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Dinner Meeting With GeoInstitute
The Central Ohio Chapter of the Geo-Institute (ASCE), invites all OCA members or guests to join us for a dinner and presentation about the sinkhole remediation at the National Corvette Museum. Mr. Michael Marasa from Hayward Baker will discuss various aspects of the sinkhole collapse at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. However, it is not a highly technical analysis or case study. Rather, it gives due respect to the historical significance of the vehicles impacted by the collapse and includes bits of geology, history, engineering, anecdotes, photos, comedy, lore and an infatuation with America’s sports car.
The dinner is on Monday, June 12 at 6 PM at the Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel Road in Columbus, Ohio. For more information and to register, please go to: www.centralohioasce.org
Ohio Contractors Attend Washington, D.C. Fly-In; Keep The Pressure On For A Long Term Fix Of Highway Trust Fund
Last week, members of the Ohio Contractors Association, including President Chris Runyan and Legislative Affairs Director Angela Van Fossen, attended the national Transportation Construction Coalition Fly-In to Washington, D.C. ARTBA and AGC were co-hosts of the event and sponsored a legislative briefing for attendees, with several members of Congress sharing their advice and perspectives, before sending them to Capitol Hill for a full day of meetings.
Many thanks to Brian Burgett of Kokosing Construction Co., George Palko of The Great Lakes Construction Co., and Joe Prus of Prus Construction Co., all of whom scheduled our many meetings with our Ohio legislators. 19 OCA members and association representatives attended this year’s fly-in, meeting with nearly all of the members or staff of Ohio’s congressional delegation.
While acknowledging our appreciation for the FAST Act, we continued the discussion about the need for Congress to be proactive in finding a stable source of funding for the Highway Trust Fund before the FAST Act expires in 2020. At that point there will be a 40% reduction in funds for the program, as the use of general revenue funds to support the program expires. We asked Ohio’s representatives and Senators to include a permanent Trust Fund fix in the tax reform legislation that is currently being developed. Instead of cobbling together gimmicky funding sources that were utilized in the FAST Act, we need a funding source with more stability and predictability. Congress must consider options such as an increase and indexing of the motor fuel users’ fee, as well as a long-term transition to vehicle miles traveled. To make sure that happens, we must keep up an on-going with our members of Congress.
Another topic of discussion was the need to finalize legislation to fund airport infrastructure investments. The program is currently running under a continuing resolution that expires at the end of September. Just as with highways, airport infrastructure funding needs to be ramped up to improve our aging airports around the country. Specifically, we asked that Congress lift the $4.50 cap that has been in place since 2000 on the Passenger Facilities Charge fee that airports can elect to impose on air travelers for infrastructure projects.
Many thanks to the OCA members who joined us in meeting with Ohio’s members of Congress this week.
May 1, 2017 OCA Labor Bulletin Now Available!
OCA’s May 1, 2017 Labor Bulletin is now in print. This annual resource includes all union wage and benefit increases/changes that are part of OCA’s highway heavy union agreements. Members can access the Labor Bulletin on OCA’s website at www.ohiocontractors.org and clicking on either the “Breaking News” section, or by clicking on “Member Services”, then “Labor”, then “Labor Resources”.
The bulletin can be downloaded for your use. If your company’s payroll department does not receive OCA’s Newsletter, please provide them with a copy of this article. Please refer any questions about the Wage Bulletin, to the attention of Mark Potnick in the OCA office.
ODOT DBE Announcements
ODOT’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (OSDBE) has created a DBE Complaint Hotline for reporting DBE fraud, contracting fraud, and discrimination. **
• (888) 778-4171 [email protected]
• The DBE Complaint Hotline phone number and email address can also be found on at the top of our website: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ODI/SDBE/Pages/default.aspx
In addition, ODOT has added project DBE Utilization Plans to its website. This listing will provide you with the DBE firms that are being used to meet DBE goals on ODOT projects:
• http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ContractAdmin/Contracts/Commitments/Forms/Allitems.aspx
ODOT to Host CRL Training
The Ohio Department of Transportation is hosting several Civil Rights Labor (CRL) management software training classes throughout the state. The workshops will assist contractors on how to utilize CRL software including certified payrolls uploads, prompt payment and on the job training confirmation. The (3) Hour training sessions are held multiple days, times, and locations to accommodate your schedule. You are only required to attend one session. To access a flyer with this information, click here. On-site computers will be provided. For more information regarding CRL software please access:
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ConstructionMgt/CRL/Pages/Program-Information.aspx#
Location Dates and Times:
District 8 – Lebanon (Cincinnati) June 5th June 6th 8am – 1:30pm 1:00 pm – 4:30PM
District 12 - Cleveland June 12th June 13th 8am – 1:30pm 1:00pm – 4:30PM
District 6 – Columbus (Central Office) June 29th June 30th 8am – 1:30pm 1:00pm – 4:30PM
District 4 – Akron July 17th July 18th 8am – 1:30pm 1:00pm – 4:30PM
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