diff --git a/netbot/cog_scn.py b/netbot/cog_scn.py
index 8ba7196..6a4396c 100644
--- a/netbot/cog_scn.py
+++ b/netbot/cog_scn.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ async def sync(self, ctx:discord.ApplicationContext):
                     ticket = self.redmine.ticket_mgr.create(user, message)
                     # set tracker
                     # TODO: search up all parents in hierarchy?
-                    tracker = self.bot.lookup_tracker(thread.parent.name)
+                    tracker = self.bot.redmine.ticket_mgr.get_tracker(thread.parent.name)
                     if tracker:
                         log.debug(f"found {thread.parent.name} => {tracker}")
                         params = {
diff --git a/netbot/cog_tickets.py b/netbot/cog_tickets.py
index ed997cd..f614eb3 100644
--- a/netbot/cog_tickets.py
+++ b/netbot/cog_tickets.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def resolve_query_term(self, term) -> list[Ticket]:
             # note: fall thru for empty result from team query.
 
         if term in CHANNEL_MAPPING:
-            tracker = self.bot.lookup_tracker(CHANNEL_MAPPING[term])
+            tracker = self.bot.redmine.ticket_mgr.get_tracker(CHANNEL_MAPPING[term])
             if tracker:
                 result = self.redmine.ticket_mgr.tickets(tracker_id=tracker.id)
                 log.debug(f"QQQ<: {result}")
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ async def create_new_ticket(self, ctx: discord.ApplicationContext, title:str):
             # ticket created, set tracker
             # set tracker
             # TODO: search up all parents in hierarchy?
-            tracker = self.bot.lookup_tracker(channel_name)
+            tracker = self.bot.redmine.ticket_mgr.get_tracker(channel_name)
             if tracker:
                 log.debug(f"found {channel_name} => {tracker}")
                 params = {
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ async def tracker(self, ctx: discord.ApplicationContext, ticket_id:int, tracker:
             ticket_link = self.bot.formatter.redmine_link(ticket)
 
             # look up the tracker string
-            tracker_rec = self.bot.lookup_tracker(tracker)
+            tracker_rec = self.bot.redmine.ticket_mgr.get_tracker(tracker)
             fields = {
                 "tracker_id": tracker_rec.id,
             }
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ async def priority(self, ctx: discord.ApplicationContext, ticket_id:int, priorit
         ticket = self.redmine.ticket_mgr.get(ticket_id)
         if ticket:
             # look up the priority
-            priority = self.bot.lookup_priority(priority_str)
+            priority = self.bot.redmine.ticket_mgr.get_priority(priority_str)
             if priority is None:
                 log.error(f"Unknown priority: {priority_str}")
                 await ctx.respond(f"Unknown priority: {priority_str}")
diff --git a/netbot/netbot.py b/netbot/netbot.py
index 7cf133e..c54da9c 100755
--- a/netbot/netbot.py
+++ b/netbot/netbot.py
@@ -391,14 +391,6 @@ async def check_expired_tickets(self):
         self.expire_expired_tickets()
 
 
-    def lookup_tracker(self, tracker:str) -> NamedId:
-        return self.trackers.get(tracker, None)
-
-
-    def lookup_priority(self, priority:str) -> NamedId:
-        return self.priorities.get(priority, None)
-
-
     def find_ticket_thread(self, ticket_id:int) -> discord.Thread|None:
         """Search thru thread titles looking for a matching ticket ID"""
         # search thru all threads for:
diff --git a/redmine/tickets.py b/redmine/tickets.py
index 4a4da1a..a569300 100644
--- a/redmine/tickets.py
+++ b/redmine/tickets.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 SCN_PROJECT_ID = "1"  # could lookup scn in projects
 INTAKE_TEAM = "ticket-intake"
 INTAKE_TEAM_ID = 19 # FIXME
+EPIC_PRIORITY_NAME = "EPIC"
 
 
 TICKET_MAX_AGE = 4 * 7 # 4 weeks; 28 days
@@ -261,9 +262,14 @@ def get_tickets(self, ticket_ids: list[int], **params) -> list[Ticket]:
     def get_epics(self) -> list[Ticket]:
         """Get all the open epics, organized by tracker"""
         # query tickets pri = epic
-        epic_priority = self.get_priority("EPIC")
+        epic_priority = self.get_priority(EPIC_PRIORITY_NAME)
+
+        if not epic_priority:
+            # very unexpected
+            log.error(f"Cannot find expected {EPIC_PRIORITY_NAME} priority! Can't find epics!")
+            log.debug(f"known priorities: {self.priorities}")
+            return []
 
-        #response = self.session.get(f"/issues.json?priority_id={epic_priority_id}&include=children&limit=10&sort={DEFAULT_SORT}")
         epics = self.tickets(priority_id=epic_priority.id, limit=10, sort=DEFAULT_SORT)
         for epic in epics:
             # get the sub-tickets for the epic (both open and closed)