NCUCC Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2002
Charlotte, NC
 
·        Call to order
 
Chairperson Paulette Warren welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities for sponsoring the meeting.
 Introductions were made of the group.
 
·        Old Business
 
      A.     Treasurer’s Report – The account balance for the NCUCC as of June 1, 2002 is $134.20.  There are no                 outstanding expenses or checks.
B.   Next Meeting - Paulette reminded everyone the next meeting is September 10, 2002 and will be held in Southern Pines. Time Warner will host the meeting. Directions will be made available on the web site. www.ncucc.org
      C.     Committee Reports
            The Joint Seminar was held on May 8th – 10th in Asheville, NC.  The seminar was successful with a lot of                 good programs.  There will be a meeting later to review lessons learned from the seminar in order to better                 plan and facilitate the 2004 seminar.
 
·        New Business
 
  1. NCDOT – Aydren Flowers reported that the DOT was not able to let all of the projects in this years budget, but that most of the hold up was due to environmental permits.  Aydren thanked Keith Reid and George Glenn for their help with the AASHTO Convention held in Asheville earlier this year.  New 2002 maps are out with new roads.  Draft 2004 – 2010 TIP’s are available to be picked up after the meeting.  There is anticipation that the DOT Budget will be reduced by about $200 million, but the overall budget is still in good shape. 
 
NCDOT has a new web address, the address is:  ncdot.org.  The TIP is available on line on the web site.  If you have any problems using the website, please call Aydren. 
 
  1. One Call Center – The North Carolina One Call Center has taken 582,025 locate requests to date and has transmitted 3,660,890 tickets.  There have been 234,003 web ticket entries thru June.  There are currently 34 active local UCC’s with 50 participating counties in NC.  Six counties have organized a local UCC since
April 1, 2002.  All local UCC meeting dates are on the website, ncucc.org.  Amy Marino reminded us about the video library that the One Call Center has available for check out.  The upcoming One Call Board Meeting will be held in Jefferson, NC, July 17th – 19th. 
 
  1. Power Companies – CP&L reported that the new NJUNS system is now on line.  Duke Power has a pilot program working to better coordinate transfer activities.  Fayetteville PWC construction crews recently damaged a gas line in a construction area.  The PWC crews work Monday thru Thursday and the gas line was placed on Friday.  PWC is now asking all contractors who place facilities in construction areas in Fayetteville to paint the trench as it is backfilled on the construction site. 
 
  1. Gas Companies – PSNC Energy has a project under construction in Jackson County in the Cullowhee and Sylva areas.  Frontier Energy has several projects going on near Jefferson, Boone, and Elkin.  Frontier also has a joint trench project on Highway 268 West in Wilkesboro, NC.  There are 8 more projects planned for this year in locations near Boone, West Jefferson, and Yadkinville.  PSNC Energy in Raleigh reports that business is booming. 
 
  1. Telecommunications – Verizon has completed a project to provide a diverse fiber to the western part of the state.  They have also been involved in a program to reduce damages by mowing contractors who in the past were mowing down telephone pedestals.  In the counties that are in the program, there have been no pedestals mowed off to date.  Fred Storie also reminded us of the OSP Expo, which is to be held in Charlotte on November 6th, and 7th.
 
  1. CATV – No Report.
 
  1. Contractors – No Report.
 
  1. Railroads – Not Present.
 
  1. Locate Companies – No Report.
 
  1. Local UCC’s -    Glenn Flowers reported that the Wake UCC meets on the last Tuesday of the month.  They are planning a contractor breakfast in October and have had four tailgate meetings this year.  The Vice-President of Vermeer has agreed to put the STOP Sign on all Vermeer Equipment sold in North Carolina.  The Foothills Committee has held a contractors breakfast and a major safety meeting with the Cleveland, Rutherford, and Gaston NCDOT with good response.  Mecklenburg UCC is planning a contractor’s rodeo to be held at a future date.  They also have a new emergency call out card that will be issued soon. 
 
  1. Utilities Commission – The gas pipeline portion of the Utility Commission has been staying very busy and has hired a new inspector to keep up with the demand.  A damage prevention conference was held recently in Southern Pines and was well attended and appreciated.  Piedmont Natural Gas has purchased NUI in Reidsville.  
 
 
  1. Safety Issues  -- A video was shown which covered a gas explosion in Maple Heights, Ohio.  The explosion was the result of a chain of events, which started with a broken water line, which washed out and broke the gas line resulting in a tremendous explosion and fire.  Fortunately there were no fatalities. 
 
  1. Motions from the Floor – George Glenn made a motion to form a committee to coordinate with the local UCC’s to get the local UCC’s more involved with the State UCC.  The motion was seconded and after discussion, Chairperson Warren, stated that a committee would be formed.  The committee members will be announced at the September meeting. 
 
·        Program – Ivan Cooper with Cooper Environmental presented a program on Utility System Security. 
 
Directions to the September 10th meeting :
 
Time Warner
390 W. Pennsylvania Avenue
Southern Pines, NC
 
From Raleigh, take US 1 South. Take the Pennsylvania Ave ramp towards Southern Pines Business District/Farmer’s Market. Turn left onto W. Pennsylvania Ave. The Time Warner office is two blocks on the right.