A Deeper Commitment to Safety Excellence at AGC:

Welcome, David Williams!

I am excited to announce the addition of David Williams to the AGC staff. David will be filling a new position designed to help build out and support the administration of our hugely successful CHASE (Construction Health and Safety Excellence) Program. The CHASE Program is a cooperative partnership between contractors, MNOSHA, and MN DOLI that serves to elevate contractor safety programs and project safety practices. 

David's experience and credentials in the construction safety space will allow AGC to provide even greater value for members engaged in this important member benefit program. David is credentialed as a CSP (Certified Safety Professional) from the BCSP (Board of Certified Safety Professionals) He completed his undergraduate studies from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK and holds a BS degree in Environmental/Safety Management. A native of Oklahoma and a U.S. Army veteran, David and his family have called Minnesota home for the past three decades. David has worked in the safety field for nearly 30 years, and has spent the past 20 years specifically focused on Construction Safety, including 16 years of field safety experience working for AGC member Blattner Energy, Inc. 

Over the past 20 years, the CHASE Partnership Program has grown to include more than 50 AGC contractor members who collectively have set the standard by which safety in the Minnesota construction industry is measured. CHASE members are consistently outperforming the industry average in all construction safety metrics and represent best in class safe construction businesses. Recognizing the inherent value of the CHASE Program, the AGC Board of Directors recently enacted a new 3-year strategic plan that directs additional association resources and a specific staffing commitment to elevate and enhance the program. Onboarding David Williams is the initial step in this build-out strategy. Among his many duties, David will be charged with managing the day-to-day tasks associated with the CHASE Program, including jobsite audits and contractor safety program audits and reviews.  

Many of you will soon begin seeing David on jobsites and at industry events. Please take the time to introduce yourself and welcome him to the AGC family. The portfolio of experience and expertise David brings to our membership provides another valued resource that sets AGC apart as the industry-leading construction organization.  

We remain Your Trusted Resource and valued safety asset.

Tim Worke, CEO

Midnight on Monday: Final Days of the 2023 Legislative Session are Upon Us

The Legislature worked through several omnibus budget bills in the last two weeks and will continue to pass bills over the weekend as the deadline of midnight on Monday looms. AGC staff will be at the Capitol as Transportation and Capital Investment bills are finalized. The bills below pertaining to the state budget have been passed thus far. They will now go to the Governor for his signature, who has indicated support for these budget bills.

• Jobs, Economic Development, & Labor & Industry (includes Contractor Liability for Wage Theft & Earned Sick and Safe Time)
• Paid Family and Medical Leave
• Housing
• Commerce
• Environment, Natural Resources, & Energy/Utilities
• Legacy
• Agriculture/Broadband
• Public Safety & Judiciary
• E-12 Education
• Higher Education
• Children and Families/Early childhood
• Pensions
• -eterans/Military Affairs

Remaining bills include:

• Capital Investment – Bonding and/or Cash
• Transportation
• Taxes
• Health and Human Services

Legalization of adult-use cannabis, as well as the State & Local Government and Elections Finance bills passed the House and are scheduled to be voted on today by the Senate. Please reach out to Laura Ziegler with any questions as some discussions, particularly on bonding, are ongoing and activities are fluid during these final legislative days. A preliminary legislative review for AGC members will be available next Friday.

Minnesota Goes Lead Pipe Free!

Governor Tim Walz signed a bill into law this week providing $240 million to remove and replace lead pipes across the state. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan were joined by legislators, labor and environmental advocates, and representatives from Greater Minnesota to celebrate the bill signing, including AGC CEO Tim Worke and government affairs team member Sarah Psick.

Chapter 39, House File 24 provides $240 million to the Public Facilities Authority to establish a grant program for replacing water service lines containing lead, which will send workers throughout the state to replace pipes. The following groups will be eligible to receive the grants: community public water suppliers of a community water system, municipalities, suppliers of other residential drinking water systems; and anyone eligible for grants or loans under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Thank you to our local government and labor partners, especially LIUNA, Local 49, and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, for leading this important initiative!

Formatted Wage Allocations

Wage Allocations are available! AGC has consolidated and made all 2023 wage allocations available to members here—the numbers organized in the same format for all trades and columns are added (and color coded) to help its use and to answer questions (eg what number to use for prevailing wage survey, what is the taxable/nontaxable income, what’s the difference between gross wage and total amount paid which would include the other fees). If you have any questions, feel free to email Mike. Need login credentials? Email Renee.

New Collective Bargaining Agreements

New CBAs are being finalized and should be online next week. If you did not assign bargaining authority to AGC and signed to the industry agreements through the ‘to be bound form,’ then you need to re-sign to the new agreement. Be sure to download the new to be bound form here, sign, and return to Mike. 

Remember, this applies only if you did not assign bargaining authority to AGC (if you did, then you are good).

MnDOT Considering Spec Revision

MnDOT is weighing revising its specifications to include, in the section requiring a contractor or subcontractor to provide qualified workers and the ability to remove workers who are disorderly or harassing, a new provision permitting MnDOT to remove a worker who displays signs of chemical impairment. Please email Mike if you have any thoughts or concerns about this change.

Adolfson & Peterson Safety Week: Mental Health

Yolanda McIntosh, AGC Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, returned to Adolfson & Peterson Safety Week for a 2nd year in a row to address Mental Health & Suicide Prevention as part of May Mental Health Awareness Month. One session participant gave this feedback:

"I want to let you know that I especially, am so very grateful that you made time in your schedule for us. Your passion to speak about the importance of understanding mental health and suicide awareness/prevention is carried into your delivery; and you managed to keep our trades members talking about your presentation throughout the day. We have posted the 988-suicide help line number inside portable bathrooms as you suggested; because it really is a great and yet subtle way to keep 988 relevant."

- Jaelynn Larson, Site Safety Coordinator

Interested in having Yolanda speak to your team? Drop her an email.

Cemstone Awarded Innovating Company of the Year by NRMCA

Congratulations to AGC member Cemstone on being awarded the 2023 National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) “Innovative Company of the Year." The NRMCA recently celebrated industry innovators at the 2023 Concrete Innovation Awards at the Keep Memory Alive Events Center in Las Vegas. Winners were selected from a panel of five judges for their commitment to improving the resilience, performance, and sustainability of concrete. The Innovative Company Award focuses on a company that offers quality concrete products or services that demonstrate significant improvements in performance and sustainability, including carbon footprint reduction. Read more

2024 Construction Summit:

RFP for speakers and contractor input!

AGC is soliciting input from contractors and speakers

for the next Minnesota Construction Summit (January 17-18, 2024).

If you have a presentation you would like to propose for an educational session, OR if you are a contractor with a suggestion for the kind of education you'd be interested in attending, please take this brief survey!

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar for the following upcoming AGC events:

• Golf Tournament: August 4, 2023 (Keller Golf Course)
• AGC & MBEX Saints Game: August 9, 2023 (CHS Field)
• Sporting Clays Fundraiser: September 13, 2023 (Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club)
• Holiday Reception: December 6, 2023 (Quincy Hall)
• 2024 AGC Honors: January16, 2024 (St. Paul Event Center)
• 2024 Minnesota Construction Summit: January 17-18 (St. Paul RiverCentre)