Director challenges employees to help bash trash
April is MoDOT's annual "No MOre Trash!" Bash
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A message from Director McKenna:
The start of spring signifies it’s time for spring cleaning along Missouri roadsides. As the days get longer and the temperature gets warmer, more and more visitors take to the highways to visit our beautiful state. Missouri is our home, and we want it to be welcoming. We’ve challenged our Adopt-A-Highway groups to help with spring cleaning. But I’m asking for your help, too.
Once again, I’m offering a challenge to all MoDOT employees to lend a hand to our amazing maintenance team by picking up litter on Missouri’s highways during the month of April. With the approval of your supervisor, you can help out for up to four hours a week during your normal 40 hours or work overtime collecting trash after work and on weekends. In past years, our MoDOT divisions and districts have challenged each other, forming teams to compete while sharing a common goal: to help make our roads more attractive to all who drive them.
But this issue is more than simple aesthetics. Litter is also a safety issue, and it’s one we need to address before we start mowing.
I challenge everyone in the MoDOT family to spend some time making our highways litter-free. You can get all the details about how to participate and how to code your timesheets here on SharePoint. Thanks for your help keeping our highways clean and as always for all you do.
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Reminder: Required EODD training due March 31 | |
The new Equal Opportunity & Diversity training covering harassment, diversity and inclusion, and psychological safety must be completed by March 31.
The training includes knowledge-check questions throughout as well as a quiz at the end where employees must score at least an 80% in order to receive credit.
Every employee was automatically assigned this training through MoDOT U, and employees can access the course on their MoDOT U task list.
Any employees that view this training in a group should fill out a sign-in sheet with the score the team received on the quiz. The roster and quiz score should be sent to your local MoDOT U administrators or HRED team members.
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Reminder: COLA to be on March 31 paychecks | |
Employees will see the 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment in their March 31 paychecks.
Employees can access the Employees Self-Service portal to view pay stubs. After logging into your account, click "View pay check details" in the left menu.
If you need help accessing your ESS portal account, please contact your payroll representative.
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Information Systems director announced | |
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Jason Volkart has been selected as the new Information Systems director. His official effective date is April 1.
Volkart currently serves as the assistant information systems director and has served the department for almost three years. He has over 25 years of experience in the Information Technology field, and prior to joining the department, he served as the field solutions engineer for SHI International and several IT roles for the Office of Administration.
Volkart holds a bachelor's degree in computer information systems from Columbia College and several other IT professional certifications.
Congratulations, Jason!
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PDI open for enrollment throughout April | |
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The Professional Development Institute is open for enrollment from April 1-30. PDI is a voluntary, self-paced development program designed to help professional-level employees be well-rounded and have greater organizational awareness.
There are currently 62 participants enrolled in PDI. The goal of the program is to enhance professional-level employees' business, interpersonal and professional skills. Interested employees can enroll (with their supervisor's approval) during this four-week enrollment period.
Learn more about the program on the PDI SharePoint page.
Questions? Contact tyler.kirchner@modot.mo.gov.
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Lower your risk of heart disease | |
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The term “heart disease” is used to describe a range of diseases that affect your heart and is often used interchangeably with “cardiovascular disease.” Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke.
Uncontrollable risk factors include age, gender, family history and race.
Controllable risk factors include smoking, physical activity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight/obesity and diabetes.
Small Changes You Can Make to Reduce Your Risk
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Maintain a healthy weight: even taking off a few pounds can provide cardiovascular benefits.
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Eat a heart-healthy diet: eating fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans/legumes, reduces cholesterol and helps manage weight. Choose healthy fats from avocados, nuts, seeds, salmon, tuna and olive oil. Limit unhealthy fats from animal meats, dairy products, fried foods, processed foods and packaged baked goods. Salt can raise your blood pressure. Reduce your risk by flavoring foods with spices and herbs, buying fresh or frozen whole foods and limiting convenience foods.
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Get moving: regular physical activity can help control cholesterol and blood pressure and maintain a healthy weight. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week and/or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Find an activity that you enjoy!
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Stop smoking: speak with your physician to understand what method of quitting may be best for you.
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Manage stress: creating new healthy habits can help you cope with stress. Some strategies include engaging in regular physical activity, accepting things you can’t change, remembering to laugh, getting organized and getting enough sleep.
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Kansas City crews come together for the big picture | |
Through obstacles and uncertainties, Kansas City District employees have come together to work toward a safer Missouri transportation system.
On March 10, the entire Northmoor Maintenance crew volunteered to help the neighboring Skiles crew with pothole patching. Six tons of cold mix were used in total, and the operations were able to be done safely, efficiently and without incident.
Starting Feb. 21, the Knob Noster Maintenance crew, with the help of Warrensburg, Sedalia, Marshall and the strike team, all came together for ditching operations on Missouri Route 23. The area is frequently underwater due to the Blackwater River flooding. In nine days, crews hauled more than 1,100 loads of dirt and mud out of the area.
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At the March 8 Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission meeting, Commissioner Erdman was very complimentary of the district's teamwork to remove graffiti and litter in the downtown area. Crews so far have focused on various areas on Interstate 70, Interstate 35 and Highway 71.
Crews are also working on sweeping barriers, brush control and trimming. Kansas City Maintenance and others have been able to work together and truly show what it means to be one team.
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Northwest Bridge Bundle public involvement | |
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The Northwest Bridge Bundle is a design-build project which plans to replace or rehabilitate up to 34 poor-condition bridges in Carroll, Chariton, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Putnam and Sullivan counties.
Public involvement for the project kicked off on March 7 with an open-house-style public meeting in Keytesville. Then, a public meeting was held each following Tuesday of the month in Chillicothe, then Milan and lastly in Unionville this week.
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MoDOT team members and consultants from Wilson and Co. speak with community members at a Northwest Bridge Bundle public information meeting at the Chillicothe High School on March 14, 2023. | |
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“We’ve had good attendance at our public meetings,” said Northwest District Area Engineer and Project Director Michael Marriot. “We appreciate the feedback that we’ve received and the opportunity to talk with local leaders and community members about the project.”
The public comment period will conclude in early April and be followed by the request for qualifications and the industry meeting which are all scheduled for May 23. It’s anticipated that the project will begin in early 2024 with a project completion date in 2026.
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Sam Marshall
Central Office Environmental Chemist
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Sam Marshall has been an environmental chemist for nearly seven years. His current role involves analyzing building materials for asbestos using Polarized Light Microscopy, testing water and soil samples for heavy metals using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer, and performing asbestos and lead inspections on bridges and structures located on MoDOT property.
One of Marshall’s favorite things about his job is working alongside professionals who are committed and passionate about their jobs.
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“One of the highlights of my job is that I am able to contribute information to assist MoDOT personnel and contractors so they can perform their jobs safely and effectively,” said Marshall. “I’m thankful to have the necessary resources to perform my job(s) effectively, and I love getting to learn something new every day.”
His 28 years of lab experience have provided Marshall with the necessary tools to obtain greater efficiency in all aspects of material testing, become proficient with available resources needed to maintain higher standards for the general public, and strengthen his ability to think outside the box when it comes to solving issues related to materials testing.
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In 2019, Marshall was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Following his neurologist’s recommendation, he underwent a three-part surgery that inserted electrodes in his brain to lessen his tremors. Marshall also takes medication that mimics dopamine, which is lost and eventually not produced during the onset of Parkinson’s. Marshall currently shows minimal symptoms of the disease and is continuing to live a normal and healthy life.
“My goal now is to inspire others and let them know that if you are dealt an incurable disease, you can continue living – you don’t have to give up,” Marshall said. “Dealing with an illness is a challenge, but how we change the dynamic to make ourselves better is the true test. Rather than thinking ‘why me?’ start thinking ‘what can I do?’”
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The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news
and feature articles that connect employees statewide.
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Comments
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We want to hear from you!
Send comments and suggestions to:
bethany.belt@modot.mo.gov
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MoDOT Communications
P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, Mo 65102
573-751-2840 | www.modot.org
Editor: Sr. Communications Specialist Bethany Belt
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