Summer’s here. It’s one of our busiest times at MnDOT, and each area in District 6 is working hard. Even so, I hope you are finding time to relax and enjoy the season away from work.

When I think about our district, there’s a lot to be proud of. However, there is more work to do. As we look ahead to how we operate as a district within MnDOT, here are three areas that have taken up some of my time.

#1 Staffing: This is something that keeps me up at night. I worry about filling the positions that are open and retaining the many great employees that we have. It’s a challenging environment for hiring no matter where you are. If you meet someone or know someone who would be a good fit, send them to the career page. Some of our best hires have come from employee referrals and you can earn an incentive for a hired referral. 

We can all help with retention by making this a quality workplace. A good work environment includes treating our fellow employees with respect, showing appreciation to others and making sure we are doing our job duties well.

#2 Safety: We practice a culture of safety, but what else can we do to ensure the safety of our team members? It’s not just at work either. Safe practices at home help protect those whom you care for the most.

If you follow social media, check the TZD Tuesday messages from our SE Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths coordinator, Jessica Schleck. They’re focused on behavior that keeps us safe at home and work. I always welcome feedback on this and ideas that you might have. Your input helps us protect each other.

MnDOT’s summer safety goal is to reduce backing incidents by 50%. While we have not met our goal completely, we have reduced backing incidents in D6 and helped MnDOT as a whole make a reduction of 40% compared with June 2021.

Share your safety ideas by leaving comments on the D6 Safety Committee iHUB page. 

#3 Work EVO: Work EVO (Evolving Vision and Opportunity) has been a big topic at our DMT meetings. The workplace is evolving, not just here, but across our communities. We are looking for ways to adapt and modernize our workplaces and provide more flexibility for state employees and the people we serve. Be alert to discussions with supervisors and please share what you think might improve things. The D6 Management Action Team is always seeking comments and ideas through their iHUB page. We all have made and continue to make adjustments so everyone's feedback is appreciated.

I’m always open to hear directly from you about your ideas, observations and what work-related items keep you awake at night. So, please reach out. 

I’m hoping to enjoy some time away with family and I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of this summer. Keep up the great work and thank you for all that each of you do.

Stay safe,
Mark

Mark Schoenfelder | District 6 Engineer

Congratulations Sam Muench, Engineering Specialist, on receiving an Above and Beyond Award for Public Service Excellence. The following nomination was submitted by Cindy Morgan, Public Engagement Coordinator.

"Thank you for your dedication to the youth of our community and STEM education.

After a two-year break, the District 6 Bridge-in-a-Bag program was struggling to get started again and your frequent participation helped reenergize the program. Several school requests were filled that would not have happened without your efforts. Your engineering expertise and enthusiasm are important components in these classroom visits because they encourage students and reflect well on MnDOT as a state agency and employer.

Your dedication is appreciated and has inspired your colleagues and the community’s youth."

In this document, you can find information about the Above and Beyond program and how to nominate someone. Do you work with someone who goes above and beyond regularly or during a special circumstance? We’d like to know, and nominate that person or group of individuals.

With 27 miles of paving and other work on Hwy 61 southbound between Wabasha and Minnesota City, the work zone is lengthy and activity can vary depending on where you’re driving.

This year, D6 is using workers present speed limit changeable signs. It’s not the first time the district has used them, but they are only used in specific projects where it’s advantageous to use.

The contractor can remotely change the speed limit as the crews move along the road.

The contractor in the field calls the traffic control contractor who changes it in a computer.  This eliminates a person needing to move speed limit signs to keep the workers present speed limit in the area where workers are present. 

Welcome new team members and congratulations to those who are celebrating anniversaries with MnDOT! Check out the list of them on iHUB and in this PDF.

• The Med City Mover pilot stops at the end of August so if you haven't had a chance to take a ride, you better do it soon! It’s free and runs seven days a week with stops at the Rochester Food Coop on Sixth Street Southwest and Mayo Clinic’s Gonda Building on West Center Street.
• Interested in helping at our MnDOT booth during the State Fair? An email asking for volunteers is scheduled to be sent out Aug. 1 with more details. Supervisor approval is required to volunteer. 
• Stay aware of traffic impacts and project progress by looking at a listing of our D6 projects and signing up for email or text message updates on the project websites.

The TZD Tuesday message that Jessica Schleck sent on July 26 was about hydroplaning. Do you know any newer drivers? The following info could save their life - please share it with others. 

Tips to help prevent hydroplaning:

• Reduce your speed as soon as the first raindrop hits your windshield.
• Avoid sudden accelerations.
• Properly and regularly rotate and balance your tires.
• Choose high quality tires that are designed to prevent hydroplaning. Driving on slick or bald tires can be detrimental on wet roadways.
• Never use cruise control while it is raining or while driving on wet roads.
• Avoid puddles and standing water. It only takes a small film of water to cause hydroplaning.

How to regain control if you hydroplane:

• Immediately take your foot off of the accelerator. Never use your brakes to respond to hydroplaning. Sudden braking on a wet roadway can cause your vehicle to skid.
• Gently turn your steering wheel in the direction your car is hydroplaning. This will help your tires realign with the direction your vehicle is traveling and assist you in regaining steering control.
• Wait to feel the tires reconnect with the surface of the road.

We encourage you to share all of the below TZD Tuesday messages from July with your family, friends and neighbors – and remind them that their seat belt is their best defense in case of a crash. Together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths!

Bicycle Safety | Operation Safe Driver Week | Rural Road Safety Week | Dangers of Hydroplaning

Children will be heading back to school soon and so here are some important reminders from the National Safety Council. You can find more on their website. 

• Stay alert and avoid distracted driving.

• Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school's drop-off procedure if you are dropping a student off.
• Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street.
• Never pass a bus loading or unloading children.
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus.