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OCA Convention – Discounted Rooms Available
As you may be aware, not all of the rooms in our room block have been reserved. This leaves us with non-occupied rooms for which OCA is financially responsible. We would like to propose an optimistic solution that may be worthwhile for you and for OCA. For every room reserved at the full price, we will offer a second room at a greatly reduced price of $400 per night for 1 or 2 people. This is an overall savings of $345 per night for two people. This cost is all inclusive until 5:00 pm every day and includes all room taxes, breakfast, lunch, poolside meals and beverages, including alcohol, throughout the day, until 5:00 pm. If you have two rooms reserved at the full price, you will be able to reserve two rooms at this reduced price, and so on. Attending the full week or partial week is up to the individuals attending. This offer is available for the nights of February 6 through February 12 (departing on February 13).
Employees of members and guests occupying the room charged at the full rate would be charged the advertised OCA registration fee - $1,700 for member and $1,000 for guest. If those occupying the reduced-rate rooms do not attend any OCA events, then there is no OCA registration fee. However, if they would like to take full advantage of our events, our theme day and hospitality room, they will pay the guest rate of $1,000 per person.
Excursions throughout the week and transportation between the hotel and airport on February 6 or 13, will be available at the same cost as our attendees are paying.
The hotel has agreed to extend our cut-off by one week, so this request is available until end of day on January 18. Please contact Rachel Sirca with any questions. Thank you!
Columbus Dispatch Article Presents Ohio’s Highway Funding Woes
In case you did not have the opportunity to view the front page story in the Dispatch regarding enhanced highway funding, the article is attached. To view the article, please click here. The efforts to advocate the legislature and administration for an increase in highway funding have quickly ramped up and are continuing to do so.
As most within the highway construction industry know, the conclusion of the Turnpike Bond Program and the impact of thirteen years of inflation on the state’s motor fuel user fee is now resulting in a major reduction in ODOT’s anticipated capital program for state fiscal year 2020 (which begins July 1, 2019) and beyond. OCA, along with a number of other prominent entities within our industry, local government, and business, have banded together to advocate for higher funding levels to offset the decreases ODOT and local government will experience due to the factors cited above. You will hear more about that coalition in the very near future. As this message continues to evolve statewide, we will keep you posted on these efforts.
Draft Conaway Conference Agenda
Several members have asked about the Conaway Conference agenda. Although possibly subject to minor changes, click here for the latest draft. Please contact Chris Engle with any questions.
Jack Marchbanks Named ODOT Director
OCA congratulates longtime friend and colleague Jack Marchbanks on his appointment by Governor-elect Mike Dewine as Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation. Director-designate Marchbanks is currently the assistant director for business and human resources at the Department of Transportation where he is responsible for the management of the department’s 5,000 employees and the development of ODOT’s $3.3 billion dollar budget. Jack is responsible for the strategic direction of the agency’s finance, human resources, IT, legal and communications divisions and the opportunity, diversity and inclusion programs. Director-designate Marchbanks has held leadership position with ODOT for more than 25 years including serving as the department’s district six deputy director twice. In addition to his public service, he has worked in the private sector as a Marketing Director for PRIME AE Group, a minority-owned architectural and engineering firm.
Director-designate Marchbanks has worked with OCA on a wide variety of issues over many years and we are anxious to continue that relationship during the DeWine administration.
Pension Reform Update – House Introduces Butch Lewis Act
On January 9th, a group of Representatives introduced the Butch Lewis Act. The bill, first introduced in 2017, would offer loans to troubled plans through a new agency at Treasury, the Pension Rehabilitation Authority. The low interest loans would pay interest for 29 years and pay back the principal in year 30. This would allow the plans to pay benefits without benefit cuts to participants.
Variations on the loan concept were well vetted during last year’s Joint Select Committee deliberations but the final draft proposal shifted from a loan program to giving the PBGC partition authority through a Liability Removal Program (largely funded by healthy plans/employers) in addition to stricter funding rules. The Butch Lewis Act would not require any changes to funding rules for multiemployer plans.
The biggest opposition to the Butch Lewis Act is the costs associated with how the loans are structured and if they would be repaid. The bill was initially estimated to cost more than $100 billion over ten years making it unlikely to ever pass the Republican controlled Senate.
In the coming weeks Congressional leaders will be choosing whether to pick up where the Joint Select Committee left off with its Liability Removal Program or pivot back to a loan program in their pursuit for multiemployer pension reform. OCA and its national affiliate, AGC remain committed to the authorization of composite plans in any multiemployer pension reform efforts and will advocate against any funding rule changes that would destabilize plans.
Below is more information from the bill sponsor.
https://democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/neal-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-address-multiemployer-pension
Hall of Fame Scholarship Program Applications NowBeing Accepted
Since 1996, OCA has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships to support promising future talent studying for careers in Civil Engineering, Construction Technology and Construction Management. Scholarships are available for students with graduating goals set at the associate and bachelor's degree levels. OCA recognizes the value that our Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients bring to our industry. These scholarships are for students enrolled in a degree program in Civil Engineering, Construction Technology, Construction Management, or related studies. Please share this link for registration information and a link for faculty recommendations https://form.jotform.com/90074822588161.
For questions, contact Lynda Pomeroy, Director of Membership Development, at 614-488-0724 or send an email [email protected].
NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Course
This program is designed to educate, train, and certify concrete finishers in pervious concrete placement. Per ACI Standard Contractor Qualification (ACI 522.1-13), the contractor shall employ no less than; 3 NRMCA certified Pervious Concrete Installers or 1 NRMCA certified Pervious Concrete Craftsman – as members of each placement crew. Click here to find out more and to register.
Workforce Development Opportunity with Laborers’ Apprenticeship Program
Like it or not, we are at the crossroads of a workforce dilemma in the construction industry. Where will our future construction workers come from? How will they get the training, education and experience necessary to face the demands and rigors of the highway, heavy and utility construction industry?
Fortunately, OCA and the Ohio Laborers’ Union long-ago laid out a road map for preparing future generations of construction workers. Through our jointly managed Apprenticeship and Training Program, new apprentices get the basic skills necessary to join our industry, while experienced workers can regularly upgrade their skills to meet the ever-changing demands of fast-moving technology and construction methodologies.
Another way we can help meet our future workforce needs is to partner with outside groups or agencies who may help develop skills that translate to the construction industry. Along those lines, The Ohio Laborers’ Apprenticeship Program has secured dates to speak to the Army and Air Force Red Horse Squadrons in Port Clinton and Mansfield Ohio. These squadrons’ members work in the civil engineering battalion. This is a great opportunity for us to share why our relationship and opportunities are a great fit for them. Each squadron location has no less than 500 military members during their scheduled drill time. The time of day we can speak with them are between 11:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. on these dates:
December 8 & 9
January 12 & 13
February 9 & 10
March 9 &10
April 13 & 14
May 18 & 19
June 8 & 9
July 13 & 14
August 3 & 4
September 7 & 8
OCA encourages all its contractor members to take advantage of this potential partnership opportunity. If your schedule allows you to make one of these sessions, please contact Vince Irvin, Laborers’ Statewide Apprenticeship Coordinator at 740.504.2702 or via email at [email protected].
ODOT Announces Additional Dates for Concrete Sealer Training
On behalf of ODOT’s Office of Materials Management, registration is currently open for the following sessions of Work Type 57 Concrete Sealer Training.
February 26:
Webcast (Lebanon) – Click here to register
April 30: In-person (Columbus) – Click here to register
Webcast (Garfield Heights) – Click here to register
Webcast (Lebanon) – Click here to register
To access a PDF flyer for this training, click here.
To view all courses that are currently available for enrollment, click here.
If you have any questions regarding the online registration process, please contact Ohio LTAP by phone or email.
The Ohio LTAP Center
1980 W. Broad Street, Mail Stop #1240
Columbus, OH 43223
614-387-7359 or 1-877-800-0031 (Toll Free)
email: [email protected]
website: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ltap
Courses Offered by Construction Estimating Institute
*Deep Discounts for OCA Members*
OCA will be offering two seminars instructed by the Construction Estimating Institute. CEI has been partnered with us for several years, and their classes have been very well received by our members. If you, or your staff, are interested in attending, please contact CEI directly at 800-423-7058 or register at www.ceihome.com. OCA has negotiated a highly reduced rate for our members. CEI, located in Florida, will be teaching in our Columbus office, another savings on money and travel time! Contact Rachel Sirca with questions.
Estimating Sitework Construction (more information here)
Non-OCA member cost: $1995
OCA member cost: $1595
February 18-22, 2019 *Note that this includes 3 modules that can be taken separately, or all together. See below.
February 18-19 – Estimating Earthwork Construction
Non-OCA member cost: $995
OCA member cost: $795
February 20 - Estimating Roadwork & Paving
Non-OCA member cost: $595
OCA member cost: $495
February 21-22 – Estimating Underground Utilities
Non-OCA member cost: $995
OCA member cost: $795
Successful Project Management (more information here)
Non-OCA member cost: $995
OCA member cost: $795
March 26-27, 2019 (two-day course)
Effective Construction Supervision (more information here)
Non-OCA member cost: $495
OCA member cost: $395
March 28, 2019 (one-day course)
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