Volume 3 - Eastern Missouri Laborers District Council LECET

Foundation for Success
A Quarterly Publication of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation
and Educational Trust of Eastern Missouri
Volume III, 2008
LECET is a partnership between the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and its affiliated construction and
environmental contractors.
LECET works to generate business opportunities for signatory union contractors and job opportunities for members of LIUNA by
improving communications, cooperative relations and efficiency of representatives of labor and management.
Through these actions and others. LECET ensures that signatory construction owners and users understand the benefits of working
with LIUNA members and their employers.
Contents
on the cover
Photo of Laborers
Constructing a Dome
Storage Facility
Article: Pages 6-7
also in this issue
Taum Sauk
Reservoir Project
Reaches Safety
Record
Page 1
The LECET BOARD of TRUSTEES
Ford Plant
Demolition
Pages 2 & 3
Labor Members
Gary Elliot, Business Manager,
Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council
Perri Pryor, Secretary/Treasurer,
Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council
Andrew Orlando, Business Manager,
Laborers’ Local 53
Labor Day
Parades 2008
Page 10
Larry Bloomer, Business Manager,
Laborers’ Local 662
Contractor Members
Ken Karsten, Karsten Equipment Company
Bill Luth, Fred M. Luth and Sons Inc.
Joe Leritz, Leritz Contracting Company
Jim Morgan, Subsurface Constructors
Patrick R. Pryor, LECET Director
Foundation for Success is a quarterly
magazine published by the Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council and the
Laborers-Employers Cooperation and
Education Trust (LECET)
Office: 3450 Hollenberg Dr.
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Phone: (314) 291-0373
e-mail: LECET@molecet.org
www.molecet.org
www.buildunion.com
SAFETY RECORD AT TAUM SAUK PROJECT
REACHES ONE-MILLION HOURS
The safety record of the Laborers and other union
trade members working on rebuilding Ameren’s
Taum Sauk Reservoir in Reynolds County, Missouri
had reached an impressive one million man-hours
without a lost-time accident as of mid-August 2008.
This project was featured in the last edition of the
Foundation for Success.
What is really impressive about this goal is the
magnitude and coordination between crafts working
on the project. Nearly 600 supervisory, engineering
and union members are working on the job site.
Rebuilding the reservoir involves placing 2.7 million
cubic yards of roller compacted concrete (RCC) and
a third of a million cubic yards of structural concrete
in a symmetrical dam on top of Prospect Mountain.
“Attainment
of this critical
milestone is few
and far-apart in
our industry,” said
Doug Weible,
President of Fred
Weber, Inc.’s Material Services and Managing Partner
of Ozark Constructors. “We strongly believe that
Taum Sauk project’s safety, production and quality
can be successfully accomplished together.”
Many Laborers from Local 916 and Local 110
received recognition at the luncheon. Among those
being honored were four Laborers with over 3,000
hours without injury. They have been on the job
since the beginning and they are pictured below.
To celebrate this safety achievement,
the construction project team of Ozark
Constructors, a joint venture partnership
between Fred Weber, Inc. and ASI
Constructors, Inc. along with the project
engineer and design firm, Paul C. Rizzo
and Associates, hosted a luncheon
September 22 for all the workers on the
project.
3,000 hours without injury: Pictured Left to Right
Scott Johnson, Randy Polk, Dane Tourville
and Shop Steward Larry Moses
Pictured above are all the Laborers with Local 916 and Local 110
who are working at the Taum Sauk Reservoir
-1-
FORD PLANT DEMOLITION
LABORERS DISMANTLE OLD FORD AUTO PLANT
FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT
Laborers from Local 53 in St. Louis
are helping demolish the old Ford
Motor Company automobile plant
located on north Lindbergh Boulevard
near the airport in St. Louis County.
The 155-acre facility was sold in
June 2008 to Panattoni Development
Company of Sacramento, California
for an estimated $20-million.
Panattoni plans to build 11 new
warehouses, light industrial spaces
and offices on the site to be known
as Aviator Park. Total amount of the
new structures will be 2.6 million
square feet with an estimated value of more than
$700-million.
Panattoni solicited bids from demolition contractors
to demolish the 3.3 million square feet of buildings
and the adjacent parking and storage areas on the site.
But, this was not your traditional bid! Instead of
getting bids that it would pay a contractor to get rid of
the structures, Panattoni actually wanted demolition
contractors to pay them for demolishing the
buildings.
The reason for this “reverse bidding” was the amount
of recyclable metals and other materials in the
buildings. Obviously, a demolition contractor would
not bid the work unless he/she believed there were
enough recyclable materials in the structures for them
to make a profit.
Brandenburg Industrial Services Company, a
large Chicago based demolition, environmental
remediation and site preparation contractor, won the
bid and has been on the job site since June. Mark
Cerven, Brandenburg official on the site, said
he expects the company has about six more
months of work to do before pulling out. “The
crews have been working five, 10-hour days a
week and usually three Saturdays a month since
arriving.”
Currently, Local 53 has about 11 Laborers
working on the site. Cerven said Brandenburg
might employ between 10 to 12 Laborers
working on the old automobile plant later as
work continues. Gary Bonnard is the Laborer
shop steward at the site. “We have guys working
all over the place,”
-2-
said Bonnard. “This is a good steady job for us.”
Brandenburg is recycling most of the building
materials. Workers must try and dismantle fixtures,
steel trusses, and other parts of the building without
too much damage, using machinery and equipment
whenever possible. Much of the job is done inside
the buildings where lighting is provided by portable
light towers with generators. Even so, lighting is poor
and all the utilities have been turned off for safety
reasons.
Another issue workers have confronted on this site is
hazardous materials. Some sections of the plant have
been sealed off because of asbestos or the leftover
effect of certain chemicals previously used at the
plant. Laborers trained in hazardous remediation
work are kept busy removing, storing and shipping
the materials for proper disposal.
As large sections of machinery and the building itself
are demolished, portions are carried to a “burn field.”
In the “burn field”, Laborers with torches cut the
larger pieces down to a size that makes the materials
more easily loadable onto trucks and carried away to
a scrap yard. The heat and odor created from burning
certain items requires the Laborers to wear protective
clothing and breathing gear to ensure their safety and
health.
As the buildings are demolished, a local contractor,
Kuesel Excavating Company of St. Charles County,
is responsible for removing the concrete pad and
parking areas. All the concrete on this 155-acre
site will be removed to make way for the new
construction.
Once a building and concrete have been demolished
and removed, work can start on constructing a new
warehouse. This again represents an opportunity
for Laborers to perform more work on the site by
building the new structures.
Panattoni hopes to have some new facilities in place
by the spring of 2009. “This is a unique site, and we
are delighted to be involved in its redevelopment,”
said Panattoni senior vice-president Mark
Branstetter in a press release issued by his company
this past June. “We are very excited to be building
again in the city of Hazelwood.” In the last three
years, Panattoni has developed nearly 3-million
square fee of building space in the St. Louis area
with an estimated value of $135 million.
Some of the Laborers on the job site include: Jeff
Hennard, John Conway, Steve Scott, Stevenson
“Steve” Rohn, Benjamin Valencia and Mario
Vasquez.
-3-
LABORERS’ GENERAL
PRESIDENT VISITS MISSOURI
Laborers’ International Union
of North America (LiUNA)
General President Terence
O’Sullivan traveled to Missouri
recently to address apprentices,
not just from the Laborers
Apprenticeship program, but those
from numerous other construction trade apprentice
programs.
The LiUNA general president congratulated the
apprentices and encouraged them to continue in their
respective programs. “Only by further training,
education and hard
work can you advance
in this business,” said
O’Sullivan. He noted
the salary structure
and benefits provided
to union workers,
which outpaces that
provided to non-union
Two Laborers listen to
O’Sullivan’s speech
construction workers.
But, O’Sullivan’s speech was more than just talk
about work. He also mixed in some politics as well.
The crowd of about 750 jammed into the St. Charles
Convention Center and heard O’Sullivan encourage
the apprentices and union officials present to support
candidates who support union workers. And, he
didn’t mince words in supporting Democratic
presidential candidate Barack Obama. O’Sullivan
gave a ringing endorsement of Obama and a
scathing condemnation on the current presidential
administration of George Bush.
*****The article in the next column is an editorial
from O’Sullivan regarding infrastructure in
America.
-4-
INFRASTRUCTURE:
Rebuilding America,
rebuilding the economy
District Council Awards Scholarships
The Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council (EMLDC) recently awarded 10 scholarships to young men
and women to help defray the cost of college or technical school. This is the fourth year for the Opportunity
Scholarship Program. Under the program, the EMLDC awards a $1,500 scholarship to a deserving student
nominated from each local.
The scholarships are awarded based on the individual students’ academic record, school and community
involvement, letters of recommendations and their willingness to further their education at a college or technical
school. Students must be a legal dependent of a Laborer who is in “good standing” with their local, have a high
school diploma or GED and have maintained at least a 2.5 grade point average in high school. The EMLDC
has awarded more than $45,000 in scholarships over the years to help these young men and women. If you are
interested in a scholarship opportunity contact your local for more information.
Below is a list of this year’s winners, the local that awarded their scholarship and the college or technical school
they are attending:
Ms. Jayme Brooks, Local 42, Missouri State University
Mr. Raymond Russell, Local 53, Northwest Missouri State University
Mr. Thaddeus Smith, Local 110, St. Louis University
Mr. Christopher Colbert, Local 660, Univ. of Central MO-School of Technology
Mr. Tyler Griffith, Local 662, Westminster College
Ms. Stephanie Naeger, Local 829, Southeast Missouri State University
Ms. Jazz Coffman, Local 830, Mineral Area College
Mr. Alex Burke, Local 840, Missouri University of Science & Technology
Mr. Chase Quinlan, Local 955, State Fair Community College
Ms. Amanda Wallace, Local 1104, Lambuth University
**NOTE: No scholarship winner from Local 916 in 2008
Congratulations to this year’s winners and good luck with the future education!
LABORERS’ CASH CELEBRATES
A MILESTONE
She is the District Council’s backbone and has been integral in all of our successes
over the years, said Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council (EMLDC) SecretaryTreasurer Perri Pryor referring to Administrative Assistant Dolores Cash. On
Monday, August 25, 2008, exactly 25 years after she started, Dolores was presented
with an award celebrating her 25 years of hard work for Laborers. “Dolores has been
such a huge asset to Laborers the past 25 years,” said Pryor
Gary Elliott, Business Manager of the EMLDC, also had some high praise for
Dolores. “From day-to-day work to organizing charity and member events, Dolores
has contributed so much to this council. Speaking for all Laborers in eastern
Missouri, we say a huge thank you Dolores.”
Everyone who has had to work with Dolores echoes that sentiment.
Dolores takes a picture celebrating
25 years with the Laborers
-5-
Laborers Assist in Un
for Ameren St
When Ameren U.E., the private electric utility
company supplying eastern Missouri
and southern Illinois, decided it needed
a new limestone storage facility for
its Portage Des Sioux power plant on
the Mississippi River in St. Charles
County, it turned to a different method of
construction. The utility contacted Dome
Technology USA Inc., an international
company based in Idaho that specializes
in a unique dome construction process.
Once awarded the contract to construct two 84-foot
diameter limestone storage domes on the plant site,
Dome Technology contacted Laborers’ Local 660
in St. Charles County to hire the workers it needed
to get the job done. “We have about a half a dozen
workers assigned to the job,” said Local 660 Business
Agent Dennis Schneier.
Laborers were involved in most aspects of the dome
construction. What makes this type of building so
unique is the process. Construction starts by building
a circular ring beam foundation with steel reinforcing
bars [rebar] securely embedded into the foundation
and used later to interconnect the foundation with the
concrete dome shell.
A weather-impermeable material known as airform
is permanently attached to the top of the ring beam
footing and inflated with air to create the dome shape.
“It is basically like blowing up a huge balloon,” said
Dan South, the company’s operations vice president.
-6-
“Once inflated, workers
access the inside of the
inflated dome through an
airlock. A polyurethane
foam is first sprayed onto
the inside surface of the
airform to stiffen it. As the
foam hardens, it creates an
insulation layer as well as a
secure surface to which an
integrated framework of rebar mats are attached in
stages to reinforce the dome.”
The concurrent step in
constructing the dome is
progressively spraying
shotcrete (a form of concrete)
onto the progressively staged
rebar until it is completely
covered, starting at the base
and moving up to the top of
the dome. This process creates
the final structural integrity
of the dome. The inflator fans
can then be turned off and the
dome is a solid freestanding
structure with a totally
unobstructed storage space
inside. The originally inflated
airform
remains
in place
as the
permanent
exterior
roof
membrane.
Depending
upon its
size and
shape,
nique Building Process
torage Facility
basic construction of
a dome shell can take
two to four months to
complete. Additional
time is needed if an
owner needs more
features added to
the structure, such
as underground
tunnels and vaults,
different kinds of recovery floors, or provision for
mechanical loading systems on top of the dome.
The dome is capable of
supporting a million pounds
of loading on the dome apex.
Their first Missouri dome
was a brick refractory in
Mexico built in 1982. The
company has also built
school gymnasiums, a house,
and other storage structures
in the state, but this project
for Ameren is the first time
the company has used Laborers
in the construction process.
“Because of the unique skill
sets required for this kind of
specialized construction, our
supervisory and technical people
worked
closely
with
Laborers
to provide
them the
necessary
skills and
safety
training
to make them effective team members,” said
Adam Sullivan, Dome Technology’s training
and safety director. “I’m sure this has been a
mutually rewarding project.”
Because of its initial flexibility as an inflated
airform, the dome can take many different
shapes and sizes. For example, a silo-shaped
dome with tall vertical walls can be built
for storing grain, or a large hemisphere can
be constructed on vertical walls to form an
indoor arena for spectator events. In addition to
industrial storage, the company has constructed many
schools, churches, performing arts centers, and other
architectural applications throughout the country.
Dome Technology has built domes in Canada,
Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Argentina, Germany, Jordan,
Lithuania, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Turkey,
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and United Arab Emirates.
It currently has projects pending or underway in
Canada, Poland, Morocco, Egypt, Romania and
Bulgaria.
Ameren U.E.’s Portage Des Sioux Plant is a coal-fired
electric plant with the capacity of generating 993
megawatts of electricity. It began operating in 1967,
making it Ameren U.E.’s second oldest coal-fired
electric plant.
-7-
MODOT’S BRIDGE REPAIR &
REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IS ALTERED
Work Will Still Be Performed, But Paid For Differently
When the Missouri Department
Partnership (MBP) to designThe Request for Qualifications
of Transportation (MoDOT)
build-finance-maintain more than
(RFQ) for this program was
announced in September 2006 a
800 Missouri bridges deemed
released October 30. MoDOT
new and innovative program to
in the worst condition in the
anticipates awarding the contract
repair, replace and maintain more
late next spring. The transportation state. MBP was composed of a
than 800 bridges across the state
number of Missouri contractors,
department estimates it will have
using private financing, it was
engineering firms and financial
100 structures under construction
hailed as a “model program.”[See
institutions including Fred
early next year.
the Foundation For
Weber Inc. and Pace
Success Volume
Construction Company.
I, 2008] Other
Highway department
state transportation
officials estimated it
departments
would cost the state
contacted Missouri to
about $50-million
get more information
per year and funding
on how the Safe
would come from
& Sound Bridge
a combination of
Improvement
bonding and federal
Program would work
bridge money Missouri
and whether or not it
anticipated receiving.
might be used in their
Above is an example of a typical bridge to be repaired
states.
However, because
of the financial crisis, private
Now, more than two years later,
financing would have increased
The remaining 248 bridges
MoDOT has had to greatly
MoDOT’s annual cost from
identified by the department as
change the Safe & Sound Bridge
$15-million to $25-million.
being deficient will be built using
Improvement program because of
“When all is said and done,
a design-build approach. These
the financial crisis in the country.
structures will be grouped by size, our new approach will likely
“The turmoil in the credit markets type and/or location in the state.
save taxpayers $300-million to
had a tremendous impact on the
$500-million. MoDOT still plans
cost of this project,” said MoDOT Like the first proposal, the bridge
to use bonding and federal bridge
Director Pete Rahn in a written
replacement money it receives to
projects are scattered throughout
statement. “While we waited
pay for the bridge improvements.
the state with the majority being
to see if a calming of the credit
on rural lettered routes. About
markets would make this project
MoDOT already spent $15.6
40-percent of the bridge projects
financial viable, that did not
million with Missouri Bridge
were located in the Eastern
happen.”
Partners to develop plans,
Missouri Laborers’ District
surveys and soil samples for
Council region.
Instead, MoDOT will proceed with
projects. The department will
a 554 bridge replacement program Under the original Safe & Sound
now use that information in
under a single design-build
Bridge Program, MoDOT awarded preparing plans for the new
contract.
bridge program.
a contract to Missouri Bridge
-8-
HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
MAY JUMP START ECONOMY
The Missouri Department of Transportation’s
(MoDOT) highway construction and rebuilding
program, already facing a 50-percent reduction in
funding starting in July of 2009, may face even more
cutbacks due to a slumping economy. New car sales
in Missouri are down 11 percent from where they
were one year ago. And a drop in the sale of new
vehicles also means a corresponding drop in the
amount of sales tax revenue that MoDOT receives for
highway building. On top of that, fuel tax revenues
are down due to less purchase of gasoline and diesel.
Most of the department’s highway construction
dollars are already pledged to pay off bonds the
department sold for its Smoother, Safer, Sooner
program. That program, consisting mostly of
rebuilding old highways by resurfacing them, helped
to propel MoDOT road building to a level it had
never seen before, more than $1.1-billion per year for
three straight years. But now, the payments for those
bonds are due, and the department must find a new
source of funding.
One such source may be the federal government.
As Congress and the new incoming administration
of President-Elect Barack Obama attempt to pull
the country out of a recession, one of the proposals
receiving a lot of attention is infrastructure spending.
The president-elect said during the campaign that he
supports a major new federal infrastructure program
targeted at spending upwards of $60-billion during a
10-year period. Obama has said he wants to “rebuild
the national transportation system.”
Spending at this level would create an estimated
two million direct and indirect jobs related to the
construction industry. This could be just the shot-inthe-arm the economy needs to stimulate growth and
renewed confidence from consumers. But could the
projects and subsequent jobs they would create be
awarded quick enough to help?
Pete Rahn, Director of the Missouri Department
of Transportation and President of the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) believes a new economic
stimulus package focused on transportation projects
can be implemented and jobs created within 30 to
90 days after Congress passes a program. “We are
talking about good construction jobs being created,
jobs that can support a family,” said Rahn in a
September 2008 AASHTO press release.
MoDOT officials, as well as other transportation
department representatives from all 50 states have
identified projects they can get started on immediately.
For Missouri, this may be the only way additional
highway construction funds can be generated in the
next year.
The department’s estimate for highway construction
programs in fiscal year 2010 is $565 million. That is
what the department projects it will have available to
spend on roadwork. What it would like to spend to
bring the state’s most traveled roads and bridges up
to a passing grade or good condition is roughly $645
million per year during the next 20 years. And, that
figure does not include rebuilding Interstate Highways
70 and 44, two of the most traveled roadways in
Missouri.
Highway officials in every state are
encouraging individuals in their communities
to contact their Congressional representatives
and encourage them to support the
infrastructure program when it is formally
presented to the Representatives and Senators
early next year. It is one way of helping to
generate construction jobs in the industry.
If you don’t know who your Congressman or
U.S. Senator is, contact your local election
board.
-9-
LABOR DAY
CELEBRATIONS 2008
Hundreds of Laborers met at various Labor
Day celebrations across Missouri this year to
recognize the importance of working men and
women. Laborers’ Locals #42, #53, #110 and #660
assembled downtown to walk in the parade. St.
Louis has one of the largest Labor Day parades
in the country. Laborers’ Local #662 and Local #
955 also had a strong showing in the Jefferson City
Labor Day parade. Laborers’ Local #916 had a huge
turnout for their Labor Day celebration. As usual,
the Laborers had a very strong presence at each
parade, and afterward everyone was treated to food
and refreshments with friends and family.
- 10 -
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Labor
Day is a United States federal holiday that originated
in 1882 as the Central Labor Union of New York
City sought to create “a day off for the working
citizens”. The first celebration of this holiday was a
street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and
spirit de corps of the trade and labor organizations,”
followed by a festival for the workers and their
families. Although it has been over a century
since the first Labor Day celebration the aspects of
honoring Labor Day remain the same today.
The Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council
would like to thank all of the members who
participated in each parade. Below are pictures
commemorating each Labor Day event.
ARCHERS HIT THEIR MARK IN
LABORERS’ TOURNAMENT
Prizes were awarded to the top
three archers in each category.
The categories were Bowhunter,
Traditional, Women, Junior
(13-17 years old) and Cub
(12-Under). Thank you to all
that participated and we hope to
see you again at the next event.
Below are pictures of the shoot
and winners in each division.
On Saturday, August 23,
2008, the Eastern Missouri
Laborers’ District Council held
its annual archery tournament
at the Laborers-AGC Training
Center in High Hill, MO. The
tournament was open to all
members and their guests,
including children. More than
70 individuals competed in the
tournament.
All the “Cub Division” shooters below received a
medal for participating. The winners in this division
were Bill Eberhardt (1st Place), Dalton Fennessey
(2nd Place) and PJ Monahan (3rd Place)
Junior Division: Pictured
Left to Right
Kody Kekelis (3rd Place),
Ed Ferguson (2nd Place) and
Jared Lewis (1st Place)
Bowhunter Division: Pictured Left to Right
DJ Neeley (3rd Place),
Bob Lewis (2nd Place) and
Kyle Cary (1st Place)
Women’s Division: Pictured Left to Right
Kelly LaGarce (3rd Place),
Julie Shaw (2nd Place) and
Stacey LaGarce (1st Place)
Traditional Division: Pictured
Left to Right
Tim Stege (3rd Place),
Mike DeCoster (2nd Place) and
Keith Fennessey (1st Place)
- 11 -
NEW METHOD USED TO INSTALL SEWER PIPE
St. Louis Contractor is the First Union Company to Use This Method in Missouri
MSD speced the job this way because of the
project’s location. This job site sat on the
parking lot of the Galleria Shopping Center
at Brentwood Boulevard and Highway 40
in St. Louis County. Because of the paved
parking surface, the number of utilities in the
area and easement difficulties, MSD believed
some type of “trenchless technology” was
the best method to use for this job. MSD’s
plans called for 1,300 feet of new sewer to be
installed from 18-feet to 20-feet deep.
A St. Louis sewer contractor, Fred M. Luth & Sons, was the
first union contractor in Missouri to try a new “trenchless sewer
construction” method. Luth began work earlier this year on the
$1.667-million Black Creek Sanitary Relief Sewer project, which
is located near Highway 40 in Brentwood in St. Louis County.
The company recently completed the job using what is known in
the trade industry as Pilot Tube MicroTunneling (PTMT).
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) was the
project owner
and specifically
developed job
specifications
to have the
project built
using trenchless
technology.
Trenchless
technology
generally
describes a variety
of methods to
construct sewer
lines underground
without open
cutting the soil.
- 12 -
Fred M. Luth is generally considered an
“open cut” sewer contractor; meaning a
trench is dug and the pipe lowered into the
trench, connected and then covered up. “We
bid this job because that is what MSD’s
specifications called for,” said Mike Luth,
Project Manager. “The PTMT method does
have its advantages; it combines the best
of several different technologies, has an
advanced guidance system, it has a unique
way of disposing of spoils and does not
require a large bore pit to be dug.”
The PTMT method was invented and first tried in Europe
nearly two decades ago. It was first tried in the United States
in the 1990’s, but has been used only sparingly in Missouri.
“This technology allowed us to install 8-inch diameter pipe
and larger in a 300-foot long tunnel and be within 3/8ths of an
inch of the targeted location,” said Luth.
casing before it is removed from the
bore. The 18-inch diameter clay
pipe comes in segments about one
meter in length.
Prior to starting the job, Luth and
his crew had to undergo training.
“We took a crew out-of-state
for several weeks to train with
the manufacturer,” said Luth.
“Then, we had a manufacturer’s
representative on-hand several times
at the job site to train the Laborers
and Operators we had working to
install the pipe using this method.”
Luth said as many as nine workers
were employed on the job at any
one time.
How does the PTMT system work? Luth described it as a
three-step process. A drilling shaft [bore pit] is dug and frame
installed. A camera-mounted theodolite (guidance system,
like a survey instrument) is attached to a steering head about
4-inches in diameter. A pilot tube is installed behind the
steering head and the boring process begins. The theodolite
and camera helps keep the bore tunnel on alignment because
adjustments to the boring machine can be made changing the
direction and grade of
the bore by a worker
viewing the progress.
MSD contracted to build the
Black Creek Sanitary Relief Sewer as a project to eliminate
a combined sewer overflow (CSO). Combined sewers carry
both sanitary waste and stormwater runoff in the same pipe.
During a heavy rain, these pipes become full and the overflow
spills out into creeks or into the basements of homeowners.
The relief sewer will help to redirect the flows in the Black
Creek sewer into another system so that there is no overflow of
untreated sewage and stormwater into open creeks.
Once the pilot tube
reaches a second
receiving shaft, the
theodolite device
is retrieved and a
reamer with an auger
is installed inside a
steel casing attached
to the last segment of
the pilot tube. The
reamer and auger
enlarges the size
of the pilot hole by
rotating and thrusting
through the casings.
The spoils are
removed from
the bore shaft by
reversing the direction of the auger and actually pushing
the excavating material forward and out the receiving shaft
instead of the normal method where the spoils are carried out
behind the bore head.
The last step involves hydraulically jacking vitrified clay pipe
through the borehole from the drilling shaft to the receiving
shaft. This is done by attaching a piece of pipe to the last
“I
“I am generally pleased with the way this project has gone,”
said Luth. “This method of installing sewers works well
for deep installations with tight working room and utility
relocation issues.”
- 13 -
Bits–N-Pieces
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UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CONTINUES TO RISE
Missouri’s unemployment rate continues to increase every month as the recession grows. October’s unemployment rate in
Missouri was 6.4 percent, an increase of from September. In September, an estimated 194,000 Missourians capable of working
had no job.
The Missouri Division of Employment Security, the state agency administering the unemployment benefits, said its workload
has increased dramatically. Division officials say the investigative process used to determine eligibility for benefits now takes
six to eight weeks to complete.
The only bright spot, Congress authorized last July an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to individuals!
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MISSOURI MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IN JANUARY
The 2007 changes in Missouri’s minimum wage law will result in an increase in the minimum wage on January 1, 2009.
Minimum wage in Missouri will increase 6.1 percent, from $6.55 per hour to $7.05 per hour. Last year, Missouri voters
approved amending the state’s minimum wage law to adjust wages based on the consumer price index (CPI). Since the CPI has
increased during 2008, the minimum wage also will increase. And it may not stop there. The federal minimum wage rate is
scheduled to increase July 24, 2009 to $7.25 per hour meaning that Missouri’s rate will also have to increase to that amount.
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ACCIDENT RATE DROPS IN MISSOURI
The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in Missouri’s
private industry sector fell one-tenth of one percent in 2007 for workers in the construction, manufacturing and other goodsproducing industries in the state. The incident rate for 2007 was 6 cases per 100 full time employees. Total number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illness in Missouri was 87,900. Keep up the good work!
FOUNDATION
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