Georgia #10, 2012 by Construction Equipment Guide

441

GEORGIA STATE EDITION

Cornella 19

A Supplement to:

Rome 85 27

Athens 441

Atlanta

Madison Augusta

Griffin 1

129

Milledgeville

La Grange

Macon

301

185 19

Dublin

Swainsboro Oak Park

Columbus

Statesboro

341 441 16

Lyons Americus

May 16 2012 Vol. XIV • No. 10

301

Dorchester

341

Cuthbert

Albany

Douglas Tifton

Blakely

Pearson

“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”

Savannah

McRae Cordele

27 84

Moultrie

19 319

Bainbridge

Valdosta Thomasville

Waycross Brunswick 82

1 441

Your Georgia Connection: Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479

Vote on Ga.’s Transportation Sales Tax Draws Near By Giles Lambertson CEG CORRESPONDENT

Two months from Georgia’s vote on a transportation sales tax referendum, the outcome still is in doubt. Advocates and opponents of the special purpose local option sales tax are cautiously optimistic that their side will prevail, but neither camp has hard polling data to justify the outlook. “We clearly have our work cut out for us,” said Doug Calloway, who heads the Georgia Transportation Alliance wing of the state Chamber of Commerce. Hired away from a similar executive position in Florida last October, Calloway is lead man in the effort to pass the taxing authority in as many counties as possible. Legislators voted to give Georgians across the state a series of simultaneous local referendum opportunities for funding transportation projects. If the one-cent sales tax is approved in each of 12 regions or districts, Georgians will have handed themselves a $19 billion infusion of tax money over 10 years for highway, transit, freight, airport, sea port, bicycle and pedestrian projects. The projects were created in each district by a roundtable and executive committee comprised of state and local elected leaders. After assorted public input sessions, the participants chose from a list of projects worked up for each district by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Not an Easy Sale Despite the obvious appeal of creating a sizeable pool of money specifically earmarked for much-needed transportation improvements, many Georgians are turned off by the method of pooling—a sales tax that will collect money from them for a full decade. “It is a tax increase in a down economy. There is no given it will pass, not even in Atlanta,” said Keith Hatcher, senior director of public policy of the Georgia Association of Realtors. The association is very actively backing the transportation tax, with both

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) awarded a design/build contract worth $18.1 million for the construction of a new interchange on I-575 at Ridgewalk Parkway. Completion is scheduled for the end of December 2012.

state and national realtor associations donating to the cause. The state association actually is waging two campaigns simultaneously, one statewide and a second one concentrating on the metro Atlanta region. “The [Transportation Alliance] campaign is deciding which districts are most viable and we will follow their lead,” Hatcher said. “The association has a network of 53 chapters across the state. I don’t know any local realtors association that is not supporting it. We have made funds available to them.” Why are realtors so involved in the cam-

paign coalition pushing the tax? There are several reasons, Hatcher said, all of them weighing on the economic impact of a deteriorating transportation system. “The most important reason is that we can’t sell properties if people can’t get from home to work. On a larger scale, this is part of economic development, which we support, working closely with the chamber. And traffic congestion is a factor. Charlotte and Birmingham and other cities in the southeast are using our traffic congestion against us. We want to eliminate that.”

Hatcher has worked in the association for a quarter century and been involved in a variety of statewide ballot issues. He has worked both sides of the tax issue, on at least one occasion helping defeat a proposed tax increase. This time around, the association sees wisdom in raising the sales tax. “We are dedicated to this cause because it is really important,” he said. “So we are going to fight hard to pass it. It will be a tough fight because of the down economy.” Like everyone else who agreed to be see VOTE page 8

Page 2 • May 16, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

LeeBoy’s New 815HD Screed Put Into Use on First Job The World of Asphalt Show and Conference, held March 13 to 15 in Charlotte, N.C., was an important event for VT LeeBoy Inc., as the company introduced its new Legend 815HD (Heavy Duty) screed to the industry at the event. The new screed was displayed with a LeeBoy 8515B paver. The 815HD screed has taken the best from LeeBoy’s regular Legend screed and made it all bigger to offer commercial contractors enhanced performance on their biggest jobs. The LeeBoy 815HD screed goes from 8 ft. (2.4 m) and the extension is 15 ft. (4.5 m). This screed is an option on the LeeBoy models 8515 and 8510 and will be standard on the new 8616 model that will be introduced later in the summer. The screed is available in electric heat, rather than propane. Following its debut at The World of Asphalt, both paver and screed were transported to Reynolds-Warren Equipment Company in Lake City, Ga., to be prepped for the first-ever contractor delivery of the new screed. Once prepared for delivery, the entire machine was then transported to Macon, Ga., and put in the hands of Houston Asphalt, a family owned and operated business serving all of Georgia that has been in operation since 1991. Houston Asphalt Owner Mark Buckland, had pre-ordered the entire setup for immediate use on a new apartment complex road and parking lot paving job. Houston Asphalt already has another LeeBoy 8515 in its equipment lineup and was eager to try out a tried-and-true paver model with the new screed, which Buckland had seen demoed in North Carolina. “We went to North Carolina and viewed the demo machine and I liked the way it performed. I noticed the difference in the mat,

you could really tell the difference with this new screed,” Buckland said. “That’s what led us to buy a new paver with the new screed. We usually have about three jobs going on at once and we run nothing but LeeBoy 8515s on our jobs.” Steve Meissen owner of ReynoldsWarren Equipment (Georgia LeeBoy dealer) has been doing business with Buckland for more than 20 years, said, “This is the first screed of this design in operation anywhere in the country. Mark upgrades his equipment on a regular basis, but was impressed with this new screed when we made the trip to North Carolina together to see a demo of it in testing. They were paving a big job up there and both of us wanted to see it and we were talking to the contractor that had it in his hands for several months for testing and Mark Buckland, is both owner and machine operator of Houston Asphalt, Macon, Ga.

Houston Asphalt is the first contractor ever to purchase and put into service the new LeeBoy HD screed on a paving job.

(L-R): Steve Meissen of Reynolds-Warren Equipment Co. and Brian Hall of LeeBoy discuss the operation of the new machine/screed combo with Houston Asphalt’s Mark Buckland.

The LeeBoy HD screed is available in electric heat only — not propane.

were impressed with the mat it lays. We have several pavers ordered with the HD screed and we’ll be able to use Mark as an example if someone wants to see how the screed works. Mark’s one of my favorite customers. He’s a very honest man and his reputation in the paving field is hard to beat. We’ve just got a great working relationship.” Brian Hall, territory manager, MidSouth Region LeeBoy, Suwanee, Ga., added, “We’re really proud that these guys chose to be the first one out of the block with our new screed. We really think it’s going to perform well for them and hopefully they’ll be ready for the next one in a few years.” (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG

One week before taking delivery of the new machine and screed combination, Houston Asphalt’s Mark Buckland (C), visits with his new machine on display in LeeBoy’s display at World of Asphalt in Charlotte, N.C., with LeeBoy’s Brian Hall (L) and Mike Lee.

Construction Equipment Guide • Georgia State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • May 16, 2012 • Page 3

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Page 4 • May 16, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

GUCA President Charlie Murren poses with Joseph Moody of Turpin Inc., winner in the 0-100,000 ManHours Pipeline Contractor category.

(L-R) are GUCA President Charlie Murren, John Harp and Ricky Harp, both of Richard Harp Excavation Inc. Richard Harp won in the category of 100,000+ ManHours Pipeline Contractor.

(L-R) are Matt Graves and Brad Cole, both of Brad Cole Construction, and GUCA President Charlie Murren. The category was 400,000+ Man-Hours Plant Contractor.

GUCA Holds Successful Spring Quarterly Meeting GUCA hosted its 2012 Spring Quarterly Meeting/Trade Show and Hard Hat Safety Award Gala on March 22, 2012, at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta, Ga., with more than 135 members and guests in attendance. The day started off with Safety Directors Forum, which included Workers’ Compensation — What Do You Really Know About It? by Tom Maupin, Builders Insurance Group; Utility Damage Claim Avoidance and Defense by Ralph Byrd, Utility Business Services; and, Distracted Driving, The True Cost and Safety, How It Affects your Bottom Line by Bob Wilson, National Safety Council. The Safety Directors Forum was followed by the 2012 GUCA Spring Trade Show, which featured many new products and techniques pertaining to the utility contracting industry. Once the trade show doors opened, contractors and other members in attendance entered where GUCA vendors promoted their company services on 6-ft. tradeshow table-top displays. GUCA members and guests enjoyed spirits and network intimately with other GUCA members and industry professionals. More than 19 tradeshow tables filled the Loudermilk Center. Trade show participants included: 3M; Alithicon Lubricants Company; The Blue Book; Bobcat of Atlanta; Georgia 811; H&H Insurance Services Inc.; Hanson Pipe & Precast; Large & Gilbert PC; Rain for Rent; Sunbelt Rentals Pump & Power Services; T.T. Technologies; Thompson Pump and Manufacturing; Tindall Corporation; Tractor

& Equipment Company; Trench Shoring Services; United Rentals Trench Safety; United Safety Associates Inc.; Verizon Wireless; and Vermeer Southeast Sales & Service. The business meeting began as GUCA President Charlie Murren, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc. welcomed everyone to the event. Mo Thrash, GUCA lobbyist, presented the 2012 Legislative update highlighting the huge success of the 2012 GUCA Lobby GUCA Lobbyist Mo Thrash (L) presents GUCA President Charlie Murren with the Safety Day Proclamation signed by Gov. Nathan Deal.

(L-R) are GUCA President Charlie Murren, Michael Purvis and Maudine Wright, both of Douglas Electrical & Plumbing Company. The category was 0-400,000 ManHours Plant Contractor and overall winner.

Day. Thrash highlighted the legislative atmosphere at the Capitol and what was to be expected before Sine Die. He stated tax relief was high on the legislator’s agenda this year. Thrash presented Charlie Murren with a proclamation signed by Gov. Nathan Deal stating March 22, 2012, as Utility Contractor Safety Day. The keynote speaker was Tim Echols, chairman Georgia Public Service Commission. Echols gave a 10 point presentation about legislative advocacy. The business meeting continued with GUCA Safety Committee Chairman Matt Chatham, Blount Construction Co. Inc., announcing the 2011 GUCA Hard Hat Safety Award Category winners. For more information, visit www.guca.com.

Construction Equipment Guide • Georgia State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • May 16, 2012 • Page 5

We stock a variety of specialized machines including: long reach excavators, excavators mounted with hammers (all sizes), shears (including large industrial cutters), and other demolition equipment. Cowin also stocks a very broad range of general equipment including artic trucks, rollers, cranes, brooms, wheel loaders, loader backhoes, dozers, etc.

Page 6 • May 16, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Construction Equipment Guide • Georgia State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • May 16, 2012 • Page 7

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Page 6 • May 16, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

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Page 8 • May 16, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Contractors, ‘Tea Partiers’ Represent Opposite Viewpoints VOTE from page 1

interviewed, Hatcher will not venture a guess as to the outcome. “To be honest, it is a little early, and I learned a long time ago that predictions are not a smart thing to do.” Contractor Support The general contractor community is supportive of the tax initiative, as one would expect, though there seems to be some reluctance to talk about it. Several calls to contractors and to the Georgia Highway Contractors Association were not returned. However, Web sites openly back the tax. Bill Hammack, president of C.W. Matthews Contracting Company Inc., Marietta, Ga., addresses the issue for company employees in a video on the cwmatthews.com Web site. Hammack asks employees to back “the largest transportation initiative in modern times. Please plan to vote ‘Yes’ on July 31 for a brighter future for Georgia, your company and your family… Collectively our votes can dramatically affect the outcome of this important referendum.” The appeal is more muted on the Web site of Macon-based Reeves Construction Company. “The 2012 TSPLOST [TransportationSpecial Purpose Local Option Sales Tax] is an opportunity for all Georgians to take control of their future by choosing to make significant investments in transportation projects that are vital to the economy, jobs and quality of life throughout the state,” reads the text of the message on the site under the headline, “Should we invest an additional penny?” The message goes on to encourage people to register to vote in July “and spread the word to your family and friends.” The Georgia branch of Associated General Contractors has no mention of the referendum on its Web site, though its director of governmental affairs has said the organization is supportive of the tax. Nor does the state chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) visit the issue on its Web site, but Bill Anderson, president of Georgia ABC, said the organization is behind the initiative. The chapter’s board of directors has endorsed it and hopes for its passage. No funds have been allocated for the campaign, however. “Our chapter has not put any money into it and I’m not sure if we will or if it will be needed,” Anderson said. “Ours is more of a grassroots effort, with volunteers who believe in it and support it.” ABC has about 300 member companies in Georgia, some of which might oppose the sales tax boost, Anderson said. Because the board fairly recently voted to back the meas-

Work started on SR 307, which crosses an area railroad grade, on Aug. 10, 2010. The project was slated to be completed by March 31, 2012.

ure, it has not yet spread word to its members. “We put the word out to our legislative people, but have not yet sent anything out to the full membership and, of course, have not received any feedback.” The heart of ABC’s efforts will be educating association members and the public on the merits of the initiative and its importance to the entire region. Anderson calls the education “so critical. There have been a lot of emotions expressed, but not a lot of efforts to educate.” Not Convinced The most visible opponents of the multibillion-dollar sales tax fall under the umbrella of “Tea Party” organizations. Tea Partiers up and down the state have uniformly come out against the sales tax proposal for a variety of reasons. For some of them, just the idea of another tax in a struggling economy is a non-starter. That knee-jerk negative response to additional taxation is the default perception of Tea Party supporters, though resistance to the sales tax actually is more variegated than that. “We believe it is a very flawed law,” said Tom Maloy, a board member of the Georgia Tea Party, which is actually a Cobb County

organization with spillover into surrounding counties, all of which are in the Atlanta area. “The law does not serve the taxpayers of the Atlanta region. We haven’t gotten into the effect of it on the other regions in the state, but we have done a lot of research on the Atlanta region and we don’t see that it serves us well,” Maloy said. Maloy is a financial writer and retired owner of a Marietta investment relations firm. He has not always been active in political debates, but concern about out-of-control spending in the country caused him to join the local Tea Party organization shortly after its inception three years ago. It holds weekly meetings that attract anywhere from 50 to 120 people. One objection to the transportation sales tax is that it doesn’t effectively address the issue of jammed freeways. “It does not provide the traffic congestion relief that proponents say it does,” Maloy stated. “As a percentage of total funding, very little goes to traffic congestion relief.” Maloy cited as an example of misapplied spending the proposed expenditure of $785 million on a leg of the transit link from Cumberland Mall to the Atlanta Arts Center station, a stretch “where there really is very minor traffic congestion. I won’t say it won’t do anything, but it certainly doesn’t do any-

thing much to relieve congestion.” He also fears that passage of the 10-year sales tax will sour taxpayers on approving tax funding for future projects. “I know in the Atlanta region I can pretty much tell you that the amount of taxpayer dollars going in is going to cause a lot of problems down the road. It is not being spent for traffic relief, so that when we do take a serious look at traffic congestion, there will be no money for it,” he said, mixing his metaphors in summation: “It poisons the water down the road for taxpayers.” Maloy and fellow Tea Party volunteers also believe the sales tax revenue will build miles of infrastructure — including light rail systems — that cannot be maintained in the future for lack of funding. And he is concerned about so much “economic development” money being handed to an unelected Atlanta regional commission that is not answerable to taxpayers for its stewardship of the funds. Maloy reiterated that his focus is the Atlanta region. “I’m not going to say that in all regions it is not going to do any good. Certainly there is a need to improve the port in Savannah, for example, and the roads leading to it. There is certainly a need for that.” The Georgia Tea Party’s major contribution to the debate between now and July 31 will be education. Like counterparts at ABC of Georgia, Maloy believes there is too little truth in his opponents’ advertising. “I’m talking about real education, not the pseudo-education of the opposition,” he said. “Many of the ‘facts’ they are using are not true, or they are just nonsense.” Unlike others asked for predictions, Maloy ventured an opinion: He said he feels “pretty good” about the referendum failing in Cobb County, if the turnout is large. And if it fails across the metro Atlanta region, he suspects only two counties — Fulton and Dekalb — will have favored it. The irony is that even if Cobb rejects the sales tax, the sales tax will be collected in Cobb County anyway if the region as a whole passes it. Individual counties can’t opt out of the sales tax, only entire regions, which is why Maloy objects to the tax vote being called a “local option.” Furthermore, if Cobb turns it down, the county will have to put up a higher match for state funding of local projects associated with the referendum. “That shouldn’t really make a difference in how a person votes, but it’s a way to kind of frighten taxpayers,” stated Maloy. Increased Focus With the legislative session ended and the Republican primary season drawing to a see VOTE page 10

Construction Equipment Guide • Georgia State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • May 16, 2012 • Page 9

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Page 10 • May 16, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Yancey to Supply 17 Diesel Generator Sets for GPA Project Caterpillar Inc. announced recently that the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has signed an agreement to purchase 17 generator sets powered by Tier IV Interim certified Cat C15 Acert engines as part of an ongoing effort at the Port of Savannah to upgrade older rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) with cleaner technology. Atlanta-based Cat dealer Yancey Bros. Co. will adapt the diesel generator sets with customized enclosures and mounts for installation into 17 RTGs. The project will start in the first quarter of 2011, with staged upgrades scheduled for completion within 12 months. The repower project will replace the non-regulated and Tier I diesel generator sets originally installed on the RTGs with advanced power generation equipment featuring cleaner, more efficient Tier IV Interim certified Cat C15 engines. To further reduce fuel consumption and emissions, the RTGs will be outfitted with new controls that will automatically shift the engines between idle and higher operating speeds to optimize efficiency and meet variable load demands. “A key part of the Georgia Ports Authority’s mission is to maintain the natural quality of the environment, and this repowering project will significantly reduce emissions and our fuel consumption,” said Curtis Foltz, GPA’s executive

director. “It is critical for us to demonstrate global excellence in all aspects of our operations as we look to nearly double port capacity within the next ten years, and these diesel generator sets from Caterpillar will help us fulfill our commitment to environmental leadership while increasing our productivity.” The use of the new Cat generator sets in the 17 cranes is expected to reduce emissions of NOx by more than 60 percent and emissions of particulate matter by more than 80 percent. Once complete, GPA expects the RTG repower project will reduce total annual diesel fuel consumption by 129,200 gal. (409,075 L). “As one of the leading port facilities in North America, the Georgia Ports Authority has a well-deserved reputation for making quantum leaps in productivity while maintaining the highest standards for sustainability and environmental responsibility,” said Eric Arnold, vice president of the Power Systems division of Yancey Bros. Co. “By leveraging Caterpillar’s advanced technologies and Yancey’s considerable hands-on expertise, this repower project will substantially extend the lifetime of the Port of Savannah’s busy fleet of RTGs through state-of-the-art generator sets that will increase efficiency and dramatically reduce emissions.”

Designed for standby, prime and load management applications, the diesel generator set powered by the Cat C15 engine offers highly competitive service intervals, fuel consumption rates and power density. With ratings of 500 ekW (standby) and 455 ekW (prime), this is the first mid-range generator set from Caterpillar available with Tier IV Interim certification. Utilizing an electronically controlled air-management system, the advanced emissions control on the engine lowers combustion temperature and decreases NOx output, meeting EPA-regulated levels without the need for aftertreatment. “With millions of dollars in research and development validated by nearly one million hours of testing, Caterpillar has demonstrated its leadership in Tier IV Interim//Stage IIIB technology,” said Robert Koval, global product director of Caterpillar Electric Power Division. “The repowering project at the Port of Savannah illustrates the economic and environmental benefits customers can achieve as a result of Caterpillar’s investment in cleaner engines and integrated emissions reduction techniques.” (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG

Increasing Voter Awareness Key to Passing Referendum VOTE from page 8

close, promotion of the transportation sales tax referendum is getting under way in earnest. “The majority of people aren’t even aware it is on the ballot,” said Jason O’Rouke, political director of the Transportation Alliance. “In the polling we do have, we see that when voters understand the money is going to stay in the region, they are more likely to vote yes. We just have to get people to understand and get them to the polls.” The various advocacy projects cost money and O’Rouke said fundraisers are being held to collect the money. As of midApril, the supporters of the tax had several hundred thousand dollars in hand with a goal of raising $6 million, a task that the political director acknowledges will be difficult. The Alliance is campaigning with the intent of winning the vote in all 12 regions, but realistically will settle for less than that. Counties in the northwest corner of the state constitute “a tougher region,” O’Rouke said, and anti-tax opponents across the state are expected to have some success on July 31. “We are committed as if we are going to pass it in 11 regions [the Atlanta region has a separate campaign structure], but no one has really set a hard goal. If we pass one, that is a good thing,” O’Rouke said. “The good thing about this is that, two years from now, the people can come back and try it again.” That’s because the language of the referendum lets counties that reject the tax recon-

sider it in a second round of balloting 24 months later. But Calloway, the Georgia Transportation Alliance executive director, isn’t thinking in terms of voting again two years from now.

He is optimistic. “We are heading in the right direction, raising money, have partners all across the state. Is it a tall order? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, this is the only game in

town.” (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG

According to GDOT statistics, the accident, injury and fatality rates along portions of SR20 have exceeded the statewide average in recent years. It’s expected improvements in Cherokee County and other sections of the route will reduce future wrecks.

Construction Equipment Guide â&#x20AC;˘ Georgia State Supplement â&#x20AC;˘ www.constructionequipmentguide.com â&#x20AC;˘ May 16, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 11

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Page 12 • May 16, 2012 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide