January 4, 2021
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Featured Content
Ohio's Transportation Future, Launched
ODOT and Partners Prepare for Mobility Needs of 2045

From connected and self-driving vehicles to shared mobility services for those who cannot or do not want to drive, the year 2045 will look much different than 2020. Ohio's long-range transportation plan, called Access Ohio 2045, prepares for that rapid transformation in travel.

ODOT, local governments, associations, private businesses and residents across the state partnered to produce the Plan. Its vision is that all Ohio will be connected by a safe, smart and collaborative transportation system that moves people and freight efficiently and reliably and supports community visions.

Expect to hear more about Access Ohio 2045 as we begin implementing the 13 strategies and related initiatives locally.


News
Passing of Martin Cohen

It is with great regret that we must inform our industry that our dear colleague and great friend, Martin Cohen, passed away on December 29, 2020 from COVID complications. He was former President/CEO of National Engineering. National was a long time OCA member until purchased by Balfour Beatty.

Marty was a transformational leader for the construction industry in Ohio. He was the President and CEO of National Engineering and Contracting, and for the last 17 years, the CEO of Prestress Services Industries. Marty’s talents were undeniable, and his influence and enthusiasm will be sorely missed by his family and friends in the industry. Please keep Marty’s family in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

Marty’s obituary can be found at the following link: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/cleveland-heights-oh/martin-cohen-9973558
  Ohio Contractor Magazine - November/December 2020 Issue

Topics Include:

- OCA President Commentary
- Industry Following Nation's Wait and See Scenario with Next President
- 2020 Winter Conference Recap
- This Too Shall Pass

Click here to read it cover to cover!

OCA Chapters End 2020 by Donating $35,825 to Local Community Organizations Around the State

Giving back to local communities is a common value among all OCA Chapters. Whether it is completing a construction-related service project or making monetary donations, OCA chapter volunteers are consistently dedicated to working together for the betterment of their communities.

Staying true to tradition, five OCA chapters made year-end holiday donations to a total of 13 non-profit community organizations around the state. Collectively, they gave $35,825 and held a toy drive for children. The organizations that benefitted all serve people in their communities by offering programs that help with food insecurities, shoes and clothing, housing, toys for children, displaced animals and youth programs.

The organizations that benefited from chapter holiday donations are:

     • Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank (Akron-Canton Chapter)
     • Redeemer Crisis Center (Cleveland Chapter)
     • Shoes for the Homeless (Dayton Chapter)
     • Ronald McDonald House Dayton (Dayton Chapter)
     • The Victory Project (Dayton Chapter)
     • Blessings in a Backpack (Eastern Chapter)
     • Dance Enterprises (Eastern Chapter)
     • Project Grinch Dust (Eastern Chapter)
     • The Road Home Animal Shelter (Eastern Chapter)
     • Urban Mission (Eastern Chapter)
     • Cherry Street Mission (Toledo Chapter)
     • Lott Industries (Toledo Chapter)
     • Salvation Army (Toledo Chapter)

All the organizations listed above are extremely appreciative of the support given. We thank all our chapters members below who made a positive impact around the state by supporting these efforts. In addition to those listed, there were numerous companies in our Eastern Chapter that gave to the chapter’s food and toy drive. Thanks to all for your support and generosity!
 
  • American Roadway Logistics, Inc.
  • ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp.
  • Barbicas Construction Co., Inc.
  • Beaver Excavating Co.
  • Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC
  • Carron Asphalt Paving, Inc.
  • The Chas. E. Phipps Co., Inc.
  • Crestline Paving & Excavating Co., Inc.
  • Ebony Construction Co. Inc.
  • Foundation Steel, LLC
  • Gerken Paving, Inc.
  • The Great Lakes Construction Co.
  • Hanson Aggregates Midwest, Inc.
  • Independence Excavating, Inc.
  • Sikich LLP
  • USI Insurance Services
  
  • J.D. Williamson Construction Co., Inc.
  • Kokosing Construction Co, Inc.
  • Kurtz Bros., Inc.
  • MAAKIL Group, Ltd.
  • Mid-Atlantic Maintenance
  • Miller Bros. Const., Inc.
  • Mosser Construction, Inc.
  • Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co. Inc.
  • Northern Concrete Pipe Company
  • Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers/Iron Planet
  • The Ruhlin Co.
  • The Shelly Co.
  • Shelly & Sands
  • Vernon Nagel, Inc.
  • Vibra-Tech, Inc.
  • Zimmerman Paint Contractors Co.
For more information about OCA Chapter activities, contact Director of Chapter Development, Melanie Kitchen at [email protected].
Ohio Hauling Permit Training

The Ohio Department of Transportation Special Hauling Permit Section recently announced a training opportunity for the hauling permit system. New functionality is being added to the system that will be available soon in OHPS. This functionality was recently implemented for permits greater than 225,000 lbs. and is now being made available to all overweight loads. The new functionality will increase the efficiency of issuing permits, allowing for some new self-issue abilities for certain vehicles.

To learn more about this new functionality and for a training on how to use it, please join ODOT and ProMiles, for one of two web-based training opportunities.

Monday, January 4th, 2021 12:00 PM EST/11:00 AM CST:
Click here for the GoToMeeting link.

Monday, January 4th, 2021 2:30 PM EST/1:30 PM CST:
Click here for the GoToMeeting link.
Legally Speaking
by Bob Dunlevey and Nadia A. Lampton
Taft/Law

The Consolidated Appropriations Act - Another COVID-19 Relief Package for Employers to Follow

With the Families First Coronavirus Response Act nearing its December 31, 2020, expiration, and other federal coronavirus relief packages and incentives nearing termination, people and businesses alike have been eagerly awaiting Congress to extend these expiration dates or offer additional guidance with respect to COVID-19-related issues. In typical last-minute fashion, Congress passed another stimulus bill providing for a second round of direct payments to individuals, but also addressing several other soon-to-expire programs, incentives, and tax issues employers should be following. President Trump raised several concerns over the bill related to excessive spending and deficient individual stimulus payment amounts, but ultimately signed the bill – H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the CAA) – into law on December 27, 2020. Here is what employers need to know about the new CAA.

Topics in the full article include:
    PPP Loans
    The Families First Coronavirus Response Act
    Individual Provisions and Other Tax Incentives
    Unemployment and SharedWork Programs

Click here to read the entire article.
Prompt Payment Report Now Available on ODOT'S Website

In a recent Notice to Industry, ODOT has made available a new way to easily view information about the subcontractor/supplier/ trucking firm payment records they have entered into the AASHTOWare Project Civil Rights & Labor (CRL) system. For more information, click here.
ODOT Announces Fiscal Year 2022 "Locked" Program

Recently ODOT shared the 2022 “locked” program with OCA, in which the districts commit to dates to file and sell projects from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. For an Excel file of the projects, click here. If you have any questions, contact Chris Engle.
ODOT Prime Contractor Trucking Update - January 12, 2021

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will host a webinar for prime contractors to discuss important trucking topics including:

          • Updates to Proposal Note (PN) 7
          • Roles and responsibilities of ODOT, prime contractors, and trucking firms
          • Other Updates

Please join session to learn more regarding impending changes and updates.

You may register today at: https://industrytruckinginformational.eventbrite.com

Please note: this session will be held via Microsoft Teams. An event link will be sent to all registrants prior to the start of the event.

For more information, click here. If you have any additional questions regarding this webinar, feel free to contact: Juleda Stoltz, [email protected]; 513-933-6562.

The Ohio Contractors Association and Laborers' District Council of Ohio would like to invite Ashtabula, Youngstown and Warren Ohio Chapter Contractors to a unique webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, January 19th at 9:00 a.m.

During the hour-long webinar, contractors will receive vital information to enable your business to win more projects.

Here's what you can expect to learn from this session:

* Laborers' Health & Safety Fund
* Fair Contracting Staff
* Apprenticeship Standards and Recruitment
* Training and Upgrading Opportunities
* Health and Pension Benefits Available

Click here for a program flyer and registration link. Please contact Vince Irvin at 740-504-2707 with any questions about the virtual program.
Several OCA Chapter Scholarships Currently Available

OCA’s nine Chapters award scholarships at various times of the year throughout the state, totaling nearly $30,000. Scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $2,500 per award. Currently, five OCA Chapters are accepting scholarship applications. Students pursuing construction-related careers in Ohio’s heavy highway industry are encouraged to apply.

Current chapter scholarship applications available are:

Akron-Canton Chapter – click here for the application

Eastern Ohio Chapter – click here for the application

Toledo Chapter – click here for the application

Southwest Chapter - click here for the application 

Columbus Chapter - click here for the application

Please help us get this information out to our future workforce! If you know of students working or going to school in any of the above chapter areas that would benefit, please pass this information along. For more information about OCA Chapter Scholarships, please contact Director of Chapter Development Melanie Kitchen at [email protected].                                       
On behalf of ODOT’s Division of Construction Management and Office of Roadway Engineering, registration is currently open for the following sessions of Worksite Traffic Supervisor (WTS) Prequalification Testing. 

• January 5 – Morning       » Click here to register.

• January 5 – Afternoon    » Click here to register.

• February 2 – Morning     » Click here to register.

• February 2 – Afternoon  » Click here to register.

• March 2 – Morning         » Click here to register.

• March 2 – Afternoon      » Click here to register.

Click here to access the PDF flyer.

Prerequisites – Do not register for WTS Prequalification testing until the prerequisites have been completed. Please see the online registration form and flyer for details.

Pre-registration is required for WTS Testing. Seating capacity is limited for each session, based on social distancing requirements due to COVID-19. Please review the important updates and safety protocols as described per the links above.                                      

Quick Links to On-line OCA Resources

•   Current Ohio Contractor Magazine
•   Safety Resources
•   Labor & Employment Information
•   OCA President's Commentary 


 Upcoming Events
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Safety Talks
Many of America's Deadliest Jobs are in Construction

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