NCUCC MEETING MINUTES
January 14, 2003 – 10:00 AM
Winston Salem, NC
Sponsor: NCDOT
 
 
Chairperson Paulette Warren welcomed everyone to the meeting. Brooke with NCDOT went over housekeeping items and Paulette thanked NCDOT for sponsoring the meeting. Group introductions were made. Sign-in sheets are attached to the minutes.  CLICK HERE for attendee list
 
 
a.       Treasurer’s Report – The NCUCC account balance is $634.20. There are no outstanding invoices or checks.
b.      Next Meeting – March 11, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. in Raleigh, sponsored by PSNC Energy. Directions are at the end of the minutes. In order to get a head count for lunch; please RSVP Lola Ausby at Lola_Ausby@dom.com by Monday, March 3, 2003.
 
A discussion followed regarding the November meeting, which will fall on Veteran’s Day. The group decided to meet that Wednesday, November 12, 2003.
 
The remainder of the 2003 meeting schedule is as follows:
April 30 – May 2, 2003: NCUCC/SCUCC Joint Session, Myrtle Beach, SC
July 8, 2003: NCNG, New Bern, NC, 10:00 a.m.
September 9, 2003: CITY OF CHARLOTTE, Charlotte, NC, 10:00 a.m.
November 12, 2003: DOMINION, Roanoke Rapids, NC, 10:00 a.m.
c.       Committee Reports
Local UCC Participation – Paulette reminded everyone that the message board is operational. She encouraged the group to use the message board for questions, concerns and items of interest. It is a good tool for the local UCCs to voice their concerns and questions and have them addressed on a state level. To post an item, go to the website www.ncucc.org,  “click on “Message Board”, click “post”. Type your subject, name, and comments and click “post article”. We are also inviting local UCC participation in the NCUCC meetings by sending a separate email meeting reminder to each local UCC chairperson.
 
2004 Joint Seminar – Lola Ausby asked the planning committee to meet after the NCUCC meeting to discuss a site for the 2004 Joint Seminar.
 
Damage Prevention – Herb Livingston, Time Warner Cable, will give a report at the March meeting.
 
           
 
a.        NCDOT – Aydren Flowers reported that the Work Zone Traffic Control Rodeo scheduled for February 3rd and 4th 2003 has been extended to February 5th also. It will be held at the James B. Hunt Horse Complex on the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. For more information, contact Meredith McDiarmid at 919-250-4159 or Jim Kellenberger at 919-733-7384. Aydren also has new 2003 State maps.
b.        NC One Call Center – Stephanie SaintSing report the following 2002 ticket activity.
 
Locate Requests – 1,154,967 (1.5 % increase over 2001)
Transmissions – 7,261,519 (2.3% increase over 2001)
 
Several new UCCs have been organized and are at the NCUCC web site. Also the NC One Call Center quarterly board meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 17, 2003 at 9:30 in Greensboro. The One Call Center open house will follow after the board meeting.
           
c.        Power Companies – Sheila Talton with Progress Energy reported she had 
attended a meeting of the Triangle Transit Authority. This group is building a rail system between Raleigh and Durham. Construction will begin 2004 and the system will be operational 2008. They are also looking at merging the bus system between Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.
 
d.        Gas Companies – A gas company rep gave everyone a heads up
regarding Indian Reservations. If you ever have to put utilities on one, do your homework because it is a learning experience.   
 
Gil Vinzani gave ENCNG (Eastern North Carolina Natural Gas) project highlights. A copy is attached to the minutes.
 
e.        Telecommunications – Lola reported on new technology called Power Line Carrier (PLC) that is being tested in Williamston, NC. A device is installed on a transformer pole, which sends a signal to a device in the customer’s home plugged into the electrical outlet. When you plug your laptop into the outlet, you have Internet service and other data capabilities.
 
f.          CATV Companies – No Report
 
g.        Contractors – Mark Price, BHME, regretfully reported that NCDOT has made a decision not to use private Utility Coordinators on State projects for utility coordination. In light of that decision, he has decided to do a utilities study to get their opinion on the need for utility coordination. He will also ask utilities for estimated dollars that were billed to the state due to the lack of utility coordination.
 
h.        Railroads – Sheila reported that she is doing a study to document the location of railroad crossings in North Carolina. She would like to meet with the person who does railroad permitting for the companies represented. She said that NC Railroad and Rail Division have been the most helpful. George Glenn said that he asked for milepost markings from CSX but was not able to get it. Sheila also found out that the NC Utilities Commission does not regulate railroads. The only group that comes close to regulating railroads is the Federal Trade Commission.
 
i.          Locate Companies – No report
 
j.          Local UCCs – Sandra Johnson spoke for Wake County UCC. There has been a 60% reduction in cut lines due to safety meeting and contractor’s breakfasts that are sponsored by the local UCC. Their meetings are held the last Tuesday in each month.
 
Wanda McBride, past chairman of Iredell UCC reported that they are having an Awareness Breakfast on March 6, 2003.
 
Catawba UCC will have their Awareness Breakfast on March 19, 2003
 
George said that Stephanie has 38 UCCs and we only heard from 3 UCCs today. He would like to see the NCUCC continue to work to get more participation from the local UCCs
 
k.        North Carolina Utilities Commission – Jim Anderson reported that as a result of the Ice Storm, Progress Energy and Duke have had meetings to get input from citizens. Jim is chairman of the National Pipeline Safety Committee and is trying to get Damage Prevention Grant dollars for the state. He is also on the NC One Call Legislative Committee looking at a new State Damage Prevention Law. George stated that on an average, 30 people, 22 contractors and one Utility Commissioner attend the meetings. Critical issues are being discussed such as marking abandoned lines and multiple markings. The committee meets once a month with the next meeting being January 30, 2003 off Randleman Road in Greensboro from 10:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. George encouraged attendance at the meetings.
 
l.          Safety Issues – Sandra touched on two accidents in the UG Focus Magazine. The first one was in Murfreesboro, TN. A contractor touched an overhead electrical line while drilling holes in rock and was killed. The second accident was in Chattanooga, TN. Several employees were burned when they damaged a gas main while digging for a sewer project.
 
 
 
 
From the Charlotte I-85 -Winston Salem I-40 area. Take I-40 and I-85 East. Stay on I-40 East till you get to Raleigh. Follow I-40 around Raleigh until you get to exit 298 A. This will be the downtown Raleigh / S. Saunders St exit. You have to go over S Saunders St on I-40 and bear off to your right. Go right into downtown Raleigh. The road will split from S Saunders St to Mcdowell St. Stay to your right on Mcdowell St. Follow Mcdowell St until you see Cabarrus St. This should be about the 5th stop light. Stay in your Left Lane. Turn left on Cabarrus St, Go through 1 stop light, Cross the railroad tracks and go to bottom of the hill. Turn Right into PSNC Energy Gate. Ring the Bell and someone will open the gate for you.
 
 
 
Respectively submitted by
Lola S. Ausby