In all budget processes (including LCCA's) we try not only to balance the budget but to optimize it to our advantage - what line items can be cut; what needs to be added. On March 6th Gary Dowty and I attended an ICIC Board Meeting and Legislative Reception in Springfield. I saw first hand how our dues are spent and I was impressed.

The afternoon started with a working lunch. Contractors and association staff from all over Illinois, along with our lobbyists (one Republican, one Democrat and Kim Robinson), discussed proposed bills that would affect the construction industry: which ones could we support, which needed to be killed and which did we not care about. I was impressed not only with the knowledge possessed by our lobbyists of these bills, but also of the committee as a whole. These members had done their homework and came prepared to discuss the merits of hundreds of pieces of legislation. Members of ICIC, representing general contractors, subcontractors, underground contractors and more came together "as one," not as an individual entity, to decide a bills fate. I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from the process.

The reception was equally impressive. Our legislators were invited to attend. Because of late running legislative committee meetings scheduled, our legislators worked well into the evening in many cases. And ours wasn't the only reception in town; however, many of our legislators still found time to stop by and listen, really listen, to what we had to say. Our own Senator Terry Link, working past our reception hours, tracked us down at a restaurant afterwards and sat and talked with us awhile.

I am as guilty as the next thinking that my vote doesn't count, or that politicians (on either side of the aisle) don't care or listen. I found this NOT to be true. I believe that our presence IS noticed. And that we ARE heard, maybe not always agreed with, but heard. We need to continue our presence and commitment to ICIC. We need to continue to communicate with our legislators. We need to continue to support our legislators that WORK with us. I hope to see all of you at our PAC auction this month to raise funds to do just this!

CONTRACTOR
Trench-It, Inc.
18202 W. Union Rd.
Union, IL 60180
Phone: (815) 923-2300
Fax: (815)923-2356

Loretta Rosenmayer, President
Carl Griffith, Safety Director
Christine Hunter, Dir. of Work Management
Matt Turk, V.P. Operations
Lance Rosenmayer, V.P. Finance

Construction services for underground electrical distribution and overhead site lighting and electrical distribution.
Sponsor:  Gerry Dumalski, Boller Construction Co.

CONTRACTOR
Elmwood Enterprises, Inc.
27992 W. Route 120, Unit 54
Lakemoor, IL 60051
Phone:  (815) 385-7400
Fax:  (815) 385-7477

Al Sarno, President
Leslie Graves, Secretary

Sewer & water underground contractor.
Sponsor: Rick Grabowski, Pickus Construction & Equip.

SUPPLIER
Steiner Electric Company
4210 Grove Ave.
Gurnee, IL 60031
Phone:  (847) 623-2028
Fax:  (847) 623-7007

Dan White, Branch Manager
Tom Treichel, Account Manager
Jerry Kegg, Quotation Manager

Electrical Supplies Distributor
Sponsor: Jim Becker, Becker Electrical Group

Ever wonder what other project managers are being paid - or Bookkeepers, Safety Managers and others? You can find out by participating in LCCA's Annual Wage Benefit Survey. The survey has been sent to all Contractor Members and must be submitted by April 20 to be included in the survey and receive a free copy of the results.

Individual company information is completely CONFIDENTIAL and surveys are sent directly to Dam, Snell and Taverine who will compile and publish the results. Results will be grouped into 4 size categories for companies with volume of - under $1 million, $1 - $5 million, $5 - 20 million and over $20 million. Results are also separated by "Prime Contractor" and "Subcontractor." Finally, the survey also includes benefits such as vacation days, paid sick leave, company car, and much more. Finally, the survey includes the number of years employment for each individual to allow you to consider the results based on experience.

All together this is a great tool for managing salaries in a construction company in this area. But the results are only as good as the information provided. Complete the survey and return it to Dam, Snell and Taverine by April 20. If you did not receive your copy, or it got lost in the office, call the LCCA Office to get another copy.

LCCA's Board of Directors has approved a corporate and individual cell phone program for LCCA members from U.S. Cellular. The special pricing includes:

-  Free Activation
-  10% discount on all Business Community Pooled plans
-  10% discount on all individual calling plans $39.99 and above for employees
-  Additional Business discounts on hardware
-  20% off all accessories
-  Personal Account Representative to meet all your wireless needs

To start saving money on your cellular phones, call Steve Gaus at (773) 355-3588 (Office) or (847) 293-8704 (Mobile).

LCCA's 2007 Directory has been mailed and you should have received yours by now. There are additional copies available until our supply runs out. To get extra Directories, just call Sherry at the LCCA Office.

We're trying something a little different for the May 24, 2007 Membership Meeting. High tech gismo's are on everybody's gift lists but after we get one, we spend months - even years - just learning how to operate it. And in the end, we still only understand 10% of its capabilities. The May meeting will be our Technology Night where you will have an opportunity to ask the experts how to get a new ring tone, what is the difference between IPOD and MP3 and the all important question for the ages - how do you get the VCR to quit flashing 12:00! This will also be a great opportunity to see what is new in consumer electronics - before your kids tell you about it!

In addition to Technology, we will be recognizing the recent graduates of the Supervisor Training Program. This year 26 completed the four night program on Improving Productivity at the College of Lake County.

To top off the evening we will be having a raffle throughout the evening. The program will be at Country Squire Banquets and begin at 6:00 p.m. Don't forget to mark May 24, 2007, on your calendar!

The auction item list is growing at the same time as issues intensify in Springfield. If you need a reason to get involved in this year's PAC Auction, just think "Gross Receipts Tax." The money raised at the PAC Auction will help us get people elected who understand that you cannot kill the goose that is laying golden eggs (business) and expect to continue "business" as usual. It reminds us of the cigarette tax - every time the tax is raised, more people quit and there is little or no additional revenue. Every time the state raises taxes on business, we have fewer businesses to tax - the rest move out of state and take their jobs with them!

Here is a way to have some fun, bid on great items AND make a difference in Springfield. Ritchie Brothers are donating their services to call the auction so you know it will be first class and exciting. So get your checkbook ready (or we take credit cards) and plan to attend the PAC Auction April 26 at the Lake County Conference & Banquet Center located at 248 Ambrogio Drive in Gurnee. Located just northwest of Rt. 41 and Washington Street, this is a new location for us. Here are just a few of the items that will be on the auction block.

Portable Toilet Service, 6 mo. Rental - Blue Boy Portable Toilets
200 Gallons of 87 Octane Gasoline - Palatine Oil Co.
One-Night Escape hotel/dinner/theatre package - Vulcan Construction Materials
Dinner for 6 with wine - Gary Dowty/Steve Dalbec
Three Nights at the Las Vegas Bellagio - Jos. J. Henderson & Son
Menards Gift Certificate - P&S Painting
Home Depot Gift Certificate - Morris Electric
Bass Pro Shop Gift Certificate - Flow Technics and Drydon Equipment
Gift Certificate (TBD) - Stellmach Electric
Kristof's Party Packages - Kristoff's
Cases of Wine provided by: Ley & Associates, Petersen & Matz, Wunderlich-Malec and ITG
Courvoisier XO - Jim Beam
Financial Planning Session - Seidenberg Investment Group
Golf at Bull Valley for 3 - Lintech Engineering
Golf for 3 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club - Jos. J. Henderson & Son
Concrete - 24 yds. - Thelen Sand & Gravel
Sightseeing flight & dinner for two - Heidi Diederich & Dean Sprake-Jones
Four Bulls 1st Round Playoff Tickets with VIP parking - Althoff Industries, Inc.
Cubs Baseball Tickets (4) - Osco Oil
Submersible Pump - Baker Pumps

And according to Auction Chairman Steve Dalbec, Jos. J. Henderson and Son - the best is yet to come!

The Lake County High School Tech Campus Building Trades Program and other area high schools are looking for summer jobs for high school juniors and seniors in construction to provide a practical application for what they are learning in school. If we are going to attract good students into the industry, we need to support them when they are making a choice of careers.

In addition, we are looking for sponsors for Graduating Seniors who want to get into the Laborers and Carpenters Apprentice Programs. We hope to place 5-10 students who are ready and eager to get into the construction industry. Students will be screened and we will only recommend the very best in the graduating High School Tech Campus Building Trades students. If you are looking for a motivated apprentice Laborer or Carpenter, call Gary at the LCCA Office.

As June 1 approaches, several unions and contractor associations are beginning to negotiate collective bargaining agreements. According to our records, the following contracts are expiring June 1 of this year. The association negotiating the agreement is also listed if known.

According to the Construction Labor Research Council, first year wage-benefit increases negotiated in 2006 averaged $1.73 per hour or 4.5%. In the East North Central region that includes Illinois, the increase was higher ($1.82) but the percentage increase was slightly lower at 4.4%. By comparison, the first year increases for contracts negotiated in the Chicago area last year averaged $3.01 or 5.8%. It looks like we have a way to go to be competitive!

ICIC recently purchased "CapWiz" software that allows contractors to quickly and easily contact their elected representatives in Springfield and communicate positions of support or opposition on major issues. Here's how it works: ICIC member associations have provided the email addresses of their contractor members to our Springfield lobbyists. As a result, the groups comprising ICIC have already built a bank of more than 2,200 contractors from throughout the state. Whenever our lobbyists determine that it is important for contractors to express their position to legislators, you will receive an email including an overview of the issue, ICIC's position and a suggested email letter to send to your legislator. All you have to do is enter your zip code and the system will automatically identify the appropriate elected official(s). You just add your name, modify the email message if you wish and hit the send button.

This is a powerful new tool that will bolster the ongoing efforts of our lobbyists. While we don't intend to use it for every issue, it is sometimes critical that legislators hear directly from contractors. CapWiz allows us to provide that critical input.

As we get further into the legislative session we will be referring to 2nd Reading, 3rd Reading, one house or another when we track bill progress. To understand the process, here's a short refresher on how a bill becomes law. This process is essentially the same in both chambers - the House and Senate.

-  A bill is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau and a sponsor then introduces the bill.
-  1st Reading is where the bill starts and bills are automatically referred to the Rules Committee.
-  The Rules Committee then has a hearing on the bill and assigns it to a committee for further consideration. If a bill does not get referred to a committee, or it is re-referred to Rules anytime during the process it is usually dead.
-  After being assigned to a committee, the bill is scheduled for a hearing where the bill may be amended, recommended for passage or not or re-referred to Rules. The bill and the recommendation are then sent to the chamber for consideration.
-  When the bill arrives in the chamber, it will be scheduled for 2nd Reading where more amendments may be proposed. If the chamber votes to discharge the bill, it moves on. If not, the bill is dead.
-  After being discharged on 2nd Reading, the bill is scheduled for 3rd Reading, the last step in this chamber. If it passes, the bill is sent to the second house and if it fails, it is dead.
-  In the second house the bill goes through the same steps. If it passes without amendment, it will go to the Governor. If it is amended in any way, the amended bill must be returned to the original chamber for concurrence.
-  If the original house approves the amendments, the bill goes to the Governor. If not, the bill is returned to the second house and they may agree to the original bill or a Conference Committee is established made up of members from both houses to resolve the difference.
-  If the conferees agree to a compromise, the bill is returned to both houses for concurrence. If approved by both houses, it will be sent to the Governor.
-  When the Governor receives a bill approved by both chambers, he can veto the bill, veto just portions of the bill or sign the bill into law. Any vetoed bill returns to the legislature during the fall Override Session and with a 60% majority can override the Governor's veto and the bill becomes law.

This is the "basic" process and it becomes much more complex in the real world. That is why hundreds of lobbyists are paid to shepherd legislation around Springfield.

United Rentals - Congratulation to United Rentals who just opened a new store in Waukegan. They are located at 3059 Washington Street, Waukegan and can be reached at (847) 662-6900.

Block Kids Program - The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Lake/McHenry Chapter will host their 3rd annual Block Kids Competition on FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2007, at KENNETH MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 11315 W. WADSWORTH ROAD, BEACH PARK, IL. There will be approximately 300 children participating in this event.

The Block Kids Competition is a national building program conducted at the local level by NAWIC chapters. The goal of the program is to introduce children to the construction industry in an effort to create an awareness of, and to promote an interest in, future careers in one of the many facets of the industry. The program is for children in grades 1-6. Local winners advance to Regional Competition and one semi-finalist is entered in the National Program competitions. Judges are members from the community who work in various careers in the construction industry and school volunteers.

The competition will begin at 9:00 AM with judging immediately following. Please contact Jamie Shirling, Block Kids Committee Chair at jshirling@jjhenderson.com or Julia McBirnie, President and Co-Chair at jmcbirnie@hhholmestesting.com with any questions or if you need additional information.