The DNR dam safety staff and a national trainer will present tips to maintain and protect newer and aging dams from structural failure at an all-day workshop May 20 in Atlantic.

Designed for the owners and operators of larger dams, the workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the [...]]]> 

The DNR dam safety staff and a national trainer will present tips to maintain and protect newer and aging dams from structural failure at an all-day workshop May 20 in Atlantic.

Designed for the owners and operators of larger dams, the workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cass County Agricultural and Education Association, 805 W. Tenth St.

“We’ll concentrate on how to look for signs of trouble-from rodent or tree damage to seepage problems-and how to maintain and repair a dam,” said Jonathan Garton, an engineer with the DNR’s dam safety program.

“This workshop should be especially attractive to those who want to learn more about liability issues, emergency action plans or how to hire an engineer who can help with structural issues,” Garton said.

While it is intended for the people who have 10-acre or larger lakes, owners of smaller dams are also welcome and can benefit from the workshop.

For more information or to register, look under Conferences and Training on the Association of State Dam Safety Officials’ website at www.damsafety.org

Or, contact Jonathan Garton at DNR at (515) 281-6940 or Jonathan.Garton@dnr.iowa.gov.

The $25 fee for the workshop includes a manual, lunch and two breaks. However, Garton encourages prompt registration as the fee goes up to $35 after May 11 and seating is limited. Costs are covered by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Download the brochure and registration: ASCE E&WR Brochure 2010

The Iowa and Quad Cities Sections sent out a letter to the governor to demostrate our opposition to this diversion of funds. Click [...]]]> There has been much discussion about the Governor’s plan to divert Road Use Tax (RUT) Funds from their intended purpose of building and repairing our roadways and into the Iowa State Patrol coffers.

The Iowa and Quad Cities Sections sent out a letter to the governor to demostrate our opposition to this diversion of funds. Click below to view the letter of opposition and the governor’s response.

ASCE RUTF response

Governor’s response to ASCE letter

We have technical committees for the following five disciplines:

Board of Directors Meeting Agenda

November 18, 2009, 12pm-3pm

Tama County Engineer’s Office

1002 E 5th Street, Tama

Steve De Vries

Tom [...]]]> Iowa Section ASCE

Board of Directors Meeting Agenda

November 18, 2009, 12pm-3pm

Tama County Engineer’s Office

1002 E 5^th Street, Tama

1. Call to Order by Jenifer at 12:10 p.m.
   1. Roll Call – Mandi Aldrich

1. Approval of October 21, 2009 Minutes: Moved (Gary), second (Roger) and approved.
2. Approval of Agenda: Moved (Gary), second (Steve DV) and approved.

Public Relations Plan

1. General discussion of the Public Relations plan that has been developed.
2. Plan is a guideline and is budget driven.
3. Jon will develop a page on both LinkedIn and Facebook

Treasurer’s Report – Tom Lisi

1. Treasurer’s Report

i.     Net worth increased by $803.71 over this period and has increased by $803.71 for the        2009/10 fiscal year to date.
ii.     Business expenses during this period totaled $670.32 while business income totaled         $1,449.00.
iii.     The business account balance has increased by $778.68 for the 2009/10 fiscal year.
iv.     Scholarship expenses during this period totaled $0.  The scholarship account income during this period totaled $115.00.  The scholarship account balance (which includes Heartland Investments) has increased by $25.03 for the 2009/10 fiscal year to date.
v.     The value of the Heartland Investments Portfolio decreased by $89.97 since the last report and has decreased by $89.97 for the 2009/10 fiscal year to date.
vi.     Motion to approve (Steve DV), second (Gary) and approved.
i.     Motion to approve (Steve DV), second (Roger) and approved.
i.     Discussion on how the Student Chapters are to handle the new tax reports.
ii.     They would be brought in under IA ASCE.  They supply the paperwork and we do the filing.

1. Approval of 2009/2010 Budget

1. Section Tax Report

ISU Extension Conference Contract – Steve Jones

1. Cutting back on direct mail of brochures and moving more towards email distribution and post card reminders.
2. Steve Jones will retire in 2011 and doubts anyone will be highered on extension funding after that.
3. Discussion of the 2010 Contract for conferences
4. Structural and Survey Conferences generate net revenue to offset loses on the others (Annual Meeting).

Newsletter & Website Report – Jon Garton

1. Newsletter

i.     Next deadline is January 19th.
ii.     Needs:

1. Conference summaries
2. Annual Meeting Summary
3. Presidents Report
4. Spring Conference Information

iii.     Jon will put together a format for a monthly Email Newsletter
iv.     Mike VW will forward other section newsletters to Jon.

Website

i.   Gary will talk with the Student and YMG groups about merging their site with the IA Section rather than having/maintaining separate sites.
ii.     $7 per month per site

Membership Report – Steve DeVries

1. 890 members in the database
2. 322 paid 2010 dues
3. 160 no dues paid since 2008 or earlier; 50 are just not paying them

YMG and Student Chapter Activities – Gary Reed

1. Attendees for the 2010 Regional workshop will pay for their own trips and then get reimbursed.  The Eastern IA group will get the Society reimbursement this year.
2. Joint IA Section/CIYMG/ISU Student Chapter Meeting

i.     January 20^th, 2010
ii.     Drink tickets instead of open bar
iii.     Double check what’s included in the fee from Garden Hilton Inn.
iv.     YMG/Student Chapter are responsible for the speaker and agenda
v.     Both YMG and Student Chapter will do presentation on their activities
vi.     Planning a presentation on the new ISU Basketball facility and a tour.
i.     1 day conference
ii.     It’s a benefit to market this conference because we get access to the magazine.
iii.     Student group involvement
iv.     Might allow IA ASCE to branch out into surrounding states for attendance at conferences.
Technical Conferences and Scholarship Report – Roger Schletzbaum

1. Geo-Institute Discussion (Steve Jones)

Annual Meeting Report – Bryce Johnson

1. 2010 Annual Meeting Conference Planning Meeting January 20^th, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Scheman Building in Ames.
2. Quality Inn is reserved for the Annual Meeting in September 2010.

Region 7 Governor/Assembly Report – Mike Vander Wert/Dave Claman

1. At-Large Governor filled
2. Mike VW term is up Sept 2010. Position will transfer to someone from South Dakota.
3. Annual Conference in Kansas City

i.     In general it was OK. Consensus of both Mike and Jen that we put on a better conference.
ii.     Needed a wider range of topics.
2009 Regions 3, 6 & 7 Workshop for Section and Branch Leaders

1. Confirm we have meeting attendees registered

i.     Cleveland, OH January 22-23, 2010
ii.     Gary will be attending
iii.     Mandi is to check on attending
Officer’s Manual/Amendments to Constitution & Bylaws

1. Modifications to Manual

i.     Tabled till next meeting
i.     Tabled till next meeting
i.     Tabled till next meeting

1. Modifications to Constitution & Bylaws

1. Good Governance Policy

Old Business

1. SPAG Grant

i.     Didn’t apply; was told not eligible.
New Business

1. Approval of Expenditures

i.     Jen – lunch $105.93
ii.     Jen – supplies for ASCE Conference tables $52
iii.     Jen – National Conference in Kansas City $698.95
i.     Nebraska is adopting Bachelor of Science +30 or a Masters Degree for the graduating class of 2015 to become Professional Engineers.

1. Note card sales towards scholarship fund – $60
2. Moved (Roger), second (Jon) and approved.
3. New items from Board members

Adjourn Board Meeting

1. Moved (Roger), second (Steve DV) and approved.

Next meeting is by teleconference on December 18, 2009.
These minutes are being submitted to the Board of Directors of the Iowa Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers as an actual account of the proceedings of the Board meeting on November 18, 2009 according to my notes taken.
Mandi Lu Aldrich, P.E.
Secretary