KDOT’s Area Three office in theKansas City area officially now has a newhome. An Open House on September 15 atthe new facility, located at 650 N. K-7highway in Bonner Springs, marked theoccasion.

KDOT employees from Headquarters,employees from other District One officesas well as local employees and family mem-bers were on hand to celebrate. Membersof the Kansas Highway Patrol and localexternal customers also attended.

u EMPLOYEE FORUMS SET FOR NOVEMBER ACROSS STATE

u PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT KEEPS GROWING, CHANGING

u KQM TEAM CREATES A NEW HELPING HAND

u SAFTEY AWARDS ANNOUNCED AT OPERATIONS MEETING

u CHECK OUT KDOT’S FIRST PROJECT SPECIFIC WEB SITE

INSIDE ...

By Stan WhitleyThe combination of food and fun provided the

impetus to help KDOT Headquarters area employ-ees increase contributions to the United Way duringthe 2000 fund-raising drive.

“We had an excellent drive, increasing our fi-nancial support to this worthy cause by 12.5 percent,”said KDOT campaign chairman Al Cathcart. “Thevolunteers that participated on our United Way teamare to be commended for helping organize the drive and involvingmany employees in fun special events.”

Cathcart said total funds collected during the two-week drivewere $28,328.83. Pledges saw an increase of 7.5 percent, but the

Special eventshelp boost UnitedWay donations

big gainer was in special events contributions. Cathcart said$3,685.53 was raised in special events, which was a 63 percent

The new Area Three office in Bonner Springs has more conference rooms, workbays, and storage for employees. Continued on page 10

Area Three employees settle into new Bonner Springs home

Lots of KDOT employees bought tickets to the steak dinner where DivisionDirectors and Bureau Chiefs served food to help raise money for the UnitedWay.

Continued on page 4

PAGE 2

FromWhereI Sitby E. Dean Carlson

NOTE: This information is available in alternative accessibleformats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOTOffice of Transportation Information, Docking State OfficeBuilding, Room 754, Topeka, Kan., 66612-1568, or phone(785) 296-3585 (Voice)/(TTY).

Office of Transportation InformationDocking State Office Building, 754-S915 Harrison, Topeka, Ks 66612-1568

Governor: Bill GravesSecretary of Transportation: E. Dean CarlsonDirector of Public Affairs: Nancy BoginaChief of Transportation Information: Marty MatthewsEditors: Stan Whitley and Kim Stich

KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Phone/TTY: (785) 296-3585 FAX: (785) 296-0287

KANSAS

Calendar of Events

November 10 – State employees off for Veteran’sDay holiday.

November 14 - 11 a.m. KDOT Employees’ Coun-cil Meeting, Seventh Floor Conference Room, Docking StateOffice Building.

November 15 - 2 p.m. Construction Bid Letting atthe Airport Hilton in Wichita.

November 17 – 9 a.m. Highway Advisory Com-mission teleconference meeting.

November 23-24 - State employees off for Thanks-giving Day holiday.

As you’ve hopefully already read in this issue ofTranslines, I will be visiting the Districts next month for around of Employee Forums. I have always enjoyed these eventsbut this year I am looking forward to it more than ever. Thereason is simple: I prefer face-to-face communication when-ever possible. I have spoken with many of you over the phone,or answered letters and emails, but that is not the same thingas being able to look people in the eye and give them a re-

sponse to their question. The forums give me a chance to dothat and I relish the opportunity.

I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity as well.I need to know what’s on your mind, and what the key issuesare that affect your day-to-day life at KDOT. I can guess atsome of the big ones - pay structures and benefits, for ex-ample - but I’m sure there are many more issues that I maynot know about. I can’t take action on an issue unless I knowwhat it is. This is your chance to make sure that I do know. Ilook forward to seeing those of you who are invited at theseforums next month.

————————I’d also like to take a moment to thank all of you in the

Topeka area for your hard work on behalf of the United WayCampaign. Those efforts resulted in a very successful cam-paign that raised a total of $28,328. The special events areresponsible for $3,685 of that, and the other $24,643 comesfrom Pledges. Co-chairs Al Cathcart and Dan Carter did agreat job and will be the first to tell you that they didn’t do italone. It took the time and talents of dozens of KDOT em-ployees, and the willing generosity of hundreds of others.You should all be proud of your accomplishment. It showsonce again that KDOT does care about the community.

Forums offer chance tomeet employees

PAGE 3

Updated traffic information,overall project details and nu-merous ways for students tolearn about bridge constructionand engineering are just someof the features of KDOT’s firstproject-specific projectinvolving the new Westgatebridge on US-75 in Topeka.

The new web site wasunveiled to the public onSeptember 13. The address ishttp://Westgate.ksdot.org.

The web site is dividedinto two main sections - one with information gearedprimarily for people who drive on US-75 and one forstudents to learn more about bridge construction in general.

“Our web site will provide detailed information on theWestgate project about its progress and how it’s affectingtraffic as well as offer students a unique learning tool,”said Public Information Officer Marty Matthews. “Theconstruction is vital to maintain safety for the travelingpublic and the web site will help illustrate this point.”

The first section contains pages on:

uConstruction HighlightsuWhy Tear it Down?uSafety TipsuMapThe second section includes pages on:uTerm DefinitionsuHistoryuStats, Facts and MoreuLife of a ProjectuSafety and MaintenanceuKDOT TeamuLinks for more InformationuTeacher InformationuMap There’s also a special notice on the first page of the

web site giving people the latest information on recent orupcoming changes to traffic.

Removal of the existing Westgate bridge and construc-tion of the new structure will reduce US-75 traffic to onelane in each direction north of I-70 beginning in late Novem-ber. The work is scheduled to be finished in November2001.

New web site gives details on Westgate project

Westy, the Westgateweb site mascot

UDOSto KDOT employeesK

David Church and CherylLambrecht, Senior TrafficEngineers in Traffic Engineering,received certificates of appreciationfrom Santa Fe Trail High School onSeptember 25 for a project toimprove safety on US-56 at the highschool’s entrance.

40 years of service

Leroy Jackson, Highway Maintenance Superintendent atWamego, was honored by Governor Bill Graves recently dur-ing a 40-year service award ceremony at the State Capitol.

PAGE 4

increase over the previous year.“Special events provided the opportu-

nity for everyone to be involved from buy-ing a cookie at one of the bake sales to par-ticipating in the barbecue steak luncheon,”said Cathcart.

The steak luncheon was the final spe-cial event held and generated strong sup-port from employees with 160 attendeeshelping raise $1,318.25.

Funds collected from the Greater To-peka United Way drive will help support32 programs in a seven county area. Dona-tions to meet pressing health and humanservice needs will be distributed inShawnee, Jackson, Osage, Pottawatomie,Wabaunsee, Jefferson and Douglas coun-

ties.The following is a breakdown of funds

collected from the drive:Pledges $24,643.30BBQ steak luncheon $1,318.25DSOB potato bar $708.23DSOB chili dogs $449.20Cake decorating contest $302.49Thacher chili dogs $250.26Thacher bake sale $231.45Ice cream wagon $217.00DSOB bake sale $207.55Thacher candy bars $11.00The winner of the day off was David

Schwartz in Transportation Planning and thewinner of Scarecrow tickets was DianeFlanders in Computer Services. These twowinners were drawn from the names of in-dividuals donating $26 or more to the UnitedWay drive.

Continued from page 1United Way

Engineering and Design DirectorDavid Comstock gets into the spirit atthe steak dinner.

Above, lots of cakes were entered in the contest and atright, the grill is full of steaks for the luncheon.

At left, the ice cream wagon visited Docking and above, lotsof goodies were available at the bake sale.

PAGE 5

By Christy CainAs you may have already heard, things are

changing in the Public Involvement section.Carolyn Jordan has recently joined the ranks as aPublic Involvement Liaison for Headquarters.Carolyn will assist the Bureau of Design with theproject-specific public involvement efforts. She hasan extensive background in meeting facilitation andtraining, which will be very beneficial in thiscapacity.

In another development, I will be leaving myposition as Public InvolvementAdministrator (PIA) in mid-November. I’m getting marriedand will be moving out of statewith my future husband. RonKaufman, who is currently aPublic Involvement Liaison forHeadquarters, will take over thePIA duties.

I have thoroughly enjoyedserving the agency over the last year anda half. The support, open-mindedness, and “can-do” attitude that have been displayed over and overagain are appreciated more than you’ll ever know.With your help, I’ve watched KDOT’s publicinvolvement program grow from its infancy.

We’ve enjoyed a lot of successes! PublicInvolvement Liaisons have been hired for eachdistrict, and they’ve initiated a number ofgrassroots public involvement efforts. PublicInvolvement training has been provided to nearlyall KDOT employees. Project-specific publicinvolvement has also taken flight with more andmore projects taking shape with public involvementat the core. And the customer service toll-free line,the KDOT Connection, has been implemented.

And these are just the highlights! It would takemany pages to list all of the agency’s accomplish-ments.

The infancy of the program was veryproductive. A solid foundation has been laid. Nowthe agency is at a crossroads of sorts and it’s time totake the program a step further. We are on thethreshold of the toddler stage, a time of greatmaturation and development.

Just as growing pains can be uncomfortable, somight this phase of development. KDOT needs to

push the comfort levels and

begin criticallyexamining howpublic involvement processes can be more whollyintegrated into all aspects of KDOT businesspractices.

I have every confidence in the ability of thepublic involvement staff to continue to lead thecharge. But don’t ever forget your important role.The program will continue to succeed or failbecause of the support that you provide. I plan tokeep in touch, and I’m looking forward to hearingreports about the healthy, vibrant, program that Iknow will continue to grow at KDOT. Thanks forsupporting me in the small role that I played in thePublic Involvement Program development.

Public Involvement grows, changes

DeathsCondolences to the family and friends

of former KDOT employee DonChalmers, who died Sept. 23 in Topeka.

Chalmers, 88, was an Assistant En-gineer of Design for the State HighwayCommission before he retired in 1977.

He is survived by his wife, Leona,,one son, one grandson and one great-grandson.

Memorial contributions may be madeto Heart of America Hospice in Topeka.

PAGE 6

SAFETY AWARD WINNERS

Area Four at Pittsburg won the District Four safety award.Accepting the award from Safety and Health Inspector AllenVinyard are Area Engineer George Dockery, AreaConstruction Engineer Bob Gudgen, and Area MaintenanceSuperintendent Butch Mills.

Area One at Phillipsburg won the District Three safety award.Accepting the award from Safety and Health Inspector AllenVinyard are Area Engineer Harold Schleicher, and AreaSuperintendent Doug Driggs.

The District Headquarters/District Crews at Topeka won theDistrict One safety award. Accepting the award from Safetyand Health Inspector Allen Vinyard are District MaterialsEngineer Jeff Frantzen, District One Engineer Roy Rissky,and District Maintenance Engineer Clay Adams.

The District Headquarters/District Crews at Salina won theDistrict Two safety award. Accepting the award from Safetyand Health Inspector Allen Vinyard are District ShopSuperintendent Mack Villalpando, District MaintenanceEngineer Roger Alexander, District Engineer Don Drickey,and District Superintendent Howard Reece.

The District Headquarters/District Crews at Garden City wonthe District Six safety award. Accepting the award from Safetyand Health Inspector Allen Vinyard are District ShopSuperintendent Victor Michel, District Maintenance EngineerRon Hall, and District Engineer Larry Thompson.

Area Four at Great Bend won the District Five safety award.Accepting the award from Safety and Health Inspector AllenVinyard are Area Maintenance Superintendent John Clayton,Area Construction Engineer Scott Mullen, and Area EngineerBarry McManaman.

PAGE 7

Three years ago, Flint Warda, EquipmentOperator II, from the Ellsworth Subarea took a tripto St. Joseph, Mo., to attend the Tri-State Equipmentshow. Excited by what he saw, he shared hisenthusiasm with his Area Engineer, Randy West.The idea of creating a KQM team to identify areasfor improvement was discussed and led to thecreation of “The People’s Edge,” and the rest, asthey say, is history.

“The People’s Edge” is made up of front lineworkers from across Area Four in District Two. Themembers are; Warda; George Edmondson,Equipment Operator II (Lindsborg); Craig Garrison,

Process worksfor KQM team

Continued on page 8

2000Operations

MeetingKDOT’s annual Operations Meeting in

Great Bend is a good place toexchange ideas whether it’s at the

evening social event or at the differentdisplay areas at the meeting.

The Blade Hand is a device create by “The People’s Edge” KQM team tohelp increase efficiency and safety when attaching blades.

PAGE 8

Step Back in Time

Workers pave newroadway on K-177 eastof Manhattan duringthis constructionphotograph taken inSeptember of 1957.

Equipment Operator II (Lincoln); Steve Hull, EquipmentOperator II (Minneapolis); Don Kempke, Equipment MechanicII (Ellsworth); Barbara Kohls, Office Assistant III (Ellsworth);and Paul Munchler, Equipment Operator III (Salina).

On October 4, three members of the KQM team took the stageat the annual Operations Meeting to present the fruits of their labors:a blade changing device they call the “Blade Hand.” Employeesfrom across the state were introduced to a new piece of equipmentdesigned to increase the level of safety and reduce man-hoursneeded when changing blades on a plow. The presentation outlinedthe history behind the device and detailed the steps necessary toidentify and implement improvements.

The Blade Hand is a compact, lightweight device using ascissors action to lift a tray into which the blade can be loweredand hauled away. By using the Blade Hand properly, operatorsminimize the opportunity for injury to feet, hands, and backs andblades need not be dropped to the floor potentially cutting hoses orchipping floors. New blades can be loaded into the tray at the storagelocation then transported to the plow in the Blade Hand reducingthe requirement of lifting and carrying blades on slick surfacesduring inclement weather.

Once the new blades are raised to the plow and aligned withthe attachment holes, bolts and nuts can be installed with the BladeHand supporting the blades thereby freeing the operator’s handsduring installation. With the Blade Hand, tests indicate that downtime spent waiting for assistance and man-hours needed to changeblades can be significantly reduced.

This testing phase was conducted by presenting a prototype toeach Subarea crew and asking the crew members to use the deviceto change a set of blades. Suggestions about user friendliness and

Continued from page 7Blade Hand

potential limitations of the Blade Hand were used to identifyimprovements made to the second prototype. These changesimproved maneuverability, increased versatility, and reinforced thesafety advantages found when using the Blade Hand.

During the presentation and demonstration at the OperationsMeeting, a great deal of interest was shown. Several KDOTemployees expressed interest in having a Blade Hand to try in theircorners of the state. Some Bureaus were also excited by what theysaw. One Bureau chief has gone so far as to request pictures andproduct information he wants to present at an upcoming conferenceof municipalities.

Whether the Blade Hand is eventually added to the inventorylist and is incorporated into Subarea inventories is yet to be decided,but the “People’s Edge” KQM team is now looking forward tofuture projects. Story/photo by David Greiser, Public InvolvementLiaison

Employees look at the Blade Hand to see how it operates.

PAGE 9

Dear Editor LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Kansas Department ofTransportation:

Thank you so much for themaps to use with our fifth gradestudents. I am sure we will noteven be able to count the times thatthey will be the best reference forour students to use. The KansasState Fair in Hutchinson is awonderful resource for our smallschool with a crunched budget. Ithank you for your timely and kindresponse to my request for themaps!

Respectfully yours,Janice Romeiser, Topeka

Dear Kansas Departmentof Transportation:

I live in Sapulpa, Okla.Sometimes my job takes me toKansas City and the surroundingarea.

Most of the time I go by theway of US-169. You have put ina new rest stop. I don’t know thename of it, but it has a sign thattells about the Bloody Benders. Istop there most of the time justto get out and walk around. It’s agood place. So thanks, KansasDepartment of Transportation.

Jim Hurst,Sapulpa, Okla.

Dear Kansas Department ofTransportation:

My husband and I took a bicycletour from our home in El Paso, Texas,to Des Moines, Iowa, this summerduring June and July. We traveledthrough Kansas twice, on our way toIowa and then on our way back.

We thank Kansas so much forhaving the BEST maps, both thebicycle map and the road map, of allthe states!

Kansas also wins, hands down,as the friendliest state! That is a bigstatement especially since all thepeople in all the states were veryfriendly.

Kansas also had the best roadsand shoulders to travel on bicycle. Itwas a joy to travel through your state.

Charles and Kamala Land,El Paso, Texas

Wes Moore, Assistant District Three Engineer, was one of the speakersat the annual QuadState Maintainers meeting on September 20 inSidney, Neb. Maintainers from Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska,and South Dakota attend to learn new ways to communicate the latestinclement weather conditions during the winter.

PAGE 10

BROWN BAG

Topic: Traffic EngineeringDate: Wednesday, November 1Time: Noon to 1 p.m.Place: Room 481, Docking

All KDOT employees areencouraged to attend.

LUNCH

The facility is located just north andeast of the Bonner Springs/I-70 exit. Manyyears ago the land used to be a Christmastree farm and many trees surround thebuilding today.

“We began planning for the buildingproject almost 12 years ago and purchasedthe property in 1992. The Legislaturehelped make the dream of a new facilitycome true when the budget was approvedin Fiscal Year 1999,” said Mick Halter,Kansas City Metro Engineer. “It’s a greatbenefit to our KDOT employees who inturn can provide even better and fasterservice to the traveling public. We’re verypleased to have such a nice facility.”

The new building has much morespace and features large and smallconference rooms to be used for a varietyof activities such as pre-constructionmeetings with contractors. Themaintenance area has more drive-throughwork bays that allow trailers to pull inwithout unhooking as well as its ownwash bay. In the back storage buildingthere is enough space to store all themaintenance vehicles. The KansasHighway Patrol will also share a part ofthe building with KDOT.

The Metro office is still located at I-35 and Lamar in Kansas City. Paul Gripkais the Field Engineering Administrator atthe new facility and Oscar Hamilton isthe Area Maintenance Superintendent.

Continued from page 1Area Three

Welcome

new KDOT

employees!

HeadquartersDavid Howard, Right of WayAgent I, Right of WayDennis Keegan, Right of WayAgent I, Right of WayMitchell McGee, ApplicationsProgrammer Analyst III, Materialsand ResearchMelanie Murphy, Office AssistantII, Fiscal ServicesAnje Parsons, Secretary I, DesignJoe Williams, Engineering Techni-cian, Traffic Engineering

District OneStephanie Clements, OfficeAssistant II, EmporiaWillard L. Trout Jr., EngineeringTechnician, Lawrence

District TwoCynthia Riechers, EngineeringTechnician, Salina

District ThreeBruce Colip, Storekeeper II,NortonThe Bureau of Personnel Servicessupplies information for newemployees to Translines.

The increased space in the maintenance area at the new Area Three office in BonnerSprings is one of the many improvements.

PAGE 11

KDOT salutes its employees celebrating anniversaries in October

10 YEARS

Howard Bibb Jr. ............. Kansas CityRance Biesecker ..................... TopekaDuane Clark ....................... LindsborgMary Deiter ............................ TopekaCharlotte Fitzgerald ................ TopekaBrian Holdt .............. Medicine LodgeHuey Long ............................... OlatheJames McClung ................... KingmanCody Miller ..................... HutchinsonAnnette Ratcliff ..................... WichitaJohn Rutledge ....................... ChanuteDouglas Sevart ..................... Chanute

20 YEARS

Gary Farlow ............................ TopekaMichael Hays .......................... TopekaScott McLenon ....................... HortonRhonda Seitz .......................... TopekaRoger Wassenberg .......... Kansas CityRonald Weyer ..................... Lawrence

30 YEARS

Rita Bock ................................ TopekaGlen Huddleston ..................... LarnedBill Parcells Jr. ........................ Topeka

M I L E S T O N E S

This information is compiled by eachOffice, Bureau, Division and District.

40 YEARS

Gerald Mai ................................Salina

30 YEARS

Larry Smatla ........................... Topeka

The following employee celebrated aservice anniversary in September.

Bill Haverkamp, Survey Coordinatorin Design, and Wayne Blackbourn,District Four Surveyor, were elected tooffice for the Kansas Society of LandSurveyors at its annual meeting inSeptember. This year’s meeting took placeconcurrently with the MissouriProfessional Land Surveyors meeting inKansas City, Mo.

Haverkamp will serve a one-yearterm as Vice President and Blackbournwas elected to the Board of Directors fortwo years.

The group is composed of licensedprofessional land surveyors and landsurveyors in training. It promotesprofessional land surveying standards,continuing education, and surveyingcareers to high school students.

TrainingOpportunities

uBasic Effective SupervisoryTraining*, November 14-17.uLeadership Basics, October 31-November 2, Topeka; December 5-7, TBA; and January 23-25,TBA.***Turning Around Poor Performance*,January 11, Topeka.*Meets the three-year managementtraining requirement.**Applies to the three-year manage-ment training requirement.***Supervisory Continuing Educa-tion Credits.All classes, except for BEST, areavailable to non-supervisors with su-pervisory permission and wherespace is available. A comprehensivetraining calendar can be viewed onthe KDOT Intranet.

A constitutional amendment questionwill be on the November 7 statewide gen-eral election ballot that will allow KPERSthe opportunity to invest in banking institu-tions.

The public will be asked to vote on aquestion to remove an investment restric-tion in the Kansas Constitution that datesback to 1859. The law currently says thestate can not be a stockholder in any bank-ing institution.

Last year the Kansas Legislatureadopted a resolution to remove the restric-tion. To become law, a ConstitutionalAmendment must be approved by a simplemajority of the Kansas voters.

A “yes” vote in the general election willapprove the amendment and a “no” vote willdisapprove of the change.

Constitutionalamendment questionwill be on November 7ballot

KDOT surveyorselected to posts

PRE-SORTED STANDARDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTOPEKA, KS

PERMIT No. 157

PAGE 12

Promotions/Transfers

KDOTOffice of Transportation Information915 Harrison - Room 754Topeka, KS 66612-1568

The Bureau of Personnel Services supplies information to Translines.

William Stahl, Engineering TechnicianSenior, Garnett

District FiveTerry Allen, Welder, HutchinsonMichael Fairleigh, Engineering Techni-cian Senior, PrattMarvin Parvi, Engineering TechnicianSenior, Great BendCalvin Showalter, Engineering Techni-cian Senior, Great Bend

District SixTim Deaver, Equipment Operator III,Garden CityJack Immroth, Equipment Operator II,Garden CityDavid Ubel, Engineering TechnicianSenior, Dodge CityFrancis Younger, EngineeringTechnician, SyracuseSteve Zimmerman, Equipment OperatorII, Dodge City

District OneJamie Gaddis, Engineering TechnicianAssociate, LawrenceDonald Logsdon, EngineeringTechnician Specialist, LawrenceVernon McClintock, EngineeringTechnician Senior, EmporiaTucker Porter, Engineering Technician,Topeka

District TwoTom Skucius, Engineering TechnicianSenior, Belleville

District ThreeKegan Hemel, Engineering TechnicianSenior, AtwoodBradley Reeh, Equipment Operator III,Colby

District FourDaniel Poore, Engineering Technician,Independence

HeadquartersJulie Anderson, Office Specialist, TrafficSafetyMargie Baum, Applications ProgrammerAnalyst IV, Computer ServicesRick Bruner, Applications ProgrammerAnalyst III, PlanningJim Emery, Engineering TechnicianSpecialist, Right of WayRobert Fuller, Engineering Associate III,Materials and ResearchRex McCommon, Management SystemsAnalyst II, PlanningRon McMurry, Public Service ExecutiveII, Management and BudgetMark Segelquist, Applications Program-mer Analyst III, DesignRandel Scarbrough, Right of Way AgentI, Right of WaySue Swartzman, Data Center Manager,Computer Services