Utility locates are a common and essential part of any groundskeepers’ work. Contacting the locate entity for whatever state you are in is standard before any digging on site. While I understand and wholeheartedly support the rationale for utility location, the actual results have a significant impact on my operation. This impact is rarely acknowledged by the locate entity or my own stakeholders. For every locate request the usual result is a yard full of flags. The purpose of the flags is fine and necessary, even admirable, but the result makes performing my job difficult, and sometimes impossible. The flags are impossible to mow around, become a projectile if struck, and are never pulled after the location work is complete.

Why and How
Before anyone digs the contractor performing the work must call the state Dig Rite office. Here at University of Kansas our locates fall under Kansas 811. Whatever entity covers your state gathers some basic information about what work is being done, where and when. The utilities (water, sewer, electric, gas, etc.) present are contacted to provide their location. Utility reps or locate services will visit the site. Lines are marked with paint, flags, or most often, both. Excavating and digging can now begin. Once located, flags or marks cannot be disturbed for 20 days. After 20 days, and unless an extension is requested, the flags are supposed to be removed by the contractor who initiated the locate request. Unfortunately, very few contractors are aware of this protocol, and even fewer police their own flags. Several of the foundational aspects of a locate request are legally binding. You must call before you dig. So far as flag removal protocol, there are guidelines (the contractor is responsible for flag removal there is no statutory mandate. 

Operational Consequences
It has already been stated that mowing around flags is effectively impossible. Several people have suggested moving/replacing flags. Since timely and thorough mowing cannot take place, shoddy site appearance results. In addition, corrective mowing can take place the grass experiences undue stress due to excessive leaf growth removal. Manpower allotments are negatively impacted due to the intensive labor required to remove flags opportunity costs lost to removal. Our team also has experienced stakeholder concerns and blame around utility flags. People do not understand the locate process and blame the grounds crew for any impacts. Having the opportunity to educate the campus about flag/locate misperceptions rarely actually takes place and can be ineffectual even when it does occur. The “professionals” involved in the process don’t participate in any solutions, how much more so the average stakeholder walking campus?

Who Pulls the Flags
Flag removal is the responsibility of the contractor that initiated the locate response. Full stop. It is not the responsibility of any ground crew. Unfortunately, this aspect of the process is commonly ignored or misunderstood. Here at the University of Kansas, locates are processed through our Facilities Planning Department. There is an FPD staff member who is responsible for coordinating the process. Since any locate request must be entered by the contractor actually doing the work, it can even leave this KU staff member in the dark. Locates expire and flags are left in the field. We spend several weeks hoping someone will fulfill their responsibility but to no avail. Inevitably the call comes down to “just pull the flags”. Our grounds crews are the last line of defense for so many situations in our landscapes that no one thinks this is burdensome. Pulling flags adds to our workload. Usually, we end up pulling the flags because this situation should not be borne by the KU community.

What Now
While writing this blog a locate was performed in part of our campus. The number of flags placed was astounding. It is a public easement project overlapping with KU property. We were not notified, nor was the impact on our work considered. We are even the property owner. I want to be a good neighbor and cooperate with our contractors. But the inconsiderate and dismissive treatment makes it very difficult. Where we can be gracious, we will do so gladly. We will take the high road to a point. We will even pull flags when it advances our work. For several months I have been taking steps to partner with the process. I and my team will continue to advocate for our perspective. There may be a solution on the horizon, just maybe, but right now these flags still give me a headache.