Spring 2020 Generator

More documents

Info

New Columbus Service Center benefits employees & customers Spacious and bright. That’s how many Loup employees describe the new Columbus Service Center along Lost Creek Parkway north of town. “This is something to be proud of,” said Chief Storekeeper Dave Rosno. The Columbus-based hydro and operations crew moved to the new building in January. The move was primarily prompted by the construction of the 12th Avenue viaduct. “After several discussions with the City, the District decided it was better to move its entire service center to a new location, rather than try to coexist as the City constructs the viaduct,” said President/ CEO Neal Suess. Loup budgeted $5.5 million for the 54,540-square-foot building, paid for with cash reserves. One major benefit of the new location is its proximity to the District’s hydro facilities, including the canal and powerhouse. Equipment Operator Steve Ziemba said it’s much easier to get to those hydro locations now that he doesn’t have to take large equipment like dump trucks and semis through Columbus. “It’s a quick trip now,” he said. It is also easy for linemen to get to all locations in and around Columbus from the Parkway location. “The response time is the same or faster,” said Arborist Foreman Trent Konwinski. Columbus Division Superintendent Dale Gasper said another advantage of the new building is simply more space. “We’re not backing vehicles into truck bays or squeezing four pickups in an area where three should normally go,” he said. Konwinski said the District’s service trucks have long pull-out trays. Linemen could not restock their trucks inside because there wasn’t enough room between trucks. They had to do so outside, often in rain or snow. That’s no longer the case in the spacious new garage. The building also features a large meeting room that facilitates better communication among the operations This is something to be proud of. crews. Gasper said the three line foremen would come to his office each morning at the old service center to discuss plans for the day. The foremen would then go to the truck bay to meet with their crews individually for the morning tailgate. Now, all operations employees can gather in the meeting room for one tailgate. This ensures all employees know the day’s plan. The extra space is especially evident in the wide, open storeroom. “The pallet racking allows me to put a lot more inventory in the air and less on the ground,” Rosno said. A wire reel rack also utilizes vertical space and increases efficiency when used in conjunction with a wire winder — both new additions to the department. “It takes the guesswork out of putting wire out on the service job,” Rosno said. “If the guys come in and ask for 100 feet, that counter is spot on and it gives us 100 feet of wire.” Previously, he used a small scale and weighed wire based on feet per pound. That often meant heavy reels. Rosno said this added accuracy means lighter reels and added safety for the employees who lift them. More space means more inventory — such as crossarm braces — can be stored inside rather than sitting out in the elements. He can also order equipment at greater quantities which usually means a better price per item, saving money in the long run. Having the extra inventory is also beneficial following storms. “Our customers are relying on Loup for 24/7 power. Obviously Mother Nature gets in the way of that,” Rosno said. “We need to have the materials here to get the guys back in business.” The new shop area has a large mezzanine for extra storage. Another benefit for the department is an upgraded 6 GENERATOR
air handling system that automatically exhausts carbon monoxide and welding fumes. In the old building, employees had to manually put hoses over the exhaust and turn on the system. The building also allowed the District to implement new technology including large wall monitors that show outages at a glance and can also be used for everyday planning. Meter/Maintenance Superintendent Tim Ramaekers said those monitors allow employees to more easily discuss District plans since they aren’t huddled around a small computer screen. Employees previously used large paper maps. The District began installing new meters last year and that project is expected to be complete this year. These meters transmit electricity usage data to the District and compares it to the daily temperature — information that can be beneficial to customers with unusually high bills. The meters also alert Loup when there is an outage. “We’re going to know that people are out of power as soon as they do,” Gasper said. This makes prioritizing storm repair work much easier — employees can look for clusters of meters that are out and work on those areas first. “This technology is pretty amazing,” Ramaekers said. The building has a larger locker room. Ziemba said the larger lockers work great for storing boots and chaps. “It’s nice to have that extra space,” he said. Gasper said the building holds the main District storeroom. The shop personnel maintain all District vehicles and the meeting room can be used by all employees. “This building isn’t just for the guys working out of it,” he said. “It’s for the whole District.” Top left: Chief Storekeeper David Rosno winds wire from a new vertical reel rack. Above (top to bottom): The shop area features a large mezzanine for additional storage; the new garage has lot of room for linemen to park and stock trucks; a spacious meeting room. SPRING <strong>2020</strong> 7
Page 1 and 2: GENERA OR a publication of Loup Pow
Page 3 and 4: PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Another difficu
Page 5: Nelson charges his vehicle every ni
Page 9 and 10: Construction was started this week
Page 11 and 12: Once you have the fire burning You
Page 13 and 14: DAVE ROSNO Chief Storekeeper 20 Yea
Page 15 and 16: MARK HANEL Shop & Transportation Su
Page 17 and 18: County payments total more than $2
Page 19 and 20: energy-saving 9TIPS Visit loup.com

Spring 2020 Generator

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?