Spring is here or at least nearly here! Let me take this opportunity to say that to all of you and join me in hoping that 2010 will be as prosperous as we all can hope for.

We have many issues facing us. There are a number of trade agreements that will expire on May 31, 2010. This could be an opportune time for Management to ‘convince the Unions’ to bring back into prospective the costs of construction that have sky rocketed, all due primarily to the cost of labor. As we go into negotiations with the various trades, let’s keep this in mind and remain focused towards whatever the outcome shall be at the end of May. In other words, make the COMMITMENT to STAND BEHIND and SUPPORT the decisions of your Craft Committees and their Negotiators!

Another issue we face is the downturn in construction spending in our area. I wish for all of you to have good luck in procuring enough of a backlog of work to maintain your place in this difficult market place. If we could realize a profit would be great, also!

Our LCCA Committees will be actively promoting all that is necessary to keep our Membership informed of any Labor updates, Legislative issues, as well as offering educational seminars and classes, etc. All the Committees are extremely important to our existence. I encourage you all to support them and take advantage of the hard work they do for you, the Membership. If any of you wish to be involved in ANY of the LCCA Committees, please contact the office staff, or me personally. Your participation is what makes a difference!

In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Lyle Ehlers for the leadership shown by him during his tenor as President for the past two years. He has served this Association twice as President, and both times he has given his all to make LCCA a better group. His dedication to LCCA, as well as his never ending commitment to better this Association is greatly appreciated. Thanks to you, Lyle!

It wasn’t quite March Madness, but Speed Networking was a huge hit LCCA’s March Membership Meeting. Just like the “Speed Dating” concept depicted in the movies or on TV, the LCCA event provided a unique opportunity for members to interact 1-on-1 or in small groups with NEARLY EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM! Attendees exchanged business cards & company information and made their best business pitches to each other!!!

Everything was different about the meeting. There was no dinner or program. The networking WAS the program. In the end, Speed Networking was hailed universally by the attendees as a major success. In fact, plans are underway to bring this event back for January 2011.

The Lake County Contractors Association was recently recognized for its major contribution to the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center’s Out of the Blues 2 fundraising event. Now in its second year, the construction and demolition industry has promoted this event to support sexual abuse counseling and prevention programs in Lake County. Thanks to a $7,500 contribution from an anonymous LCCA member, LCCA was able to create a special buy 1, get 1 free ticket offer for the ZCenter event. As a result, more than 120 LCCA members attended the fundraiser on March 11 at the House of Blues. ZCenter Executive Director Torrie Flink sent the following message of thanks to LCCA:

“We thank all the wonderful members of LCCA for your help! Out of the Blues 2 surpassed our expectations and even our hopes. We raised $144,000, netting $77,000 to go 100% toward our work. LCCA’s generosity ultimately supports our mission and provides peace of mind, safety, wholeness, laughter, trust and love, through services provided by ZCenter free of Charge.

Please pass our heartfelt appreciation on to all LCCA members and tell them Out of the Blues 3 is already being planned for March 2011!”

Echoing that message from ZCenter, LCCA says “Thank you to our members for your industry leadership in support of this important community service.”

LCCA has received notice of the passing of Helen Boller, matriarch of the Boller construction family. Helen Boller passed away peacefully on March 17, 2010 at the age of 95. She is survived by her two sons - Ray (Debbie) Boller and Robert (Susan) Boller - and five grandchildren Justin, Jamie, Josh and Matthew Boller and Katha (Trevor) Wilson.

Helen Boller led a full and abundant life. She was an early female aviator, president of both the Milbourn and Lake County School Boards, a WKRS radio broadcaster, a Lake County Deputy Sheriff and an active participant with her husband Ray in LCCA. In addition to raising her family, Helen worked in several different professions including owning a car dealership, flower decorating and residential and commercial property management.

Helen Boller was a survivor and vigorous fighter, overcoming 8 separate bouts of cancer over 52 years. A private ceremony was held with family. In lieu of flowers, the family is directing donations to the Advocate Hospice in Libertyville. Friends are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.strangfh.com. LCCA extends its condolences to the Boller family.

It’s spring. That means the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will begin major resurfacing and construction work on many regional expressways starting April 1^st.

Beginning April 1, IDOT plans to resurface the Eisenhower from Itasca to the I-90/94 interchange in Chicago and I-355 from Army Trail Road to I-290. Also beginning April 1, IDOT will rehabilitate the Congress Parkway Bridge (in downtown Chicago). Rehab work on the Tollway’s Edens Spur will begin later this spring. These projects will affect millions of motorists trying to get in and around Chicago. These projects are scheduled to be completed within the next two years. For more details, visit the IDOT website at www.dot.il.gov/I290/index.html, the Transportation Management Association website at www.tmalakecook.org or the Tollway website at www.illinoistollway.com.

To the north in Wisconsin, heavy construction work has begun on the I-94 corridor from the Illinois state line through the Mitchell Airport Interchange in Milwaukee County. The project will entail lane reductions, lowered speed limits and exit closures throughout. In addition, an emergency closure of a bridge overpass in the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee through Memorial Day will further exacerbate road construction delays in southeastern Wisconsin. For more details, please see the Wisconsin DOT’s website at www.plan94.org.

Motorists can and should expect delays in these areas. Please drive safely in the construction zones.

Please join LCCA on Thursday, April 22^nd for an informative meeting on Lake County Road and Public Works Construction Projects. The meeting will be held at Independence Grove in Libertyville. A cash bar and social hour will begin at 5:00 pm, with dinner at 6:00 pm followed by the program at 8:00 pm.

The program will feature presentations by Lake County Division of Transportation's assistant county engineer Al Giertych, Public Works Director Gordon White and Chief Engineer Peter Kolb of the Lake Michigan Water Supply Project.

Mr. Giertych will speak on roads and transportation. Mr. White will speak on public works and Mr. Kolb will focus on the Lake Michigan Water Supply Project to bring Lake Michigan water to Antioch, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Volo and the unincorporated communities of Fox Lake Hills and Grandwood Park.

Don’t miss this important and informational meeting. A registration form is enclosed/attached for your use. Or go to www.lcca-il.org/events to register on-line and pay by credit card. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Lisa at the LCCA Office – (847)623-2345.

On Friday April 16, 2010, the Lake County Contractors Association (LCCA) will sponsor a 90-minute educational seminar entitled “Claims: Litigation, Mediation or Arbitration?” with attorney Margery Newman of Deutsch, Levy & Engel. Especially in a down economy, the difficulties of LATE PAYMENT can have a devastating impact on your business. Ms. Newman, recently rated one of the top construction lawyers (and the #1 female construction lawyer) in Chicagoland will take this seminar beyond normal claims theories to a consideration of the choice of forum available for claims recovery.

• What are your legal options for processing claims?
• What are the comparative advantages of court, mediation, and arbitration in relation to your time, effort & money?

Which method is best for you? That’s up to you, but this course will leave contractors better equipped to make that decision. Join Margery Newman & LCCA on April 16, 2010, at Key Lime Cove in Gurnee, IL for a lively discussion on Claims. Coffee, juice and pastries will be served. The cost is just $25 for LCCA members and TAP (Trade Association Partnership) employers. Same-day on-site registration will cost $30. A registration form is enclosed/attached for your use or go to www.lcca-il.org/events to register on-line and pay by credit card. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Tim at the LCCA Office – (847)623-2345.

On Friday May 7, 2010, the Lake County Contractors Association (LCCA) will sponsor a 3-hour seminar on Unfunded Pension Liability with attorney Mike Duffee of Ford & Harrison LLP. Mr. Duffee will discuss the basics of unfunded pension liability and what it means to participating employers and other topics including:

• What is withdrawal liability?
• How does it occur?
• Do your union pension funds have it?
• Who has to pay for it and when?
• How is it calculated?
• How can it be avoided?
• Why should you care if your plan has withdrawal liability?

The seminar will also cover the requirements of the new federal Pension Protection Act - what it means when plans go from "green" to "yellow" to "red" and its impact on contractor's liability under that pension plan.

If your firm is considering succession planning, buying or selling a business or terminating a union affiliation – You Cannot Afford To Miss This Seminar!!!

Join Mike Duffee & LCCA on May 7, 2010, at Key Lime Cove in Gurnee, IL for “an eye opening and information packed morning." Coffee, juice and pastries will be served. The cost is just $40 for LCCA members and TAP (Trade Association Partnership) employers. Same-day on-site registration will cost $50. A registration form is enclosed/attached for your use or go to www.lcca-il.org/events to register on-line and pay by credit card. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Tim at the LCCA Office – (847)623-2345.

Government Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Dalbec and the Auction Task Force are hard at work rounding up auction items for the LCCA PAC Rock & Roll Auction on May 20, 2010 at Austin’s Saloon & Eatery in Libertyville. More donations are needed. Requested items include construction materials or services, sporting event and concert tickets, golf items, TV’s and electronics, lawn and garden equipment, restaurant gift cards, cases of fine wine, etc.

If you or one of your suppliers and vendors has an item to donate for the event, please contact Steve Dalbec at (847)409-1500 and steved@concordway.com. Or please contact Tim at the LCCA Office – (847)623-2345 and tpenno@lcca-il.org.

Daniel Beiser (D-Alton) is drafting amendments to House Bill 6349 which would amend the Illinois Preference Act. Twice, the Act has been struck down – in part – as unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court, yet it remains on the state statutes. For years, the Illinois Department of Labor has considered the Illinois Preference Act as unenforceable.

Led by organized labor, the law was designed to exclude out-of-state employers and non-resident laborer (i.e. non-management) employees from working on state-funded projects in Illinois during periods of high unemployment. A period of excessive unemployment is defined as any month immediately following 2 consecutive calendar months during which the level of unemployment in the State of Illinois has exceeded 5% as measured by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. By definition, the Preference Act should be in effect – if not otherwise unconstitutional or unenforceable.

The problem for LCCA members with the law is that certain individual governmental entities have been including contractor compliance with the flawed Preference Act in public works bidding requirements. These entities are requiring bidders to attest that all of a contractor’s laborer employees are Illinois residents.

Because Lake County borders Wisconsin and many laborer employees are Wisconsin residents, many LCCA contractors cannot truthfully comply with the bidding requirements. In fact, it is often alleged that some governmental entities are using the flawed Preference Act in bidding requirements to specifically redline or exclude union signatory contractors from the bidding process. I’ve heard that the contractor response has been to attest to the residency compliance and force the entity to prove otherwise (because the Illinois DOL won’t).

With this Catch-22, LCCA floated the idea of repealing the Preference Act last year. That idea was met with a cool response from both organized labor and the legislature. Into this void, Rep. Beiser is attempting to address the concerns of LCCA contractors and other border area employers.

Beiser’s proposal within House Bill 6349 and amendments to the Preference Act would simply change the requirement of “only Illinois residents” to “90% Illinois residents.” This small change would bring most LCCA into compliance with the residency requirements of any new Preference Act. LCCA will keep its members informed of any progress on Rep. Beiser’s proposal and House Bill 6349.

At its February & March Membership Meetings LCCA members ratified and approved the following companies as new members:

AMS Earth Movers, Inc. of Lake Bluff, IL
Julie Savitt, President
Contractor member providing full service gravel, limestone, sand, road salt, topsoil, and recycled concrete products hauling and delivery. Sponsored by Karen Johnson.

JSF Contractors, Inc. of Zion, IL
Susie Fischer, President/Owner
Contractor member providing commercial excavating services. Sponsored by Pat Kirschhoffer.

Mechanical, Inc. of Fox Lake, IL
Carisa Buckley, Office Manager
Contractor member providing mechanical contracting, piping plumbing and sheet metal services. Sponsored by Mike Temple.

Reliable Concrete Pumping, LLC of Libertyville, IL
Michael Popp, Owner
Contractor member providing concrete pumping & conveyor service. Sponsored by Joe Popeck.

Congratulations and welcome to LCCA!