Call Before You Dig!
State law requires that anyone digging in Minnesota must contact Gopher State One Call (GSOC) before digging if using power equipment. Even if hand digging, you are encouraged to call if unfamiliar with the location of underground utilities.
Gopher State One Call is the state-wide notification center for excavating in Minnesota. There is no charge for this service. The service provides crucial damage prevention.
Calls requesting the marking of underground utilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the start of digging. The Gopher State One Call Utility Locate request phone number is: 1 (800) 852-1166 or you can dial 811. You can also initiate a locate rquest on-line at the follwoing link: Gopher State One Call Online Locate Request.
The person who is doing the digging is responsible for contacting GSOC.
After the call is made, Marshall Municipal Utilities (MMU) along with other utility providers will be notified by GSOC to locate and mark any underground utilities in the specified area. MMU utility operators will mark our underground electric utilities with RED markings and our water utilities with BLUE markings.
After the underground utilities have been marked and the 48 hour time frame has elapsed, the excavation work may begin.
Helpful Tips:
- You should call GSOC 2 business days before digging. Business hours are 7 am to
5 pm Monday through Friday. - Gopher State One Call can only locate services that utilities have installed. You or a
private locator will have to locate other services such as sprinkler lines, power lines
installed to garages, a gas grill line, invisible fencing, etc. - If you hire a professional locator, they are responsible for contacting GSOC.
- Mark the digging area with white stakes or white spray paint, Otherwise the utility
might locate your entire lot. - You must not dig any closer than two (2) feet from any utility markings.
Have the following information ready before calling:
- Your Name
- Phone Number
- Street Address
- Specific Dig Location
- Nearest Intersection
- Type of Work
- Start Date and Time