The Daily Reporter articles from March 2004

The Daily Reporter archives from March 2004

Steep steel prices create bidding headaches for contractors.
March 2, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Soaring steel prices coupled with a sharp decline in the material's supply are wreaking havoc on the construction industry and forcing contractors to scramble out of tough situations. "There is a confluence of...

Developers restart construction on what will be one of the largest ice centers in North America.
March 2, 2004... Byline: Brendan O' Brien The next era of recreational facility development is taking place in Cudahy as the developers are restarting construction on the PowerAde Iceport after a work hiatus in February. The high-tech...

Milwaukee's construction industry hosts forum for mayoral candidates.
March 3, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan In a Tuesday forum organized by Milwaukee's construction industry, Tom Barrett emphasized the need to urgently transform Milwaukee while Marvin Pratt focused on economic and racial integration. "We need an alarm clock...

Milwaukee-based Good Electric Company celebrates its 75th year.
March 3, 2004... Byline: Jim Cryns The Good Electric Company is celebrating its 75th year - at least that's the Milwaukee firm's best estimate. "My grandfather didn't keep good records, so we're just going to celebrate the whole year," said Gregg...

Commentary: Outsourcing - It's what we do.
March 3, 2004... Byline: Donald Croysdale Outsourcing is not a four-letter word, but some would like you to think so. From the times of Adam Smith, free economies have - through their nature - taken advantage of specialization. Individuals and businesses...

Retainage-reduction bill moves forward in Wisconsin Legislature.
March 4, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell A legislative proposal to reduce retainage levels on public projects appears to be headed for final passage, despite objections from insurers and municipal governments. "I think we need to protect taxpayers and...

Madison-based Overture Center for the Arts enters its second construction phase.
March 5, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell With work on the Overture Center for the Arts' first phase nearly complete, builders are now turning their attention to the second leg that begins in less than a month. For construction manager J.H. Findorff &...

Initiative for a Competitive Milwaukee poised to increase diversity in work force.
March 5, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan The Initiative for a Competitive Milwaukee, which has assembled the city's big business names, could remove the stubborn hurdles that are impeding the construction industry's efforts to diversify its ranks. ...

Russian authorities request services of Wisconsin water park innovator for investigation.
March 5, 2004... Byline: Brendan O' Brien Russian safety authorities have requested the services of Wisconsin engineer and renowned water park innovator Terry Ramaker to assist in the ongoing investigation of last month's Transvaal Park tragedy in a...

Milwaukee mayor reveals his third neighborhood revitalization plan since taking office.
March 8, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Mayor Marvin Pratt on Friday rolled out his third neighborhood revitalization plan since taking office, aiming to spice up a 360-block area west of downtown. "What we want to show is that we will focus on...

Jerome Joseph LaLonde, founder of LaLonde Contractors Inc., Milwaukee, remembered.
March 8, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Jerome Joseph LaLonde, father of 10 and founder of LaLonde Contractors Inc., Milwaukee, died on March 2 at his home in Bonita Springs, Fla. He was 72. The cause was complications due to cancer, according to his...

Milwaukee-based Wispark proposes three plans for St. Francis site.
March 9, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell St. Francis and Wispark LLC are closing in on a plan to build out 140 acres of real estate into a burgeoning new urbanism development to include residential and commercial property. Larry Burazin, the city's...

An introduction to the Construction Labor Management Council of Southeast Wisconsin Inc.
March 9, 2004... Byline: John Topp The Construction Labor Management Council of Southeast Wisconsin Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in 2001 that consists of all 20 constituent unions of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council...

Both Milwaukee mayoral candidates stress neighborhood development.
March 9, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan With both Milwaukee mayoral candidates spotlighting neighborhood development, there could be a shift in the city's role on such projects. "I'm encouraged by what I'm hearing from both candidates," said Leo Ries,...

Northland Pines School District in Eagle River asks for new high school in bond election.
March 10, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell What do you do if you live in one of the state's coldest areas and your 25-year-old high school was designed by an architect from Arizona familiar only with hot, arid climates? If you're Northland Pines School...

State of Wisconsin constructs its first LEED certified building.
March 10, 2004... Byline: Brendan O' Brien When complete, the new Department of Natural Resources administration building in Green Bay will look like any other newly constructed office building to the naked eye. But with an assortment of stringent...

Taxpayers protected on construction projects.
March 10, 2004... Byline: Donald Croysdale On Tuesday, the state Senate considered passage of AB-417, a bill to reduce retainage on construction projects. With Senate passage, the bill would go to the governor to be signed into law. The paramount objective...

Federal grand jury charges executives from two Wisconsin construction companies with conspiracy.
March 11, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan A federal grand jury Tuesday filed charges against four executives from Vinton and Streu construction companies - and the companies themselves - for allegedly conspiring to rig highway project bids. The contractors...

Richfield developer hopes to convert 68 acres of farmland into residential subdivision.
March 11, 2004... Byline: Jim Cryns Developers are hoping to convert 68 acres of farmland east of Interstate 43 and north of Sunset Road into a residential subdivision. The proposed plan shows 178 lots of which 32 are intended for side-by-side...

Univ. of WI-River Falls delayed in quest to build the nation's first certified green student union.
March 11, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The University of Wisconsin-River Falls' quest to build the nation's first certified green student union has come up short on a technicality. The designers of the $28.4 million project had sought a nationally...

Commentary: Barrett is better for Milwaukee.
March 11, 2004... Byline: Matt Moroney It would have been easy for the Metropolitan Builders Association to sit out the general election for the Milwaukee mayoral race. After all, the candidate we initially endorsed, David Clarke, was not able to rally the...

Wisconsin governor expected to sign retainage-reduction bill.
March 12, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The Legislature wrapped up its two-year session this week, and the construction industry's legislative scorecard reads pretty favorably. Just how favorably it reads depends on whether Gov. Jim Doyle signs a...

Hotel considered near Wisconsin State Fair Park's Expo Center.
March 12, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan The State Fair Park Board and city of West Allis are teaming up to see if they can lure a developer to build a high-class hotel to complement the park's Expo Center. "The city has been exploring and trying to get a...

Merit of Wisconsin's Taxpayers' Bill of Rights debated.
March 15, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell At a recent state legislative hearing on a retainage-reduction bill, a local government representative warned lawmakers that discussion of payments on public projects could soon become moot. It would become moot...

WisDOT searching for solution to surging steel prices.
March 16, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Following pleas from the industry, the Federal Highway Administration is directing state departments of transportation to modify contracts to account for surging steel prices. The Wisconsin Department of...

Increased oversight of highway projects applauded.
March 16, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan State transportation officials and road-builder associations are pleased with the legislation reworking highway project enumeration, saying it would likely increase public confidence and support for expensive...

Sheboygan resort includes hotel, condos, water park.
March 16, 2004... Byline: Jim Cryns A family resort with a riverfront promenade, lakefront park, trails and retail and office developments will soon become a permanent part of Sheboygan's lakefront. SmithGroup is the project engineer on South Pier and...

Washington Group chosen for Weston plant.
March 17, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Wisconsin Public Service Corp., Green Bay, tabbed Washington Group International to serve as construction manager on the utility's $750 million coal-fired plant in Weston. It's the second major energy project in...

Commentary: Retainage reform - A team effort, again.
March 17, 2004... Byline: Donald Croysdale On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law AB-417 that reduces retainage. This bill was the essence of simplicity. It simply changes 10 percent to "no more than 5 percent" as the retainage percentage on the first...

WisDOT to create minority labor pool.
March 18, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan After a delay in awarding the consultant contract, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will begin its effort to create a minority work force for the Marquette Interchange reconstruction. "It's going to be a...

Commentary: Developing a training culture.
March 18, 2004... Byline: Wayne Belanger Here is a common problem: In your position with your company, you can see the need for training at all levels. For the most part, everyone knows his job, but it is apparent that there are knowledge and skill gaps...

Milwaukee Common Council to consider selling downtown parking lot for new Sheraton Hotel.
March 19, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan The Milwaukee Common Council has scheduled a special meeting next week to consider the proposal to sell a downtown parking lot for a new Sheraton Hotel. The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee Tuesday...

Madison-area developers walk away from plane crash.
March 19, 2004... Byline: Todd Bragstad It was no ordinary day at the office for Bill Ranguette and Paul Gilbertson when their Cessna aircraft crashed at an Iowa airport on the night of March 8. The two Madison-area real estate developers, who have been...

$45M Pier Wisconsin project OK'd.
March 22, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee's Common Council Friday approved the $45 million Pier Wisconsin project and passed a pair of development plans for two city districts. "We start a great new chapter in the project's history today," said...

Goodwill, coalition links workers to jobs.
March 22, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Rico Edmonson's employment history is a success story, but it didn't always look like it would turn out that way. A few years ago, he was working what ended up being a dead-end job at a machine shop in Racine....

Commentary: Constructive Comments March 22, 2004.
March 22, 2004... Byline: Dick Snow Candidates are bouncing off the walls issuing promises, promises, promises and the inadequacies of their opponents. The air has become super-heated and issues have become blurred. Who knows what to believe? In...

Commentary: Reflections on partnering.
March 23, 2004... Byline: Mike Fabishak It's pretty well accepted that it's easier to pursue one's parochial interests rather than trying to partner with others by finding some common ground. As individuals or organizations, we tend not to question this...

WisDOT seminar draws 270.
March 24, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan The state Department of Transportation Tuesday held a seminar on competitive bidding regulations, hoping to ensure that its agents and contractors share an understanding of WisDOT's expectations. "We want to get out...

40-acre residential, retail complex planned.
March 24, 2004... Byline: Jim Cryns A large structure that once served as a kitchen appliance factory in West Bend is on the verge of becoming a residential and retail complex. West Bend's Planning Commission met with developers Monday night to discuss...

Commentary: Insurance companies reducing coverage for construction.
March 24, 2004... Byline: Donald Croysdale Over the past few weeks, we've heard some startling news about insurance coverage. Last month, Aon Risk Services' Chris Kondrick reported on the new additional insured endorsement coming out from the Insurance...

Waukesha high school students attend Construction Career Fair.
March 25, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan The building trade unions gave hands-on demonstrations to more than 300 high school students in Waukesha Wednesday in their attempt to attract a younger crowd into apprenticeships. "If we get just a few good...

Barton Town Board suing for removal of two plan commissioners.
March 25, 2004... Byline: Jim Cryns The Barton Town Board has filed suit seeking the removal of two of the town's plan commissioners, contending it never approved the appointments in the first place. The two - Nicole Schultz and Dale Matenaer - were...

Developer optimistic about Iceport project.
March 25, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The developer of the PowerAde Iceport project in Cudahy remained upbeat Wednesday despite the job's ongoing delays and the fact that four construction liens have been filed on the project. James Kasten, managing...

Milwaukee officials team with business associations to study possibility of downtown casino.
March 26, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee's mayor and county executive have teamed with downtown business associations to study the possibility of locating an expanded Potawatomi casino downtown as the centerpiece of an entertainment district. ...

Wisconsin regulation governing the removal of water from trenches poses problems for contractors.
March 26, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell A state regulation governing the removal of water from trenches is posing some problems for contractors but not because it's an unusually difficult to meet code. Rather, it's a question of knowing that...

Commentary: Is there enough room at the bottom?
March 26, 2004... Byline: Randy Crump As the youth leader at small central city Milwaukee church, I interact with a lot of youth. In getting to know teens new to the church or one of our community activities, I often ask about their future plans. Recently,...

Potawatomi Tribe left out of casino relocation discussion.
March 29, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell Business leaders and politicians of all stripes joined hands Thursday in hopes of luring the Potawatomi casino out of the Menomonee Valley, but there was a key player missing at the podium. The Forest County...

Federal highway bills not in state's best interests.
March 30, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell The federal highway funding picture is becoming a little more clear, but the landscape isn't shaping up very well for Wisconsin, according to a state transportation official. "This is the one significant, direct...

Campaign contribution law adopted.
March 31, 2004... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee County adopted a new campaign contribution law Tuesday prohibiting contractors from donating to an official who could influence the outcome of an open county contract they have bid on. "It's just another...

Supreme Court unable to rule on tribal gaming issue.
March 31, 2004... Byline: Jeremy Harrell A divided state Supreme Court found itself unable to rule Tuesday on a case that could end tribal gaming in Wisconsin. Six justices split evenly over a suit brought by Kenosha's Dairyland Greyhound Park, which...

Port Washington church to be demolished to make way for residential development.
March 31, 2004... Byline: Jim Cryns A church in Port Washington that has stood for almost 100 years will be demolished and replaced by a residential development modeled after Brewers Hill north of downtown Milwaukee. An investment group including Bill...

Commentary: Is inflation back?
March 31, 2004... Byline: Donald Croysdale From recent economic reports, inflation is well under control. In fact, just a year ago, many economists were expressing concern that deflation could be the problem instead. But recent events may foretell...