Project Feature: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Sewer Rehabilitation and Replacement

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities (CMU) has an on-going program to rehabilitate or replace aging sewers within their system and has enlisted the services of USI to produce plans for several sewer replacement projects. Replacement of these sewer lines reduces overflows at manholes, reduces storm water infiltration and inflow into the sanitary sewer system, and reduces maintenance costs of upkeep for both force mains and gravity lines.

Selected sanitary sewer lines are investigated by CMU using a closed circuit television camera that indicates root infiltration, grease buildup, joint separation, and other maintenance needs. Many of these sewer lines are rehabilitated using trenchless methods of construction, but some lines must be repaired or replaced using open-cut construction. USI receives proposed open-cut projects from CMU and provides survey, design, specifications, and permits as needed. Projects have ranged in size from the recent gravity sewer replacement project completed for the McAlpine Creek North Branch Outfall sewer replacement (2,300 linear feet of 15” diameter pipe upgraded to 18” pipe), to smaller, one-segment sewer replacements at Leroy Street, Clement Avenue, and Denver Street/Alleghany Avenue.

Recent projects have also included the proposed replacement of the Washam Street force main located within the Town of Cornelius. Numerous breaks along the 2,500 linear feet cast iron main required replacement with new ductile iron pipe within the street right-of-way and off street right-of-way at the pump station. 

Creating a New Year's Resolution for Your Business

With the onset of a New Year, many people set a personal New Year’s Resolution.  The New Year represents a fresh start and resolutions are generally ones that will improve your personal health, relationships, or life in one way or another.  Have you ever thought about setting a New Year’s resolution or two for your business as well?  The New Year is a great time to reassess, and set the tone for the year to come.  Setting a business New Year Resolution can help you focus your business or discover new ways to meet your Mission Statement.  Just as each personal goal is tailored to your desires, so to the goals for your business resolution must also be tailored to the service or product you provide.  Below are some questions and suggestions to get you on the right track to setting your business New Year’s Resolution.

• Assess and identify customer/client’s needs – What can make their experience easier? What do they desire that you can provide?  Can you streamline a lengthy process or slash delivery/waiting times?
• Delegate - Have employees stepped up and filled certain duties during the previous year? Have they proved themselves to be competent and interested in a certain area?  If so, consider giving them more responsibility in this area.
• Succession Planning – If someone were to hand in their notice or announce retirement tomorrow, would there be anyone who could step in and take their place?  Do you have an effective cross-training program in place?
• Be More Productive – Are there new technologies that you are not taking advantage of? Could file sharing software make it easier for your employees to collaborate on documents internally or share them with clients? Is there new software on the market that simplifies and/or streamlines your current process?
• Keep Learning – With today’s ever increasing technological advances, it’s easy for opportunities to pass you by.  That is why continuing education is critical to staying on top of trends in your industry.  Are there any trade shows/conferences/conventions/seminars/classes that could improve your knowledge and that would work with your schedule?  If you already attend one or two, but they are the same you have always attended, are there any new ones that might benefit you in a different way?
• Give Back to the Community – Giving back to the community is a wonderful thing in and of itself.  It is also a great way to leave potential clients/customers with a positive image of your business. Is there any way your services or products could benefit the community?  Could you sponsor a non-profit event or program? 

 Once you set your resolutions, it is important to make them attainable.  If possible, set milestones along the way to full goal achievement.  And don’t forget to share your business resolutions with your employees, if appropriate, so they can join in and assist you in success!

Having A Plan - Pavement Preservation

A proactive plan to pavement management starts with a pavement condition survey (PCS).  A PCS conducted by USI’s experienced staff provides an agency with an unbiased, objective, and non-political pavement condition rating (PCR) which:

• Raises pavement condition awareness,
• Helps stretch maintenance funds,
• Builds a defensible case for additional program funding,
• Provides a prioritized repair program with estimated costs and maintenance activities, and
• Is the backbone of an effective pavement maintenance program!

 Once the condition of the roadway assets is known based on a rating system that is used by most municipalities in North Carolina, a municipality is able to compare their PCR to other municipalities or to prior surveys.  This allows a municipality to see if their pavement maintenance program is effective or if additional funding is necessary to keep these assets.

Delegation

     

A utility company superintendent took two crews into the field to install poles.  He gave each foreman his assignment and then left to attend to other duties.  Upon his return, he asked one foreman how many poles his crew had installed.  The first foreman replied, “Twelve.”

After inspecting the work, the superintendent went to the second foreman to make the same inquiry.  The super was surprised to learn the second crew had only installed two.  Naturally, the super asked the second foreman, “Why just two when the other crew installed twelve?”  “I know,” said the second foreman, “but look how much they left sticking out of the ground.”

Certainly, there can be pitfalls to delegating.  Yet many successful business people learn the power of leveraging your workforce through delegation.  The benefits of delegation include:

• Saving time for other pressing work.
• Increasing effectiveness by matching the right job and the right worker.
• Providing on-the-job growth opportunities for workers.

Here are a few ideas to increase your effectiveness when delegating:

• Choose people who will take responsibility-Demonstrate trust and faith in others.
• Match assignments to people’s skills - Delegate to people’s strengths, skills, and experience.
• Communicate expectations, not procedures - Provide guidance as needed or requested.
• Don’t expect perfection - Accept that your way is not the only way and weigh the differences.
• Allow for creativity - They may find a better way to do it.