ARM is working on a number of bills of interest to ARM members including road weight legislation to raise the limits on county roads from 9 to 10 tons outside of spring load restrictions; a bill to allow 45 foot straight trucks in Minnesota, up from the current limit of 40’; a bill (HF679, SF551) to include concrete pumper vehicles in an exemption from registration fees for “special mobile equipment”; an aggregate property tax bill to protect aggregate reserves; and a clarification of language relating to the sales tax on aggregate delivery.

ARM is also monitoring bills involving transportation funding, aggregate taxes and DNR aggregate mapping legislation.

The Minnesota Fire Safe Construction Advisory Council is pleased to host a seminar titled “Economic Evaluation of Balanced Building Design Techniques.”  The seminar, which will present the advantages of balanced design for fire safe construction while making the cost competitive nature of this type of design approach known, will be presented twice in Minneapolis on March 13 and once in St. Cloud on March 14.

The seminar will be presented by Walter Schneider, PhD, PE.  Dr. Schneider is the author of the “Fire Safe Construction Cost Comparison Study” and led the team who compiled the results. He is Principal at John C. Haas Associates, an architectural and engineering firm located in State College, PA as well as a life long firefighter, FEMA trained rescue team member and Penn State University faculty member.

The seminar qualifies for 2 AIA CES HSW Credits.  Cost to attend is $50 per person which includes lunch.  Visit www.mnfscac.com for more information or to read the Executive Summary of the “Fire Safe Construction Cost Comparison Study.”

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The dates for the 2^nd Annual MN Statewide Concrete Homes Open House are April 21-22, 2007 which coincides with Severe Weather Awareness Week.  Close to 80 homes built by almost 30 different builders were featured in the 2006 event.

Go to www.ChooseConcreteHomes.com for additional information.  The website is ready to receive home submissions for the 2007 event.  Contact the ARM office with any questions.

Close to 40 ARM members and contractors from around Minnesota attended the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Program on Tuesday, February 13^th at BASF Admixtures in Eagan.  The program was developed by NRMCA due to increasing interest in pervious concrete.  The goal of this certification program is to ensure that knowledgeable contractors are selected to place the product and thereby minimize the chance for failure.

ARM will partner with NRMCA again in August when it holds a “Pervious Concrete – A Stormwater Solution” on August 7, 2007.  Watch for additional information.

ARM member Don Vry of Aggregate Industries represented the aggregates and ready mix industries in a hearing about the impact of theft of precious metals on the industry in a hearing before a committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives.  ARM is supporting bills before both the House and Senate during the current legislative session.

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The ACI Concrete Flatwork Finisher Technician Program is designed to provide a basis for certifying experienced concrete finishers, alleviate problems related to improper field practices, upgrade the quality of concrete construction, and prepare the industry for the possibility of mandatory certification in the future. Craftsmen who upgrade their skills and credentials through ACI certification may increase their own opportunities as well as contribute to the advancement of the industry. Before taking this course, students should have a good working knowledge of the proper use of finishing tools, placing, finishing, jointing, curing, and protection.

Those meeting the ACI required work experience (1500 hours per year for 3 years) and passing the written examination, with a score of 70% are certified as a Concrete Flatwork Finisher & Technician.  ACI will also grant certification as a Concrete Flatwork Technician to those who pass the written examination with a score of at least 80%. Upon completion of the required work experience, a Technician can be certified as a Finisher.

The registration fee is $185.  Contact the ARM office for additional information or click here to view the course registration materials online.

Thursday, April 19, 2007 marks the third and final event in the 2007 ARM Legislative Breakfast Series.  The event, which will be held at the Dorsey-Ewald Conference Center in St. Paul, will be of great importance to all ARM members.  Contact the ARM office at 952.707.1250 for registration information.

NRMCA has scheduled an Employment Law Seminar for March 28-29 in Mesa, Arizona.  The Employment Law Seminar will be led by “Utah Employment Lawyer of the Year” Jathan W. Janove, Esq., author of Managing to Stay out of Court. How to Avoid the 8 Deadly Sins of Mismanagement.   Mr. Janove will provide mid- and senior-level managers with critical tools and information to help protect their employers, their employees and themselves against costly employment pitfalls.  Jathan will also provide an update on the latest developments in labor law, including the new standard for retaliatory discrimination announced in the recent Supreme Court decision, Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Company.

At NRMCA’s Fall Conference, operation executives in attendance lauded Jathan’s advice on how to avoid suits and create positive, productive workplace relationships. Employment Law is a must-attend seminar for every manager!

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