Gopher State One Call (GSOC) announces the selection of Kelly Connolly as the new Chief Operations Officer. Kelly will succeed Barbara Cederberg, who is retiring after approximately ten years of leading GSOC.

Kelly brings nearly 15 years of experience in building nonprofit organizations with specific involvement in building consensus among varied stakeholder groups and working on safety-related issues. She also has a background as a communications professional with extensive experience in media relations, strategic planning, and public policy. She is excited to become immersed in the damage prevention industry and looks forward to meeting with many stakeholders in the coming months.

As previously announced, Barbara Cederberg will continue with GSOC for a limited time to assist with Kelly’s transition and to work with specific innovation projects.

Please welcome Kelly to the underground damage prevention industry!

Section 216D.01

• LOCATE PERIOD. Subd. 7b
• UTILITY QUALITY LEVEL. Subd. 12

Section 216D.03

• PERFORMANCE REPORTING Subd. 5

Section 216D.04

• PLANS FOR EXCAVATION. Subd. 1a (a), 3 (c) and (d)
• ON-SITE MEET. Subd. 1a (a),
• LOCATING UNDERGROUND FACILITY; Operator. Subd. 1a (a),
• Markers Subd. 3 (d)
• Geospatial location information Subd. 3 (h)
• Activities Subd. 4 (b)

Section 216D.05

• PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID DAMAGE.
• White marking in winter (2)
• Electronic white marking (5)

Section 216D.06

• DAMAGE TO FACILITY. Subd. 3
• Civil action to appeal has been repealed

Click here to view the statute changes on the MN.gov website.

WHERE: The entire state of Minnesota

WHEN: August 1, 2024

(except geospatial mapping requirement per 216D.04 Subd. 3 (h) – January 1, 2026 OR 2027)

Electronic white marking transition period: 216D.05 (b) clause 2
Electronic white marking used prior to January 1, 2026, is accompanied by equivalent physical markings

WHY: Damage prevention and worker safety

TRAINING:

GSOC and MNOPS are hosting virtual meetings to discuss the upcoming changes. Please join us for a one-hour educational overview on Wednesday, July 31 at noon. View the virtual meeting on the MNCGA Calendar: mncga.com/events/month

Watch the Video from 6/18/24

DOCUMENTS:

What is the 811 5K Run/Walk?
The 811 5K Run/Walk celebrates “811 Day,” a day typically observed on or near August 11 (8-11) that brings attention to damage prevention and being mindful of underground utilities. 8-1-1 is a national phone number used to submit locate requests prior to doing any digging – whether installing a new mailbox or excavating at a job site – to abide by Minnesota state law and have your excavation site marked for underground utilities. You can also submit locate requests online at GopherStateOneCall.org. Whichever way you choose, it’s a free and easy step that helps keep our communities safe.

Who attends the 5K?
Everyone is invited to join! Strollers are welcome at this family-friendly event, along with furry family members. Years past have included participants aged 10 to over 70 years old. Children 5 and under are encouraged to join the Kid’s Race – a free, short-distance sprint – that takes place immediately after the main race at 9:15 a.m.

Where do the event proceeds go?
All of the proceeds of the event, including the $18.11 registration fee, go to Twin Cities Firefighters Operation Warm – an organization that provides children in need with new, warm winter coats.

Curious about how the 2023 811 5K Run/Walk went? Click here to find out!

Ready to join in on the fun? Click here to register for the 2024 811 5K Run/Walk.

Barbara Cederberg has announced she intends to retire after almost a decade of service as the Chief
Operations Officer of Gopher State One Call (GSOC). During her tenure, she guided a great
number of operational improvements as she helped institute a culture of continuous improvement
at GSOC. Barb has also led multiple initiatives which may lead to potential damage prevention
industry innovations. She is a 2023 recipient of the Common Ground Alliance’s prestigious
Groundbreaker Award for her leadership and achievements in areas of innovation. Barb plans to
step back from her Chief Operations Officer role mid-year but expects to continue in a reduced
capacity dealing with specific innovation projects and assisting with leadership transition for the
remainder of the year.

GSOC has retained the executive recruiting firm, Orion Search Group, to lead the effort to identify
GSOC’s next Chief Operations Officer. For further information, one may contact Joel Bergstrom,
Orion Search Group email: [email protected] phone: (952) 345-1000.

The latest Learn From the Unexpected video features Jason Ponciano, Minnesota State Manager at Vannguard Utility Partners. Jason discusses the importance of white lining and how it can impact both the locating process and your overall project. Check out LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to watch the video.

About Learn from the Unexpected
The damage prevention industry isn’t always predictable. Gopher State One Call believes in learning from the unexpected moments that do happen and proactively working to avoid damages. Through these efforts, we can all work towards a safer future.

That’s why we’ve introduced our Learn From the Unexpected video series. These videos feature Minnesota-based damage prevention professionals like you and allow community members to share their stories so that we can all work smarter and safer as our industry continues to grow. Visit LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to learn more and watch the videos.

Submit Your Story
Have you faced the unexpected at a jobsite or found something especially useful in avoiding unexpected damages or delays? We want to hear about it! Submit yourself or a colleague to be entered for the chance to be featured in an official Learn From the Unexpected video. Those selected will also earn the honorary title of Damage Prevention Influencer and receive a $200 Visa gift card that you can use for anything from a new pair of work boots to a much-deserved dinner out. To submit, scroll to the bottom of LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC and click “Submit Your Story.”

1. What is a Boundary Survey Ticket?
   A “Boundary Survey” is defined in Minnesota Statutes 216D.01, Subdivision 1B as “a survey made to establish or to reestablish a boundary line on the ground or to obtain data for preparing a map or plat showing boundary lines.” In connection with this work, land surveyors may submit a Boundary Survey Ticket to have the underground facilities on a property located. This can help a surveyor provide additional useful information requested on a survey and may assist to verify easement locations. As a type of Non-Excavation Ticket, no excavation whatsoever can be conducted on Boundary Survey Tickets.
2. Who submits the Boundary Surveys Tickets to GSOC?
   Boundary Surveys should only be submitted by licensed land surveyors – professionals tasked with identifying property lines. In Minnesota, land surveyors are required to be licensed by the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design. These professionals typically work with or on behalf of organizations that are in the process of planning a project, such as clearing out an area of land for development. They can also be hired by property owners to confirm the property boundary lines.

   Despite only being used by land surveyors, there were 7,151 Boundary Survey Tickets filed through GSOC in 2022!

3. Who responds to Boundary Survey Tickets?
   Once a Boundary Survey is processed by the GSOC notification center, the ticket is sent to public underground facility operators with facilities at the site. The facility operators then send a locator to locate and mark the facilities. This aids in finding where the corners of the property lie and ensures the stakes used to mark the corners can be safely placed. Facility operators are required to respond to a Boundary Survey request within 96 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.
4. Can I hire a land surveyor through GSOC?
   GSOC does not contract land surveyors. If you need to hire a land surveyor for a commercial or residential project, you can visit the Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors website for more information.
5. Turns out I need a different type of Non-Excavation Ticket – where can I learn more about the other types?
   You can find information about the other types of Non-Excavation Tickets by referencing pages 47–50 of the GSOC Handbook (available to view or download here) or on our blog. Click here to read about the Non-Excavation Ticket and Owner Inquiry Request types, or click here to read about the Engineering/Pre-Con Meet Ticket type.

Have additional questions about the Boundary Survey type of Non-Excavation Ticket? GSOC is ready to help. Contact our Customer Support team at 651-681-7326 or send us an email at [email protected].