AGC of MN Annual Meeting
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
The Depot, Minneapolis

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Reception Sponsorship
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Members in the News

Congratulations to the following AGC members who received Work Zone Safety Awards at the December 2^nd annual conference of the Minnesota Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists:  Rainbow, Inc., Safety Signs, United Rentals, and Valley Paving.

Congratulations to Knutson Construction Services, Inc. for receiving the Affiliate of the Year For-Profit award from the National Association of Minority Contractors – UM.

PCL Construction Services has been selected by Martin Williams Advertising, Inc. for their tenant renovations of floors 26 thru 29 of the Dain Rauscher Tower in downtown Minneapolis.

Nodland Construction Co. extends its appreciation to two long-time employees who have decided to retire at the end of 2003:  Al Guenther will be leaving after 45 years with Nodland and Dave Van Vleet retires after 49 years of service.  AGC also wishes both of them many long and happy years of retirement.

CICC Briefed on MnSCU's 
Capital Needs for 2004-05

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) took a cut
in funding this past legislative session.  Enrollments are increasing.
Tuitions rose this fall and are likely to be raised again next year. Facilities
staffs were cut to help offset the cuts.

This is the background as MnSCU's 2004-05 capital projects
legislative proposal is now being prepared, Bill Breyfogle, director of
construction and support services for MnSCU, said in a briefing to the
Construction Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) at its October
meeting.

Since joining MnSCU in January 2002, his office has made changes
to improve management and control processes.  Until recently, they
provided project management for major capital funded projects and
oversight for projects delegated to individual institutions.  They now do
detailed project management for fewer projects in order to increase
oversight of the system's entire capital improvement program.

Breyfogle told the committee that they typically use
design/bid/build for their work and will continue to do so, although they
have entered into competitively bid construction management (CM)
contracts for Southwest Minnesota State University and Bemidji State
University.  On those projects, construction managers act as agent and
may not use their own forces for construction work.

He said that while under new legislation they are allowed to enter
into design/build contracts, they have not yet done so.  They may do so in
the future on revenue funded projects (dormitories, cafeterias, student
centers, etc.) where requirements differ from those for capital projects.

Breyfogle's office is doing long range forecasts for capital needs, for
bonding needs for revenue projects, and for reducing the backlog of
deferred maintenance and repair of facilities.

MnSCU facilities include more than 24 million square feet of space
in more than 760 buildings in the system's 53 campuses, serving
approximately 150,000 students, a number comparable to the enrollment
in the University of Minnesota's campuses.

CICC is a committee of practicing professionals appointed by
twelve organizations* involved in building construction, including
architects, engineers, contractors and owners.  It serves as a forum for
resolving current industry issues, and publishes the Blue Book, which
includes recommendations for construction documents and practices in
Minnesota. It is available from AGC of Minnesota, 651-632-8929,
and can also be seen on line at ciccbluebook.com.

           * (Member organizations are:  American Institute of Architects,
Minnesota;  Associated General Contractors of Minnesota;  Builders
Exchange of St. Paul;  Minneapolis Builders Exchange;  Building Owners
and Managers Association, Minneapolis;  Consulting Engineers Council of
Minnesota;  Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter, Construction Specifications
Institute;  Minnesota Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
Contractors;  Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association;  National
Electrical Contractors Association, Minneapolis Chapter;  National
Electrical Contractors Association, St. Paul Chapter;  Sheet Metal, Air
Conditioning, and Roofing Contractors Association of Minnesota.)

Collective Bargaining Conference

AGC of Minnesota is one of the sponsors of “Collective Bargaining for Construction Contractors,” to be held in Chicago on January 28 and 29, 2004.  This seminar is designed for individuals directly involved in collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of construction contractors.  The program is geared toward experienced bargainers to enhance their skills and knowledge in order to achieve better results.  To register, complete the enclosed registration form or register on-line at www.agc.org.  Hurry – the registration deadline is January 6.  Contact Dave Semerad, 651-796-2182 or dsemerad@agcmn.org, or Keith Kramer, 651-796-2188 or kkramer@agcmn.org, for details.