The Daily Reporter articles from January 2003

The Daily Reporter archives from January 2003

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 2, 2003.
January 2, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow San Antonio, TX - After the heart-pumping, season-ending overtime victory, 31-28, over the Colorado Buffaloes in the Alamo Bowl Saturday night, the Wisconsin Badgers reminded us of project construction. And why not?Their...

Future is dire under reworked WisDOT budget.
January 2, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The state Department of Transportation has revamped its budget proposal for next year, and the agency's outgoing secretary said the plan paints a stark picture of the future. "The mobility of our citizens,...

Milwaukee Carpenters rejoin building trades.
January 3, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The carpenters' union in the Milwaukee area has resealed its ties with the area's Building and Construction Trades Council, ending nearly two years of official separation. "We're back in, and we're happy to be an...

Wisconsin Construction Briefs January 6, 2003.
January 6, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Almena nets state grant The village of Almena will use a $7,500 state grant to study its water system, according to the state Department of Commerce. "The grant will help this community study its water...

Wisconsin's new governor takes oath of office.
January 7, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Jim Doyle took the oath of office Monday to become Wisconsin's 44th governor, and he promised to steer the state out of its financial straits. "Welcome to a new day in Wisconsin," Doyle said, uttering the...

High school building job teaches lesson in teamwork.
January 8, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan Although the South Milwaukee High School addition is only a hole in the ground, it is already teaching builders about cooperation, individuality and history. "On each school, you learn something new and different, and...

OSHA sets regulatory agenda for 2003.
January 8, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Federal safety regulators have laid out their regulatory agenda for 2003, and many of the new and revised rules are familiar to the construction industry. In the coming year, the Occupational Safety and Health...

Commentary: Construction in uncertain times.
January 8, 2003... Byline: Steve Stone Last year, almost all industries were on the back of their heels trying to predict the economic future. Now, a year after the tragic events of Sept.11, some of the dust has settled and the outlook for the construction...

Wisconsin Business People January 8, 2003.
January 8, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Ayres Associates Alexandra Atchison, EIT, has joined Ayres Associates, Madison, as a transportation planner. Her responsibilities include overseeing planning and traffic-related projects for Ayres...

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 9, 2003.
January 9, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow Editors will tell you they have a lot of material on the spike at year's end.The question is: "Do you toss them?" And the answer is that you save them for a down time, and there's nothing like the first full week of...

Southeast WI Regional Planning Commission presents freeway proposal.
January 9, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan On Wednesday, the Milwaukee County Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee heard the latest pros and cons regarding a proposal to reconstruct southeast Wisconsin's freeway system. Milwaukee County will be...

New Berlin City Center project to continue.
January 9, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell State environmental regulators and the city of New Berlin appear to have ended a yearlong dispute over a $40 million project, but the snake at the source of the disagreement could rear its head elsewhere. The...

Milwaukee promotes downtown development.
January 10, 2003... Byline: Mark Kass There are many reasons for the recent surge of development in downtown Milwaukee, but real estate developers are quick to point out that a major reason has been the dramatic change in how they are treated by the city. ...

Commentary: Construction Onsite Insite January 10, 2003.
January 10, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow Back in the saddle Where's Gene Autry when you need musical support? It certainly is time for "Back in the Saddle Again." While Autry's no longer with us, unable to mount his trusty steed and sing, the same is not...

City of Madison works to stop urban sprawl, big box retail.
January 13, 2003... Byline: Mark Kass Bucking the national trend, the city of Madison has taken a rather dim view of big box retailers. Rather than welcoming one of the only retail sectors seeing any growth throughout the country, the city has instead...

Wisconsin OSHA Citations January 13, 2003.
January 13, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff DECEMBER Phoenix Construction Ltd., Kenosha, must pay a $1,500 fall-protection citation because the period to contest the violation has ended. The company was issued the citation on Nov. 7 during a...

Dept. of Administration stops projects not under contract.
January 14, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The state Department of Administration strapped its budget-tightening belt on the construction industry by putting an indefinite hold on all state projects not under contract. New Administration Secretary Marc J....

Milwaukee architects chosen for hospital project.
January 15, 2003... Byline: Candy Doyle Columbia St. Mary's announced Tuesday that Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc., the lead architect for its new hospital campus and expansion project, selected the Milwaukee firms of Kahler Slater and Plunkett Raysich...

Village of North Fond du Lac considers funding road projects with utility bill.
January 15, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell It might not rely on space-age technology, but the village of North Fond du Lac could set a state precedent with its proposal to fund road-building projects through a utility bill. "It's a way to make sure we'll...

Wisconsin Business People January 15, 2003.
January 15, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee The Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee announced that Robert K. Stelter of the Bentley Company was elected 2003 AGC president. ...

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 16, 2003.
January 16, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow Wisconsin's largest daily newspaper reported recently on campaign funds directed to Milwaukee's downtown alderman, Paul Henningsen, by area developers. The FBI, it said, is seeking to talk to the alderman, and his aide...

Bureau of Labor Statistic's data doesn't make sense.
January 16, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan It's a mystery whether the Bureau of Labor Statistic's data, which shows construction-injury rates declining and the number of fatalities increasing, reflects real-world trends or means contractors aren't recording...

Milwaukee County Exec. supports freeway expansion plan.
January 16, 2003... Byline: Candy Doyle Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker supports the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission's freeway expansion plan, which the County Board is expected to vote on next month. "I believe that you have...

WI's order to halt new construction projects leave industry in confusion.
January 17, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The state's recent order to halt construction projects not under contract has thrown the industry into confusion as builders and designers wait to find out if they'll land new jobs. "We're not clear as to what...

Commentary: Construction Onsite Insite January 17, 2003.
January 17, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow Completing the punch list We finished the punch list on the Wells Street entry of the Milwaukee Public Library. The initial bid to do the work drew one contractor - Guenther-Wagner-Johnson, West Allis. The library's...

Lambeau Field subcontractors warned about minority-hiring shortfalls.
January 20, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan Frustrations are rising after the general contractor on the Lambeau Field renovation project threatened to withhold 18 subcontractors' retainage for not paying penalties for project participation goal shortfalls. ...

Dept. of Administration clarifies building freeze.
January 20, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The state's freeze on construction projects will continue for a majority of jobs while government building staff review them, according to guidelines issued Friday. The Division of Facilities Development is...

Wisconsin OSHA Citations January 20, 2003.
January 20, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff DECEMBER La Crosse Mechanical, La Crosse, reached an informal settlement with OSHA on Dec. 13 to reduce a $3,000 requirements-for-excavation protective-systems citation to $2,400 and a $3,000...

U.S. Rep. Tom Petri tours operating engineers' training facility.
January 21, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell U.S. Rep. Tom Petri on Monday stopped by the state operating engineers' training facility in Coloma to get a taste of labor and management cooperation in the building trades. "It's our livelihood," said Dale...

New $20 million development eyed in West Allis.
January 21, 2003... Byline: Mark Kass City of West Allis officials are expected to select a developer in the next two months to undertake up to a $20 million commercial and residential development near South 66th Street and West National Avenue. The...

Biz group seeks Miller Park stadium district invoices.
January 21, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan A business group for minority- and women-owned law firms has threatened legal action if the Miller Park stadium district doesn't release invoices for its 2002 legal services before Feb. 14. "They never really...

WI Manufacturers and Commerce wants Air Bureau audit.
January 22, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Wisconsin's largest business lobby and environmentalists agree the state program overseeing air quality has left construction projects in limbo, but they disagree over possible solutions. On Monday, Wisconsin...

Judge reduces Lunda Construction's lead citations.
January 22, 2003... Byline: Chris Thompson Lunda Construction Co. is now facing $33,500 in lead citations following its work on the completed Sixth Street Viaduct project in Milwaukee, marking a drastic reduction from the original penalty of $250,500. ...

Milwaukee mayor resurrects old Marquette Interchange plan.
January 22, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist Tuesday suggested the Department of Transportation reconsider a scaled-back plan to reconstruct the Marquette Interchange that it scrapped in the project's early planning phase. "The...

National Labor Relations Board challenges union pressure tactics.
January 22, 2003... Byline: Maurice Baskin Two recent decisions indicate a possible shift in the law with regard to union pressure tactics employed in the past against open-shop contractors and their customers. In the first case, the general counsel of...

Wisconsin Business People January 22, 2003.
January 22, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff AJ Pietsch AJ Pietsch, a Milwaukee-based high-end architectural woodworking firm, has announced the addition of Trey Brooks as its marketing manager. Brooks' primary focus at AJ Pietsch will include...

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 23, 2003.
January 23, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow The news of the day leads us to opine on progress, or the lack thereof, in two great American cities-Boston and Milwaukee.The contrast is intriguing, and both cities have a common pivot point-politics.Boston and the Big...

A day in the life of Bradley Technology and Trade School.
January 23, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan The first bell of the day rings at 7:30 a.m. in the Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade School, and Principal Ed Kovochich is sitting behind the security desk to chide the late-comers. "Punctuality is more...

Dept. of Natural Resources closer to asbestos-citation authority.
January 23, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell State environmental regulators could cite contractors for failure to follow asbestos-abatement procedures under a rule the Natural Resources Board approved unanimously Wednesday. "Asbestos-citation authority will...

West Allis seeks state funds for sports complex.
January 24, 2003... Byline: Mark Kass The city of West Allis is planning to convert a former city landfill into a recreational complex, and it's hoping to tap into a new state brownfields redevelopment grant fund to help pay for the $200,000 project. The...

Harmony Construction Management finds niche in retail construction.
January 24, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell After working for general contractors in the Madison area for more than 20 years, Paul Reed decided to try something new and opened his own construction management shop. "I worked for general contractors and...

Commentary: Construction Onsite Insite January 24, 2003.
January 24, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow Mundane good word for bidding Bidding activity last week was mundane, but, like the weather, it should warm up shortly. However, here are a few notable upcoming projects: Bidding on a 20,280-square-foot...

Design/build proponents work on legislative proposal.
January 27, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The design/build chefs are back at the legislative pot this year, and the many proponents are hoping not to spoil the broth even as the skeptics start to make their case. "We're trying to get everyone on board,"...

Assoc. General Contractors/Greater Milwaukee to present Construction Safety Day.
January 27, 2003... Byline: Dan Burazin We all remember the old vaudeville shtick. You know the one. The one where the guy tosses the banana peel only to have some hapless chap saunter by and take a tumble on his backside as a result of a slip. We all laughed...

Wisconsin OSHA Citations January 27, 2003.
January 27, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff DECEMBER Hernandez Roofing Inc., St. Paul, Minn., paid a $600 fall-protection citation on Dec. 16. The company was issued the citation on Dec. 2 during a roofing, siding and sheet- metal job at 1713 Heggen...

Public Service Commission begins review of coal plants.
January 28, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on Monday began reviewing Wisconsin Energy Corporation's application for two coal plants with an Oak Creek meeting asking what agents should include in their environmental...

Top road building projects for 2002 honored.
January 28, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The Sixth Street Viaduct job in Milwaukee and a two-mile grading job in Dane County can claim to be among the best of the best 2002 road projects based on a round of awards the state Department of Transportation...

U.S. Supreme Court denies challenge to project-labor agreements restriction.
January 29, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell President's Bush's order to restrict project-labor agreements on federally funded jobs is the law of the land following a U.S. Supreme Court decision Monday. Without elaboration, the high court denied a challenge...

Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District to separate some sewers.
January 29, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District agents say their plan to separate some combined sewers isn't as groundbreaking as the almost unanimous support its member communities have given it. "I think this is historic,...

Wisconsin Business People January 29, 2003.
January 29, 2003... Byline: Daily Reporter Staff Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin The Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin presented Alex Boson, the 11-year-old son of Kurt Boson of The Boson Company, the association's HERO Award for his...

Commentary: Can Governor Doyle keep spirit of his promise?
January 29, 2003... Byline: Matt Moroney Politicians promising not to raise taxes during an election are a dime a dozen. It is rare that, once voted into office and facing politically unappealing budgeting decisions, an official will keep that campaign...

Commentary: Constructive Comments, January 30, 2003.
January 30, 2003... Byline: Dick Snow In calling for regional cooperation, Ulice Payne Jr., Miller Brewers' chief operating officer, pointed out that red ink and aging buildings typify conditions at sports and entertainment facilities.That wasn't always the...

$25 million mall proposed in Milwaukee.
January 30, 2003... Byline: Mark Kass The Mequon real estate developer that has proposed building a 380,000-square-foot shopping center on Milwaukee's northwest side has come up with a new site plan for the "lifestyle center" and is negotiating to bring in...

Dept. of Workforce Development rules T-3 Group didn't violate plant-closing laws.
January 30, 2003... Byline: Sean Ryan The Department of Workforce Development ruled that T-3 Group Ltd.'s sudden closing did not violate plant-closing laws because it couldn't predict the bank's decision to suspend its credit. "What we found was there was...

City of Kenosha plans Southport Marina development.
January 31, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The waters of Lake Michigan might be a little cold now, but, for the city of Kenosha, they could be a hot spot for boaters - and for a new development project. "I think it could be a prime location between...

Gov. Doyle outlines forthcoming state budget.
January 31, 2003... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Without offering details, Gov. Jim Doyle on Wednesday drew up an outline of his forthcoming state budget, and he laid out a grim short-term future for Wisconsin. Doyle is staring down the largest budget deficit...