Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program

Linn County earns top spot with Hamilton and Dubuque Counties getting second and third, respectively

From a total of 13 entries in this year’s Iowa Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Competition, 2 innovative projects and 1 pioneer project won the top 3 spots for creating tools that helped local agency employees do their jobs more efficiently and safely.

This year’s BABM top prize went to Linn County for its innovative extended bridge plank socket. Hamilton County earned second for its mobile mechanic workstation, and Dubuque County earned third for its shouldering belt attachment.

The winning counties were initially recognized at the Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA) Mid-Year Conference in July and received a plaque at the Iowa Streets and Roads Conference in September. All three received a number of free workshop registrations, and first place will also get a celebratory lunch at their county shop. Congratulations to them all!

More details about those innovations follows.

Linn County – Extended Bridge Plank Socket

The Linn County Secondary Roads Department went looking for a way to avoid the challenges associated with setting up scaffolding in the middle of a creek to tighten timber bridge bolts.

“We decided to create a long socket. This would allow us to reach the bottom of the bridge decking from the creek without needing scaffolding,” read the county’s entry.

The county team collaborated and ultimately decided to buy an appropriately sized impact socket, cut the socket in half, welded each half to either end of a long piece of round metal tubing, and installed a swiveling handhold. The innovative new tool cost a total of $215 including parts and labor.

“Linn County has many timber bridges, and this tool will be used for years to come to ensure that the bolts on the decking of these bridges remain tight. This will save a significant amount of time, as there will be no need for scaffolding to reach loose bolts,” read the county’s entry.

Hamilton County – Mobile Mechanic Workstation

The Hamilton County Secondary Roads Department aimed to solve the problem that most motor graders have a narrow catwalk adjacent to the engine compartment, making repairs difficult both in terms of safety and comfort in addition to lacking a secure location for tools and parts.

Their pioneering solution was to create a mobile mechanic workstation by placing a comfortable swivel chair on an adjustable heavy-duty, stable base with tool trays for tools and parts. The first prototype workstation cost $570 including parts and labor, but labor costs went down during construction of a second unit.

“Fatigue was drastically reduced on engine repairs. Lower back, neck, and leg pain from the physical strain of being bent over is virtually eliminated. The reduction in fatigue also increases productivity, because the mechanic can work longer on a task without feeling uncomfortable from being in a bent-over or crouched position,” read the county’s entry.

It continued, “The repair becomes less mentally straining because of the reduced likelihood of slipping off the foot rail and falling from the machine. Tools and parts are held securely on shelves next to the seat, which reduces trips back and forth, and less items dropped on the floor. The frequency of climbing on and off the machine is reduced, lowering the chances for trip/fall injuries.”

Dubuque County – Shouldering Belt Attachment

The Dubuque County Secondary Roads Department had difficulty placing granular shoulders with a conventional belt attachment given the Mississippi Valley area’s unique terrain full of hills, curves, and deep ditches.

Their innovative solution was to create a hopper for the granular material to accumulate off the belt and use a leveling plate and shoes to match the road elevation, with the entire contraption adjustable to the shoulder width and slope. The materials cost $200 and 8 to 12 hours of labor.

“We have had good success with this so far. We will save in material and the ability to perform shouldering using just this set up,” read the county’s entry. “The attachment gives us better control, that saves time and resources for our shouldering operations.”