The Daily Reporter articles from January 2002

The Daily Reporter archives from January 2002

Milwaukee construction company takes school district to federal court.
January 2, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Johnson Controls Inc., a Milwaukee design and construction company, last week took the Hudson School District to federal court for violating the company's ownership of a referendum project design. Johnson...

Milwaukee task force tackles air-quality issues created by energy-efficient housing.
January 2, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Residential construction took untold steps forward with the development of modern-day insulation materials, said Matt Moroney, executive director of the Metropolitan Builders Association. The industry is...

Commentary: Despite uncertainties, 2001 was good year.
January 2, 2002... Byline: Matt Moroney Wow, what a year 2001 has been. Who would have thought that the industry would have performed as well as it did given all of the events of 2001? The latest building permit data collected by the association shows that...

Developer almost ready to break ground on offices.
January 3, 2002... Byline: Sean Ryan Irgens Development Partners LLC is one tenant and one tax incremental finance district away from breaking ground on the $49 million 875 East office building in Milwaukee. "I think it'll be the finest office building...

Oconomowoc approves non-profit construction in Pabst Farm development.
January 3, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Oconomowoc caught flak when officials approved public funding to leverage development on the 1,500-acre Pabst Farm, but the city's receiving mild approval for the first two projects, though neither will pay property...

WI stadium district sues Mitsubishi.
January 3, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Miller Park's retractable roof may close with ease, but closure of the construction contracts has been hit with a foul ball. The Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District announced Thursday that...

Commentary: Constructive Comments January 3, 2002.
January 3, 2002... Byline: Dick Snow Anniversaries abound This year marks our 35th connected to the construction industry, and it's the 150th weekly Constructive Comments -- written after we thought we retired on Jan. 1, 1999. Actually, it's been a...

LaCrosse County imposes moratorium on cell towers.
January 4, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall The LaCrosse County Board has imposed a six-month building moratorium on cell towers in unincorporated areas so it can form uniform guidelines on their construction. Jeff Bluske, director of zoning and land...

IRS easing tax burden for smaller businesses.
January 7, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The Internal Revenue Service is set to change its regulations for how smaller construction companies keep their financial books, and contractors could reap significant benefits. "It allows more flexibility in the...

Floor buckles at new Minneapolis high school.
January 7, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Burlington School District officials have yet to determine who's responsible for a poured-in-place terrazzo floor gone bad at the high school, said Peter Smet, business manager. Smet said the floor in the...

Wisconsin Business People January 7, 2002.
January 7, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Bray Associates Architects Inc. Bray Associates Architects Inc. has been honored for design excellence in a national competition. American School & University magazine named the firm in Architectural...

Wisconsin OSHA Citations January 7, 2002.
January 7, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff DECEMBERAdvanced Sewer & Water Inc., West Allis, reached a formal settlement with OSHA on Dec. 14 to reduce to $550 a $1,500 citation for violating construction safety training and education requirements. The...

WI Underground Contractors Assoc. settles dispute with Milwaukee Sewerage.
January 8, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Bringing an end to a 16-month-old dispute between the Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, the two settled a lawsuit out of court Monday. "We're...

WI architects group proposes changes to state licensing process.
January 8, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Proposed changes to state licensing regulations for architects are inching forward, although doubts remain that the Legislature would take up the issue in the next year. In years past, the American Institute of...

Madison's State Street redevelopment plan clears third hurdle.
January 8, 2002... Byline: Sean Ryan Madison's $15 million State Street redevelopment plan cleared a third city commission Monday, leaving nine more before planners can get the project rolling. "Hopefully, it will work its way through by March," said...

Historic icon in Glendale, WI, to undergo $15.5 metamorphosis.
January 9, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall A piece of Glendale's history will undergo a metamorphosis over the next year, catapulting a vacant 73-year-old building into the 21st century by Heartland Development Group and the city. Mike Petersen,...

Finding funds to resurrect Atlas Mill, WI's 2nd oldest paper mill.
January 9, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Lawmakers want to inject state funds into the reconstruction of an old paper mill in Appleton, but the budget deficit could bring the state's contribution to a halt. The Atlas Mill, which sits on the banks of the...

WI AFL-CIO seeking to extend unemployment insurance coverage.
January 10, 2002... Byline: Sean Ryan State legislators are pressing to extend Wisconsin's unemployment insurance coverage periods to accommodate the state's rising unemployment rate and job shortage. "We have about 5,000 people per month exhausting...

WI contractors surviving competitive climate.
January 10, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall A bid environment that's become increasingly competitive during the last few months may benefit taxpayers on public works jobs, but it's also keeping contractors on their toes. "Things are tight right now,"...

Successful WI contractor believes in building business on communication.
January 10, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Companies build successful businesses on many foundations, but for Engineered Construction Inc., a general contractor in Verona, the firmest ground lies in serving clients effectively. Relying on a business model...

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 10, 2002.
January 10, 2002... Byline: Dick Snow Wondering while wandering Having been dragged kicking and screaming through yet another birthday, not to mention being upbraided for a lousy job of fact-checking, the resolve here is to avoid, whenever possible, other...

WI lawmakers leery of increasing taxing authority in present economy.
January 11, 2002... Byline: Sean Ryan The Wisconsin Center District wants to increase its taxing authority to fund $150 million worth of expansion projects, but Republican legislators said the time isn't right. "It could be in the future, but I don't...

WI legislators present plan to freeze state-funded building projects.
January 11, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Republicans in the state Senate presented a plan last week to cope with the state's $1.3 billion budget shortfall, and state-funded building projects are on the chopping block. The plan, if adopted, would...

Redevelopment of Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field begins.
January 14, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Contractors planning the redevelopment of Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field have been waiting to take possession of the 44-year-old stadium, pending results of playoff games. The Packers' defeat Sunday of the...

Court date set on motion to halt demolition of Milwaukee freeway.
January 14, 2002... Byline: Candy Doyle A status conference on the Park East Freeway project will be held Thursday before an Eastern District U.S. Court judge. At that time, it's not likely the judge will decide on motions filed by the George and Martha...

Wisconsin OSHA Citations January 14, 2002.
January 14, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff DECEMBER Bonz Construction, Malone, must pay a $450 fall protection citation because the period to contest the violation has ended. The company was issued the citation on Nov. 16 during a roofing, siding...

Wisconsin Business People January 14, 2002.
January 14, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Alby Supply Station Alby Supply Station, the construction supply division of Alby Materials Inc., received three honors for its sales and service of masonry landscape products. The honors are: The...

Painters union, Madison company reach settlement.
January 15, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell A settlement agreement was reached last week between a Madison company and a painters union, with mediation provided by the National Labor Relations Board in Milwaukee. But an attorney for the charged party said...

Glendale files lawsuit against property owner over Bayshore Mall demolition.
January 15, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The city of Glendale filed a lawsuit Friday to keep a property owner from slowing the $100 million overhaul of the Bayshore Mall, but the defendant's lawyer said the city's action is out of bounds. "We had...

New 280,000-square-foot Milwaukee tech school faces space concerns.
January 16, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall The footprint for the Lynde and Harry Bradley School of Technology and Trade is a done deal, according to John McGregor of Irgens Development Partners LLC, the school's representative on the project. ...

Concrete plank falls at Lambeau Field renovation project.
January 16, 2002... Byline: Sean Ryan A 2-foot-by-40-foot concrete plank fell several feet during an installation mishap Tuesday morning at Lambeau Field, but no workers were injured in the accident. "The workers kept working for the rest of the day,"...

WI law to require lead paint certification rapidly gaining support.
January 16, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell A new state law will shield landlords from liability if they have lead paint removed by certified contractors, but the rule could eventually extend beyond rental properties to all homes. "It's like a big steam...

Milwaukee contractors' assn. elects new officers.
January 17, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Kevin O'Toole, the 2002 president of the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee, assumed his new role with style Wednesday night. O'Toole wowed attendees at the AGC-GM annual meeting at the...

Economist Simonson warns of more hard times for WI construction economy.
January 17, 2002... Byline: Candy Doyle Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, said Thursday that the Wisconsin construction economy will likely get worse before it gets better. Simonson, who spoke at the...

WI governor proposes retainage reduction on public jobs.
January 17, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell State government is officially $1.1 billion in the hole, but Gov. Scott McCallum wants to help builders prop up the economy by reducing the retainage requirements on public jobs. The governor said the reduction...

State Building Commission approves projects.
January 17, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The State Building Commission Wednesday approved a light agenda, signing off on no project larger than $3.5 million. Commission members unanimously voted to proceed with a five-cottage remodeling project at the...

Milwaukee county begins bidding process for airport rental car center.
January 17, 2002... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee County is raking in bids for a $1.7 million rental car center in the heart of General Mitchell International Airport's traffic quagmire. "We have five or six general contractor bids in already," said Dave...

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 17, 2002.
January 17, 2002... Byline: Dick Snow 2001 stix spell out success... A little bit of history is the order of the day for Wisconsin's construction industry. Newcomers to the industry need to be educated as to how far Badger contractors have come in two...

Sept. 11 victims thank WI Builders Foundation for donation of relief funds.
January 18, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall The Wisconsin Builders Foundation has received letters of thanks from people it helped following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York City. A letter received from the Cox family gives a frank account of...

WI power plant construction slows in slumping economy.
January 18, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell A slumping economy, heavy competition and a new mercury emission standard could change the outlook for power-plant construction in the state, but it won't reduce the need for builders. In recent years, energy...

Milwaukee sewerage workers begin deep tunnel inspection.
January 21, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Inspection of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District deep tunnel begins today 300 feet below ground level. Anne Spray Kinney, executive director of the MMSD, gave a sense of just how deep that is,...

Wisconsin OSHA Citations January 21, 2002.
January 21, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff DECEMBER Bob Kimball Inc., Janesville, reached an informal settlement with OSHA on Dec. 27 to reduce a $2,500 eye and face protection citation to $1,750, a $2,500 fall protection citation to $1,750 and to...

Wisconsin Business People January 21, 2002.
January 21, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Bloom Consultants LLC Frederick J Wisner, PE, RLS, has joined the staff of Bloom Consultants LLC as the manager of the Transportation Division. He has more than 17 years of transportation engineering...

Options considered for bicycle/pedestrian path across Hoan Bridge/Milwaukee.
January 22, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell A state legislator and cycling groups want to steer the state Department of Transportation toward building a bicycle and pedestrian path across the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee. "It will be attractive because people...

WI governor's budget cuts target shared revenue.
January 22, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Gov. Scott McCallum's proposal to balance the state budget preserves state building initiatives, but its restraints on local government spending could bring a close to many municipal projects. "To cut revenue by...

WI budget proposal hits tech colleges and schools.
January 22, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The state building program survived Gov. Scott McCallum's budget reform measures Tuesday, but technical colleges and school districts will likely feel the pinch of a tight economy. The governor's deficit...

Whitefish Bay, WI, plans downtown revitalization.
January 22, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall The village of Whitefish Bay is planning to revitalize its downtown area, said Patrick Boyle, a management assistant for the North Shore community. But first it has to decide what it wants to be when it grows...

$50 million Milwaukee tech school construction project progressing.
January 23, 2002... Byline: Candy Doyle The $50 million Harry Bradley School of Technology and Trade project marked a major construction milestone Wednesday when the final concrete pour was made on the school's highest peak, 48 feet above ground. Kenneth...

WI construction associations laud governor's efforts to prop up economy.
January 23, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Wisconsin's construction associations uniformly lauded Gov. Scott McCallum's proposal to fix the state's budget imbalance, and they focused their praise on his promise not to raise taxes. "You've got to give him...

Commentary: Don't miss the 2002 Assoc. Builders & Contractors Safety Conference.
January 23, 2002... Byline: Don Moen Training and development mean survival, and construction companies that learn and adapt the fastest have a great competitive advantage. The Associated Builders and Contractors' safety conferences allow both management...

WI legislator proposes allowing consumers/state to produce their own energy.
January 24, 2002... Byline: Chris Thompson A proposal forcing the state to investigate "distributed generation units" for projects exceeding $5 million could add a new layer -- and cost -- to state construction jobs, but the bill's proponents said it's worth...

WI builders claim open-records proposal exposes employees.
January 24, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Contractor associations want state government to afford construction company workers more privacy rights than are given to public employees, but legislators will likely balk at the proposal. "I think if you're a...

Waukesha-based construction company built on solid foundation.
January 24, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Voss Jorgensen Schueler is built on a solid foundation, with roots that date back to the '40s, said Gary Jorgensen, chairman of the board for the general contractor/construction management firm in Waukesha. ...

Commentary: Builders must evaluate storm-water rule's impact on their sites.
January 24, 2002... Byline: Matt Moroney The Natural Resources Board recently approved the long-awaited nonpoint rule, which would place further restrictions on agricultural, nonagricultural and municipal lands if approved by the Legislature and governor....

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 24, 2002.
January 24, 2002... Byline: Dick Snow Political activism important Contractors were recently admonished by Bob Desjardins, president of the Associated General Contractors of America and vice chairman and executive vice president of Cianbro Corporation, a...

WI contractors adjusting to OSHA's new steel-erection standards.
January 25, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Contractors have had years to prepare for the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration steel-erection standard, and many said the first week under the code has gone well. "I'm glad we finally have...

Building and trades organization seeks reconciliation with carpenters union.
January 25, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The building and trades division of the national AFL-CIO recently opened the door for the carpenters union to return to the organization, but just how that will happen remains unclear. On Jan. 16, the Governing...

OSHA to increase enforcement and target workplaces with highest injury rates.
January 25, 2002... Byline: Candy Doyle John Henshaw, assistant secretary of labor for Occupational Safety and Health, has announced that his agency's enforcement efforts will increase in 2002, with more inspections targeting workplaces where injury and...

Mild WI winter benefits contractors and their customers.
January 28, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell If the economy in Wisconsin hasn't been cooperating recently for contractors, at least Mother Nature has done her part to improve companies' bottom lines. "We're doing better than expected, and actually we're...

WI AFL-CIO endorses Burke, D-Milwaukee, for attorney general.
January 28, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has endorsed Sen. Brian Burke, D-Milwaukee, for attorney general. "I'm pleased to have the support of working men and women across the state of Wisconsin," Burke said. Burke...

Wisconsin OSHA Citations January 28, 2002.
January 28, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff DECEMBER Roscoe Ready Mix, Roscoe, Ill., reached an informal settlement with OSHA on Dec. 13 to delete a $1,500 construction safety training and education citation and a $1,500 general concrete and masonry...

Wisconsin Business People January 28, 2002.
January 28, 2002... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Ayres Associates Mark Steward was promoted to photogrammetry project manager. He has been employed by Ayres Associates' photogrammetry group since 1999. A 1994 geography graduate of the University of...

Commentary: Construction industry professionals need to stay on top of regulatory issues.
January 28, 2002... Byline: John Feyen Opportunities abound for construction industry professionals to stay on top of trends, codes, regulations and recommended practices. You just have to know where to look. The Associated General Contractors of Greater...

WI Laborers District Council backs Sen. Shibilski for lieutenant governor.
January 29, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The state laborers union Monday announced its support of lieutenant governor hopeful Kevin Shibilski, adding to his list of construction union endorsements. "At an early age, I learned that union representation...

WI legislative proposal could spur construction.
January 29, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Wisconsin private schools could move ahead more speedily with construction projects under a legislative proposal giving them federal tax-free bonding. "With this tax exemption, it makes bonding attractive enough...

Milwaukee 127-unit apartment project on hold.
January 29, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall Developer Robert Schultz, owner of Historic Teweles Seed LLC, is planning to renovate a 14-story industrial building in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood. But he has a few hurdles to clear before...

Largest electrical workers local in WI joins customer coalition.
January 30, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall The largest electrical workers local union in Wisconsin officially joined forces with the Customers First! Coalition Tuesday, announced Forrest Ceel, president of International Brotherhood of Electric Workers...

Remodeling industry association hosts its 40th home show in Milwaukee.
January 30, 2002... Byline: Ellen Hickock-Wall The National Association of the Remodeling Industry will hold its 40th annual Milwaukee home improvement show from Feb. 7 through Feb. 10 at State Fair Park in West Allis. This year's theme is "Celebrating 40...

WI budget cuts for local governments stalls community construction projects.
January 30, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Gov. Scott McCallum's proposed cuts to shared revenue for local governments has forced some communities to reconsider construction projects and how they plan to pay for them. "It goes to reason that places that...

WI construction industry lobbies legislators on a variety of important issues.
January 31, 2002... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Construction industry representatives logged hundreds of hours and spent thousands of dollars in 2001 lobbying for the interests of builders and their workers. The state Ethics Board released its annual lobbying...

Milwaukee's new tech school asks for construction equipment donations.
January 31, 2002... Byline: Candy Doyle The Lynde and Harry Bradley School of Technology and Trade is asking for donations of more than $150,000 worth of construction equipment to be used by students when the new $50 million school opens, scheduled for fall....

Renovating and preserving historical WI buildings challenge local contractor.
January 31, 2002... Byline: Chris Thompson Sometimes the smallest projects offer the greatest challenges. Initially, the two museum repair jobs at Old World Wisconsin, slated for a Feb. 14 start with completion by April 19 for the exhibit's May 1 opening,...

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 31, 2002.
January 31, 2002... Byline: Dick Snow It's time for a genuine snowbird to seek the healing strength of the sun and fun in southern Florida and enjoy a month of MCIART (Milwaukee Construction Industry Alumni Reunion Time), not to mention bird and dolphin...