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Table of Contents

Legislative Committee / New Directors / Rattai & Gresser Awards / Legends of Construction
Page 1

MnDOT Org. Chart / CICC PLA Report / TRIP Board
Page 2

Bridge Awards / NPDES Phase 2 / Convention Contributors / AGC of America Conventions
Page 3

Joe Dailey Fund / Builders Exchange / AGC Hawaii Convention 
 Page 4

Chapter Calendar
Page 5

Convention Snapshots 
Page 6

Constructive Comment Newsletter
AGC of Minnesota
Published Continuously Since Jan. 2, 1926

Volume 78-2, February 28, 2003
 

[Page 1]

 Legislative Committee

AGC’s Legislative Committee is meeting at 12:00 Noon, March 3, 17 & 31, at the Four Points Sheraton, I-94 & Hamline Avenue, St. Paul. Issues to be covered include state prevailing wage rules & procedures, design-build building, project labor agreements, utility relocation, privatization, State vs. Federal OSHA, & storm water regulations. Members are encouraged to attend these meetings & become involved in one of the association’s most important functions.

 

In addition to installing a new chairman, Tony Phillippi, a new vice chairman, Todd Goderstad, & a new secretary-treasurer, Don Rachel, four new directors were elected at the business meeting held during AGC’s Annual Convention.

Gregory Bistram
Shareholder, Briggs and Morgan, P.A., St. Paul

Bruce Engelsma
Chairman/CEO, Kraus-Anderson Construction Co., Minneapolis

George Mattson
President, Shafer Contracting Co., Inc., Shafer

Fred Strom
President, Johnson-Wilson Constructors, Duluth

The four new directors join three officers & five continuing directors, Frank Frattalone, Michael J. Gresser, Chad Lewis, Thomas Shamp & Mike Sill, 2nd, to complete the association’s 12-person 2003 board of directors.

Phil Rattai received AGC’s 2002 Skill-Responsibility-Integrity Award at the Annual Convention. A general superintendent for PCL Construction Services, Phil started his 37-year career in construction as a carpenter apprentice. To this day, he operates under the following three guiding principles:
Learn something new everyday.
Operate an open door policy for crew, subcontractors, suppliers & owner representatives.
Every cog needs to be there for the wheel to go around.

Michael C. Gresser received AGC’s 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Convention. Tony Phillippi presented a custom-designed plaque to Mr. Gresser which read, “Currently working as Chairman of Gresser, Michael has spent 40 years in the industry as bricklayer, superintendent, project manager and owner. For the past 30 years, he has volunteered for labor negotiations and for service on many boards, including the AGC Board.” 

A big highlight of the Annual Convention was the luncheon program where four “Legends of Construction” were invited to share some of the lessons they had learned during their long careers in the construction industry. Facing the audience were Dick Ames, Ames Construction, Burnsville; Michael C. Gresser, Gresser, Eagan; Larry McGough, McGough, St. Paul; & Larry Sowles, Sowles Co. Steel Erectors, Mpls.

Joe Egan, vice president, Egan Companies, New Hope, served as master of ceremonies for the program. He asked four questions of the men on stage. Why do projects fail? Why do projects succeed? What is the biggest factor in customer relations? What observations do you care to make about your career?
[Page 2]
 

MNDOT's New Organizational Structure

On Feb. 7, Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau announced the department’s alignment into six divisions under which all MN/DOT functions would fall. On Feb. 14, the Lt. Governor further defined the offices & functions within each division.

1-Finance & Administration Division: Kevin Gray

Manages the department’s finances & meet the challenges of the budget shortfall.
Finance: Scott Peterson, acting director
Human Resources: Linda Bjornberg, acting director
Business & Support Services: director to be named
EEO/Contract Management: Joanne Wagner, acting director

2-Operations, Safety & Technology Division: Marthand Nookala

Furthers MN/DOT's leadership & use of technology to promote & enhance safety operations, while ensuring efficiency.
Traffic, Security & Operations: Gary Thompson, director
Transportation Data & Analysis: Jonette Kreideweis, director
Electronic Communications: Andrew Terry, director
Maintenance: Mark Wikelius, dir.
Information Technology: Michael Garza, acting director

3-Program Management Division: Randy Halvorson

Focuses on statewide transportation investment, modal operations, research, & system performance measurement.
Transit: Donna Allan, director
Aeronautics: Raymond Rought, director
Freight & Commercial Vehicle Operations: Cecil Selness, acting director
Investment Management: Al Schenkelberg, director

4-Engineering Services Division: Richard Stehr

Supports districts in delivering projects & managing roads by providing engineering guidance, standards, training & expertise.
Bridge: Dan Dorgan, director
Land Mgmt: Al Pint, director
Environmental Services Richard Elasky, director
Materials: Keith Shannon, director
Construction: Mike Martilla, dir.
Technical Support: Mukthar Thakur, director

5-State Aid to Local Transportation Division: Julie Skallman

Delivers the secondary roads of cities & counties, sets standards & policies required by the program, and focuses on opportunities to work with cities & counties on projects & issues to benefit taxpayers.

6-District Operations Division: Bob Winter

Deliver roads & bridges to Minnesota citizens.
Metro District: Patrick Hughes, acting metro engineer
District One: Michael Robinson, district engineer
District Two: Wesley Gjovik, district engineer
District Three: Robert Busch, district engineer
District Four: Lee Berget, district engineer
District Six:* Nelrae Succio, acting district engineer
District Seven: James Swanson, acting district engineer
District Eight: Dave Trooien, district engineer

*Greg Paulson, who has served as District Six Engineer, assumes a new role delivering Rochester’s Highway 52 design/build project.

CICC to Issue PLA Report

At their Jan. 8 meeting, the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee (CICC), heard the views of Richard Anfang, president of Minnesota State Building Trades, regarding their draft report on project labor agreements (PLA).

According to Anfang, a PLA can benefit critical large projects without having significant effects on project costs.

The draft report describes PLAs used in public construction & outlines their effects on the various parties to a construction contract. When approved, the report becomes one of more than thirty recommendations included in CICC’s Blue Book.

CICC is composed of individuals appointed by twelve organizations involved in building construction, including architects, engineers, contractors & owners.

Diederich Joins TRIP Executive Committee

Paul Diederich, president of Industrial Builders, Inc., Fargo, North Dakota, has been elected to the Executive Committee of The Road Information Program (TRIP), a national nonprofit transportation research group based in Washington, D.C. Diederich currently chairs the Highway Division of Associated General Contractors of America. His firm is a member of AGC chapters in Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota.

Founded in 1971, TRIP researches, evaluates & distributes economic & technical data on highway transportation issues. Over the past 30 years, TRIP has released more than 300 state & national studies highlighting road & bridge needs, extra vehicle operating costs, traffic congestion & traffic safety, & the importance of increasing investment in our nation’s highway system.
[Page 3]
 AGC-MN/DOT Bridge Construction Awards

Three AGC-MN/DOT Bridge Construction Awards were presented after lunch at the Annual Convention. Co-presenters of the awards were Wayne Murphy, Director of AGC’s Highway-Heavy Division & Dan Dorgan, State Bridge Engineer.

Bridges costing less than $1.5 million: Highway 7 off ramp in Excelsior, Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc.

Bridges costing between $1.5-$8 million: Highway 100 under 36th Ave. North, Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc.

Bridges costing over $8 million: Interstate 494 under Penn Avenue, Johnson Bros. Corporation

NPDES Phase 2 Construction Rule 

The 1972 Clean Water Act prohibited the discharge of any pollutant to navigable waters from a point source unless the discharge is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. In 1990 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Phase 1 rules for construction projects of 5 acres or more. In 1999 the EPA issued Phase 2 rules for construction projects of 1-5 acres.

Under Phase 2 rules, small construction permit applications are due beginning March 10, 2003, but specific compliance dates are being set by NPDES permitting authorities in each state, including the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Phase 2 Permit Highlights

Projects 1 acre or larger, or smaller projects that are part of a common plan of development will require permit coverage. Individual lots within residential subdivisions will need to obtain permit coverage.

Permit coverage will take place 7 days after the postmarked date instead of the current 48 hours.

Projects greater than 50 acres will need to submit their project 30 days in advance for MPCA review.

Increased flexibility in choosing permanent storm water management options that include wet detention ponds, infiltration, filtration, regional ponding & combinations of these practices. There is an alternative method allowing for new practices to be approved after MPCA review.

Drainage ditches coming from a site will be required to be stabilized 200 feet from property edge or point of discharge to a surface water (currently 100 feet).

New requirements for dewatering & basin draining & more stringent requirements for projects discharging to “Outstanding Resource Value Waters” & wetlands.

AGC of MN Thanks 2003 Convention Contributors

Continental breakfast, midmorning coffee break & dessert following lunch at the Annual Convention were made possible through the generous contributions of three AGC member firms.

Continental Breakfast
Cedarleaf, Cedarleaf & Cedarleaf, Inc.

Midmorning Coffee Break
Aon Risk Services

Dessert Following Lunch
Minnesota Ceramic Tile Contractors Association / Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local #1

Running for three hours, Hospitality Night at the Annual Convention was held at the Great Lakes Ballroom within the confines of Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America. The event featured two hosted bars, a large appetizer spread & live music by the Mike Macken Quartet. The cost of the evening was covered by the generous donations of eighteen member firms.

Gold $1000 Sponsors
Moore, Costello & Hart, P.L.L.P.
Veit Companies

Silver $750 Sponsors
Brock White Co.
RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Seaton, Beck, Peters, Bowen & Feuss, P.A.
Virchow, Krause & Co., LLP

Bronze $500 Sponsors
Cobb, Strecker, Dunphy & Zimmerman, Inc.
Construction Midwest, Inc.
Egan Companies
Elk River Concrete Products
Hayden-Murphy Equipment Co., Inc.
Larson, Allen, Weishair & Co., LLP
Minnesota Steel Erectors Association
Road Machinery & Supplies Co.
Stearns Bank N.A. Twin Cities
Stellar Concrete & Masonry
Travelers Bond
Ziegler

AGC of America Conventions

March 19-23, 2003: Honolulu

Fall 2003: Washington, DC

Spring 2004: Orlando

Fall 2004: Scottsdale

Spring 2005: Las Vegas

Fall 2005: Washington, DC

Spring 2006: New Orleans
Joe Dailey Fund
In cooperation with the law firm of Moore, Costello & Hart, PLLP, AGC has started a support fund for Joe Dailey & family. Joe, who was critically injured two months ago, is a project management control specialist for M.A. Mortenson Co. & an accomplished instructor for AGC’s Supervisory Training Program. If you would like to contribute to the fund, send your check, made payable to the Joe Dailey Fund, c/o AGC, 2515 Wabash Avenue, Suite LL-1, St. Paul, MN 55114-1055. Your contribution is not tax deductible.
Duluth Builders Exchange
President
John Riihiluoma, Ray Riihiluoma, Inc.
Vice President
Dave Nelson, Nels Nelson & Sons, Inc.
Treasurer
Bill Seitz, Kolquist, Seitz & Goldman
Directors
Dean Benson, No. Door & Hardware
Russell Betts, Krech Ojard Associates
Mary Carlson, Arrowhead Concrete
Jim Erickson, Max Gray Construction
Denny Flynn, Bedrock-Flint, Inc.
Dave Michalski, Electric Systems
Michael Murray, Reuben Johnson
Knute Pederson, Superior Glass, Inc.
Scott Torvinen, Stout Mechanical, Inc.

Minneapolis Builders Exchange
President
Gary Kanuit, Architectural Consultants
First Vice President
Wayne Anderson, Crawford-Merz
Second Vice President
Jeff Schwartz, Olympic Wall Systems
Treasurer
Ken Kline, K.R. Kline & Associates
Past President
Ron Carciofini, Carciofini Caulking Co.
Directors
Jim Dalsin, J.A. Dalsin & Son
Joe Egan, Egan Companies
James Ericson, Bor-Son Construction
Bernerd Falck, Contract Caulking
Amy Schaefer Lee, Schaefer Hardwood
Bob Prell, Adolfson & Peterson
Doug Rynda, Swanson & Youngdale
Todd Schilling, Knutson Construction
Sarah Stehly, Simplex Const. Supplies

Builders Exchange of St. Paul
President
Rube Kompelien, Rock Bottom Sales
Vice President
David Pace, Cemstone Products Co.
Treasurer
Anthony Christensen, Christensen Estimating
New Directors
Robert Clauson, Molin Concrete
Donald Kehne, Kehne Electric Corp.
Craig Pudas, Custom Drywall
Dave Stadler, NewMech Companies
Mike Stillman, United Sheet Metal
Chris Swingley, Swanson & Youngdale

AGC of Minnesota Members Registered for 
2003 AGC of America Hawaii Convention 

Denis Anderson, W. Gohman Construction Co.
James Bryce, Zurich NA Construction
Laura Carney, Industrial Builders, Inc.
Fravel Combs, M. A. Mortenson
Steven Curry, Knutson Construction
David Desoto, AON Risk Services
Donn Diederich, Industrial Builders
Michael Diederich, Industrial Builders
Paul Diederich, Industrial Builders
Warren Diederich, Industrial Builders
Bruce Gohman, W. Gohman Construction Co.
Terry Gray, Zurich NA Construction
Brent Hasslen, Hasslen Construction
Dan Hasslen, Hasslen Construction
Thomas Henrich, Henrich & Sons
Paul Kujak, Madsen-Johnson Corp.
Kenneth Marcy, Marcy Construction
Tom McCrossan, C.S. McCrossan,
Michael McGough, McGough
Mark Morse, Madsen-Johnson Corp.
Robert Meyer, Gridor Constr., Inc.
Jeff Rountree, McGough
Gregg Schreiner, Gridor Constr., Inc.
Daniel Swingen, Swingen Construction Co.
Brent Theisen, Gridor Constr., Inc.
Greg Theisen, Gridor Constr., Inc.
Jacobus Vrolijk, Zurich North America Construction
Ronda Wescott, The St. Paul

[Page 5]
 
Chapter Calendar of Events
March 3: Legislative Committee, Four Points Sheraton, 400 North Hamline Avenue, St. Paul

March 6: Construction Safety Day, Minneapolis Convention Center

March 6: Southern Minnesota Construction Liaison Committee, Holiday Inn South, 1630 South Broadway, Rochester

March 7: Iron Range Construction Liaison Committee, Eveleth Inn, Highway 53, Eveleth

March 12: CICC Blue Book Committee, Midland Hills Country Club, 2001 Fulham Street, Roseville

March 13: Safety & Health Committee, AGC Office, St. Paul

March 17: Legislative Committee, Four Points Sheraton, 400 North Hamline Avenue, St. Paul

March 17: Minnesota Steel Erectors Association, AGC Office, St. Paul

March 18: Safety Day-Minneapolis Steering Committee

March 31: Legislative Committee, Four Points Sheraton, 400 North Hamline Avenue, St. Paul

April 1: Twin Cities Const. Liaison Committee, AGC Office, St. Paul

April 11: Twin Ports Construction Liaison Committee, Air National Guard, Duluth

August 11: Annual Golf Outing, Tartan Park Golf Course, Lake Elmo

[Page 6]

2003 Convention Photos

 

2003 Vice Chairman Todd Goderstad, Ames Construction, at the business meeting.


l to r: CEO Dave Semerad, 2002 Chairman Jim Mortenson & Phil Rattai, who was the recipient of the 2002 Skill-Responsibility-Integrity Award.


Dick Ames at the Legends of Construction Program.


l to r: Larry McGough & Larry Sowles face the audience during the Legends of Construction Program.


Keith & Patti Jensen, J.R. Jensen & Son, Superior, in between workshops.


2003 Chairman Tony Phillippi, Lakehead Constructors, Inc., receives the gavel of office from 2002 Chairman Jim Mortenson, PCL Construction Services.

AGC Mission Statement
To promote the legislative & economic strength, image and well-being of the Minnesota construction industry while maintaining the core values of skill, responsibility and integrity.