Nov. 9, 2023

November Commission summary

At it's Nov. 1 meeting, the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission heard a presentation from the City of Perryville and Perry County discussing the many projects underway in the area. The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission and the New Bourbon Regional Port Authority also spoke and thanked the department for the long-standing partnership with MoDOT.

Director McKenna shared information on the Oct. 19 winter operations drill. With turnover rates and many positions still open, driver training is more critical than ever. While MoDOT successfully hired more than 100 new maintenance employees this summer, MoDOT is still several hundred employees below what's needed to cover more than one full shift in a statewide storm. Nearly 27% of MoDOT's snowplow operators have less than three years of experience, and the past few years did not include many significant winter storms.

On Oct. 17-19, MoDOT hosted the AASHTO Safety Summit and Joint Meeting of the Committee of Safety, Council on Active Transportation and Committee on Planning. More than 300 people, including directors of 20 state departments of transportation, were in attendance. Presentations at the meeting focused on sharing noteworthy practices and the development of tools and resources to support an evolution toward a more safety-focused transportation system.

Read the full meeting summary, which topics include: Director's Report, Consideration of Bids, Southeast District Update, Resolution Authorizing the Officer for Sale of State Appropriations Mega Projects State Road Bonds and Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, including Independent Audit.

Let eAgreements work for you!

On Sept. 1, the new eAgreements system and training manual rolled out to the department. While the manual provides detailed step-by-step instructions, there are a couple specific steps that need to be highlighted.

Before an agreement is sent for execution, the agreement and attachments, if applicable, must be saved as a PDF document. This PDF document must be named the agreement number (yyyy-mm-xxxxx.pdf) for the connector to recognize the fully executed agreement.  

Next, the PDF containing the agreement and attachments, if applicable, should be uploaded back into eAgreements. Under Agreement Actions, there is a handy button titled “Send to DocuSign/Check DocuSign Status.”

This button confirms that the agreement is not already in DocuSign and then uploads the agreement directly to DocuSign. This step eliminates the possibility of executing an agreement more than once.

Finally, once the agreement is fully executed, the connector will automatically download the fully executed agreement from DocuSign to eAgreements at 3 a.m. Once automatically downloaded to eAgreements, the status of the agreement will automatically change from Execution to Fully Executed.

Let these automated features do the work for you!

2024 Charitable Campaign wraps up

The 2024 Missouri State Employee Charitable Campaign ran from Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2023. During this year’s campaign, MoDOT personnel from across the state came together to "Help Others Rise Above" through individual pledge card donations, various creative fundraising events and promotional messaging across internal communication channels.

This year also saw the return of in-person kickoff events at each Central Office building, where employees could get face time with charities while enjoying activities and food for a good cause. Division coordinators at each location, as well as charity representatives from People Helping Paws, Missouri Special Olympics and The Red Slipper Warrior Project, donated their time to make these events a success. 

State Construction & Materials Engineer Brandi Baldwin receives a pie in the face during a 2024 MSECC fundraiser event.

Other fundraisers throughout the campaign included bake sales, MoDOT apparel stores, walking tacos, and pancake and biscuits & gravy breakfasts, as well as “Pie in the Face” events at 601 W. Main Street (watch the video), 830 MoDOT Drive (view photos) and the Construction & Materials Lab (view photos).

Final donation totals are still being processed as employees finish their fall meetings and send in pledge cards, but the totals raised just from the fundraising events are close to $6,000. MoDOT’s final donation totals will be shared next month after the Office of Administration has processed the final numbers.

Any employees who did not receive a physical pledge card still has time to submit donations through the online ESS portal or PDF pledge card.

Find more photos from the Central Office kickoff events as well as other fundraisers across the state here.

Diabetes has been called a family disease — when someone is diagnosed, family and close friends can also be affected. It’s natural to want to be supportive when a loved one has a chronic medical condition. First, learn about your disease. Then take time to communicate the support you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Understanding Diabetes Basics

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different diseases. However, both involve the body’s inability to process sugar — also called glucose — in the blood. This means cells aren’t getting the energy they need, and excess glucose builds up in the blood. Serious health problems can result, including:

• Nerve damage.
• Heart disease.
• Blindness.
• Stroke.
• Kidney failure.

Lending Support

Family members are an important source of support for people managing diabetes. Start by acknowledging the condition doesn’t have to stand in the way of an active life. Managing diabetes through a healthy diet and regular exercise can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Family can help by:

• Eating together. A meal that’s healthy for someone with diabetes is also healthy for everyone else. Recipes can include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein such as fish and poultry.
• Exercising together. Physical activity is important. Walking, jogging, swimming and dancing can all be a part of this program – and can be more enjoyable as a family activity.
• Recognizing possible problems. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can cause frequent urination, extreme thirst, blurry vision and fatigue. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can cause fatigue, inability to speak or think clearly, sweating, twitching and passing out. A sudden drop in blood sugar can be especially dangerous – ask loved ones to keep a supply of sugary candy handy and call for medical help if this occurs.

How Not to Help

Supporting someone’s efforts to manage diabetes doesn’t mean hovering or being judgmental. A loved one might think their advice or gentle criticism will be helpful, but it might cause more stress. Here are some thoughts you might share with family members:

• Nagging doesn’t help. Criticizing someone for their menu choices or exercise habits can actually lead to more unhealthy behavior. Instead, provide encouragement and support when someone makes healthier choices.
• Avoid preparing separate meals. Having separate meals prepared for someone managing diabetes can lead to feelings of isolation. Instead, consider stocking the kitchen with food that’s healthy for everyone.
• Be helpful, not controlling. If you’re an older teen or adult, you can make your own diabetes-management decisions. Ask your family to ask you what they can do to help instead of trying to control your behavior.

The unseasonably cold temperature didn’t put a damper on last week’s Don Welge Memorial Bridge groundbreaking ceremony in the Southeast District. Around 100 attendees - including the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission, the Welge family, and local legislators and officials - joined MoDOT and IDOT to celebrate. 

The bridge spans the Mississippi River, connecting the cities of Perryville, MO and Chester, IL via Missouri Route 51/Illinois Route 150.

The current Chester Bridge is a truss bridge that was originally constructed in 1942 to allow vehicles to cross the Mississippi River without using a ferry. It was a toll bridge until 1989. 

Today, the bridge carries 7,000 vehicles daily, with approximately 25% being commercial motor vehicle traffic.

View all photos from the groundbreaking ceremony here on Flickr.

The new bridge will be a three-tower, cable-stayed bridge constructed upstream from the existing structure. It will be twice as wide as the existing structure to accommodate today’s traffic and will be named the “Don Welge Memorial Bridge.”

Don Welge was a Chester native who became one of southern Illinois’s most influential businessmen. As the president and CEO of the Gilster Mary-Lee Corporation and a driving force behind economic development, Welge realized the importance of this major river bridge.

Speakers at the ceremony included MHTC Vice Chair Dustin Boatwright, MoDOT Project Director Brian Okenfuss, IDOT Director Stephen Travia and Glister-Mary Lee CEO Tom Welge.

Completion of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge is anticipated by the end of 2026. 

On Nov. 2, the Kansas City District celebrated the new I-35 Interchange at 19th Street in Clay County with a ribbon cutting. The ceremony included various speakers, including Commissioner Erdman (top left) and District Engineer Chris Redline (top right). This cost-share project is in partnership with the City of Kearney. The interchange will officially open to the public mid-November, weather permitting. Find more information at modot.org/i-35-and-19th-street-interchange.

MoDOT's Northwest District is administering a US DOT BUILD grant project for the construction of transportation improvements around the planned Roy Blunt Reservoir in Sullivan County. This project consists of building and/or improving four intersections and constructing four new bridges and additional alternatives if funding allows. 

Work began in August on three Missouri Route 5 intersections to improve or create access at Mid-Lake Road, Route N and Mayapple Road. Contractors from Capital Paving & Construction, LLC completed work on all three intersections Nov. 3.

Remaining work includes intersection improvements at Route N/Y, construction of three new bridges on Mid-Lake Road and one on Mayapple Road, and completion of ADD alternative paving of Routes N, VV and potentially a portion of Mayapple Road. All work is expected to be complete in 2025. 

Keep up with the project at Roy Blunt Reservoir Transportation Improvement Project.

Approximately 800 students from southwest Missouri participated in a hands-on opportunity to learn about careers in the construction industry, including potential careers at MoDOT, called Build My Future.

The program targets high school students. This event in Joplin on Oct. 19 hosted young people from 22 school districts.

“These programs provide guidance and support to students in choosing their future career paths and can help students make informed decisions about their education and future,” said Kimberly Hickey, Southwest District administrative officer.

“It’s important MoDOT participates so we can start to build relationships with students, teachers, school career counselors and begin discussions regarding career opportunities within the department,” said Hickey.

(Left to right) Intermediate Human Resources Specialist Sydney Rodriguez, District Utilities Manager Kirsty Little and Transportation Project Designer Kara Richert set up for the S’mores Road demonstration at the Build My Future event.

This year, 17 MoDOT employees volunteered to help with activities including a traffic signal cabinet demonstration, TMA/dump truck and mechanic demonstrations and computer design/drafting demonstrations, among others.

A big hit with the students was building a road using S’mores ingredients.

“S’mores Road was a success with students because it quickly grabbed students’ attention, engaged them in learning and visually created a comparison of roadway layers,” said District Utilities Manager Kirsty Little.

"And," said Little, "students were able to eat the road they’d just built."

District leaders are making plans to participate in the event again next year.

45 Years

Gregory Morgan KC

30 Years

David Leicher KC

Melissa Hubbs SL

William Ledgerwood SE

Joe Lemmon, Jr. SE

Matthew Burcham CO

Samuel Niederhelm CO

Randall Hoskins CO

Stacy Heckert CO

25 Years

Jeremy Jackson NW

Nicholas Middleton NE

Fredrick Wilde CD

Craig Leake SW

Christopher Medley SE

Nathan Reed SE

Randal Ewing SE

Stephen Atkinson CO

Todd Walters CO

20 Years

Danny Duke NE

Bradley Wehmeyer CD

Beth Humphrey CD

Michael Burchell SW

Thomas Bishop SE

Thomas Obermann SE

Misty Volkart CO

Mark Sidebottom CO

Richard Schomaker CO

Bryan Ross CO

15 Years

Lucas Loughridge CD

Brandon Shanks CD

Keith Pehle SL

Benjamin Cameron SW

10 Years

Steven Flynn NE

Trisha Sen KC

Steven Held CD

Edward Stannard SL

William Dudley SW

Jonathan Varner CO

5 Years

Kyle Burtch NW

Marshall Norris NW

Steven Davis NW

Justin Pollard NW

Tracy Noland KC

Brian Klasing KC

Michael Dixon CD

Andrew Rakers CD

Dakota King CD

Derek Wise CD

Donald Crouse CD

Douglas Witt CD

Eric Bilbrough CD

Grant Kleindienst CD

Jacob Johnson CD

Jeffrey Buschjost CD

Rusty Carver CD

Andrew Reed SL

5 Years Cont.

Jamie Rana SL

Mark Ray SL

Brian Scott SW

James Wix SW

William States SW

Manual Morris SW

Jacob Law SW

Barton Kernodle SE

Chadd Allen, Jr. SE

Christopher Pender SE

Clinton Dugger SE

Cody Francis SE

Colton Bennett SE

Dawson Reynolds SE

Eric Brown SE

Francis Naucke SE

Jerod Jackson SE

Jonathan Smith SE

Michael Franklin SE

Robert Holmes SE

Robert Bolin SE

Ryan Grogan SE

Ryan Hoskins SE

Spencer Stucker SE

Thomas Clubb SE

Todd Ashton SE

Tommy Pullum SE

Brady Smith CO

Kate Bax CO

The following active employees passed away:

Charles C. Zurn

KC – Oct. 22

Kevin G. Fox

SW – Sept. 14

The following retirees passed away:

Margaret L. Jordan

CO – Oct. 23

Phillip M. Clark

NE – Oct. 26

Kenneth G. Gladhill

NE – Oct. 2

Paul E. Kimmel

NE – Oct. 12

Michael E. Moore

KC – Oct. 26

Francis B. Kloeppel

CD – Oct. 26

Bruce H. Moss

SL – Oct. 31

George R. Taylor, Jr.

SW – Oct. 24

Lloyd B. Allen

SE – Oct. 26

Frank R. Burns

SE – Oct. 10

Janice E. Wilson

SE – Oct. 26

The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news

and feature articles that connect employees statewide.

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Editor: Sr. Communications Specialist Bethany Belt

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