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January 27, 2021

The Update newsletter is posted monthly by MCES Administration & Communications

IN THIS ISSUE

• Protecting public health and the environment – our latest challenge
• Climate Action Plan
• Staff showcase MCES use of training technology in EPA workforce webinar
• Well done, plant and interceptor trainee grads!
• Djiedjom Blabuh gains confidence, skills as apprentice machinist
• WAM updates
• Multiple Keystone Team Awards
• Construction inspector at work, firefighter on vacation
• Council rewind
• December, January anniversaries
• Staffing changes

Protecting public health and the environment – our latest challenge

Responding to lower PFOS limits LEISA THOMPSON MCES GENERAL MANAGER   Planning and operations in Environmental Services continuously evolve to address the needs of our changing community. We adopt new technologies that increase efficiency and effectiveness; we respond to advances in scientific understanding of impacts on human health and the environment.   Now, we are responding to recently reduced criteria for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).   Continue on MetNet.

Climate Action Plan

Team seeks your input on Councilwide climate planning

Staff will soon be invited to provide input to shape a new plan that will unify the Met Council’s efforts to respond to climate change.

The Climate Action Plan will define strategies that will guide future efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shape how each of the Met Council’s divisions will adapt to climate impacts.

Continue on MetNet.

Staff showcase MCES use of training technology in EPA workforce webinar

In December 2020, Kim Borman-Krinhop, assistant manager, Performance Excellence and Analytics; Scott Bowes, manager, and Tyler Naughton, business systems analyst II, Training and Program Supervisors; and Todd Tokar, acting assistant manager, East Business Unit, were featured presenters for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) webinar “Technology Adoption at Utilities.” Their presentation was part of EPA’s Workforce Webinar Series focused on investing in utility employees by providing training and support to ensure the water workforce remains efficient and resilient. ​   Continue on MetNet.

Well done, plant and interceptor trainee grads!

Following a six-month training program, the latest group of plant operator and interceptor service worker trainees graduated Dec. 15, 2020. Congratulations to:

• Plant operator trainees: Kyle Mealey, Robert Tran, and Johnny Ward
• Interceptor service worker trainees: Bryan Blum, Anas Farah, Eric Geertsema, Peter Gordon, and Alex Hansen

For COVID-19 safety reasons, this is the first group of trainees to complete a hybrid virtual and in-person program. They had live online training, many video conferences, and socially distanced hands-on training.

Their graduation ceremony was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue on MetNet.

Djiedjom Blabuh gains confidence, skills as apprentice machinist

Djiedjom Blabuh, an apprentice machinist at Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, says his registered apprenticeship experience has helped him become much more confident in his career. “They let you work without experience and it is okay to make mistakes and learn from them,” he said.   Continue on MetNet.

WAM updates

Users affected: Oracle WAM users that use the asset module.

What changed: fields at the bottom of the asset record.

Why it changed:

• Updated the fields on the bottom of the asset module to remove fields that are not needed or used.
• Updated the description of engineering identification field and old number field.
• Added a GIS notes field to help with asset description when synchronizing with the GIS database.

Continue on MetNet.

Multiple Keystone Team Awards

Six Keystone Awards were given to employees for their outstanding work on the Seneca Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project, quick repair of a blower at the East Bethel Plant, coordinating unforeseen challenges while keeping the Seneca Plant operating smoothly, quick and professional response to multiple fire code violations, our approximately 375 on-site essential workers recognized for their unwavering work performance during this pandemic, and MCES COVID-19 communications.   Continue on MetNet.

Construction inspector at work, firefighter on vacation

Climate change is causing increased drought severity, resulting in more wildfires. Last year Oregon had 11 major wildfire events, well beyond their typical three events per year. MCES employee Cori Wallis, construction inspector/coordinator, and a firefighter in his spare time for 24 years, spent his vacation last fall deployed to fight the Slater Fire in southern Oregon on the California border.   Continue on MetNet.

Council rewind

A recap of recent Met Council announcements relevant to MCES

• Share internship postings starting Feb. 1: The Internship team is working with hiring managers to post more than 40 internship opportunities. The postings will be open Feb. 1 to Feb. 26.
• Fit For Life: Self-care skills programs, schedule of live online fitness classes, and one-minute survey about online fitness classes.

Continue on MetNet.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

December, January anniversaries

Congratulations to these employees celebrating milestone anniversaries!

Staffing changes

These changes have been posted by HR since the November Update.

NEW HIRES

Peter Anfang, apprentice machinist mechanic, Maintenance & Security Business Unit, Metro Plant

PROMOTIONS

Kyle Colvin, manager, Wastewater Planning & Community Programs, Robert Street (promoted from manager, Engineering Programs)

DEPARTURES

Bobbie Chong, information specialist, Administration & Communications, Utility Management Systems, Robert Street

Brittney McDonough, program technical specialist, Industrial Waste & Pollution Prevention, Metro 94

Story idea? Contact Deb McKinley by email at deb.mckinley@metc.state.mn.us.