 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 Click herefor the Concrete Home Specialist Application Click herefor Concrete Home Specialist Application Inserts |
Some items on this bulletin may require a PDF Reader.  (Free PDF reader) |
Building Excellence Awards – Deadline Approaching
ARM Convention – Save the Date
Nominations Sought for ARM Lifetime Achievement and Member of the Year Awards
ARM Involvement in AIA Minnesota Convention
ARM ACI / MnDOT Course Registrations Available October 1st
Portable Aggregate Conveyor Licensing up for Discussion
Minnesota Legislature Holds Special Session
TERRA Annual Report Available On-Line
Federal Reserve Releases Latest Beige Book
New Scrap Metal Statute Used in Elk River Arrest
ICFA Names New Executive Director
Gas-Tax Increase to Fix Bridges is a Tough Sell
Foundation Releases Study on Crushed Returned Concrete as Aggregates for New Concrete
The deadline for entry submission for the ARM Building Excellence is rapidly drawing near! Submissions are due no later than September 28, 2007. The awards banquet will be held December 12, 2007 at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis. Contact the ARM office at 952-707-1250 for sponsorship information.
A few changes have been made for the awards this year including the addition of a “Project of the Year” award that will be chosen from amongst the first place winners in each category.
ARM Convention – Save the Date
Mark your calendars now and plan to attend the ARM Annual Convention December 12-13th which will be held at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis. The convention’s theme will revolve around sustainability issues with sessions beginning Wednesday morning, December 12th and concluding after lunch on Thursday, December 13th. Watch for more details coming soon!
Nominations Sought for ARM Lifetime Achievement and Member of the Year Awards
ARM asks its members to nominate deserving candidates for the 2007 ARM Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2007 ARM Member of the Year Award. Nominations need to be received by the ARM office no later than November 1, 2007.
Click Here to Nominate LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
ARM Involvement in AIA Minnesota Convention
ARM, as part of the Minnesota Fire Safe Construction Association, will be involved with sponsoring a presentation by Dr. Walt Schneider, PE at the AIA Minnesota Convention in November. Schneider, who visited Minnesota in March, will present information related to the Minneapolis Fire Safe Construction Cost Comparison Study that was done recently. Schneider’s presentation will be held November 15th from 10:15 – 11:45 am.
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.
ARM’s ICF Committee Co-Chairs, Jason Fritz (Cemstone Products Company) and Jeff Rutz (AJ Wismin Homes) will also be presenting a two-hour long program on Insulating Concrete Forms on November 14th from 8:00 – 10:00 am.
Click Here for More on the AIA Minnesota Convention
ARM ACI / MnDOT Course Registrations Available October 1st
As you begin to think forward to ACI / MnDOT certifications and recertifications, remember that course registration will begin October 1st. Class schedules and locations will be posted on the www.armofmn.com website beginning October 1st. Register early as classes tend to fill up quickly.
Portable Aggregate Conveyor Licensing up for Discussion
A joint ARM/AGC meeting has been scheduled to discuss the issue of licensing portable aggregate conveyors with Ken Urquhart of the Minnesota State Patrol and Dan Drexler of FMCA. The meeting is now scheduled to be held on Tuesday, October 2 from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the AGC of Minnesota office in St. Paul.
This issue has taken on special priority due to a recent ruling by the FMCA office in Washington that these conveyors will now be treated as motor vehicle and therefore are required to have brake systems on the unit. Since Minnesota has adopted federal FMCA regulations, the same requirement is now in place in Minnesota. This action has especially impacted conveyors moving across state lines where enforcement seems to be concentrated.
Please let ARM know if you plan to attend this meeting by e-mailing Jill Cohen or by calling the ARM office at 952.707.1250.
The Minnesota legislature met in special session on Tuesday, September 11 and passed a $218 million funding bill. The bill included $160 million in state aid for flood relief in southeastern Minnesota along with another $58 million for communities impacted by the Ham Lake fire along the Gunflint Trail, drought relief, and money for Crookston and Browns Valley which were hit by spring flooding. The legislation also included $2 million for the Department of Public Safety for state and local match related to federal disaster assistance related to the I-35W bridge collapse.
The ARM Executive Committee met with Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau on Tuesday afternoon to discuss a number of MnDOT related issues of interest to the aggregate and ready mix industries. During that discussion, the Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that Congress will appropriate the $250 million previously authorized for the clean up and reconstruction of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis. She also expressed confidence that additional funding may be available from the federal government beyond the $250 million amount if needed. Governor Pawlenty acknowledged in a press conference on Tuesday that another special session of the legislature may be needed if the federal dollars are not received in a timely manner for the reconstruction of the 35W bridge. The letting for the reconstruction project is scheduled for September 20.
ARM members are encouraged to attend the following Minnesota House of Representatives Transportation Committee in Willmar, Mankato and Anoka. Please let the ARM office know if you plan to attend one of these meetings or would like to testify about ARM initiatives at these meetings. These meetings represent a great opportunity to network with local and state elected officials.
The Minnesota Transportation Alliance is also planning the regional meetings that ARM members are welcome to attend. You can register online for these meetings at www.transportationalliance.com.TERRA Annual Report Available On-Line
The Transportation Engineering and Road Research Alliance’s annual report is now available online. ARM’s Executive Director, Fred Corrigan, was Co-Chair of TERRA in 2006 and ARM members participate on the TERRA Research Committee.
Corrigan has resigned his position as Co-Chair of TERRA in order to take on the challenge of Chairing the Executive Committee of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies. His first meeting with CTS as Chair was in August.
Tim Worke of AGC of Minnesota will become the new Co-Chair of TERRA along with Julie Skallman, MnDOT State-Aid for Local Government Engineer.
Federal Reserve Releases Latest Beige Book
On September 5, the Federal Reserve released its latest “Beige Book” summary of informal soundings of business conditions taken by the 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks, which are referenced by their headquarters cities. The cutoff date for the surveys was August 27. The Fed reported, “Commercial real estate and construction markets were generally stable to expanding across the Districts. Philadelphia, Minneapolis and San Francisco indicated continued expansion in nonresidential construction and commercial real estate. Dallas described the level of nonresidential activity as high, and St. Louis said commercial construction remained strong. New York, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago and Kansas City indicated commercial construction and real estate markets were steady or stable. Vacancy rates are reported to be low or declining in most Districts, and rents are rising modestly in many. Boston, New York, Richmond, Chicago, Kansas City and Dallas noted some tightening of credit in the commercial real estate market.”
- Source: AGC of America
New Scrap Metal Statute Used in Elk River Arrest
An article in the September 1st issue of the Star Tribune outlines the impact of the new statute relating to scrap metal theft. ARM played a significant part in getting this legislation drafted and moving through the legislative process in response to the growing problem of thefts of precious metals from ARM member facilities. ARM members brought the issue to the attention of the Aggregate Committee who worked with ARM staff and lobbyists to work with others to draft the bill that was introduced and passed during the 2007 legislative session. The bill which went into effect on August 1st calls on scarp metal dealers to record more information about the source of scrap metal being brought to their business so that law enforcement is better able to track stolen material. To read the article, click here.
Stephen V. (Steve) Heller has joined the Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA), Glenview, Illinois, as its new Executive Director, effective August 1, 2007. Steve comes to the ICFA as a career professional in the management of non-profit organizations that serve businesses. Previously, he filled key positions at a large, industry-specific regional trade association, a national business policy advocacy organization and a manufacturing workforce development intermediary.
His primary assignment at the ICFA will be to provide entrepreneurial leadership to take the association to the next level of success for its members and the industry.
- Source: ICFA
Gas-Tax Increase to Fix Bridges is a Tough Sell
Minnesota Democrat Jim Oberstar clashed with Bush administration officials Wednesday over his proposal for a temporary federal gasoline tax increase to upgrade bridges in the aftermath of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
"We can't have a bake sale to fix bridges," said Oberstar, in his first high-profile appearance as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is looking into bridge safety after last month's deadly collapse.
But Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, who has made four visits to the crumpled span, rejected the idea of a gas tax increase.
Foundation Releases Study on Crushed Returned Concrete as Aggregates for New Concrete
The RMC Research & Education Foundation is proud to announce the release of a study on Crushed Returned Concrete as Aggregates for New Concrete.
Performed at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) Research Laboratory, the report evaluates the effects of the use of crushed concrete aggregate (CCA) on fresh and hardened concrete properties by comparing these properties to concretes containing virgin aggregates. The report includes guidance for ready mixed concrete producers on a methodology for the appropriate use of crushed concrete aggregates (CCA) in concrete. It is estimated that the ready mixed concrete industry could save approximately $300 million annually through the use of crushed returned concrete as aggregates, and solve an important environmental issue at the same time. Use of CCA supports sustainable construction initiatives and adds to the benefits that concrete can provide in this arena.
“The call for increased recycling efforts for all industries is louder than ever. The study’s findings show us how we can increase recycling, while saving on both materials and disposal costs. The construction community has an obligation to examine ways to contribute to national sustainability efforts, and the CCA report demonstrates another win-win way to become more green,” said RMC Research & Education Foundation Chairman Dominique Calabrese. Foundation Executive Director Julie Garbini added, “The CCA report shows how crushed returned concrete can be successfully reused in concrete for a variety of applications, while still meeting the needed performance requirements and producing a quality product. It will go a long way toward increasing the acceptance of CCA in concrete so that the industry can use this sustainable solution.”
The full text of the study may be downloaded from the Foundation’s website at www.rmc-foundation.org.
(952) 707-1250