Electronic Construction Collaboration - Phase 1, 2009

Bridge construction projects are becoming increasingly complex as the demand for context-sensitive solutions, aesthetic designs, and accelerated bridge construction becomes more prevalent. In addition, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is entering a phase of design and construction of large border bridges, such as the I-80 (let 2008 for $56 million) and US 34 bridges over the Missouri River and I-74 over the Mississippi River. Compared to typical construction projects, these bridges generate more contractor Requests for Information (RFIs), Value Engineering (VE) proposals, Requests for Changes (RFCs), and shop drawings. Management of these submittals is a significant challenge for Resident Construction Engineers (RCEs) and other Iowa DOT staff. In addition, some submittals require cross-departmental and project consultant reviews. Commercially available software exists for managing submittals and project collaboration teams; in-house solutions may also be possible. Implementation is intended to speed construction submittal review time, reduce incidence of delay claims, and free up Iowa DOT staff from project management administrative tasks. Researchers from Iowa State University working with the Iowa DOT conducted a multi-pronged approach to indentify a web-based collaboration solution for Iowa DOT bridge projects. An investigation was launched to determine the functional needs of the Iowa DOT. Commercially available software programs were also evaluated to find what functionality is currently available. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was written to select a commercial web-based collaboration solution for pilot testing. In the second phase of research, a solution will be selected and implemented on two pilot projects. Lessons learned from these pilot projects will assist the Iowa DOT in developing and implementing a long-term solution to improve the management of Iowa DOT bridge projects.

Temporary Speed Hump Impact Evaluation, 2002

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of temporary speed humps and speed tables on vehicle speeds, vehicle speed profiles, and traffic volumes along local and/or collector streets in several rural Iowa cities. A 25 mile per hour (mph) temporary speed hump and a 30 mph temporary speed table, both made of recycled rubber, were purchased to test the impact of temporary devices. Two cities volunteered and the speed hump/table was installed on two test streets in the city of Atlantic (Roosevelt Drive and Redwood Drive) and one test street in the city of Le Claire (Canal Shore Drive). The speed hump was installed first and then converted to a speed table. Each device was installed for a period of at least two weeks at the same location. Speed, volume, and resident opinion data were then collected and evaluated.

Health consultation : Exposure to fluff material from the Shine Brothers and noise concerns -- Spencer, Iowa (2011)

This letter has been prepared as a consultation to determine some potential health concerns raised by a resident of Spencer from exposure to wire shredder fluff material emitted by Shine Brothers metal salvaging facility in Spencer, Iowa on July 10, 2011 and, a concern regarding the health impacts from the level of noise measured by a resident near the metal salvaging facility.

Letter health consultation : foundry slag used for road rock, Washington County, Iowa (2008)

A resident within one of the counties in your region has expressed some concern regarding potential adverse health effects from dust and material that may be found within foundry slag that has been used as a replacement for road rock. This consultation includes a comparison of nuisance issues from dust generated from a road constructed of foundry slag and dust generated from a road constructed from typical road rock. This consultation also includes a discussion of the potential health effects of exposure of heavy metals from incidental ingestion of foundry slag.

05007-003 Hewitt Creek Watershed Final Report

The goal of this project is to help residents of the Hewitt Creek watershed identify themselves as a watershed community and use cost-effective approaches to control non-point source nutrient and sediment contaminants according to collective science-based environmental goals. The project will tap the low-cost, high-return human resources of local knowledge and resident leadership for economical and sustainable solutions. A watershed council will implement an incentive program to engage their watershed community in locally-acceptable practices and performance (outcome) measures for environmental stewardship that have reasonable cost and are linked with accountable crop and livestock management decisions. The Iowa and Dubuque County Farm Bureau have supported one year of management practice incentives. The performance incentive program will take this effort to the next level, to focus on outcomes.

LONG-TERM CARE Ombudsman, November 2014

Through advocacy, self-empowerment, and education by the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, each resident or tenant in a long-term care facility will be treated with dignity and respect and will have his or her rights honored.

Protection of Structural Concrete Substructures, Construction Report, HR-220, 1981

It is the objective of this project to determine, via field tests, the long term effectiveness of several available systems as their ability to protect concrete surfaces against the intrusion of chloride ions. Early concepts of this project included utilizing personnel from several offices within the Highway Division of the Iowa Department of Transportation. Cooperation and coordination with regularly scheduled activities were considered imperative. A meeting for this purpose was held on April 16, 1980. This meeting was attended by the investigators, Mr. Bernard C. Brown, Office of Materials, Mr. Richard Merritt, District 6 Materials Engineer, Mr. John Saunders, District 6 Maintenance Engineer, and Mr. James Phinney, Resident Maintenance Engineer.

Residents' Rights

Resident rights are guaranteed by the federal Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987, which requires nursing facilities to promote and protect the rights of each resident and places a strong emphasis on individual dignity and self-determination. Residents’ rights include, but are not limited to: • Being treated with respect and dignity • Being free from abuse and chemical and physical restraints • Participating in one’s own care and treatment • Being ensured information is being kept confidential • Managing one’s own finances • Being free to voice grievances, without fear of retaliation • Being able to associate and communicate privately with any person • Being able to send and receive personal mail • Making independent choices • Being able to apply for state and federal assistance without discrimination • Being informed of rights, services available and all charges prior to admission • Being given advance notice of a transfer or discharge

Involuntary Discharge from a Long-Term Facility

An involuntary discharge from a long-term care (LTC) facility occurs when the facility provides a 30-day written notice to a resident informing him/her of the need to move out of the facility. The notice must set out the reasons for the transfer or discharge as well as state the effective date, location of transfer or discharge, statement of appeal rights and the contact information (name, address and telephone number) for the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Sexuality Expression in Long-Term Care

By federal law, individuals residing in long-term care are afforded multiple rights, many of which are relevant to sexuality. These rights include but are not limited to: the rights to privacy, confidentiality, dignity and respect, the right to make independent choices, and the right to choose visitors and meet in a private location. The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman strives to preserve these rights by promoting attitudes of awareness, acceptance, and respect of sexual diversity. Though outcomes to sexually-related situations vary innumerably, as each is different and must be considered independently, the OSLTCO believes a multidisciplinary effort is necessary to develop a thoughtful process from which to draw and support conclusions. It is not the responsibility of the long-term care facility or assisted living program (or a single staff member) to solely determine whether a resident/tenant should or should not be sexually expressive.

Visitation and Powers of Attorney

Resident’s rights are guaranteed by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. This law requires nursing facilities to promote and protect the rights of each resident and places a strong emphasis on individual dignity and self-determination. Iowa has incorporated these rights into state law for nursing facility residents, assisted living and elder group home tenants. The attorney-in-fact’s authority is over health care decisions and visitation and access to a resident is not a health care decision. The law does not specifically set out restrictions on visitation as a right that the attorney-in-fact can exercise. Therefore, it is the position of the Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman that the attorney-in-fact does not have authority to determine visitation. As such, that right remains with the resident.

Health consultation : Silver City petroleum release and municipal wells, Silver City, Mills County, Iowa (2005)

A resident of Silver City, Iowa requested the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Hazardous Waste Site Health Assessment Program to evaluate the health impacts of a petroleum release in Silver City, Iowa, and the health impacts from the presence of chemicals detected in wells utilized as the source of municipal water for the citizens of Silver City and in the treated municipal water supply. This health consultation addresses exposure to residents of Silver City to organic chemicals within the groundwater and water supply and potential health effects at the levels of exposure. The information in this health consultation was current at the time of writing. Data that emerges later could alter this document’s conclusions and recommendations.