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Internal Review to give annual report to board

Internal Review will present its annual report to the Idaho Transportation Board when the board meets in Boise at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 18). The report will cover internal and external audits performed in 2008 and the work planned for 2009.

ITD staff reviewed expense reports, P-Card (purchasing card) transactions and out-of-state travel last year. Several recommendations were made to improve the controls and transactions. Some of the other reviews included a follow-up to an earlier information technology security review to determine the status of the security plan and ensure that Connecting Idaho Partners follow appropriate procedures, and to review CIP’s rate for overhead expenses.

In reviews to ensure appropriate federal billings, FHWA found ITD to be in compliance. An FHWA review also was conducted on ITD’s local public agency right of way program, where some needed improvements were identified.

FHWA and ITD staff members also completed several joint reviews. A review concluded that adequate procedures are in place on construction contract administration to ensure compliance with policies and regulations. Recommendations were made to the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council to improve its accounting process.

Other board agenda items

Wellness program annual report
Wellness Council Coordinator Pauline Davis will present an annual report on the program. The Wellness Program offers resources and information that promotes healthy lifestyle habits. Volunteer coordinators promote preventive care and make health resources – such as monitoring equipment for blood pressure and weight, convenient on-site clinics and low-cost community health clinics with blood testing and cancer screening services – available to employees.

In 2008, 725 employees exercised at least 30 hours to reach the annual 10-week spring exercise challenge goal. That represents an increase of 50 over those who completed the challenge in 2007. Other accomplishments during the year included:

District 1 held a screening clinic and on-site health fair with testing for vision, hearing, blood pressure, glaucoma and diabetes;
District 2 employees participated in local community run/walk events and made regular use of walking paths along the river;
To lower stress levels, District 3 offered occasional activities like craft projects at lunchtime or comedies to watch during the lunch break;
An on-site mammography clinic and bone density testing was provided in District 4;
District 5 won the districts’ best team participation award for the Great Wall exercise challenge with 52 percent of its staff finishing – a record percentage for any district. This was the sixth time District 5 captured the traveling trophy; and
Three weight scales and a new blood pressure monitor were added in District 6, where fruit baskets often are provided as a healthy snack alternative.

Materials project development/pavement design efficiency team
The Materials Pavement Design/Project Development Team was created in 2008 to examine the pavement design and project development processes. The intent was to encourage each solution to be “engineered” through simple economical solutions.

The team came up with many solutions to either enhance procedures with practical design alternatives, simplify specifications, or charge other ongoing teams to correct deficiencies and assign research to difficult design tasks to ensure the most economical and practical “engineering” methods are available to the Districts.

The final report will be presented to the board.