Winter 2010 - the Alabama Road Builders Association

THE ALABAMA
ROADBUILDER
Winter 2010 • A Publication of the Alabama Road Builders’ Association
Amendment
3 Falls Short
ARBA Installs Officers
for 2010-2011
Member Profile: Hilton
Cooper Contracting, Inc.
New Standards for
Cranes and Derricks
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The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
THE ALABAMA
ARBA OFFICERS, DIRECTORS
& STAFF
ROADBUILDER
Winter 2010 • A Publication of the Alabama Road Builders’ Association
President
MICHAEL H. MCCARTNEY
CONTENTS
Vice President
KEITH ANDREWS
Executive Director’s Message.................................................. 5
Treasurer
CRAIG FLEMING
President’s Message ................................................................. 7
Secretary
CHRIS NEWELL
Immediate Past President (acting)
ST (SONNY) BUNN, JR.
Directors 2010-2011
GREG ABRAMSON
RANDY BILLINGSLEY
JOHN BOYD
SONNY BUNN
TERRY BUNN
BOB DAWSON
JOHN FULLER
LEE GROSS
JOHN HARPER
MITCHELL HARRIS
JOE HOWLE
RON JACKSON
DAVE JONES
PAMELA NORRELL KEARLEY
CHRIS LOVOY
TIM MCCARTNEY
KACY MIMS
TIM MULLENDORE
JOHN E. MURPHY, III
DAVID REED
DEREK ROBERTS
MIKE ROONEY
I.J. (IKE) SCOTT, III
JOHN G. WALTON
NORMAN WALTON
CHARLES E. WATTS, JR.
Published for:
Alabama Road Builders’
Association
630 Adams Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 832-4331
Fax: (334) 265-4931
www.alrba.org
Amendment 3 Falls Short ........................................................ 9
ARBA Installs Officers for 2010-2011................................. 12
In Loving Memory: Sherman Suitts..................................... 16
The Decade Ahead.................................................................17
Fall Golf Tournament 2010................................................... 18
Alabama Institutes Industry Fee for
Recruitment Campaign ..................................................... 20
Thank You, Shirley! .............................................................. 21
New Standards for Cranes and
Derricks in Construction................................................... 22
Member Profile: Hilton Cooper Contracting, Inc. .............. 25
ARBA/ALDOT Continue Liaison Committee
Visits Divisions in 2010 .................................................... 26
Heard Along the Highway ................................................... 27
Products & Services Marketplace ....................................... 28
Index to Advertisers/Advertiser.com ................................... 30
Background cover photo courtesy of
McCartney Construction Co., Inc.
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BILLY NORRELL
norrell@alrba.org
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
TERRI MITCHELL
terri@alrba.org
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
SHIRLEY BANKS
shirley@alrba.org
HAYLEY DRUMWRIGHT
hayley@alrba.org
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
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The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
“LET ME SPEAK
TO SHIRLEY, PLEASE…”
BY BILLY NORRELL
ARBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It will be a tough
day for me when
I answer the
phone and hear
someone say,
“Let me speak
to Shirley.”
THIS IS A TOUGH one to write. While I am reluctant to rehash the disappointing result
of the Amendment 3 vote and the possibilities it would have brought to our industry, I
have to reflect on a number of even greater losses for our industry and association.
Robert Huffaker served as the general counsel for ARBA for my entire time here and
for years prior to my arrival. He helped us with issues ranging from legislative language to
constitutional protection of road and bridge dollars to everything in-between, and always
had the best interest of the association in mind. We lost Robert to cancer late this summer.
His counsel and friendship will be greatly missed.
Sherman Suitts was an officer for four years for ARBA, and he served each position
with great energy. He became more greatly involved with ARBA when the Alabama
Aggregates Association merged with us and a new category of contractor member was
created—the aggregate contractor. It was not long before Sherman’s peers recognized
the leadership skills he possessed, and he was elevated to officer status within the ARBA
hierarchy. Sherman served this association with energy in every role he held. But not until
he reached the level of ARBA president did we see the real Sherman in action.
His enthusiasm was infectious. He worked throughout the course of the year planning regional meetings, increasing the educational opportunities for ARBA members
throughout the state, and he refined the inner-workings and activities of the association by
addressing issues for years to come. I personally had never worked harder for a president.
We talked all the time and he always had the same statement when we were wrapping
things up—“Is there anything else we should be doing?” He was always looking for ways
to improve ARBA and our industry.
All this despite a terrible struggle with cancer, but you would never know it. Sherman never let you know he might need a break or just wasn’t feeling like participating.
He pressed forward through this past legislative session like a trooper, talking to each
member of the Legislature and encouraging their support of SB 121 (Amendment 3). He
attended every event, every meeting, every social activity and every conference. He was
as active of a president as you could ask for.
It wasn’t fair that we never got the chance to honor him in person at his farewell President’s Luncheon in September, as he fought this terrible illness to the bitter end. He was
a great friend and will be missed. I hope his family knows how much of a privilege it has
been for us to have him on loan from them for the past year. Donna Kay, we thank you
for that honor.
Finally, I’m certain everyone knows that Shirley Banks is retiring at the end of the year,
on December 31. It is tough to write about someone who has put their entire life into an
industry and dedicated themselves to doing the best job possible while never, ever saying
a harsh word. It’s even tougher when that same person put out your birth announcement
in 1968, when she was a young member of the ARBA family and you just happened to be
the newborn son of the current ARBA president. I grew up coming to ARBA conventions,
and she was even taking care of me back then. Karma is a funny thing.
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
5
438524_Vulcan.indd 1
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348413_Apache.indd
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1
I cannot express in words how
much Shirley has meant to me the
past 13 years since joining the ARBA
family, but for most of you who have
been around a lot longer, I can’t imagine what her retirement will mean to
you. She has been a part of 40-plus
conventions, hundreds of golf tournaments, fishing trips, tennis tournaments, dealt with board members,
officers, presidents, governors, highway directors—the list could go on
and on. She’s seen the good and the
bad. And on top of it all, she has conducted herself with the greatest level
of courtesy and commitment that one
could imagine. Never a harsh word,
never a loss of patience and never one
task unfulfilled. If it meant staying
late, working weekends—whatever.
Shirley got it done.
Thoughtful is one word to describe
8/7/09 1:58:43 PM
the way she approaches every day at
ARBA. Conscientious is another. Considerate. Thorough. Honest. Tough. But
most of all, Shirley is kind. She embodies everything we or anyone in the
association world could ever ask for,
and I have only been around for a brief
part of her career. I can’t put it all down
in a column like this, so I’ll close just
by saying I hope you’ll all join me in
expressing how much we love her and
appreciate all she has meant to ARBA
and our industry.
We have brought a new ARBA family member on board, Hayley Drumwright, to work with Shirley through
the end of the year, and she will be a
wonderful addition to the ARBA staff.
I hope you will all take the time to welcome her and help her learn all about
our wonderful association and industry.AM She has some tough standards to
12/12/08
11:23:40
live up to, but we all know she will do
great.
But, it will be a tough day for me
when I answer the phone and hear
1940 Pinson Valley Parkway
someone say, “Let me speak to Shirley,” and I have to tell them she’s not
Birmingham, AL 35217
here anymore. Probably sifting sand
Office: (205) 849-1727
through her toes on a deserted beach
Fax: (205) 849-1726
sipping a strawberry daiquiri, as she
and Lawrence travel the country on a
well-deserved break from ARBA. Lord
knows, she has earned it.
Shirley, thank you for everything. ❏
The
11/16/07 3:28:55
PM
Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
READY TO SERVE
BY MICHAEL H. MCCARTNEY
ARBA PRESIDENT
Sherman worked
tirelessly for the
betterment of our
industry and this
association.
AS THE NEW PRESIDENT of the Alabama Road Builders Association, I want
to thank you, the membership, for this tremendous opportunity. I have enjoyed and
learned much from being a director and then progressing through the officer’s chairs.
Our company’s involvement with the Alabama Road Builders Association began in
the mid-1950s and continues to present day. With that said, it is indeed an honor to
be able to serve you for the coming year.
It is with deep sadness that I recognize the death of Sherman Suitts, our 20092010 President. Sherman passed away October 24, 2010. I want to thank the Suitts
family for their great sacrifice in letting Sherman fulfill his duties as our president.
Sherman worked tirelessly for the betterment of our industry and this association.
At the funeral, Sherman’s son, Justin, honored his father by singing Tom Petty’s hit
song “I Won’t Back Down,” which exemplified his father’s spirit and attitude when
fighting for something or someone in whom he believed. As I stated at the ARBA
luncheon in September, the Association, at the appropriate time, will honor Sherman’s service to our industry.
During the recent election, we saw our Amendment 3 get voted down even after
our industry mounted a substantial campaign. Appropriate credit should be given
to our executive director, Billy Norrell, for “spear-heading” a positive and informative campaign for the passage of the amendment. Credit should also be given to the
ARBA Board of Directors and to the many friends of our industry that gave both
time and money for this effort.
We also want to congratulate Governor-Elect Bentley for his successful campaign.
We are very excited about working with his new administration. The new governorelect has worked with our association many times in the past in order to further the
betterment of Alabama’s transportation system.
In addition to working closely with the Bentley administration, as well as the new
legislature, my priorities will include, but not be limited to, working with ALDOT on
specifications through our ARBA/ALDOT liaison committee and holding a pre-legislative session transportation seminar for all elected officials so they can be brought
up-to-speed with the conditions of our highways and funding shortfalls that face
Alabama.
Please know that as your president I will be calling on you to get involved with the
business of ARBA, and I hope you will join me in promoting increased membership,
improving member services, and developing the finest transportation advocacy team
in the nation. Please know that I will be available to discuss issues of concern to our
industry at any time.
❏
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
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The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
ELECTIONS
Amendment 3 Falls Short
Though thousands vote in approval, support wanes in final days
D
espite the best efforts of Alabama’s construction and business communities to inform the people
about the merits of Amendment 3, the $1 billion proposal to assist Alabama’s aging road and
bridge system, the people voted 57 percent to 43 percent against the program.
A broad-based coalition of supporters ranging from construction associations to business-minded groups was
assembled and took the message to the
streets early and often. Led by groups
such as ALFA, AEA, AAA-Alabama,
ABC-Alabama, AGC-Alabama and
the Business Council of Alabama, just
to name a few, the message was loud
and clear—Alabama’s road and bridge
system is in real trouble, and here is a
great way to shore it up without costing
you, as a taxpayer, one penny.
The proposal passed the Legislature in April in the form of Senate Bill
121. With Republican and Democrat
support, the measure seemed destined
to provide the first additional funding
to a program that has been collecting
revenues under the same formula since
1992. With the creation of the Alabama Jobs Coalition, a movement was
born and the message was simple—
Alabama’s roads and bridges are in
desperate need of additional funding.
The Alabama Trust Fund (ATF) contributions of $100 million annually for 10
years would have allowed ALDOT, the
counties and cities to address desperate
needs while never compromising the
integrity of the trust fund balance (a $2
billion floor was built into the legislation to protect the ATF).
An economic impact study was
conducted showing that $1 billion
invested in infrastructure construction
would produce a $2.2 billion return for
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
Alabama. It also showed that almost
10,000 new jobs would be created as a
result of the passage of Amendment 3.
Editorials started to show up in support
of Amendment 3. The Anniston Star,
Decatur Daily and Ft. Payne TimesJournal, just to name a few, were the
early supporters on the bandwagon. The
Amendment 3 effort was going strong.
About 10 days before the election,
Dr. David Bronner, head of Alabama’s
Retirement System, decided to comment on the amendment and question
the need for the program. He challenged its ability to produce anything
of substance to aid Alabama’s road and
bridge system. He called it a political
slush fund, that it would not do enough
or create a single job and recommended
that Alabama just raise the gas tax to
address such issues—and he encouraged the defeat of Amendment 3. Road
builders were referred to as Bonnie
and Clyde and the infamous train-robbing team of brothers Frank and Jessie James for daring to suggest taking
money from the Alabama Trust Fund
was the way to address these needs.
Later that same day, Gov. Riley followed suit, saying he also was against
the amendment. It was even suggested
that politicians would be selecting
where these projects would be placed
throughout the state. In April, Gov.
Riley had addressed an auditorium full
of contractors and engineers during the
legislative session on Build Alabama
Day and professed his support of the
amendment saying “I’m for it.”
Preserving the constitutionally
protected funding for Alabama’s
transportation construction has been
challenging. Early in his first term,
Gov. Riley initiated an effort to take
$40 million from the road and bridge
fund to supplement the General Fund,
ultimately resulting in the industry
giving up its sales tax exemption on
materials used on the job—an action
9
which shrinks the total pool of construction dollars available for all Alabama citizens. Since 2004, more than
$200 million in gasoline taxes has
been transferred from Alabama’s Public Road and Bridge Fund to other state
agencies and not to constructing Alabama’s road system.
Despite the efforts to keep the train
on the track, the momentum had clearly
shifted. What was polling as a blowout
just days before had tightened considerably. Despite the support of the two
10
459880_Martin.indd
1
gubernatorial candidates, things were
looking bad for Amendment 3. As election day approached, members of the
Alabama Jobs Coalition spoke at local
civic clubs, made radio appearances,
held press events and publicly did
everything possible to spread the word
about the good Amendment 3 would do
for ALL of Alabama—rural and urban.
But the Bronner/Riley comments were
just too strong to overcome.
continued on page 20
The
12/16/09 12:30:13
PM
Alabama Jobs
Coalition Partners
AAA Alabama
Association of County Commissions
of Alabama (ACCA)
Association of County Engineers
of Alabama
Alabama Asphalt Pavement Association
Alabama Coal Association – ACA
Alabama Concrete Industries Association
Alabama Construction Recruitment
Institute (ACRI)
Alabama DBE Contractors Association
Alabama Education Association (AEA)
Alabama Forestry Association
Alabama General Contractors (AGC)
Alabama Railway Association
Alabama Road Builders Association
Alabama Trucking Association
Alabama Utility Contractors Association
Alabama Farmers Federation – ALFA
American Council of Engineering
Companies of Alabama
American Concrete Pavement Association –
Alabama Chapter
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
Bridge Construction Association of Alabama
Business Council of Alabama (BCA)
Chamber of Commerce Association
of Alabama
Coalition of Regional Transportation (CRT)
Manufacture Alabama
Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
Road and Bridge Improvement Fund Contributors
To the members who went above and beyond, and you know who you are, we thank you for your efforts. This truly was a monumental task and you all took control of the situation and made sure we achieved our fundraising goals in order to run the most effective
and efficient campaign possible. We owe you all a debt of gratitude.
Contributors to the Road and Bridge Improvement Fund throughout the campaign—we could not have done it without you. Thank
you for your support!
3M
Abramson LLC
Air King Inc
AL Asphalt Pavement Assoc.
AL Chapter Solid Waste Assoc
of N.A.
AL DBE Contractors
Association Inc
AL Highway Users Conference
AL Traffic Systems Inc
AL Utility Contractors Assoc.
AL Barricade Inc
AL Bridge Builders
AL Guardrail
AL Power Co
AL Guardrail
AL Pipe and Supply Co.
AL Railway Association
Alabama AGC
Alabama Coal Association
Alan McDonald Carrie
- EnerSys
ALA-TON Committee
(AL Trucking Assoc)
Alexander Engineering &
Development
Alliance Insurance Group
Alliance Sand & Aggregate
AmericanOsment
APAC Mid-South, Inc.
Archer Western Contractors
Asphalt Consultants
Astec (ROADTEC)
Bama Concrete Products
Barnett Transportation Inc
Batey & Sanders Inc.
Beard Equipment Co.
Blacklidge Emulsions, Inc.
Blue Cross
Bradley, Arant, Boult &
Cummings LLP
Brasfield & Gorrie
Burr & Forman LLP
C & H Construction Services
C. Thornton
C.A. Langford Co., Inc.
Calder Brothers Corp
CAP Properties
Cary A Guffey
Caterpillar Financial Services
Corp
Caterpillar Inc
CDG PAC
Cemex
Charles E Watts, Inc.
Cobbs Allen & Hall
Consolidated Pipe &
Supply Co
Construction Labor Services
Cowin Equipment Co
Craneworks, Inc.
CRI-MGM Building, LLC
David Geer
Decatur Mill Service Co
Dement Construction Co
Donaldson Co Inc
Donovanfingar LLC
Drummond Co Inc
Dudley C Jackson Inc
Dunn Construction Co.
DVA/HC PAC (Volkert)
Earl Dudley, Inc.
East AL Paving Co.
ECK & Glass Insurance Inc
Protection Services
Equipment Repainting
Service Inc
Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions
Eutaw Construction Co.
FCC Equipment Financing
Fine Geddie & Associates
Foley Products Co
G W Norrell Contracting Co.
Gaines, Wolter & Kinney, P.C.
Godwin Material Services
Good Hope Contracting
Goodwyn, Mills &
Cawood Inc
Grassworks Inc
Gresham Smith and Partners
Gulf Coast Truck and
Equipment Co
H&L Construction, Inc.
Harvey Culvert Company
Hatch Mott McDonald
Engineering
Highway Management Systems
Hilton Cooper Contracting
Hinkle Contracting Co
Hi-Tech Asphalt Solutions
Hosea O Weaver and Sons
HRCA, LLC
Huie Fernambucq &
Stewart LLP
Hunt Refining
IronPlanet
J. C. Cheek Contractor, Inc.
J. Lister Hubbard
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
J.M. Wood Auction Co.
Jackson Paving
Jerry Boutwell
Joe Allen Bolen
John Deere Davenport Works
John G. Walton
Construction Co.
Johnson Sterling
Consulting Inc
Jones, Blair, Waldrup &
Tucker, Inc.
Jordan Pile Driving
Keen Transport Inc
Kelley Construction
Kenworth of Mobile
Kirkpatrick Concrete
Komatsu American Corp
Lehigh Hanson
Long Lewis Ford
M.C. Williams Contracting Co
Martin Marietta Aggregates
McCartney Construction Co.
McGriff Industries Inc
McInnis Construction, LLC
Mobile Asphalt Co
National Cement
Neel-Schaffer
Newell Roadbuilders, Inc.
Norman J. Walton
Ozark Striping Co., Inc.
PalFleet Truck Equipment Co
Palomar Insurance Corp
Peek Pavement & Marking
Phillip C Anderson
Pozzolanic Contracting &
Supply
Premier Truck Centers
R Brooke Lawson
R E Grills Constr Co
R R Dawson Bridge Co
RaCON, Inc
Ram Tool
Ready Mix USA
Richard H Allen
Riley Bridge & Engineering
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers
Riverside Traffic
Roadtec
Robert A Davidson
Rogers Group Inc
Rowe Machinery Inc
RSC Equipment Rental
Rutherford Contracting
S & C Materials & Paving
S&G Trucking Inc
S. A. Graham
Safety Coatings
Safety Plus, Inc.
Scott Bridge Co
Sherman Dixie
Shoals Electric Co.
SITECH SE
Southeast Cherokee
Construction
Southeast Materials Corp
Southeastern Oil
Company, Inc.
Southern Wire Enterprises
Southland International Trucks
SS Nesbitt & Co. (EBSCO
Industries)
ST Bunn Construction Co.
Stone & Sons Electrical
Contractors
Strickland Companies
Summit Pipe & Supply
Sunshine Supplies
Superior Broom
T. L. Wallace Construction
TBEI Ox Bodies, Inc.
Terex/Genie
The McPherson Companies
Thompson Engineering Inc
Thompson Tractor Co.
Tom Arnold Construction Co.
Tomlin Construction LLC
Tractor & Eqpt Co.
Trail King Industries
Turner Insurance &
Bonding Co
Universal Precast, Inc.
Veterans Landscaping
Volkert
Vulcan Asphalt
Vulcan Materials Co.
W S Newell Inc
Wade Sand & Gravel
Waites Construction Co
WAKM Companies LLC
Warrior Tractor & Eqpt Co
Webb Concrete & Building
Materials
Weiler Inc
Wells Fargo/Wachovia
Whitaker Contr Co.
Whitley B Forehand
William D Coleman
Winston Contracting
Wiregrass Construction Co.
Folio • 11
11
2010 ANNUAL LUNCHEON
Proud of Our
T
he 2010 Annual Luncheon is a special time
when friends and guests gather to celebrate
the year’s accomplishments, but on September
24 in Montgomery, this event was missing one of its
leaders. ARBA President Sherman Suitts had become ill
and was unable to attend and preside over the luncheon,
a time-honored tradition for the Alabama Road Builders
Association. In his absence, Immediate Past President
Sonny Bunn took the podium and let everyone know
about Sherman’s absence and his intent to soon return
to the industry he loved so dearly. Unfortunately, as we
all know, Sherman fell victim to the cancer he had been
battling so bravely for a number of years on October
23. Sherman was a true leader of our association and
dedicated untold time during the past year to the passage
of Senate Bill 121, which ultimately became Amendment
3. We will all be better off for knowing Sherman Suitts,
and our prayers go out to his family.
12
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
Leaders
ARBA Installs Officers
for 2010-2011
The seated luncheon was held this year at the Montgomery
Renaissance Hotel and Spa, complete with an address from
ALDOT Director Joe McInnes. It attracted guests and dignitaries from all over the state, including Lt. Governor Jim Folsom.
ARBA invited many special guests as well as ALDOT friends
to join them in the luxurious ballroom for the luncheon. The
tremendous crowd was a shining example of the hard work and
respect that is shared by those in transportation construction
and those that are responsible for the daily operations of the
Department of Transportation. We are thankful for them and
appreciate the participation and dedication that is shown by all.
Sonny Bunn introduced the guests from the DOT as well as
past ARBA presidents and special invited guests. Lastly, Bunn
announced the new officers and members of the Board of Directors for the Alabama Road Builders Association.
Incoming President Michael McCartney was the next to
speak. He thanked the membership for providing him with the
opportunity to serve and reminded the guests of Sherman’s dedication to the office of president of your association, especially
during the past year. He reflected on the successful legislative
accomplishments of our industry and numerous association
activities initiated by Sherman Suitts. The officers for the Association for the coming 2010-2011 year are as follows:
PRESIDENT – MICHAEL H. MCCARTNEY
Michael H. McCartney is vice president of operations,
McCartney Construction Company, Inc. and Calhoun Asphalt
Company, Inc. in Gadsden, Ala. Born September 27, 1956, in
Lee County, Ala., he attended Baylor High School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and graduated in l979 with a B.S. in business
administration from Auburn University.
McCartney has worked for McCartney Construction Company, Inc. since 1970 and has served the company in every
capacity from laborer to his present position.
McCartney is a member of the Rainbow Presbyterian
Church of Gadsden. He is a member of the Gadsden Quarterback Club and the Etowah County Auburn Club. McCartney
has served on the Alabama Road Builders Board of Directors
since 2000 and served as president of the Alabama Asphalt
Pavement Association in 1999, and he currently serves on the
Board of Directors of that Association. He serves as a director
of the TRIP board and is a member of the NCAT Applications
Steering Committee. He is the father of two daughters, Frances and Natalie, and one son, Bailey.
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
13
ARBA OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
FOR 2010-2011
President:
Vice President:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Michael H. McCartney
Keith Andrews
Craig Fleming
Chris Newell
NEWLY ELECTED DIRECTORS (TWO-YEAR TERM)
ST (Sonny) Bunn, Jr. ST Bunn Construction Co., Inc.
Bob Dawson
R.R. Dawson Bridge Co.,LLC
David Reed
Whitaker Contracting Corporation
Norman J. Walton
J.S. Walton & Co., Inc.
McCartney Construction Co., Inc.
RaCON, Inc.
Dunn Construction Co., Inc.
Newell Roadbuilders, Inc.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER DIRECTOR (ONE-YEAR REMAINING)
Mike Rooney
Thompson Tractor Co., Inc.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER DIRECTOR APPOINTED BY 2009-2010
PRESIDENT (TWO-YEAR TERM)
John Boyd
Batey & Sanders, Inc.
THOSE CONTINUING TO SERVE (ONE-YEAR REMAINING)
Pamela Norrell Kearley G.W. Norrell Contracting Co., Inc.
I.J. (Ike) Scott, III
Scott Bridge Co., Inc.
John G. Walton
John G. Walton Construction Co.
Charles E. Watts, Jr.
Charles E. Watts, Inc.
PERCENTAGE DUES BOARD MEMBERS – (ONE-YEAR RENEWABLE TERM)
GREG ABRAMSON
TIM MCCARTNEY
Abramson LLC; Birmingham
McCartney Const. Co. Inc.; Gadsden
RANDY BILLINGSLEY
KACY MIMS
Mobile Asphalt Co. LLC; Mobile
Alabama Bridge Builders, Inc.; Pinson
SONNY BUNN
TIM MULLENDORE
S T Bunn Const. Co. Inc.; Tuscaloosa
APAC Mid-South Inc.; Birmingham
TERRY BUNN
JOHN E. MURPHY, III
S T Bunn Const. Co. Inc.; Tuscaloosa
H. O. Weaver & Sons, Inc.; Mobile
BOB DAWSON
DAVID REED
R. R. Dawson Bridge Co., LLC; Bessemer
Whitaker Contr. Corp.; Guntersville
JOHN FULLER
DEREK ROBERTS
East Alabama Paving Co., Inc.; Opelika
Rogers Group, Inc.; Tuscumbia
LEE GROSS
MIKE ROONEY
Ozark Striping Co., Inc.; Ozark
Thompson Tractor Co., Inc.; Birmingham
JOHN HARPER
IKE SCOTT, III
Wiregrass Const. Co., Inc.; Ariton
Scott Bridge Co., Inc.; Opelika
MITCHELL HARRIS
JOHN G. WALTON
H & L Const. Co., Inc.; Troy
John G. Walton Construction Co., Inc.; Mobile
JOE HOWLE
NORMAN WALTON
Vulcan Materials Company
J. S. Walton Const. Co., Inc.; Mobile
RON JACKSON
CHARLES E. WATTS, JR.
Jackson Paving & Const. Co., Inc.; Guntersville
Charles E. Watts, Inc.; Gadsden
DAVE JONES
Martin Marietta Aggregates; Birmingham
CHRIS LOVOY
Reed Contracting Services, Inc.; Huntsville
14
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
VICE PRESIDENT – KEITH ANDREWS
Keith Andrews is president of RaCON, INC. in Tuscaloosa,
Ala. He was born February 14, 1959, in Montgomery, Ala.
Andrews served as vice president for RaCON, INC.
from its incorporation in 1981 until 2008, at which time he
was named president. He is also the managing member of
IKAROS, LLC.
Andrews has been an active board member of the West
Alabama Chamber of Commerce since 1991. He was a board
member of the Citizens Advisory Counsel for the Metropolitan Planning Organization in 1992-1993. He was Transportation Chairman of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce
in 1994. Andrews served as president of the West Alabama
Associated General Contractors in 1994. He was appointed
by former Gov. Fob James to the General Contractors Licensing Board for a term of two years in 1995-1996. He served in
an advisory role to Shelton State Community College for the
development of the Heavy Equipment Operators program
in 1996. Andrews currently serves on the Legislative and
Political Action Committee for the Alabama Utility Contractor Association. He currently serves as a founding partner for the University of Alabama Construction Engineering
Program. Andrews was appointed by Gov. Bob Riley to the
Alabama General Contractors Licensing Board in 2003 and
currently serves as secretary and treasurer of the board.
Keith is married to Carol and has three children: Miller,
Olivia and Benton (Ben).
TREASURER – CRAIG FLEMING
Born in Franklin, Ky., Craig Fleming attended Georgia
Institute of Technology and graduated in 1981 with a B.S. in
civil engineering.
Fleming is president of Dunn Construction Company,
Inc. He began work in the asphalt paving industry for APAC
in 1984. He held positions of various responsibilities there
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
for 10 years. He began working for Dunn Construction
Company in 1994 as vice president and area manager.
His work with Dunn has included five years as president
of Dunn Road Builders in Laurel, Miss. He returned to
Birmingham in 2001 and was named president of Dunn
Construction in 2002.
Fleming has been married for 27 years to Sherrie
Fleming. They have four children: Julie (22), Brooke
(19), Virginia (13) and Andrew (8). They are members of
Homewood Church of Christ.
SECRETARY – CHRIS NEWELL
Chris Newell was born June 27, 1974, in Savannah,
Ga., (Newell Roadbuilders was building I-16 near Savannah at the time). Newell graduated from Hooper Academy
in Hope Hull, Ala., and Auburn University in 1997 with a
B.S. in civil engineering.
Newell became a fourth-generation legacy to work
with Newell Roadbuilders at the age of 12. He worked
during summers sweeping the shop. At age 16, he began
working on a road crew which continued during summers through college. He also spent two summers working with ALDOT. After graduation from college, Newell
began working full time with Newell Roadbuilders as
office engineer. He is currently vice president, overseeing
several highway projects and private industrial work in
Georgia and Alabama.
Newell and his wife, Amber, have twin 7-year-old
daughters, Alex and Avery, and a 3-year-old son, Ridge.
Newell serves on the board of directors for the Montgomery Auburn Club and Hooper Academy. He is a trustee of
the Fred Hooper Endowment Fund that benefits Hooper
Academy. He is also on the ARBA/ALDOT Liaison and
Legislative Committees. Newell and his family are members of Hope Hull United Methodist Church.
❏
15
In Loving Memory
SHERMAN SUITTS
ARBA President, 2009-2010
July 15, 1951 - October 23, 2010
16
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
INDUSTRY TRENDS
The Decade Ahead
New Technologies, Regulations and Opportunities
uring the next 10 years,
D
Alabama’s road builders could see
more sophisticated equipment,
more environmental regulation, more
green construction and—eventually—
more work.
On the equipment side, Mike Rooney,
general manger of Thompson Tractors,
said the new Tier IV emissions technology will begin showing up in equipment after January 1, 2011. “That will
provide cleaner air for the environment,
but there’s a good deal of technology
involved so it’s more costly to design and
build and there’s somewhat more maintenance required over the machine’s life
cycle.” The new technology will also
require additional training of service
technicians, although many, like Thompson Tractor’s technicians, have already
worked on similar equipment in on-road
trucks.
“Beyond that, I think we’ll see the
continued adoption of machine control
and guidance, using two- and threedimensional GPS control systems to
reduce the number of tractor hours and
increase the efficiency of the operator.
It also reduces the amount of surveying and re-surveying that’s required,”
Rooney added.
The third trend he sees is component condition monitoring, which uses
onboard systems and transmits vital
diagnostic information to the equipment
owner or dealer. This goes well beyond
monitoring maintenance requirements
or signaling problems. “It can accumulate the data so you can determine how
the tractor is operating, its efficiency,”
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
Rooney said. “As we move forward,
we’ll have the rate or production that
a machine is achieving as it digs or
pushes. It will do the calculation for the
contract management side of the equation—the product health as well as the
product efficiency. All of these electronics and systems will be tied in so that the
machine and the operator can become
more efficient and operate at a lower
cost per hour.”
Rooney predicts that adoption of
these systems will become more widespread as contractors realize their benefits. Engineers will design projects and
prepare data cards that contractors will
plug into the onboard systems. “A contractor will be able to do the estimating
or operate the machine to finish blade
with that data,” he said.
Manufacturers will use more electronics in equipment components like
transmissions and hydraulic cylinders to
work better with these control systems,
he added.
more difficult for plants to meet particulate standards.
“The third issue is the continuing
regulation and heavy enforcement on
stormwater discharges, not just at the
plant but also out on the jobsite where
we’re building roads. Those regulations
are getting tougher and enforcement
is getting tougher,” Howle added. He
expects to see federal and state environmental protection agencies linking
stormwater discharge with overall water
management on the site.
Sidney Mays, Vulcan’s vice president
of marketing, said Alabama’s state and
local governments may start requiring
more “green” construction techniques.
“We’re seeing [in other areas] a movement towards and more acceptance
from the specifications side all the way
through to the state and federal departments of transportation considering and
in some cases allowing higher percentages of RAP,” he explained.
continued on page 28
REGULATIONS AND GREEN BUILDING
On the regulatory side, expect stricter
regulation and more enforcement from
the Environmental Protection Agency
even if the Republicans win control of
one or both houses of Congress. “I don’t
see that changing as long as the Democrats are in the White House,” said
Joe Howle, manager of environmental,
community and government affairs at
Vulcan Materials.
Howle believes there could be more
regulation of greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions, with the EPA
requiring cement and asphalt plants and
stone quarries to report both direct (on
site) and indirect emissions. The EPA
may also ratchet down the size of the
particles that it will regulate, making it
Contractors can expect
companies like Vulcan to work
with engineers and architects
to develop new green
products…
17
FALL GOLF TOURNAMENT
It’s
Tee
Time!
Fall Golf Tournament 2010
n a beautiful October day, the Alabama Road Builders Association gathered at The Arrowhead Golf and Country Club and hosted its
O
annual fall golf tournament for its members and guests. Another tremendous crowd played the challenging course in the afternoon
and followed the day up with a great turnout at the awards ceremony and dinner that evening. Guests and Alabama Department of
Transportation friends were everywhere and proved to make this tournament another tremendously successful event. The day began with
golfers preparing for their 12:30 p.m. tee time by warming up on the range and then having a lunch at the clubhouse.
Upon completion of the day’s rounds, everyone gathered back at the clubhouse
for a steak dinner and awarding of the golf prizes. Each of the seven flights from
each course were awarded first, second and third place team prizes in the form
of gift certificates that could be redeemed in the pro shop. Awards were also presented to the closest to the pin winners on the par threes, as well as two longest
drive contests.
The first flight overall tournament low score team winners were Mark Waites,
Bo Gross, Lee Gross and Randy Walls. Congratulations to this great team and all
the others for their participation.
Everyone stayed late into the evening as the Arrowhead staff and tournament
team members entertained the ALDOT and ARBA guests with libations and appetizers. The event was one that will not soon be forgotten and one that will be tough
to duplicate. We plan to have another great event this spring, so make your plans
now to join us May 5-6, 2011, for the Spring Fling Golf and Fishing Rodeo as
we return to the Gulf Coast. Special thanks go out to Jeff Webb, Shirley McGowen Banks, Hayley Drumwright and Terri Mitchell. Thank you for all your help
throughout the day!
❏
18
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
19
Alabama Institutes
Industry Fee
for Recruitment
Campaign
he Alabama Road Builders Association has joined in a coalition with other trade associations, unions and owner
T
groups to form the Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute (ACRI) and launch a statewide image-recruitment
campaign designed to bring field personnel into the non-residential construction industry.
The campaign will be financed by a fee of 0.0009 collected on wages ($900 on $1 million in wages) paid to field
personnel below the superintendent level—working foremen and craftsmen through common labor. The law is
designed to raise $1.75 million annually for the recruiting
program.
This recruitment effort is exclusively for the non-residential construction industry; the fee is not applied to construction work on single-family homes.
The ARBA Board of Directors agreed to support this
initiative because it understands the long-term labor need
and the value of image enhancement-recruitment for our
industry. This program is designed to act as an ‘Army of
Amendment 3 falls short
continued from page 10
On Tuesday, November 2, voters
determined that the statements made
by Gov. Riley and David Bronner were
just too powerful to ignore. Amendment 3 was defeated, and the effort to
adequately fund Alabama’s road and
bridge construction program was, once
again, back to square one.
So what does the future hold for
our industry? With the new administration in place, hopes are high that
transportation construction will once
again be looked upon as a viable way
to support Alabama’s economic development, job creation and quality of
life. This industry performs great work
20
One’ campaign for our industry. The ARBA, AGC, ABC
and others have already financed research and development that will be used to help complete and implement the
recruitment campaign.
Dr. Tim Alford, the first director of Gov. Bob Riley’s
Alabama Office of Workforce Development, has been hired
to lead the ACRI. Additional staff will be put in place to
implement the campaign ultimately bringing talented people into our industry and guiding them into craft education
programs and onto our members’ jobsites.
The law limits collection of the fee to four years and
requires legislative action to change that.
❏
for Alabamians, at a bargain price for
their tax dollars. Our competitively
bid projects consistently save taxpayers millions and provide a product that
drives economic growth to every part
of the state. We generate tremendous
tax revenues for Alabama and we hire
Alabama workers for Alabama family
businesses.
It is easy to ridicule ideas that
you disagree with but offer no tangible solutions. Raising taxes is not a
political reality. Borrowing money is
too costly for the state. Our industry
is struggling to make ends meet, and
the roads and bridges are aging daily
and becoming costlier to maintain.
Resources are dwindling and a tough
decision needs to be made—do we
support the lifeblood of our state’s
economy or do we fall further behind
at the risk of our citizens’ safety and
our state’s economic future?
One thing this vote tells us is there
are hundreds of thousands of Alabamians that recognize the need for
additional transportation construction
funding. Alabama’s transportation
construction industry is ready for the
next step. We are hopeful the elected
leadership of Alabama is ready to take
it with us.
❏
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
Thank You
Shirley Banks!
45 Years of Service!
W
e would like to honor and thank Shirley Banks for all the years of hard
work and dedication she has brought to the Alabama Road Builders
Association. It will not be the same without her.
Shirley, we wish you a wonderful retirement!
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
21
LEGAL
New Standards for Cranes
and Derricks in Construction
BY MAC GREAVES AND NANCY FOUAD
A
lthough crane accidents have been occurring for many years, the increasing number of crane-related deaths has
led to added scrutiny over jobsite safety, worker training and regulations. In 2003, the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the Crane and Derrick Negotiated Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (C-DAC) to recommend changes to OSHA’s crane and derrick regulations. C-DAC developed a draft
document, which OSHA used as the basis for the new crane standard that it released on August 9, 2010.
The new crane standard, 29 CFR Section 1926.1400, applies to power-operated
equipment when used in construction that
can hoist, lower and horizontally move a
suspended load. Note that the new standard does list a number of exemptions
to this rule. Also, because the new standard only applies to equipment used in
construction, it does not apply to cranes
or crane operations in general industry. Non-construction crane and derrick
operations are governed by a separate set
of regulations found at 29 C.F.R. Section
1910, Subpart N.
The new standard addresses key
hazards related to cranes and derricks
on construction worksites, including the
four main causes of worker death and
injury: electrocution, crushed by parts
of the equipment, struck by the equipment/load, and falls. Some of the new
significant requirements in the new standard include a pre-erection inspection
of tower crane parts; use of synthetic
slings in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions during assembly/disassembly work; assessment of ground
conditions; qualification or certification
of crane operators; and procedures for
working in the vicinity of power lines.
Most provisions of the new standard
became effective on November 8, 2010.
GROUND CONDITIONS
Under the new standard, the Controlling Entity must inform equipment users
22
and operators of known underground
hazards (voids, utilities, etc.). The “Controlling Entity” is a prime contractor,
general contractor, construction manager or any other legal entity that has the
overall responsibility for the construction of the project—its planning, quality
and completion. Property owners that
assume the responsibility for construction of the project could be considered
“legal entities.” The information that the
Controlling Entity is now required to
provide includes all information known
about ground conditions, as well as
written information in possession of the
controlling employer, whether on-site or
off-site.
ASSEMBLY/DISASSEMBLY
The new standard requires that
employers comply with all manufacturer prohibitions relating to assembly
and disassembly. The standard generally
allows employers to choose between the
manufacturer’s procedures or their own
except that when using synthetic slings
the employer must follow the manufacturer’s procedures even when the
employer has developed its own procedures as an alternative. Additionally,
when the employer’s procedures are used
as an alternative, those procedures must
be developed by a “qualified person” and
must satisfy a number of requirements,
such as providing adequate support and
stability for all parts of the equipment,
and positioning employees involved to
minimize exposure to any unintended
movement or collapse.
The new standard also requires the
work to be directed by an assembly/
disassembly (A/D) director who is both
a “competent person” and a “qualified
person” as defined by the standard. In
addition to other responsibilities, the
A/D director must address hazards
related to the operation, including the
following areas of concern: site and
ground conditions, blocking material,
proper location of blocking, verifying
assist crane loads, boom and jib pick
points, center of gravity, stability upon
pin removal, snagging, struck by counterweights, boom hoist brake failure,
loss of backward stability, and wind
speed and weather.
INSPECTIONS AND OPERATIONS
Under the new standard, all documentation required by the inspection
provisions must be available to inspectors when performing the required
inspections (including wire rope inspections). Upon completion of assembly,
but before use, the equipment must be
inspected by a “qualified person” to
ensure that it is configured in accordance with the manufacturer equipment
criteria. If the manufacturer’s procedures are not available, the employer’s
“qualified person” must develop operations procedures. Procedures related to
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
person is qualified by using one of the
following options:
• Third party qualified evaluator. The
signal person has documentation
from a third party qualified evaluator showing that he or she meets the
qualification requirements; or
• Employer’s qualified evaluator (not
a third party). The employer’s qualified evaluator assesses the individual,
determines the individual meets the
qualification requirements, and provides documentation of that determination. This assessment may not be
relied on by other employers.
the capacity of the equipment must be
developed by a registered professional
engineer (familiar with the equipment)
when the manufacturer’s procedures are
not available. Additionally, this information must be readily available in the
cab of the crane.
The new crane standard also added a
new requirement for the pre-inspection
of tower cranes. The crane components
of tower cranes must now be inspected
after transportation to the work site and
prior to erection of the crane.
SIGNAL PERSON QUALIFICATION
A signal person is required when:
the point of operation is not in full view
of the operator, the operator’s view is
obstructed in the direction the equipment is traveling, or either the operator
or the person handling the load determines that a signal person is needed
because of site-specific safety concerns.
Signal persons do not have to be certified
under the new standard. However, the
signal person must be qualified. Qualification requirements include knowing
and understanding signals, competency
in using signals, a basic understanding
of crane operation, and a verbal or written test plus a practical test.
The new crane standard requires
employers to ensure that the signal
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
QUALIFIED RIGGER
Similarly, riggers do not have to be
certified under the new standard but
must be qualified. Riggers must be a
qualified person for the performance
of specified hoisting activities such as
during assembly/disassembly work and
those activities that require employees
to be in the fall zone to handle a load.
A qualified rigger is a person that possesses a recognized degree, certificate
or professional standing; or has extensive knowledge, training and experience; and can successfully demonstrate
the ability to solve/resolve problems
related to rigging loads.
OPERATOR QUALIFICATION AND
CERTIFICATION
Finally, the new crane standard
requires any person engaged in a construction activity who is operating a
crane covered by the new standard to be
certified. Persons exempt from certification requirements are those operating
sideboom cranes, derricks, or equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less. However,
these operators must meet other criteria
for minimum expertise that is described
in the new standard.
All other operators must be qualified
or certified under one of four methods
described in the new crane standard.
Employers have up to four years to
ensure that their operators are qualified
or certified, unless they are operating in
a state or city that currently has its own
operator requirements. Employers must
also pay for the certification or qualification of their currently uncertified or
unqualified operators. The four ways
that an equipment operator can be
qualified or certified and meet OSHA
requirements are as follows.
• A certificate from an accredited
crane operator testing organization.
• Qualification from the employer
through an audited employer
program.
• Qualification by the U.S. Military (only applies to employees of
Department of Defense or Armed
Forces and does not include private
contractors).
• Licensing by a state or local government (if that licensing meets the
minimum requirements set forth by
OSHA).
Additionally, certification consists of
two parts:
• A written examination that includes
the safe operating procedures for
the particular type of equipment
the applicant will be operating and
technical understanding of certain
required subject matter criteria; and
• A practical exam demonstrating
that the applicant has the skills
needed to safely operate the equipment, including the ability to properly use load chart information and
recognize items required in the
shift inspection.
❏
Authors’ note: Questions or comments should be communicated to Mac
Greaves (mgreaves@burr.com or 205458-5172) or Nancy Fouad (nancy.
fouad@burr.com or 205-458-5425) at
Burr & Forman, LLP in Birmingham,
Alabama. This article is intended to
provide general information concerning
recent developments in certain aspects
of construction law. It is distributed with
the understanding that it does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting or other professional services and
should not be used as a substitute for
professional service in specific situations. If legal assistance or other expert
assistance is required, the services of a
qualified professional should be sought.
If legal advice is sought, no representation is made that the quality of legal
services to be performed is greater than
the quality of legal services performed
by other lawyers.
23
24
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
MEMBER PROFILE
Hilton Cooper
Contracting, Inc.
H
ilton Cooper Contracting, Inc. is a success story that began in 1969 with
the purchase of a bulldozer. The Clayton-based company has steadily
grown since its beginning when the founder Hilton Cooper decided to use
his time when not farming to clear some of his land. Soon other farmers were
asking him to help them. Eventually this grew to clearing fire lanes, log roads
and building fish ponds.
Hilton Cooper Contracting, Inc. is still a family run business. Hilton’s son, Kendall, took over the business in 1999, after having worked with his father since
graduating high school. He now runs the day-to-day operation of the company as
president. Hilton Cooper died in 2004.
Over the past 39 years, they have expanded and developed into a full service
site contractor working in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Most of the company’s
work is won through the bid process. With road work, Hilton Cooper Contracting,
Inc. acts as general contractor and subcontractor with crews doing everything from
performing road construction, water and sewer infrastructure, jack and bore, directional boring, and commercial site development. They also have a fleet of dump
trucks including tri-axles and dump trailers for all hauling requirements.
Kendall believes a must for any successful company is good equipment and
good people. Hilton Cooper Contracting, Inc. has both. Kendall believes his company’s people are the primary key for their success.
Even though the company tackles many large, multi-million dollar projects,
smaller projects and agricultural origins have not been forgotten. Kendall still
farms 3,000 acres of cotton and peanuts and maintains a herd of more than 900
cows. Kendall’s wife, Cindy, also works with the company as corporate secretary,
and helps manage the farming operation.
A third generation family member, Justin, also works alongside his parents to
learn every aspect of the business.
Growing a company from one bulldozer to an American business success story
wasn’t easy, but Hilton Cooper Contracting, Inc. has done just that with the help of
family and a good group of employees. Mr. Cooper summarized their true success
as, “The good Lord has blessed us.”
❏
Even though the company tackles many large,
multi-million dollar projects, smaller projects and
agricultural origins have not been forgotten.
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
25
ARBA/ALDOT
Continue Liaison Committee
Visits Divisions in 2010
A
s another added member
service, your ARBA/ALDOT
Liaison Committee met with
division engineers and their staffs at
their offices this past fall and winter
to hear from contractors in their own
areas. All nine division offices hosted
meetings for ARBA members in every
part of Alabama. The Division officers
gave a preview of the upcoming
construction schedules for each
area and also addressed any issues
specific to that part of the state
from ARBA members. Many thanks
to ALDOT Assistant Chief Engineers
Mike Harper and Don Arkle for
their participation in these excellent
events. We thank all contractor and
associate members who participated
in these meetings.
26
❏
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
HEARD ALONG THE HIGHWAY
PAUL SCOTT SERVES ARBA BOARD FOR 16 YEARS
Lee Gross presents a plaque of gratitude from the
ARBA Board of Directors to Paul Scott, Turner Insurance
& Bonding, Inc., for his dedicated service as an associate
member of the ARBA Board of Directors for 16 years.
Thank you Paul for all you have meant to our industry, this
board and this Association.
HALL OF FAME – 2011 CLASS
You should have already received your Hall of Fame
application packets for the 2011 class. Please take the time
to review the information and determine if you know anyone worthy of being included in our next class. The industry pioneers who are included in this exclusive fraternity
are unique individuals who have dedicated their lives to
the transportation construction industry. We hope to continue this new ARBA tradition by preparing a class of
special individuals and creating a foundation that this program can thrive on for many years to come. Please call the
ARBA office if you need any information on this program
or if you have questions.
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TENTATIVE
LETTING SCHEDULE 2011
Highway Construction Lettings are normally held on
the second Friday of January, the last Friday of the months
February-September, and the first Friday of November and
December, with no letting scheduled in the month of October. Listed below are the tentative letting dates for 2011.
These letting dates are subject to change, but will be confirmed approximately four (4) weeks prior to these dates:
2011
• July 29, 2011
• January 14, 2011
• August 26, 2011
• February 25, 2011
• September 30, 2011
• March 25, 2011
• November 4, 2011
• April 29, 2011
• December 2, 2011
• May 27, 2011
• June 24, 2011
ALABAMA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY GETS A BOOST
FROM MIKE ROWE
A construction education and recruitment campaign
kicked off in Alabama featuring the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” executive producer and host Mike Rowe
advocating for careers in construction. The website, www.
GoBuildAlabama.com includes a video of Rowe explaining the purpose of the campaign.
The Go Build campaign is a product of the Alabama
Construction Recruitment Institute (ACRI) which was created by Act 220 of the Alabama legislature and is funded
through an employer fee that will generate $1.75 million
per year.
ACRI will provide state-wide construction craft training programs at two-year colleges, nonunion training
centers and union facilities, using the National Center for
Construction Education and Research curriculum. ARBA
is a member of ACRI and joined other industry groups to
lobby for the creation of ACRI with the goal of taking the
program nationwide.
The Go Build campaign includes statewide print, online
and television advertisements promoting the GoBuildAlabama.com website, where people can learn more about
skilled trade centers and find information about training
programs, among other things. In addition, ACRI will
be doing direct outreach to high schools beginning this
fall through a partnership with the Alabama chapter of
SkillsUSA.
DIRECTORIES TO ARRIVE BY EARLY DECEMBER
Your 2010-2011 ARBA Membership
Directory & Buyers’ Guide should be arriving any day now. For those who would like
to purchase additional directories, please
call Terri Mitchell in the ARBA office at
800-239-5828. They may be purchased by
ARBA members for $10 each. Thank you
to all the advertising sponsors who help make this directory the industry standard for transportation construction
in Alabama.
continued on page 28
HAYLEY DRUMWRIGHT
- WELCOME
TO THE ARBA FAMILY
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
27
HEARD ALONG THE HIGHWAY
continued from page 27
ARBA SPRING FLING – MAY 5-6, 2011
ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA
The Annual Spring Fling Golf and Fishing Tournament is set once again for May 2011. Make your plans
today to be a part of this exciting activity. Join ARBA
friends and ALDOT guests as we participate in a twoday event consisting of a fishing rodeo and a golf tournament. Be watching your mailings for registration forms
that will be coming soon!
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING CONFERENCE;
FEBRUARY 22-23, 2011, RENAISSANCE HOTEL &
CONVENTION CENTER, MONTGOMERY
The Alabama Department of Transportation Annual
Engineering Conference will be held on February 22-23,
2011. Your Alabama Road Builders Association will be
part of the events greeting conference participants on
both days, as well as the entire planning of the conference. Please join the staff of Auburn University and the
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the Auburn
University Engineering Extension Service as they put
together another quality event for Alabama’s transportation construction industry.
❏
If you want to stabilize
pavement subgrades, enhance
hot mix asphalt performance,
or reclaim low volume roads,
call us for superior lime,
outstanding service, and
expert technical support.
2236 Cahaba Valley Dr. Ste. 202 * Birmingham, AL * 35242
888-605-7783 * www.lhoist.us
THE NEXT DECADE
continued from page 17
“It will be necessary to think through how we maximize
the use of RAP and still provide long-life pavements…If we’re
building very high traffic roads, for example, there are safety
issues such as permeability and skid resistance that have to be
taken into account.”
Contractors can expect companies like Vulcan to work with
engineers and architects to develop new green products, Mays
said. Vulcan, for example, has recently developed a product
for use underneath permeable pavements, which control storm
water and allow owners to make better use of their land.
“The initial thinking on green construction was that we have
to do green just because it’s green, but now you see everybody
thinking this through together, so there’s a way to do green
with economic benefits,” he added.
Mays is optimistic about the outlook for Alabama road
building over time. The lack of a federal highway bill and other
budget demands like pension funding has made it difficult for
states to commit to long-term infrastructure projects. But Alabama’s continuing growth and its success in attracting new
businesses have made infrastructure spending essential in the
long term.
“We’re still going to need roads and airports and rails
that function and deliver product,” Mays said. “The downturn didn’t change that; those fundamentals don’t go away…
There’s a lot of potential and a lot of big needs, and I think
being short-sighted about your investment in your company
will definitely be a problem when we’re three, four or five
years down the road.”
❏
28
447042_ChemicalLime.indd 1
12/1/09 10:28:55 PM
For John Deere
Sales and Service, Call On:
66 Industrial Park Dr.
Monroeville, AL 36460
334/575-7111
6801 McFarland Blvd. West
Northport, AL 35476
205/339-0300
2149 Hwy 31 South
Pelham, AL 35124
205/988-4472
Hwy 31 South
Athens, AL 35611
256/233-1914
2255 Hwy 21 South
Oxford, AL 36201
256/831-0921
3540 Wetumpka Hwy
Montgomery, AL 36110
334/277-7260
481893_Warrior.indd 1
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter
2010
6/3/10
1:02:28 PM
Gulf Coast Asphalt Company
Quality Asphalts for Pavement Construction
CORPORATE OFFICE
11 Greenway Plaza Suite 2950 • Houston, TX 77046
832-426-3310 office • 832-426-3320 fax
BLAKELEY CRUDE & PRODUCT TERMINAL
835 Cochrane Causeway, Hwy. 90/98 • Mobile, AL 36610
251-432-7666 office • 251-433-8622 fax
HALCORP ASPHALT TERMINAL
600 South Barracks, Suite 210-B • Pensacola, FL 32502
850-444-7179 office • 850-336-2095 mobile
CONTACT US:
CORPORATE
Joe Mattingly Jr (Houston)
Business Development Manager
jmattinglyjr@gcachouston.com
MOBILE & PENSACOLA
Dave Cutting
Sales Manager
dcutting@gcachouston.com
George Grace (Houston)
Purchasing
ggrace@gcachouston.com
Kenny Hucker
Plant Manager
khucker@gcachouston.com
w w w. g c a c h o u s t o n . c o m
458755_GulfCoast.indd 1
The McPherson
Companies, Inc.
12/8/09 8:46:15 AM
PALOMAR INSURANCE
Total Petroleum Management
“Serving Your Energy Needs
Fuel, Lubricants, Waste Oil, Fuelman”
5051 Cardinal Street
Trussville, AL 35173
888-802-7500
www.mcphersonoil.com
info@mcphersonoil.com
Proud Member of ARBA
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
WE HAVE YOUR BACK...
...YOU CAN FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.
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blueprint ffor
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334.270.0105 • ARBA@PALOMARINS.COM
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29 AM
8/4/10 11:29:16
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS/
ADVERTISER.COM
REACH BUYERS,
NOT BROWSERS
AGGREGATES
Martin Marietta Aggregates ..........................................10
www.martinmarietta.com
Vulcan Materials Company .............................................6
www.vulcanmaterials.com
ASPHALT & ASPHALT PRODUCTS
Gulf Coast Asphalt Company ........................................29
www.gcachouston.com
ASPHALT EMULSIONS/EMULSIFYING AGENTS
Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. .....................................4
www.savemyroad.com
AUCTIONEERS
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers America ................................30
www.rbauction.com
CRUSHED LIMESTONE
The Rogers Group, Inc. ..........................Inside Back Cover
www.rogersgroupinc.com
CRUSHED STONE/GRANITE/RIPRAP
Southeast Materials Corporation.....................................6
DRILLING & BLASTING CONTRACTORS
Apache Construction ......................................................6
ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTS
Thompson Engineering ...................................................8
www.thompsonengineering.com
EQUIPMENT SALES, SERVICE & RENTAL
Cowin Equipment ...............................Outside Back Cover
www.cowin.com
Thompson Tractor ................................ Inside Front Cover
www.thompsontractor.com
Warrior Tractor and Equipment .....................................28
www.warriortractor.com
FUEL, OIL & LUBRICANTS
The McPherson Companies, Inc. ..................................29
www.mcphersonoil.com
GUARDRAIL & HIGHWAY SAFETY
Alabama Guardrail, Inc. ................................................30
HEAVY HIGHWAY & GRADING
John G. Walton Construction Co, Inc...............................8
www.johngwalton.com
INSURANCE/BONDING
Palomar Insurance Corporation.....................................29
www.palomarins.com
Turner Insurance & Bonding Company ...Inside Back Cover
www.tibcoinc.com
LIME/QUICKLIME/HYDRATED LIME SLURRY
Lhoist North America ...................................................28
www.lhoist.us
PAINT SUPPLIERS
Safety Coatings, Inc. ....................................................30
www.safetycoatings.com
SAFETY PRODUCTS
Alabama Barricade, Inc. .................................................8
www.alabamabarricade.com
TRAFFIC CONTROL/DEVICES & SIGNS
Alabama Barricade, Inc. .................................................8
www.alabamabarricade.com
Protection Services, Inc. .................................................8
www.protectionservices.com
Imagine this: more than 1,300 on-site and online bidders from over
40 countries competing for your equipment. Most of them are
end-users looking for equipment they can put straight to work. More
than half have taken the time to come out to the auction and bid in
person – and they don’t want to go home empty-handed.
Reach buyers, not browsers: sell your equipment
at a Ritchie Bros. auction.
Wheeler Johnson, Territory Manager
205.837.9033 | rbauction.com
493018_Ritchie.indd 1
8/25/10 9:35:27 AM
PAINT SUPPLIER
Safety Coatings, Inc.
20180 Safety Lane
6772 Highway 79 N
P.O. Box 728 • Pinson, AL 35126
Tel.: 205-681-3395 • Fax: 205-681-5747
alguardl@bellsouth.net
Specializing in installation of highway guardrails, signs and fencing
30
314834_Alabamaguardrail.indd
1
2/16/07 6:00:25 PM
P.O. Box 399
Foley, AL 36536-0399
Phone: (251) 943-1638
Fax: (251) 943-3689
E-mail: info@safetycoatings.com
Web: www.safetycoatings.com
Safety Coatings manufactures all types of traffic
paints, including DOT approved, Federal Specs,
Parking lot paints, Hi-Build traffic paint, and Loop
Sealant. We have been in business since 1979,
and are known for our quality and service.
Please call us for any of your traffic paint needs.
Thank You
for
supporting
the
advertisers
in this
publication.
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
ROGERS GROUP, INC.
Helping to build communities from the ground
up for over 100 years
Tuscumbia Quarry
Asphalt/
Construction
Lacey’s Spring Quarry
Asphalt/Construction
256-650-3992
Moulton Quarry
Asphalt/Construction
256-974-4962
Limestone County
Quarry
256-233-6252
Russellville Asphalt
256-383-1645
South Limestone
Quarry
256-233-6252
WWW.ROGERSGROUPINC.COM
475025_TheRogers.indd 1
4/19/10 9:35:40 AM
Montgomery
Decatur
462887_Turner.indd 1
Mobile
Birmingham
Greenville
1/25/10 12:30:19 PM
IT TAKES MORE THAN PAINT
TO MAKE IT A VOLVO.
Volvo paving and compaction equipment isn’t beige
anymore. It’s yellow.
But it takes more than paint to make it a Volvo. An
extensive, global dealer network with superior parts,
service, and industry knowledge will keep you on the
job and your profits high. Our broad range of financial
services will help you get the equipment you need. It’s
the opportunity to own premium equipment and the
comfort of knowing you have experts to back you up.
Only then does it truly become a Volvo.
www.cowin.com
P: (205) 841-6666
800-239-2694
F: (205) 841-2639
Experience our compaction, paving, and motor grader
equipment packaged with everything Volvo offers.
Because when you’ve got a road to build, we’re ready to
get the job done.
MORE CARE. BUILT IN.
32
Volvo Construction Equipment
www.volvoce.com/na
The Alabama Roadbuilder • Winter 2010
BIRMINGHAM MOBILE MONTGOMERY HUNTSVILLE / DECATUR PENSACOLA OXFORD