Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1284896
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 Page 5 Continued on page 6 Who You Gonna Call? Note: This article also appeared in the August 2020 issue of PRO Monthly. Readers of a certain age will remember Ray Parker, Jr.'s theme song to the original Ghostbusters movie. It's the kind of beat and tune that gets into your head and sticks there all day. Some of the words go like this: Why do I bring this up? Well, the PSAI has not run off any ghosts or seen the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. But I hope portable sanitation operators see us as the answer to "who you gonna call?" in our industry. We don't have any Proton Packs or Particle Throwers, but we have other ways of helping solve scary problems that affect your ability to do business. Here are some examples: • For several years, operators in a midwestern state were vexed. Every spring they were not allowed to drive their trucks on county roads due to thawing, while large vehicles such as school buses and milk trucks motored right on by. Portable sanitation companies had to choose between being cited for driving on the roads, or letting units go without service for weeks at a time. The PSAI worked with the operators, the Association of County Administrators, and elected officials to get the rule changed. • Last summer a company in the western US was being told by a large government contractor that the new three-year bid contract would only pay for cleaning portable units once every 90 days. The PSAI was able to help the company educate the government entity so that the contract was ultimately offered on terms that better align with recommended servicing schedules. • When COVID-19 hit, the industry had questions and the PSAI swung into action. Within days we had created the only portable sanitation-specific guidance available, added a COVID-19 Resource Center to our website, and provided Members with a weekly live discussion forum for managing challenges to their companies. We are still constantly updating these resources, and we are in the process of updating all relevant servicing procedures for the "new normal." • A company owner called when facilities started re-opening this spring. The rules in his state seemed to prevent portable restrooms from being part of the solution that would allow certain businesses to bring their operations back online. The PSAI talked with numerous people at state agencies and negotiated a path for the use of portable sanitation equipment. Then we conducted a three-way live meeting with the operator and the customer to walk them through the sanitation options that would allow the customer to reopen. Nonmembers often say things like, 'I've been in business for a lot of years. I made it on my own. I don't need the PSAI." Others say things like "Why should I spend money on that? I can just go on Facebook and get ideas from other operators for free." If there's something weird And it don't look good Who you gonna call? If you're seeing things Running through your head Who can you call?