The
Construction Times
August 2011
A publication of Northland Area Builders Association
Put your membership to work for you It is a great time to be a member of NABA! This month we will be debuting not one but two new features that are only available to members. The first feature is the Member Directory Video (MDV) - a two minute introduction to your business. Composed of photos and text that you supply (most of this can already be found on your website but we may need access to higher quality photos), the MDV will be part of your Member Directory listing. NABA will create and upload the video to our website, our YouTube channel and feature it on our Facebook page. If you haven’t been to the NABA website, please check out the recent upgrades. Visit Russ Smith Construction in the Builders/Contractors section to view the video as well as other features available to members. If you wish to place the video on your website, please contact the NABA office for details including permission to use the video and cost. Our other new member benefit will be the Project Summary. This weekly summary will be emailed to all members on Mondays and will contain information on residential and commercials projects available for bid in our area. The Weekly Summary will also contain links to a more detailed Project Report housed on the Members Only side of our website. Details for logging into the site for the first time will be in the introductory email on August 1. Details about purchasing the Project Plans and Specifications will be found in the Project Report. Many of these projects have tight bid deadlines - please be sure to read the entire Project Report carefully. In order to provide this service at no charge to our members, we ask that you do not forward the Weekly Summaries and/or the Project Reports.
Home Expo 2012
New Madison office location for S&B license & manufactured home services
The NABA Home Expo will return to Spooner on March 24th and 25th. Open to both members and non-members, the NABA Home Expo is a great place to showcase your business to home and cabin owners looking to buy, build or remodel in northwestern Wisconsin. Did you know that Rick Harder of Northern Paradise Homes sold a home to a lead within months of taking part in the 2011 Home Expo? Or that many vendors indicated that they had many solid leads from participating in the Expo? And not all of the over 600 people attending the 2011 Home Expo were from Spooner-we saw folks from all over the northland from Ashland to Superior to Eau Claire. If you weren’t part of this year’s Home Expo, don’t miss out on your opportunity to take part in the 2012 Home Expo! Watch your mailbox for a Vendor Packet in August - your opportunity to secure your booth space before it becomes available to the general public.
The state Safety and Buildings Division unit that provides counter service in Madison for licenses, certifications, and registrations is moving, changing office location as part of the formation of the new Department of Safety and Professional Services. This move also includes staff who provide counter service for manufactured (mobile) homes titles and sales. The new location July 25, 2011, is at 1400 East Washington Avenue (53703) in Madison at the corner with North Dickinson Street, just southwest of the Yahara River. Free parking is available in a lot on North Dickinson Street. Mailing addresses for S&B forms and telephone numbers will remain the same. The telephone number for licenses, certifications, and registrations is 608-2618467. The telephone number for manufactured homes services is 608-264-9596. All other S&B services in Madison remain at 201 West Washington Avenue.
Mission
29148 Mail Road • Danbury, WI 54830 Phone: 715-259-3486 • Fax: 888-825-8073 Email: naba@centurytel.net www.northlandareabuilders.com
NABA Board of Directors President: Russ Smith, Russ Smith Construction 715-462-4170
The NABA, chartered in 1989, is a non-profit trade organization comprised of building and construction industry professionals in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Sawyer and Washburn Counties in Northwestern Wisconsin. Promoting professional growth to its members, the Association provides the resources to stay abreast of our ever changing industry. Every member of the NABA is also a member of the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). To maintain the highest professional standards, our membership adheres to a Code of Ethics, monitors legislative issues, and promotes affordable quality housing.
President Elect: Ed Peterson, Peterson Construction 715-866-7127 Treasurer: Rick Harder, Northern Paradise Homes 715-635-2299 Secretary: Joe Gendrich, Culligan of Ashland 715-682-6585 Directors: Scott Chapin, RJF Agencies 715-634-4318
Code of Ethics Members of the Builders Association subscribe to the following Code of Ethics: n n n n n
Todd Knutson, Johnson Bank 715-634-2611 Kelly Licht, Culligan of Rice Lake 715-234-8819
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Jason Olsen, Peoples Bank 715-634-2674
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LaNell McGuire, Floor to Ceiling 715-634-4573
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Subscribe to the By-laws of the State and National Associations. Meet or exceed all State required insurance regulations. Maintain a good credit rating in high standards. Respond to consumer complaints, and act on these complaints in a timely manner. Continue to improve their skills and knowledge through educational resources made available at a local, state and national level. Employ other association members to assure the high standards set by its members are maintained. Conduct themselves in a professional manner to maintain the standards of the association. Comply, both in spirit and letter, with rules and regulations prescribed by law and government agencies for health safety, and progress of the community Have a commitment to excellence.
WBA State Directors Jack Sjostrom, Sjostrom Construction 715-634-4427 Charlie Johansen, Johansen Electric 715-634-3761 Open seat Open seat
NAHB National Directors Jack Sjostrom, Sjostrom Construction 715-634-4427
Need Help? Northland Area Builders Association 715-259-3486 www.northlandareabuilders.com National Association of Home Builders 800-368-5242 www.nahb.org Wisconsin Builders Association 608-242-5151 www.wisbuild.org Wisconsin Department of Commerce 608-266-3151 www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/
Open Alternate Seat
NABA Staff Jennifer Johnson, Executive Officer
Become a fan of Northland Area Builders Association to receive industry news, updates and network with others in the industry.
Membership in a Minute Total Members
Builder Members
Associate Members
Affiliate Members
6/30/2011
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27
47
4
12/31/2010
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28
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5
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-2.5
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0
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John Olson, Olson Construction Jason Olsen, Peoples Bank Brian Mast, Mast Construction Paul Manka, Menards Rick Harder, Northern Paradise Homes Joe Gendrich, Culligan of Ashland Tim Swanson, Swanson Seamless Gutters
2011 NABA Building & Remodeling Directory is now available. Extra copies are available for members to distribute - contact the NABA office for details.
Ron Kirk, Acme Tools John Solofra, Bergeman Plumbing Bill Otterson, Hardwood Floors and More Nick Kendyall, Northern Lakes Coop Kurt Proctor, CBS Construction Lonnie Vreeland, J & L Painting Duane Hoef, Hoefs Construction none
Dan Hinman, Don Johnson Auto Group Deb Hitchcock-Gale, Coldwell Banker Lakeside Realty
Jeff Homuth, Hayward Mercantile Josh Peck, Peck Construction none
The full 3 in 1 membership will take effect on your final payment. There are no refunds on this program, any payments made until the third payment will be considered a donation to the HBA in support of the industry. The first payment will be processed upon receiving the completed form. The following two payments are due on the 1st of the following month. We have the ability to do this as an electronic withdrawl from your bank account. Contact the NABA for details.
Wisconsin Builders Association Monday Morning News JULY 2011 Senate candidate campaigns on school time The open records request comes up gold again for the GOP in northwestern Wisconsin. The Republican Party of Wisconsin recently obtained e-mail records from Shelly Moore, the candidate challenging Senator Shelia Harsdorf this summer. Moore, a long time WEAC and NEA advocate seems to have been caught red-handed campaigning using her school district issued e-mail, computer system and all while on school district time. These e-mails show multiple examples of campaigning starting in February of this year after the announcement of the budget repair bill. The most damning exchange comes in a March 10th e-mail where Moore writes, “we’re not supposed to use school e-mail, but since all of our rights are being taken away, I frankly don’t care.” During the 2008 election cycle another teacher, Chris Buckel, challenged Representative John Murtha and fell into the same trap of using school district e-mail to campaign. This turned out to be a damaging issue during the 2008 campaign where Buckel was unsuccessful in his challenge to Murtha. Budget in effect July 1 marked the first day that the recently signed state budget goes into effect. Now know as 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 the budget bill contains a number of sweeping changes for the construction industry. Included in Act 32 is an overhaul of the state’s prevailing wage laws. Residential developments will no longer be required to use the prevailing wage labor scale on infrastructure that is paid for by a developer and then dedicated over to a municipality. Also gone are requirements to pay donated labor prevailing wage rates when working on volunteer municipal projects. As of July 1 the conversion fee on agricultural land is dead. If you are zoning land from agriculture to be developed you will no longer be required to pay a conversion fee on that land as a result of Act 32. Act 10 becomes law In early June the “budget repair bill” or “collective bargaining bill” took effect after Secretary of State Doug Lafollette took the maximum amount of time to publish notification of the act. Since the announcement there have been a number of media accounts of school districts that have used the tools provided in Act 10 to help turn around their finances. Most notably the school district in Kaukauna went from a deficit to a surplus with the changes allowed for in Act 10. According to the district, changes “will allow the District to hire additional teachers, reduce projected class sizes from 26 to 23 students at the elementary level, 28 students to 26 students at the intermediate/middle level, and 31 students to 25 students at the high school level. In addition, time will be available for staff to identify and support students needing individual assistance through individual and small group experiences. “Due to the law change the District’s projected operating budget has moved from a negative $400,000 to approximately a positive $1,500,000. Earmarked in the operating budget are $300,000 related to merit pay, a program being explored for all staff by the district for the 2011-2012 school year.” DNR permitting reform passes on bipartisan vote Recently the Assembly Housing Committee met in executive session to consider the DNR Permit Reform Bill (AB 177) authored by Representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna). AB 177 will require DNR to define specific timelines to approve Chapter 30 permits. In addition to better defined timelines the DNR would also be required to make one request for information as opposed to additional requests that in the past has delayed a decision on an application. The bill, with an amendment offered during the public hearing, says that after a public hearing has occurred if the DNR misses a deadline the application is automatically approved. Finally, the bill changes the burden of proof in contested case hearings. In the past the permit applicant had the burden of proof during contested case hearings. If AB 177 is approved that burden of proof would now be on the person or group that brings the case to the DNR. We are happy to report that AB 177, strongly supported by WBA, passed the Assembly
Housing Committee on a bipartisan vote of 7-1 with all GOP members of the committee voted in favor of the bill along with Representative Leon Young (D-Milwaukee). We expect this bill to voted on by the full State Assembly early in the September floor period and are working to get the Senate version of the bill, authored by Senator Frank Lasee (R-Green Bay), through the committee process this summer as well. Chairman's Interim report on Waste, Fraud and Abuse Issued Recently Craig Rakowski, chair of the Governor's Commission on Waste, Fraud and Abuse, released an interim report to outline specific examples of waste in state government that if addressed could save Wisconsin taxpayers at least $266.6 million. This is an interim report released by Rakowski to continue the discussion on this important topic. The public, along with the bipartisan members of the governor’s commission are still encouraged to provide additional information to the commission to weed out waste, fraud and abuse in state government and hopefully increase the total savings that will be presented in the final report. Reform of public assistance programs gets the most bang for the buck in the interim report, netting $177 million. Looking forward, Rakowski wrote in the interim report: “During the next six months, I look forward to continuing our work with all the members of the Commission, the public, business leaders, and others as we continue to identify and discuss ways of making government more efficient. In addition, I am anticipating strong leadership being provided by the agencies’ WFA task forces as they continue to use their expertise to identify ways state government can run more efficiently. I appreciate the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Commission and will continue to do my best to facilitate a meaningful and respectful discussion on waste, fraud, and abuse in state government.” Questions or comments? Please contact Brad Boycks, Director of Government and Political Affairs for the Wisconsin Builders Association ®. You can reach Brad at bboycks@wisbuild.org or 888-285-9066, x16. You can also visit the WBA web site: www.wisbuild.org
WBA wants your input! While the calendar says we are already in the second decade of the 21st century our organization is still being governed by 20th century rules and bylaws. The time has come for changes to streamline the way we do business. The internet and social networking have changed the way we all do business but WBA still proceeds with a governance structure that puts serious limitations on its ability to respond to the needs of its members. With these thoughts in mind, President Don Esposito has appointed a Governance Task Force composed of the following members to move us forward in this initiative. Gary Roehrig Mark Etrheim Kevin Pitts Brian McKee Michelle Beyreis Jennifer Johnson Wayne Foster
Mid-Shores LaCrosse Brown Madison Chippewa Northland Metro
Senior Officer/Chair Past President Past Vice-President Builder at-Large Associate at-Large Local EO NAHB Liaison
As a member organization, we need your input, ideas, suggestions and comments as we take a hard look at the strengths and weaknesses of our current structure and formulate a forward-looking plan towards building an association that matches our current resources and needs.
For a complete list of NABA members visit www.northlandareabu ilders.com and click on the Member Directory
If you are unable to attend the Input Session, please feel free to send your comments to NABA at naba@centurytel.net and Jennifer will share those with the task force.
GOVERNANCE INPUT SESSION August 10 • 4:00 pm Hosted by Chippewa Valley HBA 4319 Jeffers Rd • Eau Claire NABA members interested in carpooling can contact Jennifer at 715-259-3486
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Bowling for Building Member Night Out Saturday, August 13 6:30 pm Riverside Lanes, Hayward Registration Company: _________________________________ Contact Name: _____________________________
Phone: _________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________
Sponsorships Your sponsorship offers you: Recognition on signage at the event, in the monthly newsletter and online at northlandareabuilders.com Food & Beverage Sponsor $50 Lane Sponsor $25 Payment:(payment is due prior to the event) Total bowlers: ________ x $10 = _________________ Fee includes 3 games, shoe rental, food & beverage Sponsorship: _________ I will donate a prize _________ Check enclosed ______ Apply to credit card ________ (Paypal invoice will be emailed to you) Electronic Funds Transfer ________ (NABA office will contact you for bank routing & account #’s)
NABA Networking Nights will be taking a brief hiatus during June, July and August. Networking Nights will return on September 6th in Hayward with David Hopkins of Woita and Associates. David will join us in Hayward to discuss Social Security Benefits and how to maximize your retirement nest egg in today’s economy. 0.5 ceu credits have been applied for through the WI Department of Commerce.
Looking for industry templates, resources and information all in one location? Want to know what local commercial jobs are being bid? Look no further than the NABA website! A newly created member’s only section will soon feature a Member Toolbox page where you will be able to find all of that and more. And it will be available only to current members (members who are current on their membership dues). Watch your inbox/mailbox/fax for details on how to login.
Thanks to the hard work of Joe Gendrich, Culligan of Ashland, NABA will be raffling off a 2011 X300 John Deere Riding Lawn Mower with 42 inch deck. 1000 tickets are now available & booklets soon will be distributed to members to purchase or sell to the general public. A portion of the funds raised will benefit the annual NABA scholarship awarded to local high school seniors going into the building trades. NABA relies heavily on membership dues to remain in operation and with only $115/member remaining locally, that makes operations a challenge. The NABA Board hopes that this fundraiser will not only be a significant source of income for the scholarship fund but will also add to the general operating funds of the Association.
THANK YOU RICK and BONNIE HARDER for supporting the NABA Scholarship Raffle by selling raffle tickets at the Northern Paradise Homes booth at the Washburn County Fair!
Are YOU missing out on $700 cash? The Northland Area Builders Association (NABA) along with the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) and Focus on Energy, Wisconsin utilities’ statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, have entered into a strategic partnership intended to boost economic growth in Wisconsin’s residential construction industry. In this pilot program, Focus on Energy is offering financial incentives to current NABA members to join Focus’s New Homes’ Program. Focus on Energy works with nearly 400 builders in Wisconsin. These builders have certified over 16,000 energy efficient homes since 1999, that’s nearly 4 homes per day for the past 12 years. Focus on Energy builder partners currently certify over 30% of all homes built in Wisconsin annually. Becoming a Focus on Energy Builder is easy! Just complete the attached Focus on Energy Program Ally Application, select a building performance consultant, and send the completed paperwork to Focus on Energy. That’s it. That’s all you have to do to get started. After your first home is certified, Focus on Energy will send you a check for $700*. As a Focus on Energy Builder you are also eligible to receive up to $3,000 in cooperative advertising reimbursement funds annually and you can receive up to $1,500 for each certified home. Take advantage of the opportunity to join Focus on Energy and differentiate yourself from your competition. All builders tell potential homeowners they build good quality, energy-efficient homes, but only Focus on Energy Builder partners can prove it. Each Focus on Energy certified home is inspected by an accredited, third party, unbiased building science expert, confirming that each home has met all New Homes Program standards and testing requirements.
*Note: This is a one-time promotional payment and this offer is only available to current NABA builder members whom are not currently active Focus on Energy Builder partners.
Know someone who isn’t a NABA Member? If you know someone who is interested in becoming a NABA member and is a Focus on Energy participant, they may qualify for a $200 rebate on their NABA membership dues from Focus on Energy/WECC. This one time rebate is only available to Focus builder participants and new member applicants. Applicants must be or become a Focus participant before applying for membership in order to qualify for the rebate.
SAVE THE DATE
NABA HOLIDAY MYSTERY DINNER Friday, December 9 Flat Creek Eatery, Hayward 5:00 pm $50/couple
REMINDER: DOC Fines for Using Unlicensed or Unregistered Subs A rule change effective December 1, 2010 will authorize the Wisconsin Department of Commerce (DOC) to impose forfeitures on those who do not comply with certain licensing, certification and registration requirements, or those who hire persons or entities who have not registered or do not have required credentials. In 2009, DOC started to require various trades involved in building or modifying structures to register as a building contractor. However, those that hold certain credentials, such as contractors who have a dwelling contractor certification, are exempt from this registration requirement. This new rule will allow DOC to impose forfeitures on those who do not have their registration, or certain other credentials, such as a dwelling contractor certification. In addition, forfeitures may be imposed on an entity or individual who contracts with another entity or individual who fails to comply with licensing, certification or registration requirements. Thus, a general contractor who has its dwelling contractor certification may be subject to a penalty if the general contractor contracts with a subcontractor who does not have its certification or registration. WBA objected to this rule, arguing among other things that the forfeiture amounts were excessive. In final version of the rule sent to the legislature, the forfeiture amounts were significantly reduced. Under the revised rule, the forfeitures for failing to comply with the licensing/ certification/ registration requirements, or for contracting with an entity that does not meet these requirements, are as follows: first offense, $250; second offense, $500; and third offense, $1000. In addition to authorizing the imposition of forfeitures, as a result of a statutory change, this rule also expands the trades subject to registration to include those that construct, install or alter mechanical equipment and devices such as boilers, gas systems, piping and mechanical systems serving a building or structure. The requirement was also expanded to include those involved in the construction, installation or alteration of permanent devices or structures regulated under the amusement or sanitation code.
Visit www.nahb.org/ma to learn more about money saving discounts available only to members
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