92nd Annual Conference in Madison this week: More than 75 people are registered to attend the MEUW Annual Conference taking place in downtown Madison on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The event kicks off with an Open House at the host utility, Waunakee Utilities. Registration check-in will be available beginning at 12 noon on Wednesday, May 11, at the Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club. The program begins at 1:15 p.m. and includes a presentation by Public Service Commissioner Ellen Nowak. On Thursday, MEUW will present individual honors and the annual Safety Achievement Awards, followed by visits with state legislators at the Capitol building. The MEUW Annual Meeting will be held Friday morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. Questions about the Annual Conference should be directed to MEUW Member Services Specialist Mallory Conradt at (608) 469-6009.
2022 Wage & Benefits Survey complete: Each year, MEUW collects and shares data about the wages and benefits available at MEUW member utilities. Based on member requests, the timing of the annual Wage & Benefits Survey changed this year, allowing municipalities earlier access to use the information so it can be used in the budgeting process.
The results of the 2022 Wage & Benefits Survey were distributed on May 2. Only the utilities that provided information for the survey received a copy of the results, which were sent to the email address of the person who submitted the data. A total of 64 utilities responded. This total — representing 80% of the MEUW membership — compares to 67 in both 2021 and 2020.
Recognizing the sensitivity of these data and out of respect for those that participate, MEUW does not provide the results directly to others. This practice makes it easier for us to control how the data is used and by whom. Anyone from your community/utility who contact MEUW to request the results will be instructed to talk with the individual who completed the survey.
Next Management Training session set for June 1: Managing personnel matter is the topic of the next sesion in MEUW’s long-standing Management Training Program. The one-day training class will be led by Attorney Steve Zach of Boardman & Clark law firm in Madison. Among the topics to be covered are hiring and selection, discipline and discrimination and harassment. The training (Session E in the series) is set for Wednesday, June 1, at the Glacier Canyon Lodge in Wisconsin Dells. Complete details about the subject matter and a biography of the instructor are available on MEUW.org.
First Aid/CPR+AED/Bloodborne Pathogen training to be offered in June: MEUW is holding a half-day training class to allow individuals to complete adult First Aid/CPR+AED/Bloodborne Pathogen certification. The training is targeted to municipalities who do not participate in MEUW’s Regional Safety Program, and satisfies a requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that an employer ensure prompt first aid treatment for injured employees. The class will be taught at MEUW’s office in Sun Prairie on Wednesday, June 8. Full details are available here.
Locating Workshop coming to Lake Mills on June 28: MEUW is holding a one-day hands-on training class regarding underground facility locating this summer. Participants will learn about locating theory, proper use of the transmitter and receiver, and have the opportunity to practice locating. The workshop is being held on Tuesday, June 28, at Lake Mills City Hall. Full details and registration information is available here.
MEUW Weekly will be on different schedule this summer: We will not distribute an e-newsletter every week during the summer. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, MEUW Weekly will be sent only once per month (on the third Tuesdays of June, July, and August). Meanwhile, MEUW’s monthly newsletter, Live Lines, will continue to be published on the first Tuesday of every month through the summer. As always, we welcome your feedback about the news you receive from MEUW. Please use the Comment section below to “leave a reply” and share your thoughts.