Executive Staff Meeting Highlights February 21, 2012

Attendance

Present: Lynda Boomer, Gerry Dobbs, Deb Dohm, Bob Ellerhorst, Ron Flinn, Gus Gosselin, Jenni McManus, Bob Nestle, Anne Phillips, Andy Smith, Barb Wilber and Karen Zelt
Absent: Brad Bull and Roy Simon
Guests: Michelle McCormick
Action: The minutes for Feb. 14, 2012, were approved. 

Agenda Items

• Karen Zelt and Michelle McCormick presented the quarterly information on the Physical Plant presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
   
• Ron Flinn led the review of the Physical Plant Report for January 2012. 
   
• Flinn confirmed there was no objection to providing financial assistance for the Susan Eisenberg travelling exhibition “On Equal Terms.” Dr. John Beck, Associate Professor and Director of the Labor Education Program, produced the exhibition in cooperation with others on campus.
   
• Flinn noted Susan Alchin passed her credentialing process to become Educational Facilities Professional. Congratulations to Sue!

Roundtable Discussion Items

• Deb Dohm pointed out Energy Strategies meetings next week will cause a number of attendees to miss this meeting. Flinn agreed that may result in an abbreviated meeting.
   
• Gus Gosselin announced MSU will host the Elevator U 2012 Annual Conference June 19 through June 26.
   
• Jenni McManus highlighted current labor relations issues.
   
• The events which caused proposed changes to the driver certification documents were framed differently by Risk Management. No changes will be made at this time.
   
• The river level gauge will no longer be funded by the State of Michigan. Bob Nestle is investigating how the gauge system will be supported in the future. The data from the river gauge system is used by a number of agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the MSU Department of Geological Sciences and Physical Plant Division.
   
• Michigan State University is revamping the campus addressing system by switching to locatable street addresses instead of building names and numbers to improve 911 information, emergency response and enhance GPS capabilities. This change is affecting all buildings on MSU’s East Lansing campus, and Physical Plant will convert March 2. Further information will be available closer to the conversion date.
   
• A cross-departmental committee is organizing the Physical Plant’s first-ever Energy Open House on April 20. In addition to showcasing Central Control, the event will feature several other energy-related teams and efforts underway at the Physical Plant, and there will be hot topic rooms covering topics such as the Energy Transition Plan.
   
• The showcase building for the federal program, Better Buildings Challenge, will be identified in April.
   
• The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources sponsored program, Grandparents University, is interested in tours of the Physical Plant. The program occurs this year from June 26 through June 28.
   
• Containers have been scheduled for office cleanout this coming March 14 for the Physical Plant building. This is part of RecycleMania, which runs from Feb. 6 through April 2.
   
• The Unit Information funding request status document was sent out yesterday. Only those who had funded projects would have received the list.
   
• Gerry Dobbs explained the emergency overtime agreement was well received by Landscape Services staff.
   
• Power and Water will submit comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the boiler maximum allowable control technology.
   
• A study of the potential of wind power is underway. The test tower will help determine if the air velocity is sufficient for power generation.
   
• Telecommunication Systems has been invited to take part in a test program for Microsoft Office 365.
   
• Green lights phones located outdoors are the responsibility of MSU Police. The responsibility for those located inside of buildings is Residential and Hospitality Services.
   
• All overdue trainings will be sent out tomorrow. Andy Smith requested supervisors attend to updating all necessary training.
   
• The staff responsible for refrigeration and absorption will be taking on the task of cleaning bundles. Smith is working with the group to be sure they have all of the necessary information and personal protective equipment. This work was accomplished by contractors in the past.