How to Organize a UCC

Developing an Invitation Letter
  • An announcement of a meeting
    • When
    • Where
  • Presenters (if any)
  • Type of meeting (i.e.. Breakfast)
  • Invitee List
  • Name
  • Company
  • Contact Information
  • Focusing on digging safely and damage prevention
Who Do We Invite?

All Utilities, municipalities and excavators in your area. All aforementioned have a vested interest in digging safely, working safely and preventing damages from occurring

Committee Structure
  • Membership

  • Membership should consist of representatives of the various utility operators and municipal departments and contractor groups in the defined area.  A stated interest in becoming a member is normally the only prerequisite for membership.

  • Officers

    The Committee should elect from its membership a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary.  The recommended term of office is one year.

  • Meetings

    It is recommended that meetings be held on  a monthly basis.  Further it is recommended that the sites or host be rotated.  Minutes of the meetings should be published and distributed to all members within 10 days of a meeting.  A copy of the minutes should be emailed to the North Carolina One Call Center and they will be published to the NCUCC State WEB page for viewing. 

  • The email address is stephanie@ncocc.org or minutes@ncocc.org

It is recommended that an official representative of the local committee attend the State UCC Meeting held bi-monthly to voice the Local Committee’s issues and concerns at a state level.

Guidelines for the Organizational Meeting

  • There should be a set agenda with specific time frames to help make the meeting flow in a smooth transition
  • A welcome and introductions
  • Purpose of the meeting
  • How  the Committee operates and the benefits
  • Identify the Key Players
  • Chairman
  • Vice Chairman
  • Secretary
  • Establish going forward monthly meeting date and time
  • Where do we go?
  • Consensus of the group
  • Develop By Laws and Mission Statement
  • Example Mission Statement
  • To provide a forum for concerned professionals which helps to prevent unnecessary damage to utilities infrastructure within (County Name)
  • FStatement of Goals
  • Expand membership base to include all public and private utility companies, public works organizations, public service districts, and utility-related contractors in (County Name).  All members are encouraged to invite active construction contractors and sub-contractors to participate.
  • Conduct an active and on-going public awareness campaign concerning preventing damage to our utilities infrastructure.
  • Encourage the practice of “white lining” construction projects as a means of preventing unnecessary damage to  utilities infrastructure.
  • Encourage voluntary compliance with a standard color scheme for utilities location marking.
  • Signed by Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretaryn
Utilizing this format will afford the opportunity for members to have input and discuss issues of concern and develop dialogue pertinent to issue resolution

Typical Monthly Meeting Agenda

The following is a sample agenda:

  • Call to order
  • Announcements
  • Announcements should be given to the Secretary prior to the start of the meeting
  • Recognize new attendees and guests
  • Approval of previous meeting’s minutes
  • Old Business
  • New Business
  • Provide the Secretary with a list of topics in advance so that interested parties will be prepared to discuss.
  • Damage Report
  • Round Table
  • Project Report
  • Round Table
  • Program (Optional)
  • Adjourn
Example of Topics to Discuss at Monthly Meetings

This is your opportunity share information relative to   business concerns of:

 
  • Job Safety
  • Damage Prevention
  • Use of the NC One Call Center
  • Major Projects under construction
  • Up coming major projects
  • DOT projects
  • Joint trenching projects
  • Damage claims
  • Contract Locating Services
  • State Underground Damage Prevention Law
  • Location marks, techniques and what they mean
  • Proper digging techniques to expose the utility
  • Survey Locates
  • Number of damages each committee member has had since previous UCC meeting
  • Dig Safely
  • Who’s damaging who and how to resolve the problem
  • Training needs

 


Mission Statement: The North Carolina Utilities Coordinating Committe will provide a forum for utilities, governmental agencies, and contractors within
the state of North Carolina to discuss situations which impact planning, engineering, construction, and new technologies among the member organizations.
This committee will also serve as a resource for local UCC's on issues which could be better addressed and resolved on a statewide basis.
This committee will promote underground damage prevention and the use of the North Carolina One-Call Center of notification of all excavation activity.