Annual Conference Review “There is no ‘I’ in Teamwork” – the conference theme came to life! ool, dry, spring representatives often weather was the “There is no ‘I’ in Teamwork” exclaim, “We appreciate the welcome awaiting ample time to visit with and conference attendees in the broad range of operators Wichita the last week and decision makers that of March for the 41st attend. This is the first Cannual KRWA Conference conference we mark on the and Exhibition. The KRWA calendar every year!” Conference is mid-America’s All of the displays’ largest and is held at heavy equipment, tools, Wichita’s Century II computers, brochures, Convention Center. premium items, treats, The dates of March 25-27 games, brochures and saw an influx of nearly 2,200 included a total of 25 states and the marketing items were water professionals jolt the Wichita country of Germany. unloaded and wheeled into each economy by topping off the 14 The exhibition portion of the display space by KRWA staff official conference hotels there. conference is second to none in the starting early Monday before the Attendees included water and country. The vendors that conference. This welcomed wastewater operators; city, county completely fill EXPO Hall at assistance takes the edge from a and rural water district Century II subsidize the food and vendor’s hectic travel schedule and administrators; council, commission fun events during the conference allows an Associate Member’s and board members; representatives making KRWA’s yearly marketing team the much The 2008 Conference saw an attendance of extravaganza more affordable for appreciated extra time to take a 2,189. Attendees came from 25 different small city and RWD people to breath, stretch their legs and polish states and the country of Germany. They their smiles before the 4 p.m. represented 295 cities and 183 rural water attend. Attendees eat better, have districts and privately-owned systems. more fun and learn more about Tuesday opening deadline on the critical current issues in their EXPO floor. from the public, related industry; industry because of the loyal 199 Pre-conference roundup and local, state and federal Associate Members and agencies Tuesday’s eight day-long government agencies. The that displayed their wares of sessions and the Attorney’s Forum geographic profile of attendees products and services. Company 50 THE KANSAS LIFELINE July 2008 guarantee a day packed with the training exercise, management were discussed as a method to details that can bring a system up to improvement with the KanCap reduce tank chlorine loss. the next level! These sessions are program and skill development in Sam Atherton, PWWSD 4, the chance for some to learn more reaching alternative dispute resolutions. Cherryvale; James Brookshire, about critical management and The eighth annual KRWA Cunningham Sandblasting and governance issues and for others to Attorney’s Forum saw the round Painting, Joplin; Terry Brown, Below: KRWA’s Shane Holthaus provides table fill with 35 system attorneys Butler RWD 5, Benton, and Jayson Monday morning move-in service with a smile! and presenters from around the McMaster PWWSD 13, Mound Right: The Chlorine Residuals pre-conference state. City, all made presentations on session is standing room only for attendees. Although the day-long sessions related subjects. The successes and Bottom: An attendee visits the Palm Reader exact a toll, after the last session, associated problems with actual at the Tuesday Carnival Night and BBQ. the start of “Carnival 2008” situations were also discussed. recharges everyone’s batteries with Wastewater Collection System a delicious plate of BBQ and all the Evaluation and Rehabilitation fixings. Communities depend on the The evening’s entertainment efficient operation of sanitary sewer saw door prizes awarded and systems. Discharges other than at attendees enjoying rides, games of the plant or lagoon are prohibited. skill, games of chance, music, Efficient plant management is a dancing and beverages for kids and must! The presentation team of Gail adults alike. Abney, Mayer Specialty Services, Goddard; Mike Younger, JCI Pre-conference sessions Industries, Wichita; Billy Strong, benefit attendees The Strong Company, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Brian Smith, Insituform Maintaining Chlorine Residuals in Technologies, Belton, Missouri, and Distribution Systems Mike Kelsey, Professional Public water supplies are Engineering Consultants, Wichita, required to maintain chlorine defined for attendees just what a gather needed continuing education residuals throughout the entire ‘sanitary sewer’ is, what a ‘lift hours. The in-depth training distribution system. Storage facility station’ is, and reviewed sessions ran the gamut from monitoring of residuals, high and maintenance requirements for both. maintaining chlorine residuals, low water levels, flushing tanks, During the afternoon session the wastewater system evaluations and and dumping tanks were team focused on evaluation of rehab, GIS/GPS capabilities and highlighted as a means to reduce or collection. They discussed a variety benefits to systems, Web site eliminate the chlorine loss of options to use in determining creation and improvement, rate problems. Also, modifications to good system functionality that setting for the future, a NIMS water flow into and out of tanks July 2008 THE KANSAS LIFELINE 51 Annual Conference Review included: manhole rehab, I & I new online service was on the Web site purpose and focus, control, regaining structural demonstrated during the session. how to organize and select content, stability, corrosion protection, and graphic and layout do’s and don’ts, Building Blocks for Creating or cured-in-place-pipelining. They what software to use for Improving a Web Site also presented an overview of development, creating a site that safety issues. With 71% of homes in America grows with the organization, getting having access to the Internet, it is help and maintaining a Web site Development of GIS for clear that an online presence has easily but inexpensively. Improved Digital Management become increasingly important for Services all businesses and organizations, Rate Setting for the Future Presenters Ivan Weichert, including cities and water districts. An advocate for utility rates that Kansas Geographic Information Award winning Web designer fulfill just what the title says – the Systems, Topeka; Ken Nelson and and presenter Jen Sharp of future, Carl Brown, Jefferson City, Eileen Battles, Data Access and JenSharp.com, Ottawa, took Missouri, saw good attendance for Above left: Carl Brown makes a Support Center, Lawrence, made point during the rate setting presentations on the benefits of session. collecting GPS data and developing Above right: Jackson County GIS a basic geographic information Director Chris Schmeissner makes system or GIS. They updated the his project presentation during the class on data available and Improved Digital Management downloadable from state and Services session. Others shown federal databases. They also are KRWA GIS Tech Pete Koenig, detailed what the State of Kansas is Ivan Weickert, Kansas Geographic Information Systems, Ken Nelson doing to assist in the acquisition and Eileen Battles, Data Access and sharing of data sets such as and Support Center. property records, roads and Left: Jen Sharp helps Benton addresses, aerial photography, Police Chief Charles Hefton with a topography and political problem on a Web site after the boundaries. session stopped for the mid- GIS Director Chris Schmeissner morning break. and Cartographer Kristen Jordan, Jefferson County GIS Department, attendees through the paces of this critical session. He explained Oskaloosa, gave an overview of thinking and checking out examples how great service, a well trained their project that will host the in Web site development and staff, strong maintenance, and county mapping service on their maintenance. The presentations timely capital improvements are all secure server and explained how were geared for both beginners and very important but won’t happen utility staff can access it from intermediate levels of expertise and over the long haul if cities and anywhere there is Web access. The covered topics including: deciding RWDs don’t fund them adequately. 52 THE KANSAS LIFELINE July 2008 Board and council members, the components of the Incident taught board and council members utility managers, finance directors, Command System. This was about water utility finance and city clerks, planning commission taught by presenters Fireman management issues. Participants members, engineers and others Kevin Jones, Chanute, and Steve also received the unique KanCap professionals attended the funding Paige, KDHE, Topeka. They interactive CD and 300-page hard session. Attendees learned that as explained how NIMS is a unified copy companion guide. Above left: Linda Hepburn, Butler RWD 5 and a participant of the Alternative Dispute Resolution session, makes a point during one of the session’s skills exercises. Above right: Robert Conley, City of De Soto, has his lucky number come up and the winner makes the point at Carnival 2008. Left: The Tuesday noon lunch featured a Mexican buffet. Here, Greg Griswell of Salina gives an approving smile with a full plate of good food. approach to incident management Alternative Dispute Resolution that emphasizes preparedness, The principals of mediation and mutual aid and resource facilitation have high value in management. negotiating agreements. These skills The