2026 Overhead School
Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA), along with our partner Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA), is pleased to offer the Overhead School.
The 2026 Overhead School offers a unique training opportunity that will focus on working through a mutual aid event. This is an opportunity for everyone from line personnel to crew chiefs and management. Participants will be divided into groups to work through the event as if it were an actual emergency—from dispatch to initial repair.
Participants will select from two course options; Crew or Leadership (Advanced class)
NOTE: Members of MREA need to register on their site directly.
As with any mutual aid response, crews will not know their specific tasks until they arrive. Lineworkers will be dispatched to different areas across the training center field, with priorities established for what should be addressed first, second, and so forth.
The training may cover topics and scenarios such as:
- Proper techniques for switching, grounding and tagging
- Identifying potential dangers and hazards, such as back feed
- Tree trimming in an emergency
- Splicing
- Pole replacement
- Transformer banking
- Transmission/substation repair
- Single and three phase structure damage
Participants in the advanced class will focus on the management and system operations of an ongoing mutual aid event.
Learning opportunities include:
- How to prioritize and organize a large-scale mutual aid response
- Becoming familiar with and leading using MMUA’s standardized system for damage assessment and other tools/resources
- Locating crews and needed equipment and resources
- Leading/assisting system operations
- High-visibility clothing/outerwear—appropriate for the weather
- Hard hat
- Safety glasses
- Work gloves
- Rubber gloves
- Work boots
- Harness
- Fall restraint (required if you plan to climb)
Agenda
| September 15 | |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Registration/check in |
| 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Mutual aid response: Pre-event group walk through |
| 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Reception and Rodeo awards presentation |
| September 16 | |
| 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Hands-on mutual aid response: Crew and Leadership |
| 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | Lunch (provided) |
| 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Hands-on mutual aid (continued) |
| 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
Optional evening activities: Archery, sporting clay shoot or golf (at participants expense)
These optional evening activities are at the participant's expense. Sign up forms will be available during the school. |
| September 17 | |
| 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Hands-on mutual aid response: Crew and Leadership |
| 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | Lunch (provided) |
| 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Hands-on mutual aid (continued) |
| September 18 | |
| 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Hotwash and group debreif |
| 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Wrap-up |
Hotel information
Marshall offers many hotel options, in addition to the hotels listed here. MMUA has arranged for discounted lodging at these hotels. Please call the hotel directly and ask for MMUA’s reduced rate when making your reservation. We recommend making your hotel reservation as soon as possible, as availability cannot be guaranteed.
AmericInn
1406 E Lyon St
Marshall, MN
507-537-9424
EverSpring Inn & Suites
1500 E College Dr
Marshall, MN
507-532-3221
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