KC Scout Shout!

  On December 13   KC Scout shared three separate Innovations Challenge Entries at the local showcase, including one from ER operators Hector Ortiz, Michael Maynard and Gregory Morgan in the equipment category. Their innovation was named “ C-3PO ” which is an acronym for “ C onfigurable C argo C ontrol & P rojection O ptimizer” a low-cost, easily installed cargo containment system for securing loose items in a truck bed. It has universal safety implications for every vehicle in MoDOT’s fleet.                                                                                    Figure 1  ER's C-3PO Scout also presented two productivity entries, each with “leveraging information sharing” for improved understanding of Scout functions. respectively named LOTUS ( L everaging O utreach T raining U sing S mall G roups) and EVOLVE ( E mbedded V ideo O ption L everaging V ital E ducation). LOTUS showed the effectiveness of small group, short duration training sessions, while EVOLVE was

  During the winter season, it is important to always be prepared when traveling. Emergency Response Supervisor Scott Banes and Incident Management Coordinator Marcus Slaughter learned about the emergency blanket from  TMC Shift Supervisor Logan Hendrickson.  They saw the importance of having emergency blankets within MoDOT’s emergency response trucks. This is to ensure comfort and safety of customers during extreme winter weather conditions.  The emergency blanket   creates a warm safety blanket to prevent life-threatening heat loss . The reflective insulation layer reflects 90 percent of your body's radiant heat to form warm air. All you must do is wrap the blanket around your torso to reduce the risk of hypothermia. “When out on the road you never know what type of situation you will come across. It’s important to be able to offer warmth to those in need during the winter months,” stated Slaughter.

Dedication, appreciation, excitement, and contentment are a few terms that come to mind when thinking about Emergency Response Supervisor Gregory Morgan’s time at MoDOT. Morgan lives to serve others and knows he has a purpose helping those in need. Morgan started his career in fall 1978 as a maintenance crew leader. He found himself working maintenance and helping the striping team. In winter January 2007 Morgan was promoted to maintenance crew leader. In early 2011 he was promoted to maintenance supervisor and emergency response supervisor later in the year. Morgan found himself in various roles throughout his career, but one thing is for certain and that is his love for his colleagues and the community he serves. Morgan is the type who goes with the flow and tries his best no matter the outcome. “It’s a good place to work and a nice life balance. My family loves this job and it’s not a one-man team but a group of supporters,” stated Morgan. Morgan does not have a timeline for his ret

Kennith   Robinson  Emergency   Response (Army,   21.5   years) Don   Gentry,   KC Scout Senior  Info   Systems Technologist  (Air  Force,   6   years) Micheal Flory ,   KC Scout KDOT ITS Liaison  (Army Reserves ,  14 years)

Prevention and safety are two things Intermediate Maintenance Workers York Morlan and Chris Butler strive to learn more about and follow every day. Morlan and Butler serve Scout as utility locators where their primary role is finding and painting underground utilities and powerlines. Locators are essential to KC Scout operations as their services prevent damages and help prevent interruptions to Scout communications devices. Growing their knowledge in this field is essential.  On Dec. 6-7 they attended a conference in Springfield, MO, at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds called “2023 Damage Prevention and Excavation Safety Summit.” The conference included various sessions like “The importance of job task and hazard analysis” and “Locating the RIGHT way.”  The summit was an opportunity to keep the conversation going and think outside of the box with like-minded individuals. “I really enjoyed my time at the summit and learning about different viewpoints within the industry,” stated Morlan. 

Being a part of a team working to ensure work zone speed limits are being reviewed is well overdue according to KC Scout Senior Traffic Studies Specialist Doneisha Wigfall. Being nominated by MoDOT’s State Maintenance Director Natalie Roark with the support of KC District Engineer, Chris Redline to attend a work zone speed limit panel is an adventure Wigfall recently embarked upon.  The event was held the week of Dec. 6 th by the National Academies and Transportation Research Board (TRB) at the Keck Center in Washington DC. This event is ongoing and provides an opportunity to review current work zone speed limits which have not been reviewed in approximately 30 years.   “Due to the advancing technologies along with the difficulties that each work zone presents, this review is definitely needed,” stated Wigfall. The biggest take away for Wigfall was the fact review/research may show that the current thresholds in place won't need adjustments.  It is great to know this topic is bei

First responders all play a different role when it comes to incident management, and it is important to be on the same page and have the proper conversations and trainings. First responders such as fire, EMS, law enforcement, and DOTs meet throughout the year to discuss important safety topics relating to traffic incident management.  The last meeting was on Wednesday, November 15 at KDOT’s District 1 Office located in Olathe, KS. The day included discussing practices and lessons learned as well as things going on such as upcoming events and trainings. “Anytime teamwork and collaboration can take place it is a good day,” stated KC Scout Incident Management Coordinator, Marcus Slaughter. More information about “TIM” can be found here .