s website
up and running. Rick also noted that he has had interest from other states and agencies
on MNDOT’s snowplow operator training. Rick invited anyone to contact him should they
have interest in this. MNDOT has purchased a snow plow simulator and may be able to
bring it to the How To if it is ready and available.
B. Lyle Landstrom said he was happy to be back at the meetings. Lyle offered his
help in securing NDDOT speakers if anyone needs a NDDOT perspective for their breakout
sessions.
C. Jay Blanchard stated that the combined How To and Chapter meeting format went
well and should be continued.
D. Dean Erickson asked that people contact him should they want any pictures or
information put on the chapter website.
E. Al Petrich offered his help in securing SDDOT speakers if anyone needs a SDDOT
perspective for their breakout sessions.
F. Jon Jackels informed the group that MNDOT is working with Iowa State to develop
a pavement marking measurement plan.
Future Meetings
A. March 17, 2008, Fargo Ramada Plaza Suites. How To Conference
B. July 14 & 15, 2008, Comfort Inn, Otter Tail, MN
There being no further business a motion was made by Rick Shomion to adjourn the
meeting. The motion was seconded by Gary Clark and passed by a unanimous vote.