Join Us at the 2023 Minnesota CGA Locate Rodeo

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Created: Wednesday, 14 December 2022 14:57

Written by Taylor Jones

The 2023 Minnesota Common Ground Alliance (MNCGA) Locate Rodeo is coming up! Join us at CenterPoint Energy’s River Building January 17 and 18 to kick off the new year.

The Locate Rodeo is an indoor competition using state-of-the-art virtual technology — provided by UTTO — where participants compete with qualified individuals from all around the state.

“The locate rodeo is a fun experience for locators to come together – not only to show off and celebrate their craft – but to receive recognition for their hard work. Grab a locator you know and come on down!” shared Olivia Phillips, Senior Marketing Public Awareness Specialist for Gopher State One Call (GSOC).

Exciting prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. The first-place prize includes an opportunity to compete at the National Locate Rodeo competition this upcoming February in Tampa, Florida!

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Learn From the Unexpected with A.J. Clark of Badger Infrastructure Solutions

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Created: Thursday, 01 December 2022 07:00

Written by Courtney Ommen

The latest Learn from the Unexpected video features A.J. Clark, Locating Solutions Manager at Badger Infrastructure Solutions. A.J. talks about the value of using Meet Notifications (commonly known in the construction industry as “Meet Tickets”) for large-scale projects that will be completed over time or require sections of a jobsite to be marked at different times.

Check out LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to watch the video, or click here to read more about Meet Tickets on our blog.

About Learn from the Unexpected
The damage prevention industry isn’t always predictable, but Gopher State One Call believes in learning from the unexpected moments that do happen and proactively working to avoid damages. Through these efforts, we can all work towards a safer future.

We’ve introduced our Learn from the Unexpected video series. These videos feature Minnesota-based damage prevention professionals like you and allow community members to share their stories so that we can all work smarter and safer as our industry continues to grow. Visit LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to learn more and watch the videos.

Submit Your Story
Have you faced the unexpected at a jobsite or found something especially useful in avoiding unexpected damages or delays? We want to hear about it! Submit yourself or a colleague to be entered for the chance to be featured in an official Learn from the Unexpected video. Those selected will also earn the honorary title of Damage Prevention Influencer and receive a $200 Visa gift card that you can use for anything from a new pair of work boots to a much-deserved dinner out. To submit, scroll to the bottom of LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC and click “Submit Your Story.”

Using a Non-Excavation Ticket for Project Planning: 5 Frequently Asked Questions

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Created: Tuesday, 29 November 2022 15:54

Written by Courtney Ommen

When working on a commercial development project, keeping underground facilities in mind from the start can help your project run smoothly and aid in overall damage prevention. One of the ways you can plan ahead is by utilizing a Non-excavation Ticket through Gopher State One Call (GSOC).

There are four types of Non-excavation Tickets: Owner Inquiry Request, Non-excavation Ticket, Engineering/Pre-Con Meet Ticket, and Boundary Survey. This blog focuses on the use of the Non-excavation Ticket. This type of ticket can be submitted to request on-site facility markings or a map of underground facilities* during the design phase of a project when there is no imminent intent to dig. Facility operators then have 15 working days to respond by performing an actual field locate at the job site and/or providing maps or diagrams of the facilities.

Having facilities marked or identified via maps at this phase allows planning teams, which may include engineers, architects, surveyors, planners, or a person soliciting bids or entering into a contract for future excavation, to plan with and/or around existing underground facilities or work with utility companies on design and relocation before excavation begins. This can frequently reduce redesign costs and construction cost overruns, as well as reduce the risk of damage to existing utilities.

Considering using a Non-excavation Ticket for project planning? Here are five common questions about the Non-excavation Ticket type to help you get started.

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Looking Back on the 2022 811 5K Run/Walk

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Created: Wednesday, 21 September 2022 14:45

Written by Courtney Ommen

Video Still by Rob Olson

The 2022 811 5K Run/Walk turned what could’ve been a typical Saturday morning into an exciting event focused on spreading the word about safe digging. Gopher State One Call (GSOC) along with a variety of utility-focused sponsors, including CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy, brought the event to life on August 13, 2022 at Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis. This year, the 811 5K attracted around 100 participants — aged 10 to 70+ years old — from across the Twin Cities and the surrounding suburbs.

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Meet Tickets: Working Better Together

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Created: Monday, 18 July 2022 13:35

Written by Taylor Jones

“On my tombstone, it will say, ‘someone needs to write this down.’”
—AJ Clark
Manager of Locate Solutions
Badger Infrastructure Solutions

In his 16 years in the industry, AJ Clark has seen it all—from working on excavation projects, to locating for utilities, to his current responsibility for managing locate solutions across the United States for Badger Infrastructure Solutions. In an industry where mistakes can cost millions, he knows what it takes to get excavators and facility owners on the same page.

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