Employees participate in Wellness Week activities - City of Columbia ...

June
2011
Vol. 41, No. 6
Have ideas
for the Insider?
Contact Shawn at
874-7240 or SRBRANT@
GoColumbiaMo.com.
Insider
the information source for City of Columbia employees
Employees participate in
Wellness Week activities
Employee Health sponsored Wellness Week, May 2-6.
Approximately 98 employees had their blood drawn for cholesterol,
glucose and thyroid level checks, as well as 20 additional laboratory
tests. Community agencies provided health-related information and
activities at the health fairs. Other activities included the Ellis Fischel
Mammogram Mobile and an employee walk.
Matthes sworn
in as manager
Mike Matthes was
sworn in as city
manager by City Clerk
Sheela Amin during a
ceremony prior to the
City Council meeting
May 2. Matthes
previously served as
assistant city manager
in Des Moines, Iowa.
He invites fellow City
employees to stop by
the City Manager’s
Office on the second
floor of City Hall and
introduce themselves.
Health Fair Winners:
• Dinner and a Movie - Lisa Todd, Sandy Smith, Buster Adkisson,
David Katz
• Basket from United Health Care - Jan Goodman, Steve Casteel
• Weight Watchers cookbook and
measuring cups - Lisa Carlos
Nancy DeWitt (left), Finance Department accounting assistant, has
her blood drawn during an employee health fair May 3 at City Hall.

2
Barbara Buffaloe
Sustainability Manager
Energy
Efficiency
Get excited because
we’re improving energy
efficiency in City buildings!
In 2010, we received
stimulus funds to reduce
our City utility bills. Energy
assessments conducted
in 2010 found a potential
of over $100,000 in
energy savings. Some
of the suggestions were
as easy as installing
occupancy sensors in
under-used rooms and
as difficult as redesigning
heating systems for some
buildings. We’re getting
these projects started this
summer.
There’s always the
chance that we missed
something. If you’ve
noticed areas where we
could save energy or
reduce emissions, let the
Office of Sustainability
know. No project is too
small; every little bit
counts. Contact Barbara
Buffaloe at BaBuffal@
GoColumbiaMo.com or
817-5025.
Have a success story
of energy savings you’ve
already adopted? Let us
know that too. We will
highlight these in the City
Insider and on the City’s
website.
(L-r) Dr. Tom Rose, Board of Education president; Capt. Brad
Nelson, Columbia Police Department; Susan Emory, West Boulevard
Elementary principal; Randy Boehm, retired Columbia Police chief;
Dr. Chris Belcher, superintendent of schools
CPD recognized for work with
Partners In Education program
On May 12, Columbia Public Schools honored the Columbia Police
Department at the 27th annual Partners In Education celebration
at the Holiday Inn Expo Center. The Police Department has been
partners with West Boulevard Elementary School for the past 20
years. During that time, officers and civilian employees have logged
numerous hours each year visiting classrooms, mentoring students
and building long-lasting relationships. Students benefit by having
positive role models and getting to know police officers as friends.
The Police Department benefits by forming bonds and increasing
interaction with the community.
“We are very pleased with our partnership with West Boulevard
Elementary over the past two decades,” said Captain Brad
Nelson. “This partnership is very important to the Columbia Police
Department, and I am excited for what the future holds.”
Firefighters will hold raffle
Columbia Professional Firefighters will host the fifth annual
Victory Motorcycle Raffle Saturday, Aug. 13, at Jones Power Sports,
5825 E Hwy. 163, in Columbia. Chances are $50; only 400 chances
are available. Contact Brenda Harriman at (660) 815-1487 for
tickets. Tickets are also available at Jones Power Sports. You need
not be present to win.

3
Leaves of
three...let it be
With warm weather upon
us, trees, flowers and plants,
including poison ivy, are
coming back to life. Poison ivy
is one plant that most of us
regret contacting. According
to the American Academy of
Dermatology, approximately
85 percent of the population
will develop an allergic
reaction if exposed to poison
ivy, oak or sumac.
Facts:
• The sap in poison ivy
that causes the irritating skin
reaction is oil called urushiol.
• You may develop a rash without coming into direct contact with
the plant. Urushiol is virtually invisible and can be carried on the fur
of animals, on clothing, shoes, tools or any other object that comes
into contact with a crushed or broken plant (even if the plant looks
dead).
• If you are exposed…washing
the area immediately may help
For Your Health
reduce the reaction.
• Skin reaction to poison
ivy includes itching, rash and
blisters.
• Once the oil is washed off,
touching an area of poison ivy
rash will not cause the rash to
spread. Poison ivy is NOT spread
by scratching the affected area
or weeping blisters.
• Never burn poison ivy plants. Employee Health
The urushiol can be spread in
the smoke and cause serious
Dana Jones, Cheryl Johnson
lung and eye irritation.
& Dixie Darnell
• Two herbicides commonly
used for poison ivy are Roundup
and Ortho Poison Ivy Killer. However, they will kill other plants as
well.
• Seek medical attention if the rash spreads to your eyes, mouth
or genital areas or if the rash covers more than 30 percent of your
skin.
• Treatment includes: cool showers, calamine lotion, Burow’s
solution, baking soda, over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone
cream. For severe cases, prescription topical or oral corticosteroids
may be prescribed.
Brett O’Brien, natural
resource supervisor and
Dave Dittmer, forester
Columbia
receives Tree
City USA
Growth Award
Columbia was honored
with the 2010 Tree City
USA Growth Award for
demonstrating progress
in its community forestry
program. A city must
qualify as a Tree City USA
as a prerequisite for this
award. Only about 15
percent of Tree Cities earn
the Growth Award, which
recognizes environmental
improvement and higher
levels of tree care in Tree
City USA communities.
Each year, communities
that apply for the award
must demonstrate that
they have completed
activities that strengthened
their local tree care
programs. The Parks and
Recreation Department has
applied for and received
the Growth Award seven
times since 1998.

4
Employee
Classifieds
Bicycle to sell? Looking for
a used guitar? Need a baby
sitter? Visit the employee
classifieds on the City’s
intranet site.
Only City employees
may use the City
classifieds. Pictures of the
item(s) may be posted.
The following items are
NOT ACCEPTABLE:
• Items (new or used)
originally purchased for
resell purposes
• Weapons and
ammunitions
• Pornographic materials/
items
• Alcohol and tobacco
• All other items
prohibited by law
The City is not
responsible or liable for
items purchased
or sold through the
employee bulletin board.
Classified ads may run
for up to 30 days. Please
remove ads when they are
no longer needed.
To post to
the employee
classifieds:
• If you have not
registered to use the
forum, click on the
“register” button at the top
of the page and create an
account.
• Log into the forum by
selecting the “login” button
at the top of the page.
• If you are not
redirected to the front page
of the forum, click on the
“home” button.
• Click on the Employee
Classified category.
• Click on the “new topic”
button.
(L-r) Leigh Britt, Neighborhood Services manager; Brenda Canaday,
senior building inspector; and John Benisch, MACE president
Canaday named ‘officer of year’
Brenda Canaday, senior building inspector in the Office of
Neighborhood Services, was presented with the Code Enforcement
Officer of the Year award by MACE, the Missouri Association of Code
Enforcement, at the May 16 City Council meeting. John Benisch,
MACE president and code enforcement manager for the city of St.
Charles, presented the award. On May 31, Canaday retired after 16
years of service with the City.
Canaday was nominated by John Sudduth and Leigh Britt who
have both supervised her at the City and Tamara Schenke, past
president of MACE.
“Brenda believes an important part of her job is to educate
property owners about our codes and how they can comply,” said
Britt, manager of Neighborhood Services. “Brenda has been firm and
fair as a rental inspector and has worked to protect our residents by
conducting thousands of inspections during her career with the City.”
City workers save goslings
On May 3, animal control officers Molly Aust and Barbara Ball
responded to a call regarding a goose that was trying to get her
goslings to water. On their way to the lake, the goslings fell through
a grate into the drainage system. Aust and Ball made a call to Public
Works for assistance in removing the grate to free the goslings.
Equipment operator Nick McSwain and David Melloway, Stormwater
skilled service maintenance, responded to the call.
“These guys were great. They climbed into the tunnels and
rescued all the babies,” Aust said. “We were eventually able to get
the babies and mom to the lake across the street. If it had not been
for these two City employees the babies would have died.”

5
7
Water & Light initiates water
boil advisories/orders
educational campaign
In case someone asks you about water boil orders or advisories,
here is a quick overview. Columbia Water & Light is now required
by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to give notice of a
water boil advisory for any water main breaks where the pressure
drops below 20 pounds per square inch (psi). This requirement will
let water customers know when there is a risk to water quality. This
is different than a water boil order, which is when there is a known
contamination of the water.
What should you do during a boil advisory or boil order?
• Boil water for three minutes prior to using it for cooking or
drinking.
• Do not consume ice from an automatic ice maker. Remake
ice with water that has been boiled for three minutes.
• Wash dishes and food contact surfaces by immersing for one
minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented
bleach per gallon of water.
What is the fastest way to get information any time of day?
The Nixle messaging service is the fastest way to receive
notification. You can sign up for the e-mail or text alert system by
visiting the City’s website at GoColumbiaMo.com. Water & Light will
make every effort to post information on the City’s website when
possible. Staffing and the time that the boil advisory/order is called
will affect posting information on the website. A phone call will be
made as listed below to the phone number on the water customer’s
account.
Customer Notification Procedure
Customers
Affected
Notifications
Boil Advisory
Less than 50 • Door hang tag
• Nixle (e-mail/text)
Between 50 and 200 • Door hang tag
• Phone call
• Nixle (e-mail/text)
Greater than 200 • Phone call
• Press/media
• Nixle (e-mail/text)
Boil Order
Any number • Phone call
• Press/media
Time of
Notification(s)
• 24 hours/day
• 24 hours/day
• 24 hours/day
• Between 6 a.m.
and 10 p.m.
• 24 hours/day
• Between 6 a.m.
and 10 p.m.
• Anytime
• 24 hours/day
• 24 hours/day
• Between 6 a.m.
and 10 p.m.
Family Fun
Fests offer fun
for all ages
Mark the third
Wednesday on your
calendar April through
September for Family Fun
Fests! The free fests, held
from 6-8 p.m. at 4th and
Cherry and Locust streets
downtown, are presented
by Parks & Recreation. A
new theme will be featured
each month. Entertainment
for the entire family will
include music, special
performances, art
activities, bounce houses,
hands-on activities,
balloon animals and face
painting. The Fun Fests
are sponsored by the
Convention & Visitors
Bureau, KPLA 101.5, KOMU
TV8, EntPro Entertainment
and Columbia Home
magazine.
June 15: Explore
Outdoors
An evening of fun with
nature. See and learn
about Missouri fish,
birds, parks and camping
from local and state
organizations about all that
the outdoors has to offer.
Upcoming dates:
July 20: Summer Fun
Aug. 17: Around the World
Sept. 21: Creative Kids
- Sponsored by the
Columbia Office of Cultural
Affairs & the Missouri Arts
Council

6
Shred Fest
Skateboarding
Event
Celebrate National
Skateboarding Day with
Shred Fest June 18 from
4-7 p.m. at the Columbia
Skate Park, Cosmo Park.
Enter the best trick contest
for a chance to win a prize.
Whether you’ve been
skating for years, just
starting or want to hang
back and watch, this event
is for you! Enjoy great
music, helmet giveaways
and food. All ages are
welcome. This free event
is presented by Columbia
Parks and Recreation,
Parkside Skate Shop, Tiger
Pilot Club and the Youth
Community Coalition.
(L-r) Jeff Rogers and Joe Wittman were recent Telly Award recipients.
Rogers, Wittman receive Tellys
City Channel employees were recently recognized for their
creative excellence in production, videography and graphic design.
Joe Wittman and Jeff Rogers received bronze Telly awards from the
Silver Telly Council, a prestigious judging panel of more than 500
accomplished industry professionals.
Wittman, a producer, videographer and editor, earned the
Telly award for his story titled “S.W.A.T. Team.” The story aired in
September 2009 and gave viewers an inside look at the Columbia
Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team. Rogers’s
award-winning graphics appeared in a segment titled “Off the Clock”
which aired in October 2010.
Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring
outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs,
the finest video and film productions and Web commercials, videos
and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected
advertising agencies, production companies, television stations,
cable operators and corporate video departments in the world. The
Silver Council evaluated entries to recognize distinction in creative
work. Entries do not compete against each other; rather, they are
judged against a high standard of merit.
The Telly Awards receives more than 13,000 entries annually
from ad agencies, production companies, TV stations, cable
companies, interactive agencies and corporations world-wide. Entries
are judged by top industry professionals.
The City Channel broadcasts City meetings and original
programming featuring department programs and activities. The
City Channel airs on Mediacom 80, Charter Communications 2 and
CenturyLink 601. Programming can also be viewed online at www.
GoColumbiaMo.com/TCC.

7
Safe Travels
Safety Matters
For seasoned business
travelers, traveling is a way of
life. For others, taking a work
trip can be a refreshing change
from the usual environment.
Regardless of which category
you fall into, there are
precautions you should take in
your travels.
Arrive in daylight. When
booking flights or travel times,
arrange to arrive in daylight
hours, if possible. If you must
arrive late evening or early
Risk Management
morning, reserve a car service in George Hampton, Sarah Perry
advance. The conference or hotel
& Angee Whitesides
may be able to recommend a
service for you.
Don’t forget your meds. If you take medication for a preexisting
condition, bring enough to last the trip, and extra in case
your return flight is delayed. As a precaution, have a copy of your
prescription, or a doctor’s note, in case you need to prove that the
medication is necessary.
Protect your documentation. Keep a record of credit cards,
bank cards and contact telephone numbers, and leave copies with
someone back home. At the hotel, store your passport, airline
tickets, extra money and other documents in the hotel safe.
Stay connected. Establish a check-in procedure and make sure
your workplace, friends or family back home know where to reach
you. Give someone a copy of your travel itinerary and check in with
them when you arrive and periodically thereafter.
Know your surroundings. Ask the hotel for advice on safe
areas to visit in the neighborhood and which areas to avoid.
Hide your valuables. Do not draw attention to yourself by
displaying large amounts of cash, expensive jewelry or electronic
equipment. If possible, use the bank machine more often or
travelers’’ checks instead of large amounts of cash.
Watch your luggage. Do not leave your luggage unattended
or in the care of a stranger. On your luggage tag, use only your first
initial - not your full name. To further protect your identity, include
your business address (not your home address) and use a luggage
tag that has a flap that hides your name and address.
Safeguard your hotel room. Ask for a room that is above
ground but no higher than seven stories, within reach of most fire
fighting evacuation buckets and ladders. Ask for a room close to the
elevators and ensure it has a peephole, dead bolt and chain lock.
Don’t let anyone know which room you are in. Tell the hotel not to
give your room number or name to anyone. If the clerk accidentally
says your room number out loud, ask to change rooms. For added
security, place a rubber doorstop under your door to prevent it from
being pushed open from the outside. Close the door securely when
you enter or exit the room and check that any sliding glass doors,
windows and connection doors are locked. Do not invite strangers or
acquaintances into your room or accept invitations to others’ rooms.
Arrange to meet in a public location because…Safety Matters.
Volunteer for
the State Games
It’s almost that time of
the year when thousands of
athletes, their friends and
families arrive in Columbia
to take part in the 27th
annual Show-Me STATE
GAMES and the 17th annual
Missouri State Senior
Games.
Have fun by volunteering
for your favorite sport and
assist Missouri’s amateur
athletes compete to the
best of their abilities!
Volunteer for the Missouri
State Senior Games and the
Show-Me STATE GAMES of
the Midwest June 10-12 or
the Show-Me STATE GAMES
July 22-24 and July 29-31.
If you have a group of
12 more that would like
to volunteer for the STATE
GAMES, the business/group
logo will be printed on the
back of your volunteer
T-shirts. June 18 is the
deadline for those groups
volunteering for the STATE
GAMES in July. If you have
a group and are planning
to volunteer the June
weekend, please contact
Jean Hough at 884-2946 or
houghj@missouri.edu for
further information.
Individual volunteers
are welcome as well. No
deadline is needed for
individuals or groups less
than 12. The earlier you
get your selections in the
better. If you find that you
have some free time during
the weekends of the games
and would like to volunteer
for a few hours, please stop
by the volunteer booth at
the east side of Hearnes
for an assignment. For
more information about
volunteering for either
games contact Hough.

8
On the move!
Retirements
Cynthia Jolly, 15 years, Solid Waste District Manager
John Worden, 21 years, Police Sergeant
William Lewis, 27 years, Parking Supervisor
David R Patterson, 31 years, NERC Certified
Balancing Authority Operator
4th of July
Fire in the Sky
presented by Columbia
Insurance Group and
KOMU8 -- sponsored by
KBXR, KFRU, University
of Missouri Athletics,
Cosmopolitan Luncheon
Club and VA Mortgage
Center
Put on your red,
white and blue and
celebrate our nation’s
birthday and Declaration
of Independence on
July 4. Columbia’s
59th annual 4th of July
celebration will feature
music, fun activities for
kids, entertainment and
a spectacular fireworks
display!
Enjoy all the fun at
the University of Missouri
Memorial Stadium.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m.
Entertainment will begin
at 7 p.m. Fireworks will
begin after 9:30 p.m.
The celebration is
free and concessions
are available. Please do
not bring fireworks to
the stadium. For more
information, call 874-
7460 or visit www.
GoColumbiaMo.com.
Anniversaries
Charles Crane, 30 years, Public Works
Tamera Dowling, 20 years, Information Technologies
Joan Smith, 15 years, Parks & Recreation
Ronald Wilhite, 10 years, Public Works
Anthony Lowery, 10 years, Parks & Recreation
Michael W. Acton, 10 years, Water & Light
Toni Messina, 5 years, Public Communications
Richard Kauffman, 5 years, Public Works
Jeffrey Bryson, 5 years, Water & Light
Stephen Adair, 5 years, Public Works
Promotions
Dana Dixson - Administrative Support Assistant II to
Administrative Support Assistant III (Public Works)
James Settle - Refuse Collection Supervisor II to Parking
Supervisor (Public Works)
Stephen Lewandowski - Power Plant Technician Supervisor to
Assistant Power Production Superintendent (Water & Light)
Tomas Zajicek - Engineer II to Engineering Supervisor
(Water & Light)
Eric Hughes - Police Officer to Police Sergeant (Police Department)
Nadine Resler-Davis - Building Inspector to Plan Reviewer
(Public Works)
Randall White - Fire Captain to Deputy Fire Chief
(Fire Department)
Transfers
Kelli Schnell - Administrative Support Assistant I
(Police Department/Support) to Administrative Support Assistant I
(Police Department/Records)
New Hires
April 4
Amy De Jong - Social Services Specialist (Health Department)
Shanon Gipson - Equipment Operator III-773 (Public Works)
April 11
Erika Witzke - Administrative Support Assistant II
(Parks & Recreation)
April 19
Tami Thorup - Custodian-773 (Public Works)

9
For
the
Record
Records Management
Jackie Wagner
Preserving history
through records
Every day, the City’s records
and information touch the lives of
people all over the country—from the
visitors, to students, genealogists, City
employees and citizens using online
services. As stewards of the public
trust, City employees are accountable
for how records and information assets
are managed and, most importantly,
how permanent records are preserved.
During the records inventory process, it became apparent that
the City’s permanent records are being stored in basements, attics,
closets, boiler rooms and a variety of off-site storage facilities,
including garages. In March, Council approved a $5,000 grant
from the Missouri Historical Records Grant Program to bring in an
archivist to help the City identify, organize and preserve records that
are significant to the history of the City and the state of Missouri,
thereby increasing accessibility to the public.
In April, an archivist conducted 22 on-site visits to evaluate
department policies, practices and environmental conditions that
affect the preservation of City records. At first, there was confusion
about which records are “historic.” The archivist explained that it
is more than old documents and artifacts; permanent records are
the main focus because they have to be retained forever and offer
historic value.
The archivist’s preliminary findings revealed that:
• there are no records in immediate physical danger, with the
exception of those being stored in off-site garages;
• the lack of records dating before approximately 1980 is troubling,
which may be due to so many departments having records in
storage that have not been inventoried;
• departments need to gather more information about their
records before a comprehensive priority list of preservation
recommendations can be developed—this means that records in
storage will need to be identified at the box level and the archivist
will need to schedule another, shorter, visit; and
• the City owns many three-dimensional objects and works of art,
which should be cataloged.
The preservation assessment and planning project is scheduled
to end in December. The archivist’s final report will make
recommendations to guide the City in preserving and caring for its
historical records, which will ultimately improve access to citizens,
both now and in the future.
The Project’s Vision Impact:
5.4.9 – Ensure that as we grow we preserve our heritage and
uniqueness;
10.1 – Governance is a model of transparency, efficiency and citizen
participation that enjoys the strong confidence of its residents.
Stephens Lake
Amphitheater
Events
Teen Videology
Dance Party
Thursday, June 9; 8-10:30
p.m., $3 admission
Videology provides a dance
party atmosphere complete
with actual innovative
music videos, music, lights
and lasers.
TRYPS Performance
June 17, 7-8 p.m., free
sponsored by Office
of Cultural Affairs and
Missouri Arts Council
Norm Ruebling
Band
Thursday, July 21, and
Wednesday Sept. 7
7-10 p.m., free
Voted number one band
in Columbia, the Norm
Ruebling Band will fill the
amphitheater with sounds
of rock, blues, jazz &
soul. Don’t miss this free
concert!
sponsored by MO-X