6/7/2013

Education outreach
Idaho students to see science in action Wednesday
Eager volunteers, interesting exhibits and a plethora of hands-on activities await more than 100 students from Canyon County’s 2C Science Camp and Idaho State University’s summer camp next week at Headquarters.
Continue

Highways
Recent avalanche season was one for the records
Despite 230 inches of snow and 45 individual avalanche/debris slides, a 12-mile segment of Idaho 21 was closed a record-low of just 8.5 days during the 2012-13 avalanche season. Historically, “Avalanche Alley” is closed more often and for longer periods because of threats to the highway from steep slopes nearby.
Continue

Highways
ITD responds to Idaho 52 rockslides
A pair of rockslides on Idaho 52 between Emmett and Horseshoe Bend last weekend forced closure of the highway. The route remains restricted in the area of the slide while crews try to determine the cause and whether an irrigation canal 90 feet above the highway might have been a contributing factor.
Continue

Highways
Sinkhole on Eagle Road south of State closes right lane
Potholes sometimes are more than skin deep, and there's more to them than appears on the surface. Crews responded to reports of a pothole on Eagle Road in Boise Wednesday afternoon. Upon inspection, however, ITD’s District 3 maintenance crew declared the depression to be a sinkhole that needed immediate repair.
Continue

Brown-bag lunch
Little horses steal hearts, show at diversity lunch presentation
ITD employees, including some who brought their children, barely got through the auditorium door before a pair of miniature horses named Levi and Sophie stole hearts at Wednesday’s diversity brown-bag lunch presentation.
Continue

Aviation
Fly-in draws fans of Super Cubs and camping
The skies above Idaho’s premier backcountry airstrip at Johnson Creek will be buzzing June 13-16 when Super Cub enthusiasts from across the country gather for the annual “Fly-in.” Up to 150 people and 100 aircraft are expected to participate in a total-immersion experience of mountain-airstrip flying opportunities, camping, fishing and airplane admiration
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
County official learns from peer exchange at ITD
ITD recently opened the doors to Internal Review and welcomed delegates from several states for a peer exchange. Dawn Burns, an internal auditor from Ada County, was among the guests, and she was impressed by what she saw, according to a letter from Phil McGrane, chief deputy for the Ada County Clerk of the District Court.
Continue

Preparedness
Checklist offered to determine level of preparedness
This year, the National Safety Council (NSC) is promoting emergency preparedness as part of a larger message. Employees who are prepared both at home and at work can more safely deal with a disaster, help the business recover from an event and be of assistance to the community after it occurs.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (5-31-13): ITD employees receive life-saving commendations
Two ITD Port of Entry employees were among those honored for their heroic efforts and service to travelers. Julie Roseborough and Renae Eddings from the Cottrell Port of Entry were the first to respond to a driver who appeared to be having a heart attack last summer.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (5-31-13): Peryer, Couch, Paye named top winter mobility performers
A pair of District 3 employees (Richard Peryer and Ken Couch) and one from District 5 (Shane Paye) were recognized recently for winter driving safety and mobility, based on the department’s innovative Winter Performance Measures (WPM).
Continue

Environment
Encore (5-31-13): Goat 'mowers' remove unwanted vegetation
It was a prickly situation. Weeds had to be removed, but using herbicides too near a water supply can be a dicey proposition because of federal regulations. Mowing weeds reduces them vertically, but they remain until collected, lying horizontally on the ground. And the weeds were a food source for wildfires.
Continue

Value engineering
Encore (5-31-13): ITD process garners prestigious AASHTO award
ITD will receive the 2013 Value Engineering Award this summer from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The award will be presented for Pre-Construction Engineering on the Interstate 84 Snake River Twin Bridges.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (5-31-13): Doane receives community service award
Michelle Doane, principal auditor at ITD, recently received the Association of Government Accountants Community Service (AGA) chapter award for her initiative, leadership and organizational skills – both personal and professional.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (5-31-13): FHWA division praises relationship with Internal Review
A weeklong working trip to Washington, D.C., gave officials from the Idaho Division of the Federal Highway Administration new appreciation for the service they receive back home. "After spending a week in D.C. with my other FHWA division coworkers, I realized how good Frank (Tooke) and I have it to be working with you and your team,” Randy Rhuman wrote in an email this week.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (5-31-13): ITD service ensures successful bon voyage
Having a great time on a cruise to exotic ports of call depends on a lot of details beyond booking and paying for the trip. Just ask Eric. His bon voyage almost didn’t happen – indeed, probably wouldn’t have – if it hadn’t been for the commitment to outstanding customer service by Idaho’s land-locked Division of Motor Vehicles.
Continue