As I sit down to write my last article as President of Lake County Contractors Association, I don’t know quite what to say. It has been an honor and privilege serving as your President. These last two years have flown by. I have attended most of the committee meetings and I’ve attended MARBA and ICIC meetings on the Association’s behalf. I have found the monthly membership meetings not only informative but entertaining as well. I have made some very good friends and will have many fond memories. The commitment that our members have made to our organization is truly appreciated. Gary Dowty suggested that this article should thank those that have helped me with my presidency. There is not enough time, words or space to include everyone. But I DO thank everyone.

From the first time I took the podium and was so nervous my voice was cracking…..I saw friendly, encouraging faces making it easy to speak. Attending meetings was made easier by the chairs and members of the committees giving me pertinent information and always, ALWAYS keeping me informed. Thank you. Fellow members of MARBA, ICIC and CISCO were inviting and eager for my participation. I thank them. What can I say about the Staff – WOW, what a vast venue of information – ask anything, what they don’t know, they know where to find that information. More than once, with their assistance, I was able to appear more knowledgeable than I actually am! And my board of Governors – more than once I have relied on their experience and help. They were always giving and helpful. The Board of Directors - Lyle Ehlers, Rick Grabowski, Mike Temple , Steve Dalbec, Karen Johnson, Paul Nick, Mike Ryan, Steve Thelen and Sue Zupec - what an exceptional list of talent and experience. This group of people has always been available to me for any and all help and advice. ANYONE could look good being the leader to this group of people. And finally, all of you, the members of Lake County Contractors Association; have given me so very much. Your support, trust and friendship are immeasurable.

I have become not only better in my business but a better person because of you. I will truly miss my position as President. I know that you will welcome Lyle as your new President and give him as much help and consideration as you have shown me. Once again, thank you.

Mike Temple, Mechanical, Inc. and Chair of LCCA’s Nominating Committee, presented the following slate of Officers and Directors for 2008 to the membership at the Annual Meeting last month. Unanimously approved to lead the association in 2008 were:

Lyle Ehlers, Boller Construction Company - President
Rick Grabowski, Pickus Construction & Equip. – 1^st Vice President
Mike Ryan, H.H. Holmes Testing – 2^nd Vice President
Steve Dalbec, Jos. J. Henderson & Son - Treasurer
Gary Dowty, LCCA - Secretary
Micky Day, DK Contractors – Past President
Karen Johnson, Roughneck Concrete Cutters - Director
Skip McCann, Dam, Snell & Taveirne - Director
Tim Staples, Camosy - Director
Steve Thelen, Thelen Sand & Gravel – Director
Suzanne Zupec, Campanella & Sons - Director

Retiring from the Board this year were Mike Temple, Mechanical, Inc., and Paul Nick, Lincoln Financial Advisors. Both have served LCCA on the Board for many years and their contributions to the success of the association are many. We wish them the very best and thank them for their service.

President Elect Lyle Ehlers, Boller Construction Co., has appointed the following dedicated members to head up LCCA committees in 2008. A short description of what each committee does is also included. If you are interested in joining any of these committees, just notify the LCCA Office. A form is enclosed for your use.

Education: Tim Staples, Camosy, Inc. – The Education Committee is active in member employee development, providing seminars and training courses for supervisory personnel. They also work with Apprentice programs and schools to ensure a future supply of quality employees.

Finance: Steve Dalbec, Jos. J. Henderson & Son – The Finance committee is responsible for keeping the association financially healthy. They oversee budgets and advise on investments.

Future Leaders: Matt Happ, Happ Construction & Kevin Schwartz, Wm. Schwartz & Co. – The newest LCCA Committee, this committee will address the special needs of our younger members as they learn the industry.

Government Relations: Steve Dalbec, Jos. J. Henderson & Son – Government Relations looks at all things political. From Truth in Employment in Springfield, to County Board makeup locally, all politically controlled issues are their focus.

Labor Policy: Rick Grabowski, Pickus Construction & Equipment – The Labor Policy Committee looks after all labor relations issues – negotiations, grievances, benefit funds and much more. They also meet with local union officials to improve communications and seek solutions to problems.

Membership: Mike DeNinno, Lake County Grading & Rick Grabowski, Pickus Construction & Equipment -– The Membership Committee is charged with helping staff to build and retain membership in the association.

Nominating Committee: Micky Day, DK Contractors – The Nominating Committee is responsible for seeking out quality candidates to serve on LCCA’s Board of Directors.

Program & Entertainment – Mike Ryan, H.H. Holmes Testing Laboratories – This committee is responsible for all LCCA meetings – Membership Meetings, Golf Outing, etc. They select speakers, locations and other arrangements.

Safety: Fred Rodheim, Abbott Laboratories & Scott Johnson, Kelso Burnett – The Safety Committee reviews current safety issues and arranges for safety training and other products to assist members in meeting their safety goals.

Winter Workshop: Allan Pickus, Pickus Construction & Equip. – LCCA offers a 10-14 day Winter Workshop to a sight-seeing destination. This committee handles all arrangements for the trip.

How do you think your business will be next year? On Monday, December 3 every member will be e-mailed a short survey to help us understand just what you are expecting from the economy next year. It is very important that all LCCA members participate to provide accurate information.

The survey will be conducted using an internet survey form. The email that provides the link has “LCCA CONSTRUCTION CONFIDENCE SURVEY” in the subject line. If you have already completed the survey, thank you. If you have not, please take the survey. If you have already deleted the email, just call the office or email heidi@lcca-il.org and we will resend the link. The results will be published in next month’s newsletter.

Thanks to an overwhelming response, advertising for the Annual Directory tabs sold out very quickly. To accommodate the many members who missed out on the tabs, inside pages that will precede the tabs are also available for purchase. The advertising rates for the 8½” x 5” inside pages will be:

Full Inside Page (Black & White Only) $400
½ Inside Page (Black & White Only) $250

And since the production schedule for these pages is shorter, the deadline for ordering your ad will be December 15. The deadline for artwork (camera ready or digital) is Friday, December 28, 2007.

The LCCA Directory is distributed to about 1,200 members, engineers, architects, building commissioners, developers and many others looking for construction supplies and services. To make sure you get in, complete the enclosed form and return it to the LCCA Office ASAP.

LCCA’s Program Committee is pleased to announce the speaker for our January 24, 2008 Membership Meeting will be Michael J. Acton, Director of Research for AEW: Real Estate Investment Management – he’s the “A” in “AEW”. Mr. Acton will be reviewing the future of the commercial real estate market in the Chicagoland area and how it will impact your business – now and in the future.

The meeting will be held at The Arboretum Club on Route 22 in Buffalo Grove. For registration information contact Heidi at 847-623-2345 x3.

Applications are now available for the Construction Industry Service Corporation’s (CISCO) 2008 Scholarship Program. Applications for both the two-year Continuing Education and the four-year scholarships are available now at www.cisco.org/schol.htm or by calling CISCO at 630-472-9411. The candidate must be a child of a member of a building trades union or a non-bargaining unit employee of a union contractor that is affiliated with CISCO. This would include all LCCA Contractor members. All children of CISCO members are encouraged to apply.

Each year, four 4-year scholarships valued at $2,000 per year, and two 2-year Continuing Education scholarships valued at $1,000 per year are awarded. This is a great opportunity to get help with your education expense.

Completed applications, along with all required materials, must be returned to CISCO by February 15, 2008. Winners will be notified March 31 and awards will be presented at CISCO’s Annual Luncheon on April 25^th.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has just released a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, for immediate use and a new M-274, Handbook for Employers, Instructions for Completing the Form I-9.

All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States. The USCIS has encouraged employers to start using the new form as soon as possible. According to the USCIS, employers that fail to use the new Form I-9 after the effective date (as established by publication in the Federal Register) may incur fines and penalties.

The basic Form I-9 remains substantially the same as compared to earlier versions, although the form and accompanying instructions appear to be more user-friendly than prior versions. The most significant changes were made to the documentation requirements with some documents being removed from “List A of Acceptable Documents.”

According to the USCIS, the new I-9 Form can and should be used immediately. The previously authorized I-9 Form, dated May 31, 2005, will be accepted until December 7, 2007.

A copy of the new form and handbook are available from the LCCA Office. The Form I-9 can also be found online at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-9.pdf and the new Handbook can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/m-274.pdf. . (Article submitted by Ogletree Deakins’s Construction Industry Group (312) 558-1220.)

It is illegal to employ a debarred contractor on a public construction project. But how do you know who is debarred and who is not? The Illinois Department of Labor has a website that you can go to get information on contractors who have been debarred due to violations of the Prevailing Wage Law. It is: www.state.il.us/agency/idol/listings/debar.htm. This information changes as new cases are decided. Right now there are only 6 contractors on the list including:

Del Toro Landscaping, Dundee, IL
Monahan’s Landscape, Arlington Hts., IL
Mamax, Inc., Bensenville, IL
Steve Piper & Sons, Naperville, IL
Lucky Charm Contracting, Naperville, IL

The website provides more information including when their debarment ends. Check before using them on a Prevailing Wage job.

Christmas Holiday Pay Differs - As we approach another holiday, it is important to know just what your labor agreements require for payments of wages and fringes during the holiday season. All agreements recognize Tuesday, December 25, 2007 and Tuesday, January 1, as the official holiday and require double time if you work the day.

MARBA’s Carpenters Craft Committee Gets Down To Business – The Carpenters Craft Committee met on November 9 to continue preparations for negotiations next year. It was a well-attended meeting, with good representation from the member associations. Representatives of Residential Construction Employers Council, Gypsum Drywall/Chicagoland Association of Wall & Ceiling Contractors and the Contractors Association of Will & Grundy Counties also attended the meeting. The group shared their respective contract issues and concerns. Another major topic discussed was the Overhead Door Memorandum. The Union has requested that the MARBA contract include language pertaining to the installation of overhead doors. RCEC has received the same request. MARBA and RCEC will meet jointly with the Union to further discuss this issue. This is the first time that these associations have met as a group to jointly discuss their contract issues. It was a positive and mutually beneficial experience. The group will reconvene on December 14.

Still No Operators Contracts – Almost 6 months after the conclusion of negotiations, MARBA and Operating Engineers Local 150 continue to review “the changes/corrections identified by the MARBA staff.” Unfortunately, contractors wanting to read exactly what they must comply with are going to have to wait a little longer.

The Annual Open House at the Lake County High School Technology Campus was last month and freshman and sophomore students from area high schools converged to get information about the programs offered and decide whether they might be interested in attending.

Helping them make that decision this year were Tim Staples, Camosy, Inc., who, along with Heidi Diederich and the Building Trades instructors, counseled students and parents on what they might expect.

To add a little fun to the process, Burris Equipment once again donated a lift for the day which current students learned to use and they gave “rides” to kids looking at the program. Hands-on works!