Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau

Responding to a series of articles in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune critical of Mn/DOT’s contracting for consultant use and other practices, Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau said the Pawlenty Administration will thoroughly investigate the issues raised.

The articles described Mn/DOT's use of consultants, its communications strategies and practices, and its relationship with the Department of Administration on contract monitoring issues.

"As public servants, our primary responsibility is to the taxpayers," Molnau said. "Although I am disturbed that this obligation appears to have been ignored by some, I believe that the majority of Mn/DOT employees are hard-working, honest, conscientious and committed to doing the best for Minnesota.

"Gov. Pawlenty is very clear on what our marching orders are," she said, adding "Deliver projects more efficiently, ensure that taxpayers’ hard-earned money is being spent wisely and that we are accountable to the public. The state’s contracting procedures are a concern with many state agencies. During the next few months, we will work with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Administration and the Legislature to find a balance between accountability and efficiency."

Molnau shared similar comments with Mn/DOT’s transportation partners this week at meetings held by the Minnesota County Engineers Association and the American Council of Engineering Companies, Minnesota. She also addressed a breakfast meeting of state legislators.

"Our goal is to be accountable for every dollar spent," Molnau said. "I am encouraged that so many Mn/DOT employees have submitted ideas and suggestions on ways to meet this goal. I urge you to continue to send me your suggestions."

"Thank you for your hard work," she added. "I am confident that together we will find the best ways to focus on our core business—improving the state’s transportation infrastructure."

Visit these sites to submit a suggestion:

• Mn/DOT’s iHUB: http://ihub/commissioner/cost_savings.html
• Finance’s Web site: http://www.finance.state.mn.us/suggestions.html
• Mn/DOT’s Web site: www.dot.state.mn.us/commissioner/costsavingideas.html.

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Nancy Carlson, employee development specialist at Willmar, monitors the tool box training session at Willmar. Photo by Sandy East

Supervisors from the Metro Division and the Brainerd and Willmar districts traded experiences and suggestions for improving their communication with employees during Mn/DOT’s first interactive video training session Jan. 21. The training session broke ground in that participants could easily converse with each other and a panel of experts who joined the meeting in the Central Office.

Nancy Carlson, an employee development specialist at Willmar, said she learned about the process at a conference she attended on supervisor development. She worked with EDSs Tina Warwick, District 3, and Nancy Pfeiler, Metro, to develop what is known as Supervisor Tool Box Training. Sessions were held in Marshall, Willmar, St. Cloud, Baxter and Arden Hills.

"We wanted a way to reach people as cost-effectively as possible," she said. Video conferencing that reaches people where they work helps us do that."

Carlson calls the series of conferences "tool box" video because each session gives supervisors tools and tactics they can use right away.

During the first session, participants heard presentations from DeLorah Curry, Eric Davis and Laurie Steiger of Human Resources. They discussed issues in small groups and then presented them to the full group, a standard workshop tactic. They were also able to discuss their issues with Human Resource staff.

Each session had a facilitator to keep the three-hour discussion focused and on track.

The Jan. 21 session was the first in a six-month series. Future sessions will cover issues such as dealing with performance issues, human relations skills and developing emotional intelligence.

"We encourage current supervisors, grad engineers and others who may become supervisors to attend these sessions," she said.

Carlson said other districts have asked to join the training.

"We have discouraged addition of other sites to keep the interactive training manageable," she said. "We also want to improve the process. We’re learning a lot. This is a concept that can easily be replicated."

By Craig Wilkins

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FinnRA officials (from left): Tapani Maatta, Olli Nordenswan and Eero Karjaluoto join Mn/DOT’s Doug Differt, Dick Stehr and Randy Halvorson during an informal discussion. Photo by David Gonzalez

Stepping in for Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau, Deputy Commissioner Doug Differt welcomed the new administration’s first international delegation when officials from the Finnish National Roads Administration visited Mn/DOT on Jan 17.

During their visit, officials from FinnRA and Mn/DOT exchanged information on topics such as procurement strategies, staff recruitment and rotation policies, change management and innovations such as the new 511 Traveler Information Service. Molnau was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

The Finnish officials also received a demonstration of the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative’s snowplow from John Scharffbillig, Intelligent Vehicle Initiative project manager, Traffic Engineering. FinnRA officials briefed Mn/DOT leaders on topics such as the integration of rail, highway and ferry systems and its change management practices.

The FinnRA delegation included Eero Karjaluoto, director general; Tapani Maatta, deputy director, and Olli Nordenswan, director. Their visit is part of the ongoing cooperative effort by Mn/DOT and FinnRA to exchange knowledge, expertise and research.

By Craig Wilkins

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A History Channel crew interviews John Scharffbillig about the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative snowplow. Photo by Sonia Pitt

History Channel viewers will soon get a look at Mn/DOT’s use of the global positioning system, a technology developed by the military which is now finding myriad uses in the civilian world. Mn/DOT's use of GPS will be part of a documentary on GPS which is now in production by the cable History Channel.

A film crew from the cable network spent a day in Hutchinson with staff from Mn/DOT, the Department of Public Safety and the University of Minnesota to document GPS’s role in the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative project on Hwy 7 between Hutchinson and Minneapolis. The History Channel’s crew filmed Mn/DOT’s IVI snowplow truck and patrol car, both of which are testing the GPS-based systems.

The system supports the electronic heart of the IVI project that gives operators of snowplows and a State Patrol car the ability to "see" with the help of electronic navigation aids during periods of extremely low visibility.

The GPS system was originally designed to target weapons, locate downed pilots and improve navigation for ships and aircraft. Now its use has evolved to include activities such as helping Mn/DOT and DPS drivers to find their way along Hwy 7 when darkness, fog and/or blowing snow threaten their work.

A GPS device installed in vehicles can now alert the vehicle driver to danger, such as issuing a warning if they are about to deviate from the lane., The global positioning system can help determine the vehicle’s precise location along the route and give the driver ample time to correct their course to avoid a crash or leaving the roadway.

History Channel producers interviewed John Scharffbillig, IVI project manager, Traffic Engineering/ITS, and Jeff Goldsmith, State Patrol, about their experiences with GPS devices installed in their vehicles. Maintenance crews from Hutchinson provided traffic control on Hwy 7 during filming of a car chase re-enactment and repeated runs of the patrol car in operation.

"The filming went well," Scharffbillig said, "Everything worked." Film producers, he added, expect the program to be shown sometime this fall.

By Craig Wilkins

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As Mn/DOT faces a state budget deficit and a change in leadership, employees may feel a sense of uncertainty about how these changes may affect their lives. Human Resource’s Wellness and Organizational Health Unit reminds employees about the employee assistance program offered by the Department of Employee Relations.

Counselors in the program offer in-person or phone advice and support for employees who may need help managing change. On the EAP Web site, http://www.doer.state.mn.us/eap/eap.htm, employees can also find suggestions related to change that might help them sustain their productivity and overall well-being. The site includes topics from workplace anxiety to coping with anticipated budget cuts.

Contact Mn/DOT’s Office of Human Resources at 651/296-7207 for more information, or call 651/296-0765 or 1-800/657-3719 in Greater Minnesota to set up an appointment with a counselor in the DOER EAP office.

DOER also offers a phone service for managers and supervisors known as the Management Consulting Call Center. The center provides direct access to EAP staff for issues related to management, supervision and other issues. The center can be reached at 651/ 296-0765 or at 1-800/657-3719 in Greater Minnesota.

By Daneeka Marshall-Oquendo

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The sudden drop in temperatures prompted Mn/DOT and the Department of Public Safety to issue a news release warning motorists about the potential for hazardous black ice. Mn/DOT’s Traffic Management Center has reported an increase in the number of Twin Cities area crashes during last week’s cold snap.

Black ice forms when the air temperature is warmer than the pavement, causing moisture to freeze rapidly and create a thin, transparent layer of ice on the roadway. Black ice can form from auto emissions on heavily traveled highways, but other roads are susceptible as well, including those in shaded areas , near lakes and rivers and in tunnels or on overpasses and bridges.

To read about this and other items released recently to the news media, visit the News and Views link on the Mn/DOT Web site. Recent news releases include:

• State agencies issue safety alert on 'black ice' (Jan. 21, 2003)

• Statement from Lt. Governor Carol Molnau, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Jan.18, 2003)

• Lt. Governor Molnau Asks Taxpayers and State Employees to Submit Money Saving Ideas to Mn/DOT (Jan. 14, 2003 )

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