WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK | |
March 3-9 is Women in Construction Week, and we've been highlighting the stories of diverse women in the industry each day this week! Click below to read all about them! | |
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Underground Utilities:
The Need for Improved Safety
The passing of time and advancement of technology will often converge to expose conditions that can be both obvious in their neglect and dangerous in their unattended condition. “Out of sight…out of mind” is a phrase that frames this dynamic in the context of underground utilities and the very real dangers they present in the construction environment.
Minnesota’s utility location and damage prevention statutes have not been overhauled in almost 40 years. Over this time, the situation has devolved into a tug of war between the service providers that own these facilities and contractors who must work around and among buried utility systems. At the core of the debate is safety and the preservation of lives.
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Time and again, we hear of near misses and dangerous strikes of facilities that were improperly marked or not identified. The industry has been living on borrowed time and the safety of workers is being compromised before our eyes. The need for fundamental change has come and AGC is leading the effort with legislation (House File 2717 & Senate File 2723) that will provide greater accuracy of future utility installation locations and repairs, better tracking of complaints and accountability measures, and improved timing of locate requests and more active participation of facility owners in preconstruction meetings.
Critical Timing:
The legislature will be considering these bills during the coming days and your voice is critical to help establish a more equitable shared risk model and improve worker safety. AGC has been engaging stakeholders on all sides and has crafted a bill that will bring about meaningful change that holds facility owners to account for their installation locations and provides tools that help collect necessary data to improve processes. You can quickly and easily have your voice heard in the discussion by accessing the AGC Action Alert tool. By simply entering a few quick responses, your support for safety and change can help advance the construction industry perspective on this important issue. We need your help and now is time to engage.
Thank you for your continued support of the AGC advocacy agenda. It is only through your active engagement that we can effectively help shape the legislative and policy landscape that so directly impacts the safety of your workforce and the success of your business. AGC remains….Your Trusted Resource.
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Proposal to Change the Independent Contractor Test in Construction Advances
A significant piece of legislation was recently introduced that establishes a new multi-part independent contractor test for building construction and improvement services. The new multi-part test increases the current nine-factor test to 14 requirements to identify and classify as an independent contractor operating in construction and improvement services. The legislation also provides for additional penalties and enforcement of misclassification of employees and construction employees, including individual and successor liability.
House File 4444 was heard and passed in the House Labor & Industry Committee and its companion in the Senate, SF 4483, was heard and passed Thursday in the Senate Labor Committee. The proposal is expected to be heard in various committees in the coming weeks. Furthermore, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach, and the legislative authors held a press conference on Tuesday morning to outline their bill.
AGC government affairs staff contacted several entities and legislators when the language was posted, and testified with significant concerns Tuesday and Thursday in House and Senate Labor Committees, respectively.
We continue to engage on this issue and represent contractor interests. This proposal is very complex, and we welcome your feedback and examples of how this would impact your business.
As Tim’s message above notes, stay tuned in the coming days for news about legislation on worker safety and underground utilities. Committee hearing schedules will be packed heading into the final two weeks before the first committee deadline of Friday, March 22nd.
Please contact AGC Director of Government Affairs Laura Ziegler with feedback and questions.
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Labor Wage Increases Table
AGC-MN has compiled a table showing wage increases. This year is a bit more complicated. (1) For most contracts, the wage increase goes in effect on Monday 29 April 2024. (2) The increase negotiated several years ago changed after the Legislature adopted the earned safe and sick time statute and, for most unions, the alternative Worker Wellness Program was created that provides a better tailored benefit to construction workers. We’ve put it all together for you in a handy dandy chart showing increases for one class (some trades’ increases are by percentage and so vary by class) and the WWP addition (will not vary by class).
Members can download the table here. (Don't have login credentials? Renee can help you.)
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Labor Negotiations
Labor Negotiations for North Dakota and OPCMIA NW MN are beginning. If you are signatory and have not been contacted yet by Mike, please email Mike as soon as possible.
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Open for Comment: Proposed Updates to Petroleum Tax Refunds for Power Take-Off Units and Auxiliary Engines
This week, the MN Department of Revenue (MN DOR) distributed proposed updates to Minnesota Rules, Part 8125.1301, which governs petroleum tax refunds for power take-off units (“PTOs”) and auxiliary engines. The Rule has not been updated since 1998, and the Department is proposing changes to align the Rule with current terminology and current industry and Department practices.
MN DOR initiated the rulemaking by publishing a Request for Comments in the State Register. In essence, the Request for Comments asks the public to comment on the Department’s proposed changes to the rule, which are found on the Department of Revenue rulemaking webpage . After making appropriate changes to our rule update proposal based on comments received, MN DOR will publish a new proposed rule update for another round of public comment in the “Notice of Intent to Adopt” phase of the rulemaking.
AGC members with an interest are encouraged to review the proposed changes. If you are submitting comments, please communicate with Laura Ziegler regarding your input.
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Leadership Blueprint Cohort Participats in Minntac Mine Blast
Yesterday the Leadership Blueprint cohort enjoyed a tour of the Minntac Iron Ore Operations in Mountain Iron. The tour included observation of a working mine complete with a mine blast. AGC's Merry Beckmann got to hit the blast buttons!
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Advertisement for Bids: Pembina Gorge Campground Improvements ND Parks & Rec State Project No P256001-19
Bids will be received online for this project through QuestCDN vBid, until 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Immediately following expiration of the time for receiving bids, representatives of North Dakota Parks and Recreation and SRF Consulting Group will publicly open bids to be read aloud at an online bid opening meeting.
Those interested in viewing the online bid opening are welcome to join the meeting by calling 312.626.6799or logging in here and entering Meeting ID 927 4410 9631 and Passcode 812170. The as-read online bid results will be available at www.questcdn.com following the bid opening.
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AI for Your Industry: Construction and Design
Embark on a journey through the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the construction and design industry. Discover how AI is revolutionizing planning, design, project management and safety measures. From generative design to predictive analytics, AI-driven technology streamlines processes, enhances efficiency and improves safety. Click here to read more
When Founder and CEO, Sam Bloedow started Thriveon in 2002, it was born from a love of technology and the needs of small to midsize companies that weren’t being met by their current IT service. Fascinated by the way businesses could leverage technology to enable growth, Sam founded Thriveon to help businesses find success through an approach that proactively eliminates IT risk and supports growth.
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Scholarship Application is Open!
The application form for 2024-2025 AGC of Minnesota Foundation scholarships is now open. Please share with any young people pursuing a degree in the construction industry!
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For Signatory Contractors:
Minnesota Construction Crew Hiring Event
The Minnesota Construction Crew is having their 10th annual hiring event! This year’s event will be held at The North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters (710 Olive Street, Saint Paul, MN 55130). The event has a $225 table fee and net proceeds go to Construct Tomorrow.
Register here | Construct Tomorrow W-9 for tax purposes
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20-Year Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan
The final 20-Year Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan (MnSHIP) is available for review.
Updated every five years, MnSHIP directs capital funding on the almost 12,000 miles of state highways. The plan is fiscally constrained, meaning that MnDOT needs to budget for the estimated revenue over the next 20 years. The updated plan’s investment direction describes how MnDOT will use its estimated 20-year budget of $37 billion to repair, replace and improve the state highway system.
During multiple rounds of public engagement for the plan, Minnesota state highway users provided their priorities for spending on the state highway system and gave their feedback on the draft investment direction and draft plan. This feedback informed development of the plan from the development of the draft investment direction to the adjustments made to the draft plan. Thank you to everyone who participated in the MnSHIP planning process.
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Constructability Review Request:
Nodine Hill Project
MnDOT is preparing plans for a project on Interstate 90 from 0.69 miles west of Winona County State Aid Highway (CSAH 12) to US Hwy 61/Dakota. The project is currently scheduled to be let as a standard Design-Bid-Build contract in November of 2025 with an anticipated construction start date of April 2026.
Project Information Here
MnDOT is asking potential contractors to assist with evaluating construction means, methods, staging, and risks to constructing this proposed project while minimizing impacts to RPBBs and their habitat. MnDOT requests one-on-one meetings with potential construction contractors to review the planned work and provide feedback. The meetings are expected to last approximately 60 minutes.
March 18-28, 2024 has been selected as the Department’s desired window for constructability reviews with several dates and times available within this window; however, the project team is flexible if the previous or following week would work better with contractors’ schedules.Please contact Tom Austin, Project Manager, to schedule a meeting.
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Spring load restrictions start in North frost zone
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will start spring load restrictions in the North frost zone Monday, March 11.
Seasonal load limit zones and restricted routes can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Start and end dates and other load limit information are shown at mndot.gov/loadlimits.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI) NEWS | |
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Lake Street Works Grand Re-Opening
This week, Lake Street Works and Urban Ventures recently joined forces by hosting an LSW Grand Re-Opening Event. The goal of the joint partnership is to strengthen construction industry trades training programming for local youth while empowering and supporting community in the heart of South Minneapolis. Featured at the Grand Re-Opening was Mayor Jacob Frey, who offered words of encouragement.
Supported by Urban Ventures and the construction industry, LSW offers specialized trades training in the areas of carpentry, electrical, HVAC technician, and plumbing. Included in the training curriculum is a series of courses addressing “life skills” in Personal Development, On the Job Work Behaviors, and Financial Literacy.
LSW construction training program includes a stipend per class and all classes are taught by professionals and experts in the Construction trades. Learn more
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RAM Construction Services Safety Day 2024
Yolanda addressed Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. She shared resources and lived experience.
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Mental Health Day on the Hill
Yolanda teamed up with members of the Mental Health Legislative Network Coalition as an advocate for strengthening mental health access and services for all affected Minnesotans. During meetings with legislators, she was able to emphasize the impact of mental health and suicide prevention in the construction industry.
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JE Dunn WIC Week Event
As another successful WIC Week wraps up. Yolanda attended JE Dunn’s Networking Event at the Minneapolis Club.
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Kraus-Anderson Companies’ years-long succession plan promotes Peter Diessner to Chief Executive Officer
Bruce Engelsma remains Chairman
Peter Diessner has been named chief executive officer of Kraus-Anderson Companies, Inc., the holding company for KA’s 127-year-old family of companies. Diessner has been chief operating officer of KA Companies since 2023. He succeeds Bruce Engelsma who has been CEO since 1997. Engelsma remains chairman of KA Companies and will continue to serve on various committees within the enterprise, which includes KA Construction, KA Realty & Development, KA Insurance and KA Financial Services Group.
Diessner’s appointment to the top leadership role is a seamless transition and natural progression of many years of intentional and thoughtful planning for the family-owned company.
“This third generation of leadership comes at a time of continuing prosperity at Kraus-Anderson,” said Bruce Engelsma, KA Companies’ visionary leader, who joined KA in 1975 and has served as chairman and CEO for 27 years. Engelsma’s father, Lloyd, led the company from 1937 until his death in 1997.
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Registration is open for all of the following events.
Secure your sponsorship or registration before events are sold out!
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Networking Event - April 11
(Coyote Moon Grille | St. Cloud)
Join the AGC Board of Directors and your industry colleagues for some informal networking!
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Golf Tournament - August 2
(Keller Golf Course | Maplewood)
This tournament sold out in record time last year - get your foursome or sponsorships ASAP!
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St. Paul Saints Game - August 7
(CHS Field | St. Paul)
Join AGC and MBEX members for an afternoon of Minnesota Twins AAA baseball against the Columbus Clippers!
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Sporting Clays Fundraiser - Sept 11
(Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club | Prior Lake)
Register your team of 5 to join us at the 25th Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser to benefit the AGC of Minnesota Foundation!
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Holiday Reception - December 4
(Minneapolis Event Center)
Join your industry colleagues to celebrate another great year together!
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AGC Honors 2025 - February 18
(317 on Rice Park Event Center | St. Paul)
Join us as we honor award recipients This annual event brings together industry leaders and change-makers as we celebrate stellar work over the past year as well as over the past decades.
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Thank You to our 2024 Annual Partners! | |
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Don't Miss These Events!
Register now or save the date for these upcoming AGC events:
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Your Trusted Resource
Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
525 Park Street, Suite 110 | St. Paul, MN 55103
651-632-8929
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