Nov. 23, 2022

Required pre-shift training video now available

A message from Chief Safety & Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth:

I’m pleased to present to you another step forward in our safety culture. To continue in our statewide consistency in safety best practices, we have created a Pre-Shift Safety Briefing training video on how to conduct your pre-shift meeting. This video will be required viewing for all employees as a MoDOT U course number 92475. Supervisors can show the video to their team using this link: https://youtu.be/OViiA8ZckQ4. Then turn in the date and list of employees who watched to your local Human Resources office. All employees must watch this video by Dec. 30, 2022.

At the beginning of each workday/shift, supervisors are required to go through the planned daily work and cover all safety aspects of the day ahead including assignment of roles, review of typical applications and thorough discussion of safety aspects of the tasks to be accomplished. This video has been prepared to show the components of what needs to be covered in each pre-shift safety briefing. It includes best practices to cover with the team before you head out to safely conduct work on our roadways. Not all employees are in the field on a daily basis, that is why it is even more imperative for all employees to view this video for those times they do go into the field.

Consistent statewide training is imperative to move our safety culture forward and provide safety protocols to our employees.

THINGS TO KNOW

Electronic W-2 form option now available

State of Missouri team members may now elect to receive their Form W-2 electronically through the Employees Self-Service portal.

To receive a W-2 electronically instead of a paper copy, consent must be given prior to Dec. 31, 2022:

Access the ESS portal at https://ess.mo.gov/Common/HomePage.
Enter login and password information.
Select Electronic W-2 Consent (found on the Home tab or under My Information).
After reading the disclosure, select the checkbox before the statement that reads "I consent to receiving my W-2 electronically," and click the Save button.

Benefits to receiving Form W-2 electronically:

Get access to the W-2 information earlier than traditional paper forms.
Eliminate the risks associated with paper Form W-2 (lost, stolen or misdirected documents and delivery delays).
Print duplicate copies on demand.
Access the form at the same easy-to-use secure ESS portal as all other self-service options.
Receive the same information as the mailed copy and keep access on the ESS portal for a minimum of five years.
Save natural resources and costs by not having the form printed and mailed.

Disclosure Notices

An employee who consents to receiving the Form W-2 online will not receive a paper copy. If an employee does not consent, a paper copy of the Form W-2 will be mailed to the permanent address on file with the State of Missouri.

An employee who chooses to receive the Form W-2 may withdraw consent for future years by unchecking the consent box in the ESS portal. This process does not need to be repeated every calendar year. If consent is withdrawn, it will be effective for future W-2 statements (not yet issued).

For additional questions, please contact Nicole Kleffner by phone at (573) 751-1992 or email at Nicole.Kleffner@oa.mo.gov.

MPERS' 2022 State of the System is Dec. 7

The MoDOT and Patrol Employees’ Retirement System would like to invite all members and stakeholders to attend the first annual State of The System virtual meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 3-4 p.m.

During this meeting, members and stakeholders will hear directly from the MPERS’ executive team regarding matters of funding, investments, benefits and more. Additionally, MPERS would like to answer any questions members and stakeholders may have. Please submit your questions during the GoToWebinar registration process or by emailing julie.west@mpers.org prior to the meeting date.

To register, please click here.

Public invited to discuss unfunded needs

Missouri’s transportation system is a tremendous asset including 33,825 miles of roads and 10,387 bridges. The system ranks among the largest for any state in the nation. MoDOT, working with its statewide regional planning partners, has identified $1 billion in annual unfunded needs. From the broader unfunded needs, MoDOT has developed a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide the development of projects into funded projects as state and federal transportation funds increase.

Public meetings will be held across the state from Nov. 28 - Dec. 7. The full list of the meeting dates, time and locations are here.

MoDOT has worked with metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning commissions throughout the state to develop a list of high priority unfunded road and bridge needs. The draft project-specific lists include $4.7 billion in road and bridge project needs in three tiers:

Tier one includes $528 million and includes project needs we could accomplish in the time of the current five-year STIP as federal and state funding levels increase.
Tier two is worth $2 billion and includes project needs beyond the current STIP timeframe with broader estimates.
Tier three includes $2.2 billion of project needs also beyond the current STIP timeframe with broader estimates.

MoDOT staff also worked with its planning partners to identify $1 billion in multimodal needs. There is also an additional nearly $4 billion in identified statewide unfunded needs, primarily focused on improving Interstate 70.

“Even with additional revenue, transportation needs greatly outweigh funding available, and we are working through the challenges of increasing project costs due to higher inflation,” said Director McKenna. “Across every region of the state, feedback from Missourians has consistently prioritized maintaining the existing system as the highest priority. Other priorities include projects that improve safety, spur economic growth and provide more transportation choices. We appreciate Missourians' input in this new draft as we work to prioritize projects that provide the greatest value to taxpayers.”

The draft document and comment forms will be available here through Dec. 21.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Healthy holiday eating tips

During the holidays, there are so many tempting foods in so many locations, it seems almost impossible to maintain healthy eating habits. Use these tips to guide you.

Go skinless. When dining on turkey, choose a four-ounce portion (about the size of a deck of cards) without the skin. This helps cut out some fat and cholesterol.
Eat slowly. Plan what to have for a holiday dinner before sitting down. At the table, eat slowly and resist any temptation for a second helping.
Don't eat what you don't like. If you don't like cranberries or Aunt Ethel’s famous holiday casserole, don't put it on your plate. Consuming those calories out of obligation unnecessarily increases your total intake.
Eat before the party. Don't go to a party hungry. When people skip breakfast or lunch in order to fill up at a party, they tend to eat faster. This leads to overeating. Make sure to have a healthy meal before party time.
Pay attention to portions. It is possible to treat yourself, but choose smaller portions. Taste items instead of filling up on them.
Eat mindfully. Take the time to taste the food and listen to your body when you've had enough. After eating for a while, food loses some of its taste appeal. If you aren't aware of how good something tastes, you have probably gone beyond having enough.
Limit high fat. Avoid fried foods, cheese-covered or filled vegetable dishes, processed meats, cream-based soups, pies and baked goods. Drink a low-fat substitute instead of traditional eggnog.
Remember there are calories in drinks. Limit the intake of alcohol, especially beer, cider and cream drinks. Fill up on water or have drinks with water or diet mixers.
Know your triggers. If it's not possible to have just one piece of something without eating all of it, don't start sampling.

Southeast District holds annual bridge competition

After weeks of work to build the most efficient model bridges, Southeast Missouri high school students put their bridges to the test on Nov. 17 at the completion of the Southeast District’s 19th Annual Bridge Building Competition. The competition challenges high school juniors and seniors to design and construct the most efficient model bridge using limited materials – balsa wood, thread and glue.

Oak Ridge, Chaffee and Ste. Genevieve High Schools received first, second and third place for best overall performance, respectively. These schools received cash prizes donated by the Southeast Chapter Transportation Employee Association of Missouri.

In addition, students were recognized for building the lightest bridges that carried the greatest loads. Winners included:

1st – Ayné Held – Chaffee
2nd – Kendall Marshall – Oak Ridge
3rd – Karson Ward – Oak Ridge
4th – Tanner Slinkard – Oak Ridge
5th – Brock Hobeck – Oak Ridge

Chaffee High School student Ayné Held won first place in the individual competition. Held’s bridge also won the award for most aesthetic bridge.

Other awards included the most aesthetic bridge presented to Ayné Held of Chaffee High School and the computer-based electronic bridge award presented to Noland Beussink of Leopold High School.

The competition is a fun, interactive way for students to learn more about engineering. For students interested in pursuing a degree in engineering, it is also a great opportunity to learn more about available scholarships. Additional information can be found here.

SHOW-ME MODOT

Mike Montgomery

Kansas City District Human Resources Manager

Montgomery is an active-duty service member in the Army with a combined 19-year military career in the Air Force and Army.

What is a “day in the life” of a human resources manager?

I review matters that may have developed overnight, tackle administrative needs and prepare any items that others may need before they arrive. During the day, there are walk-ins, phone calls, meetings and new tasks to add to the balance of the workday.

How long have you been doing this job?

Since May 2022, but I began my human resources career in 1999.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

That leadership supports getting out from behind the desk and into the field. The best way to know our people is to go to their places of work. I smiled from ear to ear on a visit when a maintenance supervisor asked me, “Do you want to go for a ride in this vehicle?”

What has been the highlight of your career so far at MoDOT?

Kansas City District did a super event honoring our veterans at the Liberty Memorial. I got to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 18 of my brothers and sisters. That was pretty sweet!

What do you like to do outside of work?

I still have military duties to tackle, so there's not a lot of free time. I typically do a lot of long-distance running as a hobby. After I retire from the Army next year, I’ll probably take up a new hobby instead…short-distance running.

What’s something unique you bring to your position?

I have a healthy respect for problems, but I’m not scared of any of them. There’s no environment too tough, no shift too long and no teammate too isolated from the support and solutions I can provide.