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HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida
Spring 2008
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 Commercial Building
Edge
Spring 2008
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In 2003, I launched Building Edge in North Central Florida. I believed (as I still do today) strongly in the building industry, and felt that there needed to be a positive voice for the industry in our community. A voice that would share with everyone what was going on, promote issues and individuals who helped us grow, and bring issues to light that needed to be addressed. I have always stood by the belief that it is far more difficult to impact us negatively if we are able to rally and stand together on issues of importance.
In February, 2007, I launched the E-News brief. I felt that, even as a monthly publication, there were still issues impacting us that we were not able to get out there in a time-sensitive manner. I also felt that there was far too much negative information in the mainstream media, and this was my small way of bringing the positive and pressing issues to everyone.
We have made no mistake about where our loyalties lie. Sometimes it gets me in a little hot water, but I believe my intentions are good. As Adam Bolton likes to joke, Building Edge should change the motto from "Your Local Voice in Construction," to "Living on the Edge of Controversy." I am fortunate to share with you the newest addition to our team, which accomplishes both - bringing a local voice to our industry, and living on the edge of controversy. The local paper's shortsightedness is our definite gain. To most of you, our newest member needs no introduction. Jake Fuller has joined the Advantage Publishing team. In every issue of Building Edge, Commercial Building Edge and HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida, Jake will share his take on issues impacting us locally. Because he is so talented, I have also asked Jake to include his cartoons in each issue of the E-News brief. We will have on our website a link to all of Jake's cartoons, and his section will officially be known as Jake's Corner.
We are also introducing a new format today for the E-News briefs. We believe that this new format will be much easier to read and navigate. We can't think of a better time to launch the new format than with Jake's inaugural cartoon. We would love to hear from you as to whether you like the new format and your feedback about Jake's cartoon.
Building Edge Magazine Our June issue of Building Edge is online, and should have arrived in the mail by now. Our feature is on Claeys Construction. The National Feature is on Doors: entry, interior, patio and overhead. This will be the issue that we recap the Spring Parade of Homes™. Our July issue, featuring Barry Rutenberg & Associates is now in production. We also are spotlightng Ro-Mac's new showroom in Marion County. This issue will be the print lauch for Jake's Corner, and he kicks it off with a bang! Our August issue, featuring Schafer Construction of Gainesville is now open. The National Feature will be on Curb Appeal. Our September cover has become avaiable. If you would like to nominate someone to be featured, please call us today. October finds us back in Lake City with Isaac Construction. The National Feature will be on weathering the Elements. This issue will also mark the return of our highly successful, semi-annual Buyer's Guide. In November, we will be featuring Chris Luetgert and Luetgert Development. Chris is a third generation builder intimately involved in every project he works on. We are excited to share his story with you. Commercial Building Edge Magazine
The Spring 2008 issue of Commercial Building Edge is online here. 2007 Marion County Small Business of the Year Stentiford Construction Services, led by Paul Stentiford is our cover story. We are also in the process of developing a website for Paul and his team. Bookmark this site at www.stentifordconstruction.net. The Summer issue of Commercial Building Edge, featuring Brian Crawford, owner of Concept Construction is closing this week. Brian is also the president of the Columbia County Builders Association. We look forward to our first Columbia County Commercial issue. To participate, please give us a call. HOME™: Living in the Heart of Florida:
The Summer issue of HOME is open for sales for one more week. Our cover story will be on Judy and Davis Rembert. In this issue, we will have an article on the difference between Green Building and "Green Speak." We will showcase Alachua County's newest green development, Campo Verde. In our healthcare section, we interview Dr. Timothy Goldfarb, CEO of Shands. This is shaping up to be our biggest issue yet. Look for this issue to start arriving the first week of July.
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Local News  |
Newberry Village Gets County Approval
The much-debated Newberry Village development that will add homes, shopping and office space to the Newberry Road/Interstate 75 area and help create the county's first bus rapid-transit system was given final approval by the Alachua County Commission on Tuesday night. Commissioners unanimously approved a comprehensive plan amendment for the project to move forward. Commissioners also ratified an agreement to settle a legal challenge to the complex, which had been filed by Gainesville resident Brad Stith and the state Department of Community Affairs.
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County Cuts Two Positions at Growth Management
A significant drop in residential building permits has resulted in the elimination of two positions in the Alachua County Growth Management Department, officials said. Growth management director Steve Lachnicht said the positions had been vacant, but he added that if the housing doldrums continue, layoffs may be needed in the future.
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What is Ironwood's Future Course?
The future of the Ironwood Golf Course may be in the rough. At the same time that City Manager Russ Blackburn is urging commissioners to take a hard look at the city-owned course's expected half-million-dollar loss in 2008, a developer has set his sights on building a retirement community surrounding the course.
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Plum Creek Gets Initial OK
City commissioners voted Monday to approve a high-density development in northern Gainesville, but the 1,890-home project is still many years and many votes from breaking ground. Plum Creek Timber Company Inc. petitioned to change the allowed land use of 1,778 acres of environmentally sensitive land straddling State Road 121 north of U.S. 441. The change was approved with a vote of 6-1 Monday night, which is the first step in a lengthy process of Plum Creek acquiring the right to build 1.5 single-family homes per acre as opposed to the 1 house per 5 acres currently permitted.
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Newberry and County Talk About Starting Redevelopment Fund - Again
Affordable housing and money to help minority and low-income residents start businesses are just two options that a Newberry Community Redevelopment Agency could bring to the city. The Alachua County Commission and the Newberry City Commission decided at a joint meeting Monday to have their staffs meet to discuss how to bring such an agency to the city. A community redevelopment agency was all set to go a few years ago but stalled due to political differences between the county and the city concerning taxes, Newberry Mayor John Glanzer said.
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County Commission to Debate Waste Disposal Options
Marion County Commissioners are getting ready to do some heavyweight sparring over an issue that prompted some heated verbal jousting in the past. It's the long-discussed, still unresolved issue of long-term garbage disposal and how much county residents should pay each year. Tuesday is the public hearing for the 2008-09 solid waste assessment. Different scenarios that could add anywhere from $83 to $120 to the assessment could point the county's long-term plan toward hauling garbage elsewhere, or a landfill expansion, or a new landfill, or a waste-to-energy plant, the most common type being a "mass burn" facility or incinerator.
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Lake City Municipal Airport: 'A Diamond in the Rough with Continual Polishing'
The Lake City City Council is improving the city's airport, which is part of the economic engine that brings growth to the area. During the June 2 City Council meeting those improvements took a step forward when the five city leaders awarded a $222,000 contract to Passero Associates, an engineering firm, to begin the design phase of a new terminal and a string of hangars to add to the existing hangars. Funding for the project comes from the Florida Department of Transportation, which helps local airports with physical additions such as hangars, terminals and fuel trucks, said D. Tom Sawyer, airport general manager.
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City Closer to $2.9 Million Land Purchase
June 30 is set as the tentative closing date on the city's $2.9 million purchase of 180 acres to build a new wastewater treatment plant, Lake City City Manager Scott Reynolds said. Everything is going smoothly as the closing draws near, according to city staff involved with the project. The City Council approved $2.9 million for the purchase of land for the Butler Tract property at its April 7 meeting, according to records. The Columbia County Planning and Zoning Board recently approved a special exception application from the city to build the wastewater treatment plant, according to City Engineer Henry Sheldon.
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Property Fire Fee Gets First Assent
The city of Gainesville now has the ability to charge residents a separate tax for services provided by the fire department. Commissioners voted unanimously to enable the city to assess a maximum of $2.2 million to property owners within the city limits. The city will now send out notices to property owners and hold public meetings before a final vote in July. Concerns expressed by residents that the fee would hit lower income families the hardest and that nonprofit organizations would also have to pay the fee, did not outweigh the need for a stable revenue source among commissioners.
Click Here>> It's Not Too Late to Weigh in on Nuclear Reactor PlanAs Progress Energy awaits news from the Florida Department of Community Affairs on whether it can continue with plans to build two nuclear reactors in Levy County, opportunity for public input is dwindling fast. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission last week held a public meeting in Crystal River, telling about 150 people that they could see the first Levy County reactor on line by 2016. DCA's decision is expected by late July. Click Here>> Part of a Bigger Plan?Lake City City Manager Scott Reynolds said he would like to see every property owner in the Greater Lake City Regional Utility Authority's utility service boundary annex into the city. The service boundary creates a space that is about three times bigger than the 12 square miles of property in the city limits, according to map estimates. Growth Management Director Larry Lee said he would like to see much more annexation into the city, too, but he adds that annexation is propelled by market forces. Click Here>> Future Wastewater Plant Keeps Environment in MindLake City Regional Utility Authority's future wastewater treatment plant includes an option that helps the environment, City Engineer Henry Sheldon said. The proposal for the reuse of water is similar to what Tallahassee is doing with its program, Sheldon said, because in Tallahassee it protects Wakulla Springs and here it protects Ichetucknee Springs. Tallahassee's reuse water irrigates crops, which feed livestock, according to Jim Oskowis, Tallahassee Assistant Director of Underground Utilities. The most highly-treated wastewater, Oskowis said, is used to water a golf course, two high school athletic fields and some landscaped state-owned areas. Click Here>> Lake May Crack Down on Growth
Lake County could limit future growth to offset impacts from tens of thousands of new homes already planned by local governments. The county has spent more than two years overhauling its comprehensive development plan -- essentially a blueprint for growth -- to accommodate a 62 percent population increase to 463,500 residents in the next 17 years. But some argue that Lake now has enough approved residential development to support a population more than twice that size. The inequity raises serious concerns about future impacts to schools, roads, and police and fire services. Local water supplies also will not be enough to handle so many people, according to reports. Click Here>> MetroWest Developer Buys Hills of Minneola Project in Lake County
A prominent South Florida development company with a long list of accomplishments, including MetroWest in Orlando, has agreed to purchase one of Lake County's largest proposed communities: the Hills of Minneola. Officials with Coral Gables-based SouthStar Development Partners recently agreed to buy nearly 3 square miles of land surrounding Florida's Turnpike from Family Dynamics Land Co. LLC, which was formerly known as Gregg Family Land Co. The site comes with a recent approval from the state Department of Community Affairs to build a massive community with almost 4,000 homes, as well as parks, schools, government facilities and about 3 million square feet of retail outlets, offices and industrial buildings. Click Here>> Upcoming Events
BANCF Calendar of Events
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State News  |
Crist OK's $66B Budget with Little Fanfare
With none of the fanfare that has accompanied less important issues, Gov. Charlie Crist quietly signed the state's $66 billion budget Wednesday, vetoing three items from a state spending plan that is a record $6 billion lower than the one he signed last year. The light veto list includes two true appropriations -- $840,000 for Exponica International, Miami's annual Latin America cultural festival, which Crist also vetoed last year, and $300,000 for a Central Florida lake restoration project. The governor also counted $250 million earmarked from Citizens Property Insurance for a loan-incentive fund he has already vetoed.
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Tallahassee Judge Hears Lawsuit on Property Tax Portability
A Tallahassee judge is hearing arguments on whether to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a provision in a new property tax-cutting amendment. The "portability'' provision of the constitutional amendment lets homeowners take property tax breaks with them when they move. The lawsuit alleges the January amendment violates equality provisions in the Florida and U.S. constitutions because it gives longtime homeowners much bigger tax breaks than recent buyers.
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Planning Amendment Sponsors Sue to Get on Ballot
The sponsors of a proposed state constitutional amendment on growth management sued the state in federal court Wednesday to get the citizens initiative on the November ballot. Florida Hometown Democracy missed a new petition-gathering deadline but the lawsuit, filed in West Palm Beach, argues the Feb. 1 cutoff violates the U.S. Constitution.
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Analyst Paints Rosy Picture for S. Florida Real Estate Agents
Home prices in South Florida "easily" could be 20 percent to 30 percent higher by 2013, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. Addressing local real estate agents during a conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Lawrence Yun countered the persistent pessimism of experts who insist the region's housing market will continue to struggle before rebounding slowly during the next few years.
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Lakeland Commissioners Divided About Impact Fees
The Lakeland City Commission is divided on whether to raise impact fees, with at least three commissioners opposed to a proposal to increase the fees. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on fee increases June 16. But the seven-person commission is deadlocked down the middle, at least for now. Commissioners couldn't vote on the issue during a recent workshop. But they did do a silent thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Mayor Buddy Fletcher and Commissioners Howard Wiggs and Glenn Higgins all gave the fee raises the thumbs-down sign. Commissioners Gow Fields, Edie Yates and Jim Verplanck all gave the thumbs-up.
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FBA Students Attending Summer Camp
The 5th Annual Future Builders of America Summer Leadership Camp kicks-off this week and more than 75 students from across Florida are expected to attend this intensive three-day event. Hands-on construction training, classroom-style leadership programs, and team-building activities top the agenda for the June 12-14 camp being held in Bartow, FL. "Our team of dedicated counselors has worked incredibly hard to prepare for this year's Leadership Camp," said FBA Camp Director Alan Baggett. "The many hours of organizing and planning we've spent in preparing for this year's event is sure to pay off. The campers will love what we have in store for them."
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Florida Homeowners Will Pay Insurance Surcharge Until 2014
The 1 percent charge that Floridians are paying on their property insurance bills to cover the state's share of the 2005 hurricane season was extended for another two years, to 2014, after a vote this morning by Gov. Charlie Crist and state CFO Alex Sink. The state expects to pay another $625 million in claims from Hurricane Wilma, bringing the total expenses for the Category 3 storm to more than $11 million. Hurricane Andrew, the Category 5 storm that hit Miami in 1992, cost about $10 million in residential claims.
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Report: Florida, Georgia Saving Homes
Florida's Bill McCollum ranked in the top half of national attorneys general for his role in the ongoing foreclosure crisis. McCollum was among six of the country's top publicly funded lawyers to receive a B while 18 - including Georgia's Thurbert Baker - received A's in "Attorneys General Take Action: Real Leadership in Fighting Foreclosures." The report on attorneys general in each of the 50 states and Washington was released Tuesday by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, known as ACORN.
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Builders, Buyers Seeing Merits of Conserving
Energy conservation wasn't at the top of Ryan Smithson's list when he went house-hunting and ended up buying a home built to federal Energy Star standards. Still, it has turned out to be a nice bonus for Smithson because electric rates are heading up, adding to the cost of home-ownership. The Energy Star rating means his home will be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than a home constructed to just meet standard building code requirements. Still, it has turned out to be a nice bonus for Smithson because electric rates are heading up, adding to the cost of home-ownership. The Energy Star rating means his home will be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than a home constructed to just meet standard building code requirements.
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Tampa Approves Incentives for Green Builders
Tampa is embracing the green movement. On Thursday, the city council unanimously gave its preliminary approval to an ordinance that offers incentives to developers that build environmentally friendly buildings. The ordinance also requires new city buildings to be built according to green standards, following a policy Mayor Pam Iorio set forward several weeks ago.
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Shaq: I Can Help Homeowners Fight off Foreclosure
Shaquille O'Neal says he wants to build a legacy -- literally -- in Orlando. The NBA star said he is working on plans for real-estate-development projects in Orlando, with an eye toward helping those who are facing foreclosure on their homes. "I want to come in not to kick them out, but to work with them and save them so they can stay in their homes," O'Neal told the Orlando Sentinel during an impromptu stop Tuesday at Orlando City Hall.
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National News  |
Stimulus Gives a Lift to Consumers
Retail sales rose more than expected in May, the first full month of payments aimed at stimulating the economy, according to a government report released Thursday. The Commerce Department reported that total retail sales grew 1% last month, compared to a revised 0.4% gain in April. A consensus of analysts polled by Briefing.com expected sales to rise by 0.5%.
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Fed Chief: Risk of Major Downturn 'Diminished'
Despite a recent spike in the nation's unemployment rate, the danger that the economy has fallen into a "substantial downturn" appears to have waned, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday. Addressing a Fed conference in Chatham, Massachuseets, on Monday night, Bernanke said a government report last week showing the unemployment rate rising from 5 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May -- the biggest one-month jump in two decades -- was "unwelcome." However, the Fed chief said other forces should "provide some offset to the headwinds that still face the economy."
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Mortgages with No Money Down Still Available
Despite the bursting of the housing bubble, it's still possible to buy homes with no money down. In fact, it's possible to borrow up to 105 percent of the purchase price, leaving the buyer with more debt than the house is worth. It might sound like a pitch from a late-night infomercial. But the offer comes from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, two government-chartered companies with potentially conflicting mandates to uphold prudent lending standards and make homeownership more attainable.
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New Green Construction Technologies Being Tested in New Orleans as the New Orleans Rebuilds
A purple shotgun house with white gingerbread trim is not most people's vision of a modern, energy-efficient home.Yet here we are, some three dozen pilgrims spilling out of dark, chilly buses into startling tropical brightness and a soft warm breeze on a sunny morning in mid-May. We're mildly puzzled to find ourselves in front of this tiny, storybook home in a working-class neighborhood. This is supposed to be a green homes tour, part of the National Association of Home Builders' Green Building Conference, not a parade of charming Crescent City architecture.
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Pending Home Sales up 6.3%; Prices Seen Falling
The number of homes under contract to be sold rose unexpectedly in April as buyers went bargain hunting, according to a report released Monday. The Pending Home Sales Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) rose to 88.2 in April, up 6.3% from March's reading of 83 and the highest level since October. The increase defied the consensus estimate of economists polled by Briefing.com, which forecast pending sales to fall by 1%. Despite the increase, April's reading remains down 13.1% from the same period last year, and off 29% from the index's peak in April 2005.
Click Here>> New Book Helps Home Builders Understand Baby Boomer Buyers
In less than three years, half of all home buyers will be at least 50 years old. A new book recently released by BuilderBooks, the publishing arm for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), examines what this growing market of home buyers aged 45 and up-now nearing 70 million people-means for builders. In Right House, Right Place, Right Time: Community and Lifestyle Preferences of the 45+ Housing Market, author Margaret Wylde analyzes new, original research on 6,328 heads of U.S. households that are part of this market segment. She also draws on other studies her company, ProMatura Group LLC, has conducted over the past two decades on home preferences and purchase decisions, sharing her insight into the unique boomer market. Click Here>> Green Dream HomePaul Holland, a general partner at Foundation Capital, never imagined he'd put wetlands in his front yard. Nor did his wife, management consultant Linda Yates, ever think she'd live in a home with no paint or carpeting. At a time when fighting climate change has become a cause celebrated among the wealthy, the couple is building what's slated to be the greenest luxury home in the U.S. The 5,600-square-foot (520-square-meter) house in Northern California will clean and recycle water, generate all of its own electricity and tap heat from the ground instead of burning natural gas for winter warmth. The couple is even removing fences so bobcats and raccoons can roam its 2.7-acre (1.1-hectare) property. "There might be people who think we're a bunch of ecogeeks, but we wanted to build the greenest house possible," says Holland, who coordinates the environmental-technology investing practice at Foundation, a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. Click Here>> NAHB Working to Keep Credit Flowing to Small BuildersNAHB reported last week that it continues to make encouraging progress on both the legislative and regulatory fronts in restoring the health of the nation's housing market, with efforts intensifying in response to the tightening of acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) financing. During the board of directors meeting in Washington, D.C. earlier this spring, association leaders noted that lenders increasingly were asking builders and developers to pay down their loans, which was viewed as especially threatening to the small businesses constituting the core of the NAHB membership. Click Here>> Builders Look for Stimulus Bill to End Downward Spiral
Stimulus legislation is needed to break the downward cycle in the nation's housing industry before it further undermines the strength of the nation's economy, Joe Robson, first vice president of NAHB, told members of the House Small Business Committee on June 5. "Home builders, who are largely small businesses, are struggling to even stay solvent in the current economic environment," Robson warned the congressional panel. "They are taking drastic steps to minimize costs, generate capital and keep their businesses afloat, including laying off workers and raiding personal retirement accounts, just to name a few." Click Here>> Oil Prices Hitting HomeAs if homebuilders didn't have enough to worry about with plunging home prices and rising foreclosures, the surge in oil prices is driving up the cost of key construction materials and further eroding homebuyers' confidence. Prices have gone up for steel, aluminum, copper, concrete, brick, asphalt and plumbing fixtures, among other materials, and homebuilders are feeling pressure from suppliers to foot the bill. In sum, the wholesale cost of building materials for new home construction rose 3.4 percent overall in April from a year earlier, according to the Labor Department. Click Here>> Some Areas of the US Have Escaped the Punishment Inflicted by Housing Bust
Economic savants focused on the US housing bust tend to ignore one overriding fact: Some of the market is doing fine, benefiting from employment, population surges, and moderate increases in housing prices that are close to or below the national average.Where are these hot spots? They certainly aren't in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, or Southern California. But they are worth considering if you are relocating, investing, or looking for a retirement haven or second home. Click Here>> States Move To Cut, Cap Property TaxesSoaring property values in recent years swelled the coffers of counties and municipalities, raising calls for property-tax cuts. Now, even as foreclosures and dwindling home sales shrink local tax bases, a number of state governments are slashing or capping property-tax rates. New York Gov. David Paterson last week launched a bid to make New York the latest state to roll back property taxes. Already this year, statehouses in Indiana and Florida have passed new property-tax curbs. Click Here>> Increase Your Home's Equity By Going GreenIncorporating eco-friendly features into your home raises its value and, at the same time, decreases your cost of living. Hugging trees may not be for everyone, but building wealth is. Even if saving the environment doesn't appeal to you philosophically, the economic benefits of reducing your home's non-renewable resource consumption should be enough to motivate you to go green. Click Here>> Builders Offer Congress Recommendations on Making Affordable Housing Green
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today testified before Congress on ways to improve sustainability and energy efficiency in housing while simultaneously supporting housing affordability. Jerry Howard, NAHB executive vice president and CEO, spoke at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on H.R. 6078, the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhood Act of 2008, also known as the GREEN Act. "Because federal housing programs are such a critical component of the nation's housing system, NAHB believes that it is important to ensure that the incorporation of sustainable building practices for these programs is accomplished in a thoughtful and practical manner," said Howard. "Also, it is important to maintain a balance between the goals of affordable housing development and maximizing energy efficiency." Click Here>> FBI Shifts Agents to Mortgage FraudThe Federal Bureau of Investigation, confronting a surge in mortgage fraud, has ordered more than two dozen of its field offices to stop probing some financial crimes so agents can focus on the subprime crisis. Kenneth Kaiser, chief of the bureau's criminal investigative division, issued the directive late last week on a videoconference with the heads of 26 offices in areas where mortgage crime is rampant, said Bill Carter, an FBI spokesman in Washington. Carter said the shift was made after an analysis of how agents are spending their time. Click Here>> Rinnai Introduces Dual-Use Tankless Water Heaters Rinnai Corporation has recently introduced its LS Series line of high-output, high-efficiency tankless water heaters that can be used for residential and commercial applications - a first in the industry. Unlike other tankless water heaters, the LS Series offers home owners the reliability of a commercial-grade heat exchanger. For home owners and contractors, this means that the same unit can be used for either domestic hot water or domestic hot water plus space heating. The heaters have a sleek, sculpted design and come with a 12-year warranty. The R94LSi has a maximum input of 199,000 BTUs and maximum output of 9.4 gallons per minute. A smaller heater is available with 7.5 gpm outflow. Click Here>>
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Commercial News  |
Despite Cuts, Some UF Projects Move Forward
State budget cuts are halting at least a dozen University of Florida building projects, but don't expect construction equipment to disappear from campus. Gov. Charlie Crist signed a state budget into law Wednesday that slashed a program providing matching grants for the construction or renovation of academic buildings. UF was denied nearly $27 million in grants for projects such as an Asian art wing of the Harn Museum of Art and the construction of a graduate studies building.
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Fairgounds Complex Sans Coliseum OK'd
Plans for a new Alachua County fairgrounds complex on Waldo Road that will initially be bare bones without a costly coliseum were approved by the County Commission on Tuesday. The facility will start out with a covered arena, exhibit hall, tent pads, an events lawn and restrooms at an estimated cost of $19.1 million. A coliseum capable of holding concerts and big sporting events is still possible in the future, but the estimated $26 million cost will be a hinderance, officials said.
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Grand Opening Set for Belleview Sewage Plant
The $3.4 million expansion of the city's wastewater reclamation facility is complete and the system is operational, processing an average 400,000 gallons of water daily. While the new plant is permitted to process 760,000 a day, it has the capacity to process 1.2 million gallons per day.
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AGC of America Questions New Executive Order Requiring Federal Contractors to Use E-Verify
President Bush has just signed an executive order requiring federal contractors to use the "E-Verify" system to determine that all new hires are eligible for employment in the United States and to determine that all employees working on federal contracts - including current employees hired in accordance with pre-existing rules and standards - are also eligible for such employment. "While AGC supports the full enforcement of our immigration laws, AGC remains committed to their comprehensive reform, and the association questions whether this piecemeal measure will hasten or delay the day when we will see that kind of reform," said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive office of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). "Ironically, we also find ourselves questioning whether the executive order is itself in violation of our current laws," he added.
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Federal Contractors Required to Verify Workers Under Order
Federal contractors must now verify that their employees are in the United States legally, under an executive order signed by President Bush last week. The order, which the White House announced Monday, says that the executive branch will "enforce fully the immigration laws of the United States, including the detection and removal of illegal aliens and the imposition of legal sanctions against employers that hire illegal aliens." The order allows Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff to determine what verification system future contractors must use. He chose a federal system known as E-Verify.
Click Here>> Crane Industry Groups Push for National StandardsIn the wake of three construction crane accidents in the past three months that claimed 11 lives, industry groups on Thursday called for nationwide safety standards. An industry council agreed on a set of standards in July 2004 and recommended them to the Department of Labor, but the proposal has languished within the department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration since then, the groups said. Click Here>> Japan, US Say Joining Hands in Nuclear Power PlantsAs oil prices surge to record levels, Japan said Saturday it would help build nuclear power plants in the United States, sensing opportunities for Japanese companies."We reaffirmed our commitment to promoting bilateral nuclear energy cooperation," said a joint statement after talks by Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari and US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. Energy ministers from the world's two largest economies said in the statement they intended to "consult on potential financing support measures that would facilitate nuclear power plant construction in the United States." Click Here>> Apply for 2009 Commerical Building Awards by Aug. 1The National Commercial Builders Council (NCBC) is accepting applications for its 2009 Awards of Excellence program, which recognizes achievements in the national commercial building industry for design (remodeling and new construction), market appeal, energy efficiency, challenges faced during building and overall success of projects that are either built or renovated. The deadline for entries is Aug. 1. NCBC sponsors the Awards of Excellence program to bring recognition to commercial building projects that range from less than 5,000 to more than 100,000 square feet. Click Here>> AGC Continues to Add Value to Educational OfferingsThe Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) today announced it has been approved as a Registered Provider of learning unit (LU) hours to architects and design professionals seeking certification or state-mandated continuing education requirements. By offering LUs through its many education programs, AGC further meets the critical member and industry needs by offering relevant training that also delivers valuable credits," said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of AGC. Approximately 35 states and ten Canadian Provinces require Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) to retain licensure. Most of these states accept AIA/CES LUs as continuing education credit toward MCE requirements. Click Here>> House Bill Would Allow Federal Funding For Merit Shop Training Programs
ABC voiced strong support for the Green Jobs Improvement Act (H.R. 6220), introduced June 10 in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.). The legislation would expand a provision in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 6) to allow merit shop training programs to receive federal funding to help create an energy efficiency and renewable energy skilled workforce. Click Here>> House Passes School Construction Bill That Expands Davis-Bacon
The U.S. House of Representatives June 4 voted 205-164 to pass H.R. 3021, The 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, a bill that, if signed into law, would expand Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements to construction, modernization or repairs to public schools paid for with funds authorized within the legislation. ABC, in conjunction with Independent Electrical Contractors, the National Federation of Independent Business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sent a letter to members of Congress before the vote urging them to address the flaws in the existing Davis-Bacon Act before expanding the law. Click Here>>
Upcoming Events
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