2023-0086
Title
Proclamation: “National Safe Digging Month”
Body
P R O C L A M A T I O N
WHEREAS, National Safe Digging Month is observed in April to remind homeowners, contractors, and professional excavators to keep communities safe by calling 811 before any digging project; and,
WHEREAS, digging without knowing the location of underground utilities can result in disruptions to critical services, serious injuries, and costly repairs to underground utility lines; and,
WHEREAS, the ‘Call 811’ service is free, safe, and is required by law. By calling 811 a few days before digging, the caller is connected to a local notification center that will take their information and communicate the information to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags, or both; and,
WHEREAS, homeowners are further encouraged to take a few precautionary measures when planning any digging project, such as calling 811 at least three business days before starting a project, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked, confirm that all lines have been marked, consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings, and if a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811; and,
WHEREAS, with an increasing number of public infrastructure projects and expanding economic development, pipeline damage resulting from excavation remains the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks; and,
WHEREAS, as part of National Safe Digging Month, Atmos Energy asks everyone to become a safety ambassador by taking the Atmos Energy Call 811 Pledge at https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/signcall-811-pledge.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, WE THE MEMBERS OF THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2023 AS
“NATIONAL SAFE DIGGING MONTH”
IN ST. CHARLES PARISH AND CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS, COMMUNITY AGENCIES, FAITH GROUPS, AND BUSINESSES TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS IN THE EFFORT TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENTAL DIGGING INTO BURIED UTILITY LINES.
MATTHEW JEWELL DICK GIBBS
PARISH PRESIDENT COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT III
BETH A. BILLINGS NICKY DUFRENE
COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE, DIV. A COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT IV
HOLLY FONSECA MARILYN B. BELLOCK
COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE, DIV. B COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT V
LA SANDRA DARENSBOURG GORDON BOB FISHER
COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT I COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
MARY K. CLULEE JULIA FISHER-CORMIER
COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT II COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT VII
National Safe Digging Month.2023.pcl