Legislators pass governor's supplemental budget bill Includes 8.7% cost of living increase for state employees
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A message from Director McKenna:
Friday's email from Gov. Parson regarding the cost-of-living increase is wonderful and welcome news. The passage of the governor’s supplemental budget bill includes an 8.7% cost of living increase for state team members. This is the second year in a row the governor has led the effort to address the needs of state employees. Please keep in mind that the General Assembly responded to the governor’s budget request, and without legislative approval this would not have been possible. It is truly a reflection and recognition of the vital nature of the work you do for Missouri each day!
We will work with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at its March meeting to recommend and request a budget amendment to enable this increase at MoDOT. This is a great step forward as we continue to work with the Commission to address the market needs for the specific skills and education required of maintenance work to design and construction, civil engineering to administrative professionals.
Upon approval, it will take effect with your March 1 – 15 pay period, and you will see the increase in your March 31 paycheck.
Thank you for all you do for MoDOT and for the citizens of Missouri.
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Required EODD training now available | |
Based on feedback, the Human Resources Employee Development team worked with Equal Opportunity & Diversity as well as Safety & Emergency Management and the Chief Counsel's Office to create a new Equal Opportunity & Diversity training that is tailored specifically to MoDOT and its policies.
This new training will cover all forms of harassment, diversity and inclusion, and psychological safety. It will also include 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 on March 1. Employees should have received an email with enrollment and deadline details. Employees will also receive a reminder email if the training has not been completed within a few days of the March 31 deadline.
Any employees that view the 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 one of your local MoDOT U administrators or HRED team members.
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ENGAGE 2.0 evaluation period now open | |
All employees should have recently received an email from ENGAGE 2.0 with a link to evaluation and/or upward feedback forms. Please complete your evaluation(s) and/or upward feedback by March 31. Remember, upward feedback is optional and anonymous.
If during the evaluation process a supervisor is assigned an incorrect direct report, please email HRED@modot.mo.gov. If there is an issue with the upward feedback form such as errors or technical issues, please email OA at engage@oa.mo.gov or call the Talent Management Help Desk at 573-526-4500 to resolve.
Supervisors - the ENGAGE 2.0 Resources page now has a link that will take you to the ENGAGE 2.0 evaluation login.
After the evaluation period, all supervisors should receive an email with a link to their evaluation and their upward feedback dashboards for review on April 8. Only the supervisor can review their upward feedback forms.
Supervisors should be sharing the evaluation information with their staff at least twice a year - in April and October. Supervisors should also be having ongoing performance development conversations with employees as frequently as needed, but monthly at a minimum.
Questions? Contact HRED@modot.mo.gov.
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Southwest district engineer announced | |
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Stacy Reese has been named the district engineer for the Southwest District. She will take over the leadership of the southwest region from Steve Campbell, who retired at the end of 2022.
As a lifelong resident of the area, Reese has spent her 25-year career with MoDOT in the Southwest District. After graduating from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, she has worked in various roles designing highways and was part of the team who developed the design for the nation’s first diverging diamond interchange built in 2009 along Interstate 44 in Springfield. Most recently, Reese has served the last three years as the assistant district engineer, overseeing all program delivery for road and bridge projects in the district. She is a registered professional engineer in Missouri.
Congratulations, Stacy!
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Congressman joins statewide planning discussion | |
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The Statewide Planning Partner Meeting was held Feb. 23 at the Governor’s Office Building in Jefferson City. This annual meeting brings MoDOT and Missouri’s metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning commissions together to collaborate on best practices and information as we work together through the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program cycle.
This year, Congressman Sam Graves spoke to attendees about the important work happening in Missouri and the outlook for national infrastructure investments and focus areas. Congressman Graves represents Missouri’s sixth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives and currently serves as the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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Congressman Sam Graves (left) speaks at the 2023 Statewide Planning Partner Meeting, along with MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. Click here to view additional photos of the event. | |
Focusing on coaching and mentoring | |
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This month, the Human Resources Employee Development team is promoting courses on coaching and mentoring.
Coaching and mentoring employees is vital to an organization to allow supervisors and experienced workers to help provide key work information and techniques to newer workers. It also allows the department to produce well-rounded employees while building foundational steps for future leaders.
Here are a few of the courses now available:
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Colorectal cancer screenings save lives | |
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Making time for regular colorectal cancer screenings is an important part of protecting your health and peace of mind – colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer among adults,1 but it often doesn’t show any symptoms, especially at first.
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is when growths in the colon or rectum called polyps turn into cancer. Polyps don’t always turn into cancer, and if they do, it often takes many years. That’s why regular screenings are so effective — they can detect polyps when they’re still harmless and easy for a doctor to remove. The survival rate for colorectal cancer is about 90% when it’s caught early.2
How can I reduce my risk for colorectal cancer?
Some factors that increase the risk of colorectal cancer are out of your control, like age, race, a family history of colorectal cancer or having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer and protect your whole health at the same time:
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Quit or avoid smoking.
- Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.
When do I need colorectal cancer screenings?
Most adults should have regular colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 45.3 Talk to your doctor about when you should be tested since they might recommend testing sooner and more often if you are at a higher risk.
What should I know about colorectal cancer screenings?
There are several ways to test for colorectal cancer, but they mainly fall under these two categories:
- Colonoscopies – the most common and thorough way to screen for colorectal cancer. During the procedure, your doctor will check for and remove any polyps. It takes less than an hour, and you’ll receive a sedative to help you go to sleep.
- Home testing kits – an easier alternative to colonoscopies. You mail a sample to a lab, where they look for signs of cancer. If the lab finds anything abnormal, they may recommend a colonoscopy.
References:
- American Cancer Society: Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer (accessed July 2022): cancer.org.
- American Cancer Society: Can Colorectal Polyps and Cancer be Found Early? (accessed July 2022): cancer.org.
- American Cancer Society: American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening (accessed July 2022): cancer.org.
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Kansas City promotes safe driving for Chiefs event | | |
The Kansas City Chiefs celebratory parade in Kansas City. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Star. | Several vehicles parked on I-35 in Kansas City during the Chiefs parade. | |
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The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, which meant a celebratory parade took place on Feb. 15. MoDOT's Kansas City District anticipated large crowds in the downtown area of the city prior to the big event. They made sure to communicate to the public how to safely navigate the gathering. A post was shared on Facebook that stated, “Be safe, be courteous to others and do NOT park on the interstates, highways or in the medians.”
Kansas City residents had a lot of thoughts on this topic, as evident by the engagement the posts received - one had over 50,000 interactions and reached over 600,000 people. Unfortunately, vehicles were parked alongside the interstate at the time of the big parade, but local law enforcement helped to assist with the situation.
The Kansas City District will have many more exciting events in the future such as the Big 12 Championship in March, the NFL draft in April and the World Cup in 2026.
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Grant funding awarded for student events | |
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The Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety is awarding grant funding for project prom and graduation events at 33 schools across the district. Schools were recently awarded $200 for student lock-in events. Funding assists with event expenses such as location rental, food or entertainment.
To be eligible, schools must include a presentation or activity educating students on highway safety issues during their lock-in or the week of the event. With traffic fatalities on the rise, safety education is critical to reducing serious injuries and deaths on Missouri’s roadways. Schools are choosing to educate students in a variety of ways including presentations and programs by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Safe and Sober, ThinkFirst and docudramas.
“Traffic crashes have a lasting effect on each of us," says Sgt. Clark Parrott, Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E public information officer. "Through education programs like Project Prom/Graduation, BUPD or Arrive Alive, hopefully we can change the causes or impact of these crashes.”
To view the complete list of grant winners, click here.
Schools will also receive roadway safety educational items to share with students.
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Keith Killen
Northeast District Transportation Project Manager
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Coordinating future roadway and bridge improvement projects is routine business for Northeast District Transportation Project Manager Keith Killen.
His career at MoDOT began nearly 30 years ago as a design technician. Shortly after, he chose to continue his education to pursue a degree in civil engineering. He states, “That experience taught me that an engineering degree can be a real option for anyone who wants it.”
Whether getting a “big picture” perspective from Central Office or discussing a specific concern from local maintenance supervisors, Killen states, “In the end it’s about finding the right solution for each project.” Living on a farm in rural Missouri provides Killen common ground when discussing projects with community members and understanding the need to accommodate today’s large farm equipment.
What Killen enjoys most about his position at MoDOT is seeing a completed project, knowing he played a role in identifying the need and working with an amazing group of people on the Northeast Project Delivery Team to deliver a great solution. “I get excited when driving through a project and knowing I had a part in bringing it to reality,” stated Killen.
Reflecting upon one of many highlights in his career, Killen said “I feel fortunate to have been selected to lead the Champ Clark Bridge replacement over the Mississippi River and having the experience of leading a project of this scale.” During the scope of the project, he remembers, “It forced me to collaborate with various organizations, key stakeholders and many departments within and outside of MoDOT, which allowed me to become a better project manager.” In addition, this project provided the opportunity to share his knowledge and experiences with area students while leading multiple STEM camps, fostering educational opportunities and showcasing various careers in construction and engineering.
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March service anniversaries | |
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30 Years
Travis Mace SW
25 Years
Robert Willis NW
20 Years
Blake Nauman NW
Ronald Anderson II NW
Karen Miller CO
Christina Wilkerson CO
Robert Thomason SE
William Stranghoner SW
15 Years
Timothy Schroeder NE
Charles Toler SW
William Lewis SL
Richard Morgan SW
Janemargaret Akwaowo CO
Patrick Whitehead SL
Elizabeth Oliver CO
Amity Jeffries CO
Christopher Divine KC
Alan Heathman SL
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10 Years
Mitch Wyant NW
Bryan Roth SW
Dustin Cutler SW
John Reed SW
Joshua Conard SW
Robert O'Banion, Jr. SW
Ryan Heryford SW
Zane Durnell SW
Jared Martin CO
Adam Kraus CO
Arein Baney SE
David McClure SE
Gregory Gower SE
Terry Humphrey, Jr. SE
Sonja Chaffin SW
Adam Williams SL
Clint Harris III SL
David Osborne SL
Dennis McAntire SL
Michael Harris SL
Ronald Turner, Jr. SL
Tony Lee SL
Terry Hardy NE
Benjamin McCabe KC
Edward Larson, Jr. CD
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5 Years
Joseph Haller CD
John Dunlap, Jr. SL
Andrew Mathes NE
Jason Bradshaw NE
Joshua Miller NE
Scott Davison NE
Zachary Anderson NE
Richard Paxton KC
William Weaver KC
Jason Painter CD
Roger Penny CD
Daniel Zydiak SL
Rodney Smith SL
Cody Mountain SW
Lonnie White, Jr. SW
Ross Williams NW
Jacob Shanklin CO
Christopher Goodwin KC
Kelly Alvarez KC
Michael Cervantes SE
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The following active employee passed away:
Mark. R. Brundige
KC – Feb. 1
The following retirees passed away:
Lenard A. Dedrick
CO – Feb. 26
Eddie R. Gilmore
CO – Feb. 5
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Kenneth L. Zuver
CO – Feb. 15
Robert E. Bowen
NW – Feb. 4
Harry E. Vanzant
NE – Feb. 10
Robert G. Barnes
SW – Feb. 26
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Billy D. Hayter
SW – Feb. 4
Kenneth R. Shallenburger
SW – Feb. 1
C.C. Dunlap
SE – Jan. 23
Weldon D. Hinkle
SE – Feb. 5
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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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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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