As we pass the half way mark of this most unprecedented year, I want to take a moment to thank all of you for pushing forward, even while the rest of the world paused, to keep critical projects on schedule
Your work has always been deemed essential during this entire pandemic because there is universal agreement that your work cannot wait. It is that important to society and to ensuring that we can all resume normal activities as soon as the threat is over.
ACEC of Louisiana remains committed to supporting you and your firms during COVID19 and beyond. We look forward to the being with you in person, networking, celebrating and sharing best practices. Until then, we will serve you with the benefit of advanced technology....designed by who else? AN ENGINEER!
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In this edition:
- July Board meeting documents
- Message from new Board chair David Dupre
- New CDC guidelines and COVID liability protections
- DOTD Updates
- ACECL Affiliate Spotlight
- EEA submission deadline extended
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ACECL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING
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The ACEC of Louisiana Board of Governors held its July board meeting July 24. Please find meeting documents below. The next ACEC of Louisiana Board meeting will be held on September 18, 2020.
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ACECL Chairman
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
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A MESSAGE FROM THE ACECL BOARD CHAIR DAVID DUPRE
ACECL is advancing the business side of engineering. Per our Strategic Plan, the purpose of ACECL is to “protect, educate and advance the business of consulting engineering.” Even during these challenging times, I believe we are doing just that. This is being accomplished through our excellent staff, led by our President, Doreen Brasseaux. Credit also goes to our Board of Governors, and our Past Chairman, Andy Craig.
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Some of our past accomplishments include promoting increased infrastructure investment, monitoring legislation to protect engineering firms, advocating agencies to follow Quality Based Selection (QBS) procurement laws, giving guidance to engineering firms for COVID-19 related issues, and creating a formal chapter of ACECL in Lake Charles.
Looking forward, some of our goals are as follows:
- Increase infrastructure funding to stimulate the economy and fix our crumbling infrastructure.
- Improve our strong relationship with state agencies, such as DOTD, CPRA, and FP&C.
- Protect QBS Procurement
- Continue to offer valuable programs and networking events, such as the ACECL Fall Conference, the second annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA), the Deep South Conference, and Emerging Leaders. The ACECL Fall Conference and EEA is scheduled for November 5th.
As July 1st marks the start of a new term with a new Board of Governors for ACECL, I am honored in being selected Chairman. I look forward to working with the different chapters and committees to make our organization better and stronger. If you have any ideas on how to improve ACECL, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at
DDUPRE@MEYER-E-L.COM
or 504-885-9892.
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Effective July 20, the CDC updated its protocol for determining when an individual should discontinue home isolation due to COVID19:
- A test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when to discontinue home isolation, except in certain circumstances.
- Symptom-based criteria were modified as follows:
- Changed from “at least 72 hours” to “at least 24 hours” have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Changed from “improvement in respiratory symptoms” to “improvement in symptoms” to address expanding list of symptoms associated with COVID-19.
- For patients with severe illness, duration of isolation for up to 20 days after symptom onset may be warranted. Consider consultation with infection control experts.
- For persons who never develop symptoms, isolation and other precautions can be discontinued 10 days after the date of their first positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
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LABI has issued a document summarizing the state's new COVID19 Liability Protection Act. See summary
here
.
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The Compensation Working Group of the ACECL Transportation Committee spent the past several months developing a position paper relative to the various DOTD compensation and work types. That paper was approved by the ACECL Board of Governors on July 24 and formally submitted to DOTD on July 27. Click
here
for letter. Click
here
for the letter's attachments. The DOTD Consultant Outreach Group will discuss the issues in the letter in the coming months.
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DOTD recently added additional ethics requirements for consultants and members of the PET committee. Click
here
for DOTD memo.
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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that it recently appointed Michael DeSelle as the new district engineer administrator for the Acadiana district. The district includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion parishes.
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MORE CMAR PROJECTS ON THE WAY
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Joint Senate and House Transportation Committee will meet:
TUESDAY - 8/4/20
10:00 a.m. Rm. 5
A)
To approve use of Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) for a
project under $15 million for the city of Gonzales entitled the City
of Gonzales PACE Center (Performing Arts Convention, and Expo
Center) pursuant to R.S. 38:2225.2.4
B) To approve use of Construction Management Risk (CMAR) for a project
under $15 million for the City of Youngsville entitled the New City
Municipal Complex pursuant to R.S. 38:2225.2.4
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At
Alexander & Sanders Insurance
we provide specialized insurance and risk management services to the engineering community. When you contact us, you will work directly with an actual insurance specialist
with a minimum of 20 years of experience in insuring and advising engineering firms of all disciplines. An insurance advisor
that is dedicated to the engineering profession understands your industry and
can help you to better protect your assets and bottom line. Our goal is to educate you on the risks you face, so you can avoid those costly bad surprises
.
If you are ever in need of our services, please do not hesitate to contact us at 225-295-2995. You can also visit our website for more information at
www.AlexSand.com
.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic,
Barriere Construction
united through shared values, continuing to safely serve and connect the Gulf South communities where employees and their families live and work.
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Barriere Construction’s Culture of Care was activated in 1977 when Betty Wilson, the company’s current Chairwoman Emeritus, decided to make a go of it with the family-owned business after the death of her husband, George H. Wilson. George worked hard to turn his family’s business into a legacy, and Mrs. Betty’s values guided her to ensure the legacy continued. She infused the company with her thoughtful, determined leadership while creating an environment in which all Barriere employees and their families are supported in staying safe and healthy.
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Due to the pandemic, Barriere adapted its annual Service Awards and the George H. Wilson, Jr. Safety Award presentation to 122 employees in two days of field visits to five different sites. Barriere’s dedication to safe service was also reflected in how it redirected efforts to coordinate the company’s seventh annual food drive in support of Second Harvest. South Louisiana’s largest anti-hunger network has been operating at 20% in St. John the Baptist Parish since COVID-19 hit, and Barriere’s ongoing tradition of civic action put the company in a position to respond.
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Please find below the 2020-2021 ACECL Committee Chairs. If you are interested in joining a committee sign up today!
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A number of major Louisiana water infrastructure projects, representing potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to be spent on studies and construction projects, were included in legislation approved by the
U.S House of Representatives
on Wednesday. U.S. Rep.
Garret Graves
, R-Baton Rouge, inserted the Louisiana projects – ranging from speeding the deepening of the Houma Navigation Canal in Terrebonne Parish and the Baptiste Collette Bayou Canal in Plaquemines Parish to requiring a long-dormant federal-state task force to identify new ways of funding coastal restoration within a year -- into the bill during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting two weeks ago. Click
here
for full article.
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2020 EEA CALL FOR ENTRIES EXTENDED TO AUGUST 20!
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ACEC/L is pleased to announce it will host a competition to recognize engineering firms for projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement and value. The EEA competition celebrates the outstanding achievements of the profession. All recipients will be eligible to submit their project to the National ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards.
ENTRY DEADLINE
- Online entry submission must be completed by
Thursday
, August 20, 2020 (midnight).
FEE - $500 entry fee per project for ACEC of Louisiana members; $1,000 entry fee per project for non-ACEC of Louisiana members.
Awards will be presented to the firm and owner/client at the Engineering Excellence Awards Ceremony to be held the evening of November 5, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Baton Rouge Chapter Luncheon
New Orleans Chapter Luncheon
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Thank You to our 2020 Sponsors!
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Doreen Brasseaux
President & CEO
ACEC of Louisiana
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