December - Construction News

Transcription

CONSTRUCTION
™
The Industry’s Newspaper
www.constructionnews.net
P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio TX 78279  11931 Warfield San Antonio TX 78216  (210) 308-5800  December 2003  Vol. 6 No. 12
CEC heralds 20th year
in practice
A
favorite axiom spoken within engineering circles is this: “Everybody
thinks engineers are great people,
they just don’t know what we do!” Veteran civil engineer Don Durden, P.E.,
R.P.L.S., who celebrated his 20th anniversary in private practice this year,
shared this clever perception, which may
be closer to the truth than not.
Raised in Comfort, TX, Don attended
Texas Lutheran College for two years before transferring to Texas A&M University,
where he graduated with a Bachelor of
Science in Civil Engineering; Class of ’77.
Following graduation, Don returned to
San Antonio and secured a position with
Brown Engineering Company, where he
cut his professional teeth under the tutelage of Jack Brown, P.E.
“Brown Engineering was a great firm
to start with,” Don recalled. “I was the
only other graduate engineer in the firm
at that time, and Jack gave me as much
responsibility as I wanted. Ambitious, I
took on as many jobs as I thought I could
handle. Jack helped me a lot, as did office
manager and technician Tommy Adame,
and Noel Billings, a talented technician
who came with me when I started my
own firm.”
In 1983, Don established Civil Engineering Consultants (CEC), which began
as a two-man office. Don and Noel’s goal
at the time was to have a small five or sixperson practice and do City of San Antonio public works projects.
“We started to grow beyond our expectations, and within two years we had 20
people on staff,” Don said. “Public works
and land development were very strong in
what we refer to as the Roaring 80’s.”
Today, CEC employs 61 people, to
include licensed professional engineers,
registered professional land surveyors
(RPLS), engineers-in-training (EIT), surveyors-in-training (SIT), professional
traffic operations engineers (PTOE), as
well as technical and administrative support staff.
San Antonio Construction News asked
Don to recount a few of the public works
projects that he and his firm considered
most significant. He gave top billing to
the Historic San Antonio Mission Trails
continued on Page 31
TDIndustries implements
new division
Tim Baughman, TDIndustries.
T
he San Antonio branch of employee-owned TDIndustries, an HVAC,
plumbing, refrigeration and electrical contracting company, has initiated a
new division under the leadership of
project manager Timothy S. Baughman. The idea for the Small Projects division was born from strategic planning
committee think-tank discussions.
“In recent years,” Tim explained,
“TDI has targeted larger plan-spec,
design/build projects. As we’ve grown,
our focus has veered away from the fast
turnaround jobs upon which we built this
branch. Our intent is to fill that gap with a
Small Projects division that will reincorporate those markets into our greater
scope of work.”
To implement this plan, TDIndustries
will commit a devoted team of TDPartners to develop the new division, including experienced mechanical, plumbing,
and electrical superintendents. Tim’s role
as project manager will include sales, estimating, bidding and procuring new clients.
“The Small Projects division will pursue tenant finish-out work, retrofit and
small-scale new construction in San Antonio, Bexar County and adjacent counties. For example, medical clinics, retail
strip centers, professional offices, and
Browning Construction Co. delivers Mayan 14 Theater
W
tile on the gallery corridors and lobby
floors and walls created a stellar improvement to the theater’s décor. The use of
exterior insulation and finish systems
(EIFS), with glass fiber reinforced gypsum
(GFRG) column capitals, further enhanced the lobby entrance.
In a comprehensive overhaul, the
existing restrooms were completely gutted and replaced with new fixtures, tile
floors and walls, and granite countertops.
The state-of-the-art projection equipment and screens for each individual
theater were acquired and installed by
the owner under a separate contract.
Santikos wanted to experiment with
a relatively new concept with regard to
the concession area. In a departure from
the norm, the design called for a selfserve, cafeteria-style format, where moviegoers dispense their own soft drinks,
retrieve popcorn from a warming unit,
orking within a six-month time
frame, Browning Construction
Company successfully renovated an obsolete, outdated south side theater for owner Santikos Investments. The
Mayan 14 Theater, which now occupies
the existing building shell of the former
Century South Movie Theater, was completed at a contract cost of $4.3 million.
The extensive 40,000-sf renovation
of the former six-theater floor plan resulted in the development of an 11,000sf addition comprised of a new lobby and
three additional individual theaters. In
keeping with current design trends, each
theater was upgraded with stadium risers for enhanced viewing. Browning installed the necessary bolt systems and
the owner installed brand new seats under a separate contract.
Interior enrichments included new
electrical, lighting, fire alarm and HVAC
systems and suspended ceiling installations. Placement of ceramic and mosaic
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290
Change Service Requested
This Month in FOCUS
Construction
Equipment
PRSRT. STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SAN ANTONIO, TX
PERMIT #1517
Page 2 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– San Antonio Construction News • Dec 2003
Expanded op’s streamline
fence/welding biz
T
he success of a company is often
linked to the tenacity, self-drive and
perseverance of its owner. When
Craig Noto established S.A. Quality
Fence, Ltd., dba Quality Fence & Welding, 23 years ago, he chartered a course
that forced him to draw upon each of
those characteristics at one time or another. His maturity as a businessman,
combined with an ever-increasing product and service capability, has resulted in
its status as one of the largest fence companies in San Antonio.
The company’s growth is further evidenced by a recent on-premises expansion. San Antonio Construction News
spoke with Craig, who said it all began
rather humbly with a trailer and a shop.
“In 1999,” Craig explained, “we constructed a 5,000-sf two-story building,
and our most recent expansion adds another 2,500-sf of office space. With 65
fulltime employees, including welders,
painters, fencing installers and office
staff, we needed to create a function and
flow capability that made better use of
each person’s time and energy. Our sales
and inventory supervision team are located in the new wing, which streamlines
the way we check materials in and out.”
In addition to the office expansion,
the yard and shops have benefited from
the physical reorganization. Raw materials, including steel, wood, posts and
chain link fencing are staged in a cohesive manner to improve productivity and
traffic flow.
“We built a new 4,000-sf paint facility,” he added, “that incorporates environmentally-friendly electrostatic applications. Next year, we anticipate bringing
on a new powder-coat system, which is
better yet. Our shop operations maintain
a logical workflow to produce custom
welded steel fence products.”
As company president, Craig long
ago retired his welder’s helmet and carpentry tools to focus on marketing and
customer satisfaction. He and his team of
six managers are in the process of intro-
Expansion is evidence of Craig Noto’s pursuit of excellence.
ducing a complex computer system to
integrate work order cards with invoices,
a tall order considering the company’s
monthly volume of business, which totals
over $9 million in revenue annually.
A virtual Who’s Who of general contractors, homebuilders, developers and
ranchers comprise the customer base of
Quality Fence & Welding’s business. With
a vast portfolio of completed projects for
private and public clients, Craig said he’s
keenly interested in pursuing work for
Toyota if the cards are cut in his favor.
“We’re currently engaged in talks
with some general contractors who are
courting Toyota, and we feel confident we
can handle a job of that size and scope. I
don’t want to count my chickens before
they hatch, but we remain hopeful!”
Don’t forget Construct a Kid’s Christmas!
Date: Friday, December 5, 2003
Place: San Antonio Construction News
11931 Warfield (at Nakoma)
Time: 10 am through 2 pm
I
f you missed the event, San Antonio Construction
News and Bexar County’s Child Protective Services
will continue to accept unwrapped presents, gift
certificates and monetary donations from you, your
company, or your association throughout the days
leading up to Christmas. This construction industry
fundraiser benefits the foster children, aged birth
through 18, of Bexar County. We look forward to receiving your contributions and thank you for sharing your
good fortune with children who need a helping hand.
TDIndustries Announces a New
SMALL PROJECTS DIVISION
Specializing in commercial
Tenan t Finish Ou t
�
New Construction
��
www.tdindustries.com
�
Phone: 210 656 5511
�
Retrofits
��
Fax: 210 656 3613
San Antonio Construction News • Dec 2003 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 3
Luxury builder constructs
auction playhouse
PUTZ AROUND TOWN
J C Putz here . . .
Our Texas Legislators were so busy running off to
Oklahoma this session that a very important bill was
forgotten. That bill would have outlawed drywall
contractors from wearing weird shirts in public.
Where did you get
that BLOUSE?!
This was a good thing for
Dewitt Churchwell of
Marek Brothers Systems,
Inc. since he would have
been the first one they arrested.
As I was rummaging through the desk of our fearless leader looking for
a snack, I came across another photo that really needed to be published. I suspect our publisher was keeping it for blackmail or some
other covert purpose.
I
nspired by an article she read in San
Antonio Construction News, American
Subcontractors Association executive director Heidi Davis threw caution
to the wind and embraced an idea that
would help raise funds for Construct a
Kid’s Christmas. Her mission involved
finding a homebuilder who would construct a playhouse, which would then
be placed on the auction block at the
joint-associations’ Christmas Gala on
Fri., Dec. 19th.
When she spied the 10,000-sf luxury
home that had been erected by Williams
Hirsch Custom Builders inside the Alamodome at the recent Homebuilder’s
Expo, she knew she had her man. Stepping up to the plate for this worthy cause,
firm partner Jim Williams agreed to design and construct the playhouse. When
we spoke, Jim was in the design phase
and indicated he and some of his “guys”
would complete the construction in time
for the auction.
“The 8x12-ft cottage will stand 10
to12-ft tall,” Jim explained. “It will have a
gable roof, decorative exterior moulding,
exterior siding, a 3-ft deep front porch,
front door and three windows. It will also
be pre-wired for one ceiling light and a
porch light. Of course, it will be painted
on the interior and exterior.”
The decision to finish-out the interior had not been firmly cemented, but Jim
said if he does, he would probably use a
nice looking paneling product rather
than sheetrock to avoid damage during
transfer.
As an upscale homebuilder, Jim
plans to produce an upscale playhouse.
Photographs of the finished product will
be displayed at the Gala. Due to its size
and weight, the playhouse will have to
be lifted with a crane onto a truck when
it is ready to be delivered to the winning
bidder’s backyard.
“We’ll have skids on the bottom so it
can be relocated from one spot in the
yard to another,” he added. “Williams
Hirsch Custom Builders is excited to have
a role in this worthy cause and we hope
it brings some top dollars!”
Toyota targets
minority involvement
M
Some contractors will stop at nothing to get a job.
Someone caught Lynn Laurence of Jack Laurence Corporation
and Rick Smith, The Keller-Martin Organization sucking-up
to Sylvester. Rumor has it that Warner Bros. Entertainment,
who owns Sylvester, is coming to San Antonio to do a project.
How’s your foot Fred?
Shouldn’t stick it out of a golf cart the next time you play.
odeled after the minority
contracting goals set for
the SBC Center, in which
community leaders aimed for 20
percent minority involvement, Toyota announced in mid-November
its plans to set aside $20 million or
more for women and minorityowned businesses at its San Antonio
truck plant. The target is twice as
high as the auto manufacturer’s previous construction projects.
The announcement was made
during the company’s 14th Annual
Opportunity Exchange in Cincinnati,
attended by approximately 700
women and minority-owned businesses.
The San Antonio manufacturing
plant, which broke ground in October, is slated to begin production of
Tundra pick-up trucks in 2006. When
construction is complete, this project
will represent an $800 million investment by the automaker and will employ about 2,000 people.
With that . . . I’m outa here.
Beats Mud
Weighs Less
TOOLITE ®
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CONSTRUCTION
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Roaming Reporter:
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Reesa Doebbler
Jane Day Loter
Tammy Leschber
Sue Johnson
Kevin Hughes
Christina Johnson
JC Putz
San Antonio Construction News
P.O. Box 791290
San Antonio, Texas 78279
(210) 308-5800 Fax (210) 308-5960
© 2003 Construction News, Ltd.
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Build it, and they will come
A
rchitectural millworker Dan Pfeiffer and artist Elizabeth Steving
are in the midst of a concrete, metal and glass work-in-progress. Located in
the heart of the arts district, on the fringe
of the historic King William neighborhood and across the street from the Blue
Star Art Space, the talented couple is constructing an art gallery/studio, millworker
shop, and home sweet home.
In the tradition of so many European
and early American entrepreneurs, Dan
and Liz will maintain a private residence
on the second floor, which incorporates
an expansive 360-degree view of downtown San Antonio. Their daily commute
is a 10-second trek downstairs to their
respective workplaces.
San Antonio Construction News spoke
with the artsy duo, who have embraced
their inner city lifestyle with zest and
who are architecturally transforming a
forgotten corner of the city into a viable
destination. They each said their efforts
represent a labor of love and a dream
come true.
“Originally, this was an abandoned
metal warehouse,” Dan explained,
“which we dismantled, while preserving
selected components for re-use, including the valuable antique pine flooring.
We built a new pier and beam foundation
and framed the floor joisting, then we
cleaned up the century-old 2x12 in. pine
flooring and laid them back down. After
erecting the steel structure, we framedout both stories.”
Oversized glass and wood doors,
also milled from the original flooring, and
casement windows, salvaged from old
schools and industrial warehouses, pro-
Williams Scotsman facilitates
legislative change
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We also offer an 8,000 sf Self Service Plumbing
and Pipe, Valves and Fittings Counter
to serve our customers better.
15080 Tradesmen Drive
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210-492-5501
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vide ample natural illumination and airflow throughout the gallery, workshop
and residence. Spacious 12-ft. ceilings
are reminiscent of the buildings’ industrial origins.
“Because we both love the great outdoors,” Dan continued, “and want to balance our environment with nature’s
beauty by bringing the outside indoors,
we constructed a 10-ft. wide light concrete deck around three sides of the
building. From the upstairs master bedroom, we can access an extended patio,
which is the rooftop of the downstairs
columned entrance.”
Other than the HVAC, electrical,
plumbing and miscellaneous tasks, Dan
and his right-hand-man, Glen Majorka,
have performed most of the construction.
Dan and Liz integrated their talents
to develop, design and produce two lines
of furniture, which will be marketed
through Artiques Gallery. The threeroom gallery will feature Liz’s own paintings and sculptures, as well as the work of
visiting artists. Two timeworn wooden
doors, imported from Spain, centered in
the gallery’s rear wall, conceal the 2,000
sf millworker shop.
“Artiques is the French word for interesting art,” Liz added. “The entrance
features tinhorn columns that are footed
in a koi pond, blanketed with blooming
water lilies, a signature design element
which we reclaimed from my professional mentor, architect Roger Rasbach.
Eventually, our ‘working residence’ will
be landscaped with an abundance of
trees, flowering plants and vines to
peacefully balance the stark realism of
the industrial, man-made setting.”
Tom Delaney
illiams Scotsman, the nation’s leading supplier
of mobile offices, modular buildings and storage
products, has been instrumental in facilitating
legislative changes that affect the regulation of mobile offices for use on construction sites. Through the efforts of
Mark Delaney of Williams Scotsman, Hillco Partners, and
with the support of the Modular Building Institute, legislation passed during the 78th Regular Legislative Session
and changed the scope of Industrialized Housing and
Building Program of Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation to include commercial structures designed to
be transported between commercial sites.
In addition to this change, which
was included in the Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation’s sunset legislation, (Senate Bill 279), there was a
change to the definition of a commercial
structure which exempts construction
site office buildings from the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings Occupations Code Title 7 Chapter 1202. SB
279 defines a construction site office
building as “…a commercial structure
that is not open to the public; and used
as an office at a commercial site by a person constructing a building, road,
bridge, utility, or other infrastructure or
improvement to real property.”
While most municipalities have not
required that construction site offices attain Industrialized Housing and Building
Certification, there has been a growing
number of municipalities that over the
FYI
years have required such certification.
Changing building codes and lack of consistent code requirements among municipalities makes it infeasible for contractors and the mobile office supplier
industry to constantly change their supply of buildings to meet the new building
codes. Given that these are non-public
use temporary structures, public safety is
not a real issue. This new legislation
should enable contractors to continue to
utilize construction site office buildings
that were not previously certified under
the state program, thus reducing overall
project costs.
For more information please feel
free to contact Mark Delaney, Regional
Vice President, Williams Scotsman Member-Texas Industrialized Building Code
Council, 281-590-1277.
The King William area lies south of the main business
district of San Antonio. The development of the area began in 1860 with the establishment of the Pioneer Flour
Mill on the banks of the San Antonio River. Settled primarily by prosperous German businessmen, the area was
designated the first Historic District in Texas in 1967. Restoration of the homes began in 1970 by the individual owners. This neighborhood was once part of the irrigated farmlands belonging to Mission San
Antonio de Valero (The Alamo).
AGC’s Fall Fiesta awards honorees
T
he Associated General Contractors San Antonio Chapter 2003 Fall
Fiesta and Construction Industry
Awards were hosted at Pedrotti’s North
Wind Ranch on Thurs., Nov 6th.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for
our organization to shine the spotlight
on member-firms in a variety of different
categories,” explained executive vice
president Doug McMurry. “The nominees each embody skill, integrity, and responsibility in the local commercial con-
struction industry, and we want to recognize their exemplary efforts.”
A record-breaking turnout of over
300 members and guests helped fill the
western-themed ballroom, which was
generously interspersed with decorative
food buffets and kiosks. Two-steppers,
who enjoyed country rhythms performed
live by Jay Eric and Bleiders Creek Band,
filled the dance floor. Shopping enthusiasts participated in the Silent Auction,
which raised funds for the organization’s
Political Action Committee.
Outgoing president Doug Nunnelly,
F.A. Nunnelly Company, addressed the
festive members during a band break,
later passing the microphone to Doug
McMurry, who explained the various
categories of the Construction Industry
Awards. Master and Mistress of Ceremonies, Ben and Gina Jones, Commercial
Contractor, announced the evening’s
winners.
General Contractor of the Year!
Congratulations to all!
President’s Award:
Rene Garcia, Zachry Construction
Specialty Contractor of the Year!
Engineer of the Year:
Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc.
Architect of the Year:
Rehler Vaughn & Koone, Inc.
Supplier of the Year:
Hutchison Supply Company
Service Provide of the Year:
Ridgway’s, Inc.
Specialty Contractor of the Year:
Bexar Electric Company, Ltd.
General Contractor of the Year:
Bartlett Cocke, LP.
Supplier of the Year!
Rene Garcia receives President’s Award.
Service Provider of the Year!
Engineer of the Year!
Architect of the Year!
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San Antonio Chapter
... working together to improve the economic well-being of
construction subcontractors and suppliers through:
communication, education, and government / industry advocacy.
ASA holds monthly member’s meetings at the Barn Door.
For more information on how to join our efforts or to be placed on
the mailing list for upcoming events- write, call or email:
26254 IH-10 West Ste. 115 Boerne, Tx. 78006
(210)349-2105
Fax: (210)349-2847
[email protected]
Rebuilding Together altered
couple’s lives
S
urprised that the house hadn’t
burned down already, construction
volunteers from Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April gathered
at the Wade St. home of an elderly couple in mid October, to help resurrect
their circa 1940’s 1,000-sf single family
residence, considered to be in a major
state of disrepair.
Forty volunteers from primary sponsor Casa Linda Remodeling, as well as
consulting firm Booz Allen & Hamilton,
and St. Philip’s College worked from
dawn until dusk to achieve significant
structural, electrical, plumbing, roofing
and cosmetic repairs.
House Captains Michael “Mac” McDaniel and Steve Rice, Casa Linda Remodeling, coordinated the improvements, which began with structural reshoring of the pier and beam foundation.
“Electrically, the situation was grave,”
Mac explained. “David Carillo and Steve
Perez, IBEW-affiliated master electricians and instructors at St. Philip’s College, and ten of their students rewired
the house to code. The residents literally
had extension cords strung throughout
the house …that’s how dangerous it was.
The electricians went under the house
and through the walls to install a new interior circuit breaker panel, which ran five
separate grounded circuits to kitchen appliances, the bathroom, the hot water
heater, and an A/C window unit.“
For years, the house had not had hot
water. Master plumbers Steve Williford
and Lance Shelton, who are affiliated
with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local
Architect roasted
by Buddy Doebbler
L
Electrical trades students helped re-wire
the house.
Union142, installed a new, donated hot
water heater. They also re-plumbed the
house for hot water to service the kitchen
and bath and revamped the sewer line to
conform to proper drainage code.
Meanwhile, the exterior issues were
being addressed by other volunteers
who scraped and painted the entire
house, framed and built a new front
porch and stairs, and filled a donated
dumpster to its maximum capacity with
miscellaneous debris. Ty Valadez, Stepping Stone Construction, reframed the
roof structure.
In keeping with tradition, Bob Earl,
president of Casa Linda Remodeling,
cooked hamburgers for one and all, including business partner Mike High and
a myriad of spouses and children.
“At the end of the day,” Bob remarked, “the house and the safety of its
occupants was greatly improved.”
eave it to your children, your
wife and old friends to get
you when you least expect it.
That’s what happened on November 8th when 100 guests gathered
at the San Antonio Country Club to
celebrate Lloyd Walker Jary’s
70th birthday.
He was told by his family this
would be a simple affair, but when
Cisi, his wife of 45 years, took the
microphone, she told him there
were lots of people who wanted to
say something about their past relationship with Lloyd. He knew
then he was going to be had.
Starting with son Cy, children,
grandchildren and several long
time friends got up to take their
turn at telling stories from the past.
You could tell by the smile on
Lloyd’s face that most of the memories were dear to his heart. There
were a few times however. . . well
we won’t go into that.
It was a great party, great food and
lots of fun for a great guy.
Happy Birthday, and may you have
many more.
Lloyd, with his “Old Fart Texan” license
plate holder.
Footnote: I asked Cisi if she wanted to
trade you in for two-35 year olds. She
smiled and declined. I guess she has put
up with you for so many years she didn’t
want to have to start the training process
all over again.
Grand Opening in central
biz district
Volunteers scraped and painted the whole house in one day.
L-R: Dr. K.P. Ganeshappa, project manager Reggie Etheridge, Dr. H.D. Allende,
and Dr. Ravi Botla pose in the endoscopy diagnostic suite.
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INSTRUMENT REPAIRS & RENTALS
T
he Camden Medical Center, designed by William Epp & Associates, Inc., is an award-winning,
$1.85 million project constructed by Galaxy Builders, Ltd. On Wed., Nov. 12th, a
Grand Opening event celebrated its
completion and acknowledged the architect’s and general contractor’s efforts.
The two-story, 13,825-sf, high-tech
medical endoscopy and gastroenterology clinic is located downtown in San Antonio’s central business district, at the
corner of Brooklyn and Camden.
Completed in 12 months, Galaxy created a web page to keep the entire project team up-to-date and involved in the
progress of their construction project.
“Extranet allowed our clients’ the
ability to see their new project evolve
before their eyes,” said project manager
Reggie Etheridge. “Each week, digital
photographs and construction documents, along with meeting minutes of
the week’s activities were uploaded to
the web page. This enabled everyone
with a proper user name and password
to observe the project’s progress from
beginning to end.”
Three physicians - Dr. K.P. Ganeshappa, F.A.C.G., F.A.C.P., Dr. Hector D. Allende,
F.A.C.G., F.A.C.P., and Dr. Ravi Botla,
F.A.C.G., own Camden Medical Center.
The specialists and their staff hosted the
Open House, providing catered refreshments and tours of the facility.
with Dr. Ganeshappa, who said he and
Galaxy Builders president, Arun Verma,
have been friends for many years.
“This was Arun’s first medical office
project and he and his team did a super
job, although it took some initial convincing. My partners and I knew exactly what
we wanted and Galaxy Builders delivered.”
Commenting on the project manager’s job performance, Dr. Botla said, “Reggie did a great job! Even though the
medical office building is new for them,
he was very professional and we are very
satisfied.”
According to Dr. Allende, the staff
occupied the building in mid-October.
“We find it to be exactly what we wanted
and are very happy!”
Of course, those comments were
music to Reggie’s ears. He said the greatest obstacle he and his team had to hurdle was meeting the Texas Department
of Health requirements.
“The Department conducts two
thorough inspections, one before cover
up and a final inspection,” he explained.
“Meeting all of their codes and regulations was interesting. As a result, good
coordination between the Texas Dept. of
Health, the architect and our company
was established and maintained
throughout the project. The doctors are
a great bunch of guys and we worked
well together!”
Past presidents honored at CSI’s 40th anniversary
P
resident Tom Kita, General Supply,
extended warm words of welcome
to members of the San Antonio
Chapter of Construction Specification
Institute (CSI) as they gathered to mark
the organization’s 40th anniversary on
Tues., Nov. 18th, at the Barn Door Restaurant. As dinner was served, CSI regional
director Harold Woolard addressed the
assembly and discussed regional issues.
The evening’s program resembled a
trip down memory lane as Tom recited the
long list of chapter past presidents who
served continuously since Nov. 19, 1963,
when the chapter was chartered. Seventeen past presidents were seated in the
audience and as their names were called,
they stood to say a few words, eloquently
combining reverence with humorous.
Past president Harold Eiserloh reminded his colleagues about the “old
days” when specifications were not well
organized and the means of reproducing
them included the ditto process, mimeograph stencils, multilith stencils, typewriters and later, copy machines.
“Before standardization,” he began,
“every architect used his own organization methods, if any, for the specifications and the drawings. If you weren’t a
contractor or subcontractor back then,
you can’t imagine the confusion. This
chapter of CSI was the brainchild of Guy
Van Maltsberger, the spec writer for
Phelps & Dewees & Simmons. He saw
the need for starting a chapter in San
Antonio, to try to get everyone to use the
same organization in their specifications.
He met with other construction professionals, who all joined CSI and applied for
a charter. I joined the next year.
“CSI’s membership of architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors,
materials suppliers, representatives and
manufacturers offered a meeting of all
construction disciplines, where each
member could talk to other disciplines
on an equal basis to work out solutions to
constructing problems. The early drafts
of the 16 Division Format were being developed, which caused members to get
excited about the future of specifications. However, the idea of standardization did not appeal to many architects,
who thought it would restrict their current freedom to write any way they
wanted. They certainly didn’t think contractors had any business telling them
how to write specifications! Contractors,
subs and suppliers jumped on the band-
Past presidents seated L-R: Harold Eiserloh (1966-67); Larry Hohlaus (1967-68);
Lloyd Jary (1969-70 and 1977-78); Dan Cerna (1970-71); Lee Garison (1974-75);
Harold Simon (1980-81). Standing L-R: Jim Heck (1981-82); John Koone (1983-84);
Davy Beicker (1984-85); Larry Hammer (1985-86); Roger Christensen (1987-88);
Chester Drash (1988-89); George Muyres (1991-92); Manny Ramos (1992-93);
Pam Scribner (1993-94); Andrew Goldsmith (1998-2000);and Tom Kita (1989-90 and 2002-04)
Manny Ramos delivered a soliloquy as he
recalled his term as CSI-SA president.
wagon right away, showing individual
architects how such organization would
help them prepare specifications for almost every project.”
Each past president shared Harold’s
belief that CSI’s seminars, programs and
discussions involving the voices and viewpoints from various construction disciplines have helped them workout solutions to common and difficult problems.
In absentia, Dick Kistner, Raba Kistner, delivered his traditional closing
thought through John Koone, RVK Architects, who said, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice!”
HR6 passes House;
awaits Senate approval
T
he nation’s homebuilders applauded House passage of H.R. 6, the
conference report for the Energy
Policy Act of 2003, noting that the legislation contains important tax incentives to
increase energy efficiency and conservation in the housing market.
“The housing provisions in H.R. 6
contain key home energy tax provisions
originally introduced by Rep. Jerry Weller
(R-Ill.), with some modifications, that
would provide powerful incentives for
millions of homeowners and renters to
save hundreds of dollars annually in utility costs and allow builders to invest in
market-and-technology-driven initiatives that would promote higher levels of
energy efficiency at more reasonable
costs,” said Jerry Howard, executive vice
president and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “We
encourage the Senate to follow suit and
act quickly to pass this landmark bill.”
The comprehensive measure would
provide a $1,000 tax credit to builders for
the construction of a new home that is at
least 30 percent more energy-efficient
than a home built under the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code. The tax
credit jumps to $2,000 for homes built at
least 50 percent above the 2000 IECC. The
legislation gives consumers a 20 percent
tax credit of up to $2,000 for qualified remodeling projects that improve energy
efficiency in existing homes.
The package also contains a $1.50
per square foot commercial property deduction for rental housing four stories
and higher that is at least 50 percent
more efficient than housing built under
the standards of the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
“H.R. 6 represents a major step forward in promoting energy conservation
in new and existing homes, reducing the
nation’s energy dependence and lowering energy costs for American consumers
for decades,” said Howard.
George Muyres displays program from the
1988 CSI Regional Conference. Graphic was
modeled after his wife’s abstract ceramic
design, which was used to represent the
intersecting professional disciplines that
crossover within the specifications process.
L-R: Manny Ramos, Southwest Concrete Products; John Koone, RVK Architects; Lee Garison,
charter member, retired; Architect Richard Garison (Lee’s son); George Muyres, GJM
Consulting; and Jim Heck, Fisher Heck Architects.
SACS
accepting
nominations
T
he San Antonio Conservation Society is accepting nominations
through Friday, January 9, 2004 for
its Historic Preservation Awards for the
Built Environment and the Lynn Ford
Craftsman Award.
Restoration and rehabilitation projects in the built environment (both residential and non-residential) will be recognized for outstanding achievement in
Heidi Davis
American Subcontractors
Association
Association
Pr
H
eidi Davis grew up as an Air Force
dependent. Born in Germany, she
also lived in the Philippine Islands for
five years. In 1980, her family was
transferred to Biloxi, MS, where they
remained. After graduating from high
school in 1984, she immediately entered the work force in clerical and administrative positions.
“It was during this time that I attended college in the evenings,” Heidi
explained, “graduating from Jefferson
Davis College with an associates degree in business. From 1989 through
1992, I worked for National Pizza Company, owners of Pizza Hut.”
Shortly after the birth of daughter
Jordan, Heidi and family moved to
San Antonio, where she secured a position as office manager with FIC Conferences.
“In 1994,” she continued, “I answered an ad in the newspaper for a
position with Nathan Alterman Electric Co. After interviewing with Don
Kuykendall, he mentioned that he
knew of another opening that would
better fit my qualifications. Needless to
say, Don was on the Board of Directors
of the American Subcontractors Association. The organization had just lost
its executive director, and the rest is history. At the time I had a limited knowledge of the construction industry, nor
did I know the difference between a
subcontractor and a general contractor.
historic preservation. A panel of jurors
consisting of out-of-town preservation
experts will review nominations.
Application forms and criteria are
available by contacting the Conservation
Society at 210-224-6163; fax 210-2246168. Email or visit our website: conserve
@saconservation.org /
w w w. s a co ns e r v a t i o n . o r g / e ve nt s /
buildingawards.htm
Completed nomination forms must
be physically submitted to the Society
headquarters at 107 King William Street,
Mondays through Fridays between the
hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 9,
2004. Award winners will be honored at a
Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, March 30, 2004. The event is open to
the public.
Farewell, Arlon!You’ll be missed!
file
I just knew that buildings were being
built, but had never considered who
built them or how it was done.”
Heidi survived the initial learning
curve and has successfully embraced the
responsibilities inherent in her leadership role. As a one-person office, she relies on her organizational skills for event
planning, coordinating communication
with members, handling accounting
tasks, and learning the political ropes of
the subcontracting industry.
“My biggest challenge is just keeping up with it all, and sometimes it just
doesn’t seem like there’s enough time in
a day,” Heidi remarked. “My husband
Wilbur and I welcomed our daughter
Alexis into the world during the summer of 2003, and her arrival has added
another dimension to the challenges I
face. I have to rely on the self-motivating aspects of my personality to get the
job done. As a true perfectionist, when
an event is over and I hear ‘Great job,
Heidi,’ I know that all of the planning
was well worth every minute of my time.
Although ASA is smaller than some of
the other construction industry associations, my competitive spirit leads me to
plan and stage events that are as equally
successful as theirs, if not better!”
Married to a supplier in the industry, Heidi has two beautiful daughters,
and two beautiful stepdaughters.
“Our quiver is definitely full and we
are very blessed!”
Profile is a column in which San Antonio Construction News will highlight a
staff member of a local construction association every other month.
L-R: Arlon Bruemmer, Duane Pozza, and Randy Pawelek
A
country western band struck up
background tunes as friends, family and construction associates
gathered to welcome the guest of honor,
Arlon Bruemmer, Bartlett Cocke, LP, at
Aggie Park, on Thurs. Nov. 13th. In celebration of his retirement at the tender
age of 58, the general contracting firm,
with which Arlon has been allied for over
20 years, produced an evening event that
included formal farewells, food and refreshments, music and dancing.
San Antonio Construction News sought
out construction industry friends and coworkers who shared their impressions of
the man-of-the-hour, physics professor
turned estimator, Arlon Bruemmer.
“First of all, Arlon is a very articulate, focused, dedicated and hard-working man in all
aspects of his life, including his family, at work, or in the community. Arlon and his
wife Carol raised a brilliant daughter, Stacy Hoffmann, P.E., who works at our firm. He
is a fine, south Texas man.”
Dick Kistner, P.E., Raba-Kistner Consultants
“When Arlon is working on an estimate, he’ll spend all of his time getting to the last
nickle – and it’s got to balance! To Arlon, it’s unacceptable if the figures don’t balance!“
John Merritt, IT manager, Bartlett Cocke, LP
“Arlon is the most dedicated individual I’ve ever known at any company. He was a
company man from six in the morning to midnight at times, if that’s what it took to get
the job done. He was a steady, calming force in the office, and if you had a problem,
you could always discuss it with Arlon, knowing you’d get a true, honest opinion.“
Darrell White, senior project manager, Bartlett Cocke, LP
“There’s no one quite like Arlon Bruemmer, a man who works well under pressure and
a good person to be around! Arlon, we’re all gonna miss you, big boy, and we wish you
many, many years of retirement...enjoy every dang minute of it!“
Earl Noble, project superintendent, Bartlett Cocke, LP
“Arlon has been a big part of the foundation of this company, its growth and success.
When we put a plan together to help buy the company from Bartlett Cocke, Arlon
played a big part. His loyalty, dedication and commitment has been unmatched by any
other employee in the whole company.“
Duane Pozza, president, Bartlett Cocke, LP
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“Well, we go back a long way, and the thing I can’t understand is this: Arlon looks so
young, has that youthful smile...how can he possibly retire? I’m an old man and I can’t
swing this deal called retirement. Arlon, we love you man! You’re a good friend, a true
gentleman, a great construction person, and we’re really going to miss you!“
Ace Tinch, principal, HCDT
“Arlon is a very detailed person who thinks through everything he’s going to say or
mathematical equations he’s going to write down.“
Randy Pawelek, vice president, Bartlett Cocke, LP
“Other than his sister, I’ve probably known Arlon as long as anyone in here. Arlon, I
know you’re looking forward to all of the those projects you’ve been putting off for
years. I’ll tell you what –between taking care of other people, including grandchildren,
your wife’s honey-do list, and running errands for people who don’t think you have
anything else to do because you’re retired - you still won’t! I know your mom and dad
would be very proud of you tonight, if they were still with us, and so am I.“
Nelson Jonas, retired, Bartlett Cocke, LP
“There is no one I admire and respect more in this industry than Arlon, whose integrity, intelligence and work ethic is unmatched. A quiet, selfless man who never started
a sentence with the pronoun ‘I,’ he was the consummate team player and a stabilizing
factor as this company grew. His background in mathematics enabled him to tackle
difficult problems methodically. Whether it was preparing a budget estimate from a
napkin drawing, or debugging estimating software, Arlon was able to analyze and
break down difficult problems into smaller more manageable pieces. It is my opinion
that Arlon’s biggest contribution to this organization is that of teacher. He always
went out of his way to help develop younger talent. Those of us who benefited from
his guidance and insights will miss him greatly. He will continue to be a role model
and an inspiration for all of us at Bartlett Cocke.”
Glen McGovern, senior estimator, Bartlett Cocke, LP
Ribbon-cutting heralds
successful start
Private tour defines
CCRI’s complexities
T
Surrounded by First Community Bank staff members and the North San Antonio Chamber
Ambassadors are (center L-R): Duane Wilson, President of the North San Antonio
Chamber of Commerce; Jose Menendez, State Representative, District 124;
Ed Lette, Executive VP, Bill Dimick, Sr VP, and Nancy Kinder, Sr. VP, First Community Bank.
O
fficers and staff of the First Community Bank invited state dignitaries, officials from the North San
Antonio Chamber of Commerce, customers and shareholders to a special event at
10 am on Wed., Nov. 12th. Located in the
fashionable Pacific Plaza Building on
Hwy. 281 North, the new bank hosted a
ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark its
growing success.
with executive vice president Ed Lette,
who said he was delighted to show off
the bank’s unique interior and Internet
café lobby.
“We have raised $5.5 million in capital for the new bank, and in the first quarter of next year we will become a separate charter within the holding company.
We’re happy to be on course as planned!
In fact, we hope to open our next location in about three to four months,” he
remarked.
A healthy crowd of visitors and supporters enjoyed cappuccino, latte, or coffee served with coffeecake.
Knowledge is
powerget in the game!
he newest addition to the University of Texas Health Science Center’s
North Campus, the $42 million
Children’s Cancer Research Institute
(CCRI), was designed by Garza/
Bomberger & Associates, with design
input from MBBJ, and constructed by
Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, LP.
On Wed., Nov. 12th, the two firms hosted
a private reception and tour of the recently completed facility, well in advance
of its occupancy.
Guests included physicians, scientists,
academics, city and university leaders,
construction and architectural team leaders. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres preceded the inspired introductory remarks
by project architect David Torres, AIA,
Duane Pozza, president of Bartlett Cocke,
and Dr. Sharon Murphy, Children’s Cancer Research Institute. Afterwards, guests
were escorted through the remarkable,
state-of-the-art premises by construction
and architecture team members.
Overlooking a park-like surrounding
and featuring a cut limestone exterior, the
100,000-sf, four-level building was constructed under the design/build project
delivery method over a 26-month period.
with project manager Jerry Hoog, who
offered more details about the Level II
facility. Project superintendent Earl Noble was unable to attend.
“The subterranean level, referred to
as Level 1, houses the Vivarium, a climate,
sound and vibration controlled animal
holdings facility,” Jerry explained. “That
is where the preponderance of cancer
research experiments will be conducted
(on mice). Level 2 is devoted to administration activities, lobby space, a hightech auditorium and conference rooms.
Levels 3 and 4 house the laboratories,
private offices for the research scientists,
and laboratory administrative offices. A
Architects David Torres, AIA and Vaughn
Bomberger, AIA stand before the Vivarium’s
air shower, which utilizes oxygen jets
to sanitize occupants
separate central energy plant serves this
building and future buildings on this
campus. At full capacity, about 200 professionals will work here.”
The security sensitive CCRI is organized around four major programs and
shared core facilities. The efforts of the
CCRI will focus on tumor virology, cancer
epidemiology, molecular oncogenesis
and experimental cancer.
“The building’s open design and use
of attractive and enduring finishes is, in
part, a tool to help draw top scientists
from around the world,” Jerry continued.
“Just as professional athletes are lured to
cities that have the best performing facilities, that analogy would compare in
this case. Scientists want to work in stateof-the-art facilities and this building is at
the core of the recruitment process.”
The most noticeable design element
transcends all four levels. A central stainless steel stairwell that boasts industrial,
modern and futuristic aesthetic appeal
dominates the building’s open core. Spacious, high-tech windows make best use
of natural illumination, a design aspect
that is favored by scientific minds.
O
n Wed., Dec. 10th, Bexar County
and the City of San Antonio
present the 3rd Annual Small,
Minority and Women Business Owners Conference. Titled How to Get In
the Game and Stay In the Game, the allday conference held at the Henry B.
Gonzalez Convention Center, is free to
registered attendees.
Conference speakers include Ms.
A. Jo Baylor, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
Mr. T.J. Garcia, U.S. Department of
Commerce; Ms. Tracey Pinson, U.S.
Army; Mr. Kevin Boshears, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Mr. Scott
Dennison, U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs; and Mr. Joseph Bryan, U.S.
Department of Justice.
Mr. Gene Tabor, GM Purchasing,
Toyota Motor Mfg., NA is the keynote
luncheon speaker, with remarks by
Mayor Ed Garza and County Judge
Nelson W. Wolff. Due to limited seating
for the luncheon, registration is required no later that Dec. 5th.
Working lunch workshop topics
include: How to do business with public
and private sectors; Access to Capital, Financing, Bonding and Insurance; How to
start, manage, expand, save a business;
and How to prepare and submit a bid
package.
The Exhibit Hall, open in the morning and afternoon, will feature: Dell
Technology / Procurement Center
(finding bids online); Construction
Row (ticket to ride); Green Alley (financial and technical assistance); SMWBE /
HUB / DBE / SBA 8(a) Certification Row;
and Alamo Workforce Development
Employee Locator Center.
You can register online at
www.sanantonio.gov/edd or
www.bexar.org.
Questions or comments? Contact
by email [email protected] or
[email protected] or call 210-2073900 or 210-335-2478.
Architect Frank Dunckel, AIA.
Tourists receive detailed laboratory briefing from David Torres.
Page 10 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– San Antonio Construction News • Dec 2003
Spotlight
George A. Cooper
Cooper Equipment Co.
Editor’s note: George Cooper, president of Cooper Equipment Company, is a third-generation
construction equipment man. We met for this
interview at his company’s north San Antonio
location, where I photographed him standing
next to a 1917 Galion road grader. His father,
who retired from the business 17 years ago,
founded the company in 1959.
SACN: George, are you a native of San Antonio?
GAC: I was born in Victoria, TX and moved
here with my parents, Robert L. and Ann
Cooper, when I was one and a half years
old. At the time, my father, who had an
engineering degree from Texas A&M, sold
Caterpillar construction equipment for
Holt. His father, George A. Cooper, for
whom I was named, worked with and was
part owner of TAMPO Mfg., which manufactured pneumatic rollers. Granddad was
instrumental in helping my father make
contact with Holt, through his friendship
with then president Howard Murphy.
SACN: Do you have siblings?
GAC: Yes, I have two younger brothers,
Gary and John.
SACN: Where did you go to high school?
GAC: I went to Holmes High School, Class
of 1970.
SACN: Were you in the band or athletics?
GAC: Yes, both! I played cornet in the
band, then, decided to play football because I love the sport and they seemed to
be getting more attention from the ladies.
SACN: And what position did you play?
GAC: I played fullback on the third, second
or first-string, depending on the knee conditions of the other fullbacks. Fortunately, I
never got hurt playing, and I enjoyed it!
SACN: Did you get the girl?
GAC: No, nothing serious. Seems like
something would always happen, such as,
they would move out-of-state.
SACN: Did you go to college?
GAC: Yes, I majored in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M, Class of 1974. I
wanted to be a design engineer, and there
were a lot of opportunities in those days.
SACN: Were you in the Corp?
GAC: In fairness to the Corp, the answer is
no. But I did have a taste of the Corp during
the summer before my freshman year. As a
high school graduation gift, I spent the
summer on the Texas Clipper, which was a
diesel-powered passenger/cargo ship operated by the maritime academy branch of
Texas A&M. I took two academic courses
and saw Europe, which was our destination. It was run within the same strict dictates as the Corp. We literally had to work
our way across the Atlantic, and the time
spent on chores, the academics, and other
shipboard activities, left very little time for
sleep. I was still growing, and needed
more than four or five hours of sleep a day,
which was standard.
SACN: Did you experience any storms at
sea?
GAC: We navigated through a full gale
while crossing the Atlantic, with 60-mph
winds and 20-ft. swells. They’d still have
class, and the ship would be rolling so
much that the desks would slide up against
the bulkhead, and the professor would just
keep on talking. Everyone was seasick, the
Dramamine was gone, but I realized a lot of
it was psychological and had felt it before,
so I fared better than others.
SACN: In addition to your difficult academic courses at A&M, did you take time
to have a little fun?
GAC: No, it was all work and study! I’m
kidding, but in reality, there were very
few women on campus, other than professor’s daughters. The ratio was about
12 to 1 as I recall.
SACN: As an engineering major, did you
help build a few of the traditional bonfires?
GAC: Yes, our “non-reg” dorm was very
active! We’d get up at 5 am and help cut
trees and do whatever we could. It was a
great experience, and I hope some day
the bonfire can be reinstated.
SACN: What was your first post-college
job?
GAC: I took a job at Wadley Hospital, in
Texarkana, as an asst. director of engineering. I got a little homesick and wanted to be
more involved with actual engineering, so I
made a decision to come back to San Antonio. I really wanted to go to work for Southwest Research Institute. As it turned out,
they were willing to hire me but there
weren’t any true design jobs at that point in
time. My dad offered me a job at his company, Cooper Equipment, as a salesman,
until I could find a real engineering job.
SACN: I suppose the rest is history?
GAC: Well, I started selling some equipment and I liked working with road and
highway customers. They are down to
earth and straightforward people. It’s a
special feeling you get when you know
you have a product that is going to help
them succeed in their endeavors.
SACN: Are you married, George, and if so,
how did you meet your wife?
GAC: Yes, I met Jerri Lynn Estes in Ohio. My
best Aggie friend at the time, David Gent,
dated a Texas gal who was an Air Force
nurse. I was best man at his wedding in
Ohio, and Jerri was the bride’s sister. She
ended up moving to Austin to work for
Texas Instruments. We dated, fell in love,
became engaged, and were married on
May 30, 1981. She likes to brag that she
married the “best man”.
SACN: What impressed you most about
your bride?
GAC: Well, she had a great sense of humor,
was forthright, and pretty. She has a lot of
opposite characteristics; whereas I’m a
typical engineer introvert, she’s an extrovert. I’m not usually very talkative; in fact,
this interview is a little hard for me. Jerri
has a strong intuition, wonderful social
skills, and has an outgoing personality.
SACN: Do you and Jerri have children?
GAC: We are delighted to have four chil-
dren. Our eldest daughter Mary Ann, just
graduated from boot camp at the Great
Lakes Naval Station, and she’s going to
be a Seabee, which is the construction
division of the U.S. Navy. Our daughter
Megan Christine, who loves horses,
works and lives at the Russell Equestrian
Center, where she teaches. Daughter
Mallory, a junior at Reagan High School,
is an athletic trainer and a great student.
She is a model daughter active in social
and church work, all A’s (recently), strong
principles and pretty, too. Actually, all
the girls are lookers. Our son Matthew
John is a sophomore at Reagan. He plays
football and wrestles. I always called him
‘Sport’, and it must have set in, because
he likes all sports. He’s not big, but he’s
strong, sharp, and does well in school.
He just finished his last football game
and played 4 positions in that game.
SACN: How many years have you worked
for Cooper Equipment?
GAC: On a full time basis since 1975. Part
time began about 10 years prior, usually
working in the shop.
SACN: Certainly, the advances in equipment produced by manufacturers must
keep the industry fresh, would you agree?
GAC: Yes, and you don’t have to go back
too far in time to the days when a mule
pulled a fresno to move dirt. There’s a tremendous history, especially in this country,
in the development of equipment to make
life more productive, effective, and effi cient for the contractors, the cities and
counties. It’s come a long way and it’s still
improving. But, there are differences with
today’s world, and trying to understand
them and make them useful, while being
an important player, is challenging. There
are a lot of players in the market and,
therefore, a lot of competition.
SACN: In your opinion, what have been
the significant turning points in the equipment business?
GAC: In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s hydraulics was coming on the market. They
were high-dollar, weren’t always well built
or reliable, and the understanding of pressures and flows was a little bit new for the
average mechanic who was used to fixing
machinery with wrenches, welding rods
and a torch. Hydraulics improved the productivity of the products, made engineers
happy because they could design things
easier with a pump and a motor, with lines
running anywhere they wanted.
SACN: As an engineering student, did you
have a full understanding of hydraulics?
GAC: Well, that was interesting. I took a
course on fluidics, which incorporated
pumps and motors, but there was no
manual as such. My dad, who was the industrial John Deere dealer at the time, donated the John Deere “Fundamentals of
Service” manuals to the class, which is
what we used to learn about hydraulics.
SACN: Later, when you were selling hydraulic equipment, how did the end-users
respond?
GAC: It was a new idea, and people tend
to resist changes. Gradually, products
came on the market that incorporated the
concept, and with each success, another
product would follow the course. That was
the case with vibratory rollers and compaction. Once it caught on, everyone got
on the bandwagon. Today, microprocessors are the “latest and greatest” in advancements.
SACN: Who are your customers today?
GAC: We are a specialized equipment
dealer in that we deal with road and highway contractors, paving and asphalt contractors, cities and counties.
SACN: What is the market like today?
GAC: It has been level for the last few years
but not dead. Historically, dealers do well
when there is growth in the market. If it
stays level, there’s less incentive for a contractor to buy new equipment. In a flat
economy, dealers are selling to replace old
equipment.
SACN: How did the equipment rental phenomenon affect your business?
GAC: It brought a lot of equipment into
the marketplace, so the need to buy from a
standard dealership diminished. To stay
viable, we improved our rental fleet and
we have our own hauling capability. One
difference is, we rent to sell as opposed to
just renting to rent.
SACN: What has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this business?
GAC: Knowing that I’ve been of some help
to another person. Sometimes it’s not the
sale of equipment, but giving them the
right advice and steering them in the right
direction.
SACN: Do you credit your company’s success and longevity to the employees who
work hard everyday?
GAC: Of course I do, and we take pride in
the members of our sales, rentals, parts
and service force. Our salesmen make sure
the customer is treated as they themselves
would want to be treated and that the
product is the right one for their operations. I learned a long time ago that any
“good” deal must be good for all parties,
including the manufacturer, dealer and
customer. That brings customers back to
us again. Of course, there is another important factor in that we are blessed with top
brand manufacturers. Having good people like Peggy Palmer (VP), Fred Jose (Support Mgr.), Ed Black and Rick Chapman
(Sales), as well as good products are what
make us a successful distributorship.
SACN: Cooper Equipment has had a great
history, but where do you see it going over
the next ten years?
GAC: We’ve chosen to go the path of the
specialty road equipment dealer, and that
was a decision I made back in 1985. We
plan to stay on the same track, focused on
being great at serving those who are also
focused in paving and road building.
SACN: When you’re not working, how do
you spend your leisure time?
GAC: Well, I started playing the electric
guitar about seven or eight years ago. I attended a friend’s wedding up in Pampa,
TX, and he gave me a guitar. They let me
play in the band at church functions now
and then, as long as I don’t sing very loud.
At home, I have a little room upstairs
where I practice. It’s an enjoyable way to
relax a little after a long day. I figure I
should be pretty good in about 10 years.
Are Health Care Costs and Business Expenses
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San Antonio Construction News • Dec 2003 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 11
Urgent Care provider
helps unclog ERs
E.M.S. Air, Inc. received
MED Week 2003 Award
T
hanks to his five-year tour of duty
with the United States Navy, native
San Antonian and Harlandale High
School graduate, Larry Maldonado received his first formal training in HVAC
service and repair. Upon his return home,
Larry secured employment with a local
HVAC company and continued his education at St. Philip’s College, earning his Associates Degree in Refrigeration Technology. With an eye on opening his own
business, Larry taught part-time at his
alma mater and began preparation for
the Texas HVAC State License Exam,
which he successfully passed in 1991.
In 1994, the determined entrepreneur converted a spare bedroom to an
office and launched Environmental
Management Services, gradually adding
employees and building up his commercial and residential client base. In his
fourth year in business, Larry acquired a
small existing company, expanded to a
4,500 sf office/warehouse, managed a
staff of five, and ran seven service vehicles. Recently re-named E.M.S. Air, Inc.,
the mechanical contracting company has
grown into a multi-million dollar competitor.
with the president/owner, who was
named Minority Construction Firm of
the Year. Nominated by the Minority
Business Development Center (MBDC),
the coveted award was presented to
E.M.S. Air in mid-October in conjunction
with the Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week 2003, a week-long
conference held in San Antonio, addressing strategies for growth in the American
and global economies. The criterion for
selecting the Minority Construction Firm
of the Year Award was based on volume,
quality of craftsmanship, safety record
and other qualifications.
D
A
L-R: Vice President Lazarus Maldonado,
and Larry and Louise Maldonado.
“I will always be the first to say being
a ‘so called’ minority in the U.S., especially Texas, is a blessing from God!” Larry
began. “There are so many people and
organizations available to help one succeed. Just ask, and then work hard to find
that success.”
Through his relationship with the
Minority Business Development Center,
Larry has procured assistance in developing marketing plans and contracts. In
2001, E.M.S. Air was selected as a certified
participant in the U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) program. A participant
in MBDC’s Entrepreneurial Leadership
Program, Larry has positioned his company to receive assistance in obtaining
SBA and federal funding. A mentor to
other emerging businesses, Larry also
works with students who are interested
in pursuing careers in the HVAC industry.
“Our great country’s success in being
a world leader in industry and freedom is
basically a reflection of our family values,” Larry recapped. “Those principles
have been the building blocks upon
which this company has grown. Receiving an honor like this is a tribute to the
hard work everyone at E.M.S. Air puts
forth every day.”
s construction industry employers
understand only too well, accidents happen and many of these
accidents occur at home rather than at
work. Most construction companies have
procedures in place for injuries that occur
on the job, but may be unaware that an
Urgent Care clinic like Texas MedClinic
treats strains, sprains, nicks, cuts, and
other injuries that may occur while not
on the job. Texas MedClinic, which has
six, soon to be seven, area locations
staffed with 36 physicians, is an Urgent
Care provider equipped to treat patients
for illnesses and injuries that are neither
life nor limb threatening. Urgent care
does not include preventative medicine
such as immunizations, physical examinations, or other wellness services.
with Director of Marketing Karen Walker
and Marketing / Contracting Coordinator
Jan Haynes, to find out more about the
beneficial alliances Texas MedClinic has
with insurance carriers, healthcare networks, and self-insured employers.
“Our contractual services are usually
listed in an insurer’s provider directory as
a clinic or under Urgent Care but we do
not provide primary care,” Karen explained. “Employees may not be aware
that we have a contract to meet their Urgent Care problems when they can’t get
in to see their primary care physician. In
the case of an insurance carrier, when we
are informed who their client is, we can
provide literature which they would in
turn distribute to their insured employees, explaining our breadth of services,
hours of operation, and clinic locations.
The decision of what is urgent care is
really up to the member patient. Depending on how the plan is structured,
members have the option to seek medi-
cal care through their primary care physician, an urgent care facility, or a hospital
emergency room.
“Variations on this theme are dependent upon their plan,” Jan added, “which
is determined by their employer, who
may or may not have an Urgent Care proviso designated in their benefits.”
In the case of an average construction-related company that participates in
drug screening, they may send their employees to Texas MedClinic for testing.
However, they may not know that other
Texas MedClinic services may be available to them through their personal
health benefits. To reduce the confusion,
Texas Med Clinic can provide easy-to-understand documentation, which employers may choose to include in their
monthly employee newsletters to better
define its spectrum of services.
Networks, insurance companies, and
self-insured employers with which Texas
MedClinic has contracts to provide Urgent Care to members include: Insurance
carriers : Aetna – all products; Affiliated
Healthcare – PPO; Employers Health –
PPO; Humana – PPO; Unicare – PPO; and
United Healthcare of Texas – PPO / HMO.
Networks: Accountable Health Plans of
America – PPO; Preferred Health Arrangement – PPO; Ethix Southwest – PPO;
HealthSmart Preferred Care – PPO; National Healthcare Alliance – PPO; San Antonio Employers Health Alliance – PPO;
Texas True Choice – PPO; and USC Health
Services – PPO. Self-Insured Employer:
American Field Service; Archdiocese of
San Antonio; Bates Container; Bexar
Metro Water District; CAREMARK; Diamondback Management Services; San
Antonio Aerospace; San Antonio Water
Systems; Trinity University; and USAA.
DEA Specialties Co. Open House
benefits needy families
EA Specialties Company employees recently
celebrated with clients and friends the relocation
to new and larger facilities with south Texas flair.
“In addition to everyone having a great time, we
were able to provide a lot of food and money to the
House of Neighborly Service (HNS) and the Food Bank,”
said DEA president Gary Simmons. “All who joined us
donated either non-perishable food or money for contribution to these helpful organizations. On behalf of
DEA Specialties and these benevolent organizations, we
would like to thank our guests for their generosity. We
YOU
are the news.
This is YOUR
newspaper.
it’s about
the people,
the companies,
your events,
your stories
your knowledge
and opinions . . .
Let us know
what’s going on.
(210) 308-5800
(210) 308-5960 fax
[email protected]
or contact us thru our website:
realize the needs of families in our community are great
and many of us are very much blessed. In this holiday
season, HNS needs your support. DEA would like to
challenge San Antonio Construction News readers to add
an HNS family to your Christmas list.”
If you want more information about the Christmas
Joy Giving Program, please call Diane Alberthal of DEA
at 210-523-1073, or Maria Elena Garza of HNS at 210434-2301.
“To all who attended, we thank you!”
L-R: Gary Simmons presents check and
truckload of food to Perry Deckard, HNS
Board of Directors’ President.
Engineering Consulting Services, Ltd.
“Setting the Standard for Service”
PROVIDING COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
• Construction Materials Testing
• Geotechnical & Soils Engineering
• Value Engineering
• Environmental Assessment & Remediation
• Property Condition Assessments
• UST Management Services
• NEPA Assessments
• Indoor Air Quality & Mold
On Time Every Time
12865 Wetmore Road
210-494-7100
210-494-7101 (fax)
Earl McIntosh, Vice President
Robert Burge P.E., Geotechnical/Construction
Materials Testing Manager
Interceramic’s Extravaganza
draws 100’s
O
n Wed., Nov. 5th, from
11 am to 9 pm, Interceramic Tile & Stone
Gallery welcomed contractors and customers to its 1st
Annual Customer Extravaganza. The lunchtime crowd
feasted upon sausage-on-astick and soft drinks as they
browsed the vendor exhibits
and took advantage of great
pricing deals.
A large tent erected in
the front parking lot shelL-R: Pete Soto, Interceramic, and FELKER rep Brad Jeter
tered an assortment of tile
flank the Tile Master XL tile-cutting saw.
industry vendors, including
representatives from HardiPlank; FELKER Industries; Porter Ca- sentative Pete Soto, who said the distrible; SOFT GRIP; GUNDLACH; COLOR- bution and manufacturing company exFAST Industries, Inc.; Schlüter-DITRA; pected about 400 visitors, including
Custom Building Products; EASY dealers, installers and end-users.
BOARD; Stone Tech; RUBI Tools USA,
An after-hours reception offered
Inc.; and National Tile Contractors As- guests a sampling of hors d’oeuvres and
sociation (NTCA).
adult beverages, and chances to win
San Antonio Construction News spoke door prizes.
with Interceramic’s architectural repre-
L-R: Darlene Arkell, independent sales rep.,
COLORFAST Industries, Inc., visits with Edith
Gonzalez and Monica Hernandez,
LaFragua, Monterrey, Mexico.
L-R: Chris Gonzalez and Michael Eickenroht,
VERSATILE; and territory manager John
Allsbury, Schlüter Systems.
SBS stakes claim in Schertz
F
alling on the heels
of its Jan. 2003 acquisition of a major
millwork operation in
San Antonio (WENCO),
Stock Building Supply
has made further advances into the market
with its recent move to
Schertz. As former occupant Instel Steel Distributors relocates to Kelly
USA, Stock is gradually
taking over its 90,000-sf
existing facility, located
on 16 acres of rail-served
property, in a three-phase move.
According to market manager and
20-year industry veteran Greg Maus,
who is spearheading the local lumber
distribution operations, he anticipates
shipping out his first lumber order to
customers in early December.
“If all goes according to plan,” Greg
began, “we’ll take full possession of all of
the yard area on Dec. 1st and begin shipping lumber. By late winter or early
spring, we’ll take over possession of half
of the warehouse space, and by late
spring or early summer, we should take
full possession of the offices and the rest
of the area. Later in 2004, we will start
activating our truss and wall panel manufacturing. Prior to this expansion, Stock
Building Supply has been serving the San
Antonio market from Austin.”
With two decades of experience in
the lumber industry, including multistore and regional management levels,
Greg is well acquainted with the volume
residential builders and custom homebuilders throughout this market. He said
Custom door and glass
biz emerges
MACHINE TOOLS & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES
106 West Rhapsody
San Antonio, Tx 78216
• Abrasives & Scotchbrite
• Cutting Tools
• Gloves
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• Electric & Pneumatic Tools
• Masking Tape
• Safety Eyewear
• Particle Masks
• Grinding & Cutoff Wheels
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL
545-6767
Fax 490-9353
www.saqualityfence.com
13115 Wetmore Road
HABLAMOS ESPANOL
(210) 342-9588 Fax (210) 340-5634
Toll Free (866) 342-9588
Call or Come by For Our Free Catalog
Serving Greater South Texas Since 1947
Wrought Iron & Masonry
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Wood Fencing
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See our ad on
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the North Carolina-based lumber distribution company, which has 16 locations
in Texas, is multifaceted.
“While our focus is residential, Stock
Building Supply also serves the light
commercial sector and multi-family construction. Our goal is to offer great value
and service to the pro customer; a place
where they can buy trusses, wall panels,
windows, doors, plywood and millwork,
under one roof. We want the people who
make purchasing decisions to think of us
as a one-stop-shop for the materials they
need.”
Though Stock Building Supply’s
start-up efforts are just beginning, Greg
foresees great opportunity in serving pro
customers in San Antonio, Bexar County
and surrounding counties.
“When our distribution and manufacturing operations are moving along at
their projected maximum pace, we anticipate a complement of 90-100 employees, including production, driving,
office, and yard personnel.”
T
wo friends and veterans of the residential
construction industry, who each bring complementary talents and
knowledge to their business, established Artistic
Door & Glass six months
ago. Partners, Albert J.
Janysek and Robert Osuna, leased commercial
space on E. Nakoma. After
customizing its interior to
suit their needs, and stocking an inventory of products, they opened their
showroom and office for
business in early August.
The company’s line of
specialty products includes
L-R: Albert Janysek and Robert Osuna
pre-finished front doors,
door and bath hardware, closet and property owners, from major additions
shelving organizers, and custom bev- to minor renovations. ”
Blending their respective talents, Aleled, stained and etched glass. In addition to walk-in retail customers, Artistic bert and Robert have enjoyed the sucDoor & Glass targets the professional cus- cess their initial business plan projected
tom homebuilder, remodeling contrac- since opening their doors. Robert credits
their success in part to the strong resitors, and interior decorating markets.
San Antonio Construction News spoke dential market, and to the depth of expewith Albert, a licensed home improve- rience he and Albert have brought into
ment contractor, who said he originally the partnership.
“As we look toward the future, we
learned his custom interior trim skills as a
hope to expand our territory,” Robert
boy under the tutelage of his father.
“While I handle the daily operations explained. “We want to be able to supply
and installations, Robert handles sales builders by shipping pre-finished doors
and marketing,” Albert explained. “We throughout central and south Texas, and
both have a lot of contacts within the the Valley. It’s been my observation that
new home construction and remodeling small companies keep being bought out
contractor markets from our years of ex- by bigger companies, and what’s lost in
perience before we formed the partner- the transfer of ownership is personal
ship. Our wood doors are sold pre-fin- service. Our goal is to return the personished and installed, and customers can al, human touch to every transaction.
choose from a variety of leaded glass While the bottom line is important, we
styles and treatments for their doors or believe personal customer service is the
window openings. We also offer whole- one factor that can make or break that
house remodeling services to residential bottom line.”
ARCHITECTURAL ACCESSIBILITY IN TEXAS
FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY LAWS & STANDARDS
Texana Quality
Used Equipment
Skid Steer Loaders
The Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS)
ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS
Texas Civil Statutes, Article 9102
ACCESSIBLE CURB RAMPS
TAS 4.7 Curb Ramps
2000 John Deere 250, New Tires 2070 Hours
$12,500
4-CASE 1845C
from $8,000
CASE 75XT, Great Machine, 1600 Hours
$18,500
CASE 85XT, Excellent Condition, 700 Hours
$19,950
CASE 90XT, 2700 Hours, Still in Warranty
$19,500
CASE 95XT, Very Nice, 3150 lb Operating Load
$20,995
Track Loader
A curb ramp or flush landing shall be provided wherever a pedestrian access route
crosses a curb, a sidewalk/street transition, mid-block crosswalks, medians and islands traversed by crosswalks, alleys, accessible parking aisles, passenger loading
zones, and locations where the public sidewalk ends and pedestrian travel continues
in a roadway.
1990 CASE 855D, Excellent, 1.5 Yard
TAS 4.7.2 Slope
1974 Cat 966C, Clean
The running slope of curb ramps cannot exceed 1:12 (8.33%) . It is important that
transitions to curb ramps be flush. Lips at the bottom of ramps, a common complaint,
impede the momentum needed to propel a wheelchair up-slope. Severe counter
slopes can do the same thing and cause footrest to scrape. Maximum slopes of adjoining gutters, road surface immediately adjacent to the curb ramp, or accessible
route must not exceed 1:20 (5%). Recommendation: While a 5% adjoining slope is
allowed for drainage, gutters, and roadway crowns, this slope should be minimized
wherever possible (a maximum 2% slope is preferred).
The cross-slope of a curb ramp
(2% maximum) must be minimized because it makes wheelchair travel difficult by distributing weight and required force to
one side and causing front casters
to veer.
The Figure below is a line drawing plan of a sidewalk corner with two perpendiculartype curb ramps. Both curb ramps are noted as incorrectly oriented since they are not
perpendicular to the curbs they cut through but are skewed to be parallel---that is, in
line with the crosswalks. Thus
each curb ramp has one long and
one short side and the top and
bottom edges are not parallel to
each other. The difficulties of using ramps such as these are demonstrated by 2 pedestrians using
wheelchairs. If the curb ramp is
entered so that both casters start
up the ramp at the same time, it
will be necessary to make a turn
on the ramp while ascending,
which is difficult. If one caster
enters before the other, then the
wheelchair will be unstable with
one caster off the ground.
TAS 4.7.8 Obstructions
It is important that parked cars, lampposts, utility poles, and other elements placed
along sidewalks not obstruct connecting accessible routes.
Space is needed at the top and bottom of ramps so that people using wheelchairs can
align with the running slope and
maneuver from ramps, including
when making turns (which is difficult on sloped surfaces). At
curb ramps, a landing provides
the necessary connection to an
accessible route. A landing with
a minimum length of 48 inches
will provide sufficient turning
space. Where space at the top is
less than 48 inches, side flares
must have a maximum slope of
1:12 (8.33%) instead of the 1:10
(10%) at the curb face.
Alternative designs can provide
sufficient landings at ramps
where space is limited, including
at street intersections. Perpendicular ramps that are offset
from an intersection can provide
level landings at the top and
bottom of ramps.
Robert Buck, AIA, has provided architectural accessibility plan reviews/inspections for over
4075 projects in 18 states. He is a Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation Registered
Accessibility Specialist (RAS); consultant to the U. S. Department of Justice-Housing and
Civil Enforcement Section; and Fair Housing consultant for the City of Austin. 13438 Bandera Road, #104, Helotes, TX 78023 (210-695-5326).
$33,500
Wheel Loaders
Make Offer $25,500
Trenchers
2000 CASE TF300B, 250 Hours
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Excavator
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1989 JD 595, Rubber-Tired
$13,500
$8,900
Make Offer $11,500
Make Offer $11,500
We sell, trade, deliver, finance and negotiate.
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OSHA
Do you have the Edge on your Competitors?
Electric Tool Safety
By James H. Joyner, CSP, OHST
By Joann Nataranjan
W
orkers’ Compensation Insurance costs are a major factor when you bid on new
construction jobs. If your company has a credit Experience Modifier, you will
definitely have an edge on your competitors. You have an advantage when you bid on
new construction jobs if they have a debit Experience Modifier or are paying the
manual premium for their Workers’ Compensation Insurance.
An average Experience Modifier is expressed as 1.00 and that simply means a company
has average losses and will pay 100% of their manual Workers’ Compensation Insurance premium. A higher than average Experience Modifier would be a number
greater than 1.00. A company that has an Experience Modifier of .73 will pay only 73%
of their manual premium. This effectively gives the company a 27% discount, and reflects the company’s lower than average losses, claims, and injuries.
An example: ABC, DEF, and GHI are bidding on building a 100,000 sf warehouse.
Experience
Discount (D)/
Modified
Company
Modifier
Surcharge (S)
Premium
ABC
.73
$16,769 D
$45,337
DEF
1.00
None
$62,106
GHI
1.43
$26,706S
$88,812
The above chart shows how the Experience Modifier has a significant impact on what
each company pays for Workers’ Compensation Insurance. In this example, the difference between ABC Company’s low Experience Modifier and the GHI Company’s high
Experience Modifier is more than $43,000. The difference between the low Experience Modifier rate of ABC Company and the manual Experience Modifier rate of DEF
Company is more than $16,500. Controlling the Experience Modifier is essential to reducing and controlling insurance premiums.
What can a company do to get and maintain a credit Experience Modifier?
(1) Top management of both companies need to admit they have an employee accident injury and illness problem.
(2) Management, supervisors, and employees can make a commitment to maintain
a safe work operation.
(3) The companies’ management can initiate and implement an effective safety program that complies with federal, state, and local safety rules and regulation.
(4) The companies can engage a medical clinic that will cooperate with the employer
to effectively treat injured employees, get the injured into a “return to work” program
and communicate to the employer the work capabilities of the injured employer
rather than the insurance carrier.
(5) The companies can set a monetary limit that they will pay for initial injuries and
illnesses rather than send all claims to the insurance carrier. Frequency and severity of
employee accident injuries affect the Experience Modifier.
(6) The companies can initiate and implement an effective hiring program. Include a
criminal and accident history background of an applicant.
(7) The companies can have an effective safety and health education and training
program for all employees. This should include tool box meetings and safety meetings for employees and subcontractor’s employees.
(8) Initiate and implement an effective subcontractor’s safety program. The program
should include and effective subcontractor’s agreement that includes, but is not limited to, a description of the work to be performed, a copy of their Workers’ Compensation Policy (or have them sign a TWCC-83, 84, or 85 that names them as a subcontractor and not an employee of the general contractor), and appropriate clauses i.e. hold
harmless etc.
(9) Accident investigation and future prevention.
E
mployees using electric tools must be aware of several dangers; the most serious is the possibility of
electrocution.
Among the chief hazards of electric-powered tools
are burns and slight shocks which can lead to injuries
or even heart failure. Under certain conditions, even
a small amount of current can result in fibrillation of the heart and eventual death.
A shock also can cause the user to fall off a ladder or other elevated work surface.
To protect the user from shock, tools
must either have a three-wire cord with
ground and be grounded, be double
insulated, or be powered by a lowvoltage isolation transformer. Three-wire
cords contain two current-carrying
conductors and a grounding conductor.
One end of the grounding conductor
connects to the tool’s metal housing. The
other end is grounded through a prong
on the plug. Anytime an adapter is used
to accommodate a two-hole receptacle,
the adapter wire must be attached to a
known ground. The third prong should
never be removed from the plug.
Double insulation is more convenient.
The user and the tools are protected in
two ways: by normal insulation on the
wires inside, and by a housing that cannot
conduct electricity to the operator in the
event of a malfunction.
These general practices should be
followed when using electric tools:
• Electric tools should be operated
within their design limitations.
• Gloves and safety footwear are
recommended during use of electric
tools.
• When not in use, tools should be
stored in a dry place.
• Electric tools should not be used in
damp or wet locations.
• Work areas should be well lighted.
Pneumatic tools are powered by
compressed air and include chippers,
drills, hammers, and sanders.
There are several dangers encountered
in the use of pneumatic tools. The main
one is the danger of getting hit by one of
the tool’s attachments or by some kind of
fastener the worker is using with the tool.
Eye protection is required and face
protection
is
recommended
for
employees working with pneumatic
tools.
Noise is another hazard. Working
with noisy tools such as jackhammers
requires proper, effective use of hearing
protection.
When using pneumatic tools, employees
must check to see that they are fastened
securely to the hose to prevent them
from becoming disconnected. A
short wire or positive locking device
attaching the air hose to the tool
will serve as an added safeguard.
A safety clip or retainer must be installed
to prevent attachments, such as chisels
on a chipping hammer, from being
unintentionally shot from the barrel.
Screens must be set up to protect nearby
workers from being struck by flying
fragments around chippers, riveting
guns, staplers, or air drills.
Compressed air guns should never be
pointed toward anyone. Users should
never “dead-end” it against themselves or
anyone else.
Companies should realize that it may take a few years to earn a credit Experience
Modifier. They will need to audit their safety program often, recognize an accident
trends, and correct them.
An effective safety program will not only save lives, prevent injuries, reduce loss of
production, but lower the total cost of your insurance.
James H. Joyner is the President of Joyco Safety, Inc.
Joyco Safety, Inc. is the exclusive safety & environmental consultant for
Insurance and Bonds, Inc. Insurance Agency.
QUINNEY
ELECTRIC,
INC.
“THERE
IN A
FLASH”
P.O. BOX 241075
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78224-1075
––––––––––––––––––––––
210-624-2881
FAX: 210-624-2298
OFFICE:
Second Vice President Lucille Scott and Vice President Robert Dawson of
Neighborhoods First Alliance, an East Side neighborhood organization, together with
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff point to the environmental controls that
City Public Service (CPS) will install at J.T. Deely Power Plant. CPS officials and
U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez jointly made the announcement at a press conference held
Nov. 3rd. Acting on its own volition, CPS will invest an additional $150 million to make
existing coal plants some of the best environmentally-controlled units in the entire
nation. The scrubbers will be operational by 2013 and will remove 90 percent
of sulfur dioxide from plant emissions. CPS already uses this technology at the
J.K. Spruce Plant, built in 1992. CPS had previously committed $166 million to
significantly reduce nitrogen oxides and particulate matter
at existing coal plants through environmental upgrades scheduled through 2009.
ACCOUNTING
The Truly Fun Rules of Travel
& Entertainment Expenses
By Nancy L. Vaughan, MBA, CPA
R
ules are a fact of life and I can charge a lot of money
just for knowing and interpreting rules about all sorts
of tax and financial issues. Without rules, I would be
pretty broke (since my career as a concert pianist has not
materialized). I am often asked if a particular travel or entertainment expense is going to be deductible for tax
purposes. Well, here are the basic rules.
Travel expenses (lodging and meals)
are generally deductible if they are ordinary and necessary, not lavish or extravagant (a decidedly gray area). In addition,
they must be substantiated to determine
how the expenses are deducted. There
are three ways to reimburse an employee
for travel and meals:
*Reimburse the employee for actual
travel and meal expenses.
*Pay the employee a per diem (daily)
rate.
*Pay the employee a predetermined
allowance.
The tax treatment of each reimbursement plan depends on whether the arrangement is an accountable or non-accountable plan. Expenses paid under an
accountable plan are deductible by the
employer (except that only 50 percent of
reimbursements for meal and entertainment expenses are deductible), and not
included in the employee’s taxable compensation.
All of the following criteria must be
met to qualify as an accountable plan:
*Expenses must be incurred in the
performance of services as an employee.
*Elements of time, place and business purpose of reimbursed expense
must be substantiated by receipt and/or
travel log.
*Any unused portion of an allowance
must be returned.
An allowance for travel and entertainment expenses paid to an employee
who is not required to substantiate expenses incurred will be considered a
non-accountable plan. Payments under
a non-accountable plan are fully deductible to the employer as additional compensation to the employee. The employee is allowed to deduct actual expenses incurred as miscellaneous itemized deductions on their individual return
(subject to a 2 percent adjusted gross income limitation).
This may sound like a preferable
method at first. However, the increased
cost of payroll tax and other related compensation expenses may offset any tax
savings from the increased deductions.
In addition, employees who cannot itemize deductions on their individual return
will not be able to deduct the actual expenses incurred.
The per diem method of reimbursement for travel and meal expenses offers
a very attractive alternative to the
accountable/non-accountable methods.
When a per diem allowance is used, the
record-keeping requirement as to the
amount of the expenditure can be alleviated for lodging, meals and incidental
expenses.
The per diem method satisfies the
requirements of an accountable plan if
reasonably calculated not to exceed actual anticipated expenses and is paid at
or below the applicable federal rate for
the locality of travel. The federal per
diem rates are updated annually and can
be accessed on the Internet at
www.policyworks.gov/perdiem
or
www.irs.gov. Note that the 50 percent
disallowance rule for meals and entertainment applies to the meals and incidentals portion of a per diem reimbursement as well. If a per diem is paid that includes lodging as well as meals, 40 percent of the reimbursement is deemed
subject to the 50 percent meals and entertainment limitation.
For example, if an employer reimburses an employee $100 per day for
lodging, meals and incidentals, $40
would be considered reimbursed for
meals and incidentals. The $40 reimbursement would be subject to the 50
percent deductible limitation for meals,
and the remaining $60 for lodging would
be fully deductible.
Remember, I said these are the basic
rules and there are many more rules pertaining to travel and entertainment expenses that I could share with you but
you will have to call me to get them. Now
that reminds me of another set of rules
about entertainment, but that is the stuff
of a future article!
Nancy L. Vaughan, MBA, CPA
is the Managing Shareholder,
Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, PC.
[email protected]
Ph: 210-658-6229
LEGAL
Getting a handle on
employee disability leaves
By Robert E. Bettac
“I need a leave of absence!” What employer hasn’t
heard this at one time or other? Interestingly, the first
and only complete personnel policy ever written by Congress was the Family & Medical Leave Act. The employee
gets up to 12 weeks’ leave a year for a “serious health
condition” provided he has worked for the company at
least 12 months, clocked 1,250 work hours during the
year, and has at least 49 other co-workers within a 75-mile radius.
But what if the employee doesn’t
meet these tests? Will you deny the leave
and fire the worker who is injured on the
job or needs to deliver a baby if they don’t
qualify for FMLA leave or have already
used up their FMLA leave for the year?
Probably not – the legal risks are too high.
This is why you need a policy to cover
such situations, even if the FMLA applies to
your people some of the time. This policy
should contain seven key elements.
1. Treat All Disabilities Alike. Apply the
same leave rules to all disabled employees, regardless of what caused the disability. Whether the employee has an onthe-job injury, a motorcycle accident, or a
baby on the way, he or she still can’t work.
A single set of rules prevents complaints
to the EEOC or a jury that someone else
who couldn’t work got a better deal.
2. Don’t Play Doctor. The supervisor
usually knows more about the employee’s job duties and working conditions
than the employee’s doctor, but this does
not make the supervisor the expert on
whether the employee is “really” disabled. Explain the job’s requirements,
but let the doctor define the employee’s
limits.
3. Require Periodic Medical Reports.
At the start, require the employee to furnish a doctor’s certificate stating how the
employee is disabled, the date it started,
and his prognosis for recovery. Mark your
calendar, and require follow-up documentation from time to time. After all, the
doctor’s initial prediction is not infallible.
You should also reserve the right to require an exam or functional capacity evaluation by the company doctor.
4. Don’t Replace 100 Percent of Income. The income-replacement benefits
provided during a disability leave from
workers’ compensation, group insurance,
paid sick leave, or a combination thereof
should be less than the wages the employee would have earned if actively at
work. Otherwise, there is no economic
incentive to return to work. Disability
benefit policies should be written to
avoid overlaps.
5. Define Fringe Benefits While on
Leave. Are vacation days earned while
on leave? What about pay for holidays?
Will the company fund the employee’s
health insurance during the leave? Your
policy should answer these questions. If
you stop providing health coverage,
don’t forget to send a COBRA notice.
(And note that special rules apply to
health coverage during an FMLA leave,
but we’re talking about your other disability leave policy.)
6. Cover The Reinstatement Rules.
Unless the FMLA applies, you are not required to guarantee a return to the same
job at the end of the leave – or to any job.
Simply say that the employee will be considered for any job vacancies for which he
is qualified. If the employee presents a
“light duty” release, remember that you
may have an obligation under the ADA to
put the employee in a position matching
his limitations if there is a vacancy.
7. Put a Cap on Leaves of Absence.
Contrary to popular belief, the law does
not forbid terminating a workers’ compensation claimant for being on leave
too long. The Texas Supreme Court has
said that the employer may place reasonable limits on the length of a workers’
compensation leave as part of its absence-control policy, so long as the limit
is uniformly applied to all leaves.
Like snowflakes, each disabilityleave request is a little different from the
last, and no policy can anticipate every
contingency. If your disability leave policy is well defined, however, you will avoid
much of the guesswork that makes disability leaves so difficult.
Robert E. Bettac is a Board Certified
Labor & Employment Law Specialist,
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart
[email protected].
Ph: 277-3622
PRO-LINE
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
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YOUR FULL SERVICE COMPANY!
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SAME DAY - NEXT DAY SERVICE
210.530.0062 • FAX 530.0064
MIKE & MARK CRAWFORD
P.O BOX 791324 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78279-1324
Masonry contractor
expands facility
DBR’s new digs spark
Open House event
A
festive décor welcomed friends,
clients and construction industry
associates to DBR Engineering
Consultants after-hours Open House on
Thurs., Nov. 20th. When their last lease
expired, the 14-man MEP firm moved to
spacious new 5,000 sf offices on Tesoro
Dr., occupying a top floor suite with panoramic views of the city skyline.
Ambassadors from the North San
Antonio Chamber of Commerce assisted
Principal Brian C. Ulrich, P.E. and other
staffers in a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony that launched the event. Fresh
flowers, decorations, tempting buffet
foods and award-winning margaritas
were provided courtesy of the city’s legendary La Fogata Restaurant. Dave Deering’s Mainstream Jazz duo provided live
music.
“We needed more space than we
had at our previous location,” said Brian
C. Ulrich, P.E. “In addition to MEP work,
we provide telecommunication, video
and security network design for commercial buildings. Now we have ample
space to continue our growth, and we’re
very happy to be here!”
S
L-R: David Day, P.E., DBR;
Brian Ulrich, P.E.; and Jim Jackson, UTSA,
NSACoC Ambassador.
L-R: George Vaughn, AIA, RVK Architects and
Duane Wilson, president/CEO, NSACoC.
uccess
ultimately
leads to growing
pains, and in the
case of Shadrock & Williams Masonry, Ltd., that
meant nothing less than
demolition and reconstruction of their Helotesbased
facility.
Now
housed in a cramped,
temporary mobile-mini,
the administrative staff
and management vacated the original offices as
demolition activities ensued in mid-September.
San Antonio Construction News spoke with second-generation company president DéAun
Shadrock, who said she’s looking forward to moving into more spacious environs when the project completes in
another three or four months.
“We took down everything except
the addition my father, Guy Williams
(project manager), built about 25 years
ago. That area doubles as a trophy room,
so we wanted to preserve it. The new,
two-story construction will include a
lobby and receptionist area, conference
room, a break room and restroom, and
four individual offices. The second story
includes a plan room, three offices and a
restroom.”
Two of the upstairs offices will remain vacant for the time being, although DéAun and husband Anton
Shadrock (vice president) are hopeful
their growing sons will one day occupy
them and carry on the tradition of the
masonry business.
“Our primary reason for undertak-
ing this expansion is our growth,” she
continued. “We have so much work going on and we needed more room, including a place to do business with clients who come over here for various
reasons. We have 59 employees in the
field and six office personnel.”
DéAun, Anton and Guy are joined in
the management and administration of
the company by office manager Frances
Garza, estimator William Koerner, and
administrative assistant Wendy Thiery.
In the midst of the construction process, DéAun said she enjoys watching
the daily progress.
“Of course, we’re going to have a
100 percent masonry exterior, which will
feature native limestone and brick accents. Our plan also includes state-ofthe-art wiring for high-speed Internet
and computer systems in each office. I’m
certainly looking forward to the end of
the mess, and each of us anticipate having more elbow room!”
L-R: Liz Preston, York Int’l Corp.; Brian Jenkins, DBR; Ian Vohwinkle, DBR;
and Ayman Ashkar, P.E.
5th Annual IBI players
brave elements
W
ith a taste of what south Texans
call winter, 108 hard core players braved 47-degree temperatures and chilling drizzle at River Crossing
Golf Club for the Insurance and Bonds,
Inc. 5th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament, on Fri., Nov. 7th. Foul conditions
contributed to a lighter than expected
turnout, but the guys and gals who stuck
it out had an improved chance of walking
away with a bevy of prizes.
“We invited clients and prospects,
CPA’s, bankers, and other trusted advisors from inter-related industries,” said
tournament host Bryan Moore, IBI.
“The course was in great shape and we
handed out 40 great gift certificates in
raffle prizes. We host this event to express our gratitude to clients and business associates! As a fundraiser for Construct a Kid’s Christmas, we asked teams
to pay $20 for an opportunity to tee off
from the 200 yard mark on a par 5 hole.
We raised $480!”
As players warmed up over a delicious buffet dinner, winners were announced and awards presented.
1st Place: Randy Amescua, Robbie
Woman Power! Cathy Starnes delivered
the Longest Drive.
Amescua, and Russell Amescua, Triple
R Electric; and Gary Wheatley, IBI.
2nd Place: John Asel, Fisher, Herbst &
Kemble; Dan Nelson and Mike
Wood, Merrill Lynch.
3rd Place: Tom LaPlante, IBI; Gary
Simmons, DEA Specialties; and Dan
O’Conner and Ken Grieco.
Longest Drive: Cathy Starnes, Pacificare.
Closest-to-the-Pin: Gary Simmons, DEA
Specialties.
Bryan Moore congratulates 1st place teammates Gary Wheatley and Randy Amescua.
L
ast month we reported that the
deer season was looking like one of
the finest in years, and that the quail
season may be the best on record. It’s all
coming to pass. Most hunters are telling
tales that would sound like whiskey talk
most years. This year, it’s like the old cowboy line – “No brag; jest fact.” Big deer
are being reported everywhere. A Bexar
County game warden even had to remove a live deer from inside a major
shopping mall.
One of the barometers of deer season in South Texas is the Los Cazadores
Deer Contest in Cotulla, run by former La
Salle County Sheriff, Darwin Avant. Cazadores means hunters. Avant operates his
contest out of the Country Store on the
I-35 access. You can’t miss it; it’s the
place with all the big pickups in the parking lot. One of the pleasures of deer season is seeing what’s being brought to ice.
In Cotulla, it’s not so much deer being
brought to ice as it is their being brought
to tape. The parking lot alongside the
Country Store starts filling up around
noon on Saturdays, and it’s not just from
hunters there to eat lunch, although this
has become a popular trough and watering hole. Some come to get their deer
entered, some come just to gawk. Many
of the best bucks in Texas pass through
this parking lot. Avant has measured
around 6000 sets of antlers since starting
Big bucks being brought in
Big Bucks are already falling in South Texas although the rut doesn’t
usually hit full swing until mid-December.
the contest in 1986. Even if the scoring is
over for the day, people flock to see the
leader board inside the store, which,
along with its restaurant, is open from 6
a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Any
buck scoring over 160 Boone & Crockett
points wins a green jacket, one of Texas
hunting’s proudest ego-trappings. Most
hunters would rather have a Los Caza-
dores green jacket than that one they
give Tiger Woods every year or so in Augusta. The top deer in each category also
win other prizes, like trophy belt buckles
and sculpture. The awards presentation
in April draws people who didn’t even
enter just to see the mounted heads and
cheer their friends. The public can see
contest rules (contest must be entered
before hunting!) and the leader board
standings at Avant’s website: www.
darwinavant.com.
After the first two weekends of the
season, James Schroeder leads the lowfenced division with a Uvalde County
buck scoring 206-6/8. Houston Munson
is second with a La Salle County buck
that taped 197, and may be the most
handsome buck I’ve ever seen. It came
off the Maltsberger Ranch, and had 44
inches of mass – that means thick, heavy
antlers. The heaviest-bodied deer so far
has been taken by Rene Barrientos. It
weighed in at 207 pounds and scored
193-5/8 B&C. Coincidentally, this big
buck and Munson’s monster came from
the same general area. Widest outside
spread was on a deer measuring 27-1/8,
shot by Don Holden in Maverick County.
The leading buck in the high-fenced division was brought in by Jerry Wascom,
from Beaumont. It scored 202-6/8, and
came from the Roy Hindes ranch in Frio
County, where Wascom shot another 202
inch brute last season.
Interestingly enough, at a time when
some are criticizing Texas deer for being
breeder-manipulated, feed lot products,
practically all the leaders in the contest
so far, came from respected ranches
known for working with Parks & Wildlife’s
technical guidance program to maintain
or improve natural habitat.
JJ
Javelinas are an attraction in campsites at Choke Canyon State Park.
Darwin Avant prepares to score an entry in Los Cazadores Deer Contest
PROPOSED RULE WOULD BAN FEEDING WILDLIFE IN STATE PARKS
John Jefferson is past president of
the Texas Outdoor Writers Assn.,
and former executive
director of the
Texas Chapter of
The Wildlife Society.
A proposal to be voted on at the January 27 Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission meeting would make feeding
wildlife in state parks a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. Although state park employees
have reported no serious attacks, diseases or other human safety problems, officials have become concerned by
recent patterns and say they want to be proactive before a serious injury occurs. Recently, state park employees
had to kill a feral hog that chased a six-year old girl on a bicycle. It was believed that the hog was after corn that
campers often put out to attract wildlife.
Choke Canyon State Park has been a popular site for viewing and photographing deer, turkeys and javelinas.
Most days, the animals traipse through campsites at will looking for corn put out by campers. Sleeping is sometimes interrupted by javelinas getting into disputes over whose corn it is. Signs have been in place for some time
telling people no to feed the animals there, but the feeding has continued. State Parks Director, Walt Dabney, has
stated that special blinds with feeders may be installed for photographing and viewing away from the campsites.
Comments on the proposal can be sent to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin,
Texas 78744.
JJ
STEVE SCHULTZ GUIDE SERVICE
BAFFIN BAY –– LAGUNA MADRE –– LAND CUT
SPECKLED TROUT –– REDFISH –– FLOUNDER
FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS
1-888-724-FISH (toll-free)
www.baffinbaycharters.com
U.S. Coast Guard &
Texas Parks and Wildlife Licensed
Photos by
John Jefferson.
��
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Licensed, Bonded & Insured
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Duck hunting on the Laguna Madre
Capt. Steve Schultz
N
ovember to December typically
brings cooler weather to the
Coastal Bend.
Fronts push
through the area bringing with them
some of the best waterfowl hunting in
the state. Blinds are covered with brush,
decoys are brought out of storage, and
lead shot is replaced by steel. Friends, its
Duck Season!
Many hunters don’t realize the different variety of species of ducks the Laguna Madre and surrounding bays have to
offer. Eighty percent of the world’s population of Redheads winter in the waters of
the coastal bend. Along with Redheads,
Baffin Bay Charters
baffinbaycharters.com
other varieties of ducks include Pintails,
Widgeons, Buffleheads, Teal, Scaup, Gadwall and, occasionally, a Canvasback.
From Aransas Bay to the Landcut, all of
these species mentioned above can be
found, although we often don’t see the
majority of the heaviest concentrations
of ducks until mid-to-late November, after food supplies in the fields and prairies
begin to dwindle.
Duck hunting the Laguna Madre can
be enjoyed much in the same fashion
that fishing is, meaning you can hire a
guide to take you and your group to a
designated area, or you can venture out
on your own if that’s your preference. If
you prefer the latter, here are a few suggestions you may want to follow to improve your success.
The main avenue to success on
coastal waterfowl hunting area is familiarity with the place. No one can expect
to boat or walk into a new area, particularly in the dark of a winter morning, and
expect to just stumble upon the perfect
place. Hunting these areas can be very
successful or can also be a waste of a
good morning. Pre-hunt scouting is absolutely necessary. Knowing the area,
learning its intricacies, the lay of the land,
how to reach certain places, how tides
affect access, etc., determines how successful a hunt will be. Success on waterfowl hunting areas is not guaranteed. It’s
not simply a case of throwing a few decoys into an area and waiting for the
birds to fall all over themselves. You really
have to work at it. That is what makes hiring a guide so nice.
Most duck hunting guide services in
the Coastal Bend have years of experience and know where the ducks are flying. For the most part, guide services
If you are interested on booking a
duck hunting trip for a group or individual, or would like more information about
duck hunting in the Coastal Bend, please
feel free to contact me at 1-888-7243474 or baffinbaycharters.com.
Good luck and good hunting!
Capt. Steve Schultz
Brick, Block
& Masonry Supplies
Residential & Commercial
SRW Systems, Glass Block,
Glazed Brick & Block
Serving San Antonio & South Texas since 1984
Foundations • Retaining Walls
Tilt Wall • Site Concrete
Machine Laid Curbs
23306 BLANCO ROAD
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78258
210-497-8121
FAX 210-497-7509
have comfortable blinds and can get you
to your blind safely and dry. But my favorite part about hunting with an experienced guide service is not having the
need to go and brush up, or build blinds
in September or October when it is hot
and humid and I should be fishing anyway. Plus, you don’t have to put out or
pick up decoys, which can really be work!
Most Coastal Bend duck hunting guide
services travel by boat to their blinds,
which can help get you away from the
crowds and can be a fun experience if
you get to ride in an airboat.
www.brick.com
Sales Office: 210-493-2612
Converse Block Plant: 210-658-4631
16121 College Oak Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78249
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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST
welcomes your photos and stories.
Call us at (210) 308-5800
R: This 11-pt. Zavala
County buck, shot on
opening weekend by
general contractor
Clyde Marbach,
Friesenhahn
and Marbach
Construction, Inc.,
field-dressed at 178lbs. and had a 22-1/4in outside spread.
This non-typical buck with double drop tines and a
gross B&C score of 174 was taken in LaSalle County by
Richard Perez, Jr., Graphic Impressions.
Destination Costa Rica
A
three-day
fishing
excursion
prompted four construction guys
to fly into San Jose, Costa Rica before catching a puddle jumper to the Silverking Lodge on the Barra Del Colorado
River. Paul Pruitt, Lyda Builders; Tim
Bentley, Browning Construction; Chuck
York, Johnson Supply; and Greg Zinsmeyer, A/C Technical Services did their
fishing in the ocean, not the river. Anglers
caught tarpon, tuna and wahoo, with
bragging rights to Paul Pruitt for the
heaviest, 175-lb tarpon!
INTERIOR
DEMOLITION
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Paul gaffs a lightweight!
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FAX (210) 599-2824
1992 - 2002
Greg holds his breath!
• Trimble GPS Systems
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• Stakes • Supplies
10 Y E A R S
OF EXCELLENCE
Tim tilts the ballast!
Chuck and Tim are both hooked up!
• Spectra Precision Lasers
• Machine Control
• 3D Systems
• Accessories
www.geoshack.com
SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS
Austin
San Antonio
9038 No. IH-35 @ Rundberg Lane, Ste. B
512-821-2828 800-310-9128
903 E. Nakoma, Ste. 102
210-521-7732 800-349-6049
MOLD
REMEDIATION
Phillip Bukowski,
Bukowski Properties, Inc.,
bagged this
62 lb., 105 in. sailfish.
Way to go, Phillip!
Reeder’s quail
boosts nature’s bounty
Ronnie DeWinne,
DeWinne Electric,
with a heavy horned,
12-point buck,
B&C gross score of 172,
taken in
LaSalle County on
opening weekend.
W
L-R: Mark Gross, Concept Builders, and Mike Hagendorf, Hagendorf Construction,
check the decoys at a morning duck hunt in Medina County.
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WE SERVICE EVERYTHING WE SELL
446 Culebra Ave.
210-734-4363
800-683-7695
eaned on the scent of sawdust
and the deafening drone of
drills and sanding machines in
his father’s cabinet shop, Curtis Reeder,
owner of Reeder Cabinets, has carried
on the family trade. An avid outdoors
man and hunter, the second-generation
cabinetmaker has also embraced another
passion with equal tenacity and turned it
into a home-based business.
Thanks in part to members of the
construction industry, who comprise a
majority of his customer-base, Curtis and
his wife Sandra have established a quail
breeding operation at their rural homestead near La Vernia, TX. What started as
an exercise to simply put a greater variety
of food on the dinner table, today Curtis
markets his feathered bounty to ranchers
and landowners who want to supplement
the natural population of bobwhite quail.
“We have one building that is set up
for incubation and hatching,” Curtis began. “Once the eggs have hatched, which
is a 23-day process, the baby quail are
moved to small pens that are warmed by
heat lamps, where they remain until they
are fully feathered and able to fly. Then, I
transfer them to flight cages, where the
birds have room to fly around. Before you
can set them free on the range, they have
to know how to maintain their balance in
flight. Another set of cages contains the
breeding birds, with one cock to two hens,
which produce a regular supply of fertilized eggs. It takes 16 weeks from the time
they hatch until the birds reach maturity.”
The strength of quail populations,
which nest on the ground, is directly influenced by the overabundance or absence of water and food resources. Curtis
said he sells live birds to landowners who
provide hunting leases to clients for
profit.
“If the land won’t sustain a population of quail that is routinely diminished
by weekend hunters,” Curtis added, “the
landowners turn to breeders like myself
to ensure their customers have successful hunts.”
Two types of bobwhite quail comprise Curtis’ breeding stock. They include
the Georgia Giant, a large bird weighing
almost one pound, and the Jumbo Wisconsin, which is smaller and more similar
to the type one would see in Texas. In
most cases, Curtis personally delivers
and releases an order of live birds to his
customers.
“These two breeds are sold to landowners for flight,” Curtis continued. “If
you put 50 birds on someone’s land, and
35 are shot, chances are the remaining 15
will survive and thrive on their own, providing the ranchers put out supplemental food sources.”
In addition to flight birds, Curtis also
raises the full-bodied and delicious Cortunix Quail for table fare.
“This is a breed that is known for producing great meat, and most of my customers come from the construction pool.
I take orders through Thursday afternoon, process them that night, and customers usually pick them up at my cabinet shop on Friday’s. They are freshdressed, never frozen, and the best part
is, they aren’t full of shell-shot!”
In Curtis’ opinion, more people would
eat fresh quail if they had the opportunity.
On his website, www.southtexasquail.com,
he shares mouth-watering recipes suitable for the campfire cook or the culinary
perfectionist.
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830-947-3450
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CFMA blown away at the Republic
S
trong wind gusts and cool temperatures defined the conditions for 56
players on Thurs., Nov. 13th, when
Construction Financial Management
Association San Antonio Chapter hosted its 2nd Annual Golf Tournament at
The Republic Golf Club.
Golf Committee Chairman Bill Dawley, HCDT, said raffle prizes included two
tickets to the Alamobowl and two pair of
tickets to a Spurs game. He was instrumental in moving the tee time up by 30
minutes, to ensure he made his 7:45 pm
flight to Las Vegas, where he would attend the “Cigar Aficionados Big Smoke.”
“The tournament benefits the Cindy
P. Dennis Scholarship Fund,” Bill explained. “CFMA has provided $71,500 in
scholarships, over the past seven years,
to qualified students majoring in business and construction fields. This tournament should raise about $7,000.”
Players warmed up after the tournament by enjoying a delicious buffet dinner, which was followed by an awards
ceremony.
L-R: Keith Alexander and David Goetz, M.J. Boyle General Contractor; Jerry Bonham,
Rudy Ramirez, John Logsdon, and Joe Lozano, H.B. Zachry Construction.
Baker Drywall
29 Years . . . & Building
•
•
L-R: James Deaven and Kenny Robillard, CCC Group;
Pat Nichols and Gary Gunn, Hooker Contracting.
And the winners were:
1st Place:
John Harris, Anthony White, Scott Anderson and Greg Chinn, Frost Bank.
L-R: 1st Place team members John Harris
and Scott Anderson, Frost Bank.
Society
of Design
Administration
holds seminar
O
n Oct. 14, 2003, the Society of
Design Administration San Antonio Chapter sponsored a Government Form (SF) 330 Seminar with 70
attendees, primarily from architectural
and engineering firms. The seminar
committee included committee chair
Adela Popp, president Elaine Kalinowski, past president Maricela Yanez,
AIA-SA executive director Torrey Carleton, secretary Judy Autry, Diane
Hoskins, and Paula Smart, Ridgway’s.
The Standard Form (SF) 330, Architect – Engineer Qualification, will replace
the current SF 254/255 with the Fort
Worth Army Corps of Engineers, effective April 15, 2004. Until then, any submission published prior to April 2004 will
be with the SF 254/255.
Speakers included Senior Consultant
LeAnn Nowak, Wind2 Software, Inc.,
and members of the Fort Worth District
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Assistant Chief, Engineering and Construction Division, Jimmy D. Baggett, P.E. ;
Chief, AE Contracting and Construction
Management Section, Joe V. Milliorn;
and Contracting Officer, Ruth A. Powell.
The two-part SF330 has successfully
gone through the approval process and
is currently going through the finalization process. It is estimated that the form
will take between 29 and 40 hours to
complete. For IDIQ projects, the form
may be registered with the Corps on an
annual basis from which the Corps may
assign an A/E team to projects as they
occur. C Contract projects, however, will
require a new form tailored to address
the needs of these projects.
2nd Place:
Bill Dawley, HCDT; Mark Gross, Concept
Builders; Jim Miller and Doug
Fountain, The Hartford.
3rd Place:
Dallas Cloud, Moore Erection, L.P.;
Bryan Lovelady, Miscellaneous Steel
Industries, Inc.; Steve Schuetze, Metropolitan Contracting Co.; and
Joseph Schuetze, AIG.
•
•
Structured for Quality
Winner of the ABC Eagle Award
“Award of Excellence”
1999 & 2000 & 2002
STEP Platinum Award 2002
Specializing in
Metal Stud Framing
Drywall
Acoustical Ceilings
Insulation
13111 Lookout Way
San Antonio, TX. 78233
210-832-0500
Fax 832-0770
www.bakerdrywall.com
MOORE ERECT IO N , L.P.
PRE-ENGINEERED
STRUCTURAL
MISCELLANEOUS STEEL
Larkspur’s “wish list”
item granted
Wiremen produce Ft. Sam
power surge
hile most Larkspur Elementary students in
the North East ISD
had the day off on Mon., Oct.
13th, some were digging in, to
help complete a courtyard
beautification project at the
school, one of the final components of the Larkspur 1998
bond renovation project.
Project
architect
O’Connell Robertson & Associates organized the event,
working in partnership with
Larkspur staff, PTA members
and other local businesses.
Helpful hands plant native foliage.
The idea to improve the courtyard was a campus “wish list” item the cluding Principal Dolores Ramon and Asdesign team worked hard to make a real- sistant Principal Steve McCarthy.
“Because they believe in taking a
ity while meeting the specific district reproject to full completion, it was not
quirements for the renovation.
“The architectural team has been in- enough to design a courtyard, they were
strumental throughout the planning, im- determined to have it landscaped as
plementation, and completion phases of well,” said Ramon.
O’Connell Robertson donated more
the Larkspur construction project,” said
Principal Dolores Ramon. “Their commit- than $500 in materials and plants to
ment to excellence led to more than complete the courtyard and the firm’s
just an ordinary working relationship. They staff members participated in the plantbecame members of the Larkspur family, ing project. Local business Starlight
with a deep commitment to our students Gardens served as a resource in plant
selection and provided a discount on
and the community.”
The improved courtyard creates a plants.
“It’s rewarding to see the excitement
peaceful, outdoor learning space with
new pavers, picnic tables, and planters. and sense of pride in the school staff and
The “beautification day” involved enrich- the children as they speak about the iming the existing soil in the planters and provements made to their school. I’ve
adding hearty Texas native plants which enjoyed the interaction with the school
will be evergreen all year and flower sea- staff, who greatly contributed to the
sonally, adding color and life to the court- project’s success with their positive attiyard. Even a much-loved Spanish Oak tude, tremendous patience, and great
tree was preserved, defining the space cooperation throughout the construcand character of the courtyard. Nearly 15 tion progress,” said O’Connell Robertson
school staff, PTA members and students design team member Elizabeth Fair.
showed up to help with the planting, in-
n Sat., Oct 25th,
Ft. Sam Houston
Golf Club, one of
the largest military clubs
in the world, hosted the
7th Annual Harry F. Katz
Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting the International
Brotherhood
of
Electrical
Workers (IBEW) Local
Union #60 Wireman’s
Association.
“This is the first time
we have held our tournament at Ft. Sam,” spokesman Don Watson, NaL-R: Mike Rodriguez, Nathan Alterman Electric –
than Alterman Electric Communication
Systems; Armando Rodriguez, Martin-Wright
Co., told San Antonio ConElectric; and guest Joe Mendiola.
struction News. “We have
70 players, drawn from a
Congratulations to the winners:
field of union electrical companies, general contractors and industry suppliers.”
The 12:30 pm shotgun start came in 1st Place: John Gray, South Texas JATC;
advance of a predicted cool front, Charlie Lorenz and Baine Farr, Corbo
prompting humid, warm and windy con- Electric; and Emile Larose, Big State
ditions. After the tournament, players Electric.
gathered for a fried chicken dinner and 2nd Place: Tim Reininger, WESCO Disawards ceremony. A lively raffle pro- tribution; Bill Johnson, Mike Coons,
duced lucky winners who went home and Dale Kotzur, Big State Electric.
with assorted golf equipment, power 3rd Place: John Massengale and Steve
Herzik, Massengale Armature Works;
hand tools, and more.
Willie Salas and Skip Skonnard, HISCO.
W
O
Closest-to-the-Pin:
Bill Johnson, Big
State Electric; Ozzie
Garza, Boeing; and
Ronnie Brown, Redwine Krueger.
Longest Drive: Ozzie
Garza, Boeing.
Pot-of-Gold-Hole:
Steve Jenkins, Nathan Alterman Electric.
JJ C
CH
H
CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Specializing In
L-R: Jack Lenhart, Britt Bulgerin, Orvil Anthony, Farrel Massey,
Rodney Allen, and Jimmy Kezar,
Fisk Electric Corp. South Texas Division.
Putting Contest: Bill
Stipp, I.B.E.W. Local
Union #60 (retired).
Backhoe • Rocksawing • Trenching
“We Can Dig It”
(210) 651-5612
Fax: (210) 651-5451
15305 IH35 North
Selma, Texas
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Don’t leave equipment
in remote areas. Disable
and park camp-wagon
style, heel to toe, in a
circle.
Inventory equipment
frequently and park it so
it is obvious if something is missing.
Paint your equipment a
distinctive color and include your name or
logo.
Install anti-theft devices: fuel cutoffs, hydrauMike Bieren, field service tech for Holt Caterpillar,
lic bypasses, track locks
shows the hydraulic cylinder lock they use on
or alarms. Contact
their rental fleet.
equipment dealers for
specific anti-theft devices developed for their products.
Challenge strangers on your property or job sites. Show them you are on the alert.
This th
Mon
Construction Equipment
Contractors agree: Maintenance is a priority!
This month in FOCUS, San Antonio Construction News spoke with a variety of subcontractors who have special equipment needs. We discussed the nature
of their business, the types of equipment they utilize, their purchasing habits, and how they protect their equipment from theft and vandalism.
Tom Smith
RTM Construction Co., Inc.
E
stablished in 1994 by president Tom Smith, RTM
Construction Co., Inc. operates from one location
in Adkins, TX. Performing the bulk of its underground utility and site work business in Bexar and surrounding counties, the company employs 35 personnel.
Focused on utility work, to include underground water,
sewer, storm drain, and communication lines, as well as
sub-grade and final grade site preparation, Tom said his
company has recently added another capability to its
portfolio of services.
“RTM has broadened its’ scope to include asphalt
Jack McKinney
Voges Drilling
T
exas was the birthplace of the foundation drilling
industry, developed during the late 1920’s and
early 1930’s. Jack McKinney, president/owner of
Voges Drilling, is the grandson of one of the men who
pioneered the process (Jack McKinney, McKinney
Drilling). Raised in the industry, the third-generation
driller established his New Braunfels-based company in
1998, and currently employs 20 personnel.
Operating throughout central and south Texas, the
company installs drilled pier foundations for commercial, industrial, residential, military, public and private
Dennis Revell, Sr.
Mahone Roofing & Sheet Metal Co., Ltd.
E
stablished in 1948, majority partner and CEO Dennis Revell, Sr. acquired the assets of Mahone Roofing & Sheet Metal Company in 1979, following the
death of its founder. Operating from one San Antonio
location, the commercial roofing and sheet metal company employs 50 personnel and carries out the bulk of its
business in Bexar and surrounding counties.
paving services and complete curb and sidewalk construction,” he began. “We work for general contractors,
and residential and commercial developers on negotiated and hard bid projects, and by adding this dimension to our resume, we can offer our customers a greater
depth of service.”
Tom credits his company’s success to the solid and
loyal staff that he has cultivated over almost twenty years,
which has resulted in a generous amount of repeat business with favored general contractors.
San Antonio Construction News asked Tom to describe
the various types of construction equipment he inventories to carry out his business.
“On an average underground utility project we’ll typically have two to three backhoes, a large excavator (track
hoes), and a water truck,” Tom continued. “Depending on
the location and subsurface geology, we will contract with
subs who have rock saws to cut trenches in the limestone
bed rock that is common in the north and northwest parts
of Bexar County. We always want to avoid investing in
high-maintenance equipment that we only use sporadically, perhaps three or four times a year. A site work job
will utilize a medium-sized motor grader to smooth the
grade, and a couple of dump trucks running fill dirt or
bringing in base.”
RTM owns all of its commonly used equipment and
Tom said in most cases he purchases new equipment.
“We expect to get five years of steady production
from our equipment fleet. The warranty is there, and with
proper maintenance we have had good results. About
every five years we replace the used equipment with new
purchases. Of course, we stagger the cycles to maintain an
effective control of costs and payments.”
A key staff member is RTM’s mechanic, who maintains the equipment on an ongoing basis and keeps track
of service sequences. He routinely interviews the foremen
to discuss any operational issues.
To deter jobsite theft and help prevent vandalism,
Tom said his operators are instructed to park the costly
pieces of machinery in a cluster at day’s end.
“Parking them close to a road, under illumination,
near public activity, or near the jobsite office serves as a
deterrent. We also have kill switches and boom locks to
keep anybody from stealing them. Luckily, we haven’t
had anything stolen, although I have heard a few horror
stories from my competitors. Since we’re the first contractor on site as a project begins, there generally aren’t
any fences or security personnel in place. Because we’re
more vulnerable, we have to take the necessary precautions everyday,” Tom concluded. “There have been a few
indications that a thief has attempted to steal equipment, but our safeguards prevented him from being
successful.”
hard bid projects. Customers include general contractors and concrete subcontractors.
“Site conditions around central/south Texas are not
homogenous,” Jack explained. “It runs the gamut from
the hardest limestone rock you’ve ever seen, to nothing
but sand, loose soil, and various ground water tables.
We have to be prepared to deal with a variety of conditions and soils.”
Three of the main drill rig manufacturers are located
in Texas, and because there is not one perfect model of
machine for this area, Jack draws on two of those manufacturers, Texoma and H&T Auger, to equip his fleet.
“We use smaller hydraulic-powered machines to
larger chain-and-cable mechanical machines. The smallest machine will dig a hole up to 30 ft deep and 30-36
ins. in diameter, depending on soil conditions. Our larger
machines can drill up to 80 ft deep, with 7 - 8 ft. diameters. The average in this area is 24- 42 ins. and no deeper
than 30-40 ft., with extremes on either end.”
Because of the competitive nature of business in the
Texas pier drilling industry, Jack owns all of his equipment
but doesn’t typically purchase new equipment.
“We have chosen machines, from model to model,
that have a lot of interchangeable parts, and with proper
maintenance will last a long time,” Jack continued. “Unable to recover the cost of brand new equipment effi ciently in this market, when we do replace machines, we
look for used equipment that can be overhauled. Routine
preventive maintenance is a priority and we stock repair
items in our shop. There hasn’t been much new technology introduced into drilling equipment since the 60’s or
70’s. All of our operators are mechanically inclined, respect equipment, and take pains to identify potential
problems.”
Although jobsite theft of pier drilling equipment is
rarely a problem, Jack said vandalism is more common.
“We probably don’t have any more incidences than
other companies that run heavy equipment, but it pops
up more frequently when we’re working on a school
construction site. There are misguided individuals out
there who think they can slow us down with a little spray
paint, or that school will be easier for them if they break
a window. If a small hand tool is left on the rig overnight
inadvertently, it may be stolen. But, it’s usually just minor
vandalism; they don’t go after the big stuff. We did have
a tire stolen one time, and that was the most impressive
piece of theft I’ve ever seen, because the machine
weighed over 100,000-lbs,” he marveled. “I don’t know
how they jacked it up. Overall, our equipment losses
have been minimal. There are people who routinely
break into jobsite trailers and toolboxes, and southwest
San Antonio is famous for that. When you’re working in
undeveloped areas where there aren’t a lot of witnesses
at night, you’re more vulnerable.”
In approximately 60 percent of its work, Mahone
serves as a prime commercial re-roofing contractor for
commercial property owners, property managers, and
school districts. Of the remaining 40 percent, the company operates as a new construction subcontractor for
general contractors in the retail, mall, religious, office,
warehouse, and high-rise sectors.
“Our work includes a variety of types of roofing,”
Dennis explained, “including built-up, modified roofing
systems, sheet metal, and sheet metal work associated
with our roofing. In addition to the traditional pickup
trucks, flatbed trucks, dump trucks, tractor-trailers, and
front-end loaders, we utilize specialized equipment.
That would include roofing kettles; asphalt spreaders;
gravel spreaders; tear-off machines; spudding machines; high lifts and conventional forklifts; belt-driven
conveyors; hydraulic power hoists; and cranes. In the
sheet metal shop we use power shears and breaks,
power seamers, and forming machines.”
Mahone owns all of its’ equipment, with the exception of cranes and metal forming machines, which it
typically rents. Regarding Mahone’s equipment purchasing habits, Dennis said when they are ready to replace a piece they always buy new equipment.
“However,” he added, “we employ a fulltime mechanic on our staff to keep the machinery and equip-
ment in top working condition. We literally use them
until they are all used up! With proper, routine maintenance our equipment can be characterized as having a
long life cycle, and we’ll keep it as long as it’s safe and
efficient to operate. When maintenance costs get too
high to justify, then we will consider replacement. In
that case, we would re-sell directly or trade it in on a
new item.”
On re-roofing jobs, it is Mahone’s practice to fenceoff their work area for two reasons.
“For example,” Dennis explained, “if we’re re-roofing a hospital or shopping center, it’s important to protect pedestrians and the general public from our work
area activity. In addition to the safety aspect, it helps
secure our staging area from potential jobsite theft of
equipment or errant vandals. At the end of each day,
ladders are removed to help prevent easy access to the
roof. On a new construction project, the area is already
fenced-in by the general contractor.
In recent history, Mahone has suffered one loss of
due to theft, when a kettle was loaded and driven off
the premises over a weekend.
“Although rare, our problems have generally been
the result of random vandalism to either equipment or
stored materials,” Dennis concluded.
F O C U S
Page 24
Rene Rodriguez
TEX-STATE Constructors, Inc.
P
erforming the bulk of its steel erection activities throughout San Antonio, Bexar and surrounding counties,
TEX-STATE Constructors, Inc. employs
10-15 personnel, depending on workload
demand. Established in 1991 by vicepresident Rene Rodriguez, TEX-STATE is
a sister company of Richard’s Rebar.
with Rene, who said the scope of the
company’s work includes structural steel
erection and architectural concrete erection, namely precast and tiltwall panels.
“We also have a category that we refer to as miscellaneous,” Rene explained.
“That would include erection of iron
beams, heavy metal stairs and rails, and
steel framing for commercial storefronts.
Our customers are general contractors
for public and private projects.”
During its 12 years in business, TEXSTATE has accumulated a sizeable fleet of
construction equipment, comprised of
one 25-ton RT crane, one 35-ton truck
crane, numerous aerial forklifts, scissor
lifts, and aerial boom lifts.
“All of the equipment we own, we
purchased used,” Rene continued, “ at
auctions or through local equipment
rental companies. At any given time, our
workload may define the amount of
equipment we sometimes rent to supplement our daily activity. When we do rent,
it’s because the equipment we own is
tied up on other projects. When we need
multiple forklifts, for example we will
rent them for that project.”
When purchasing a piece of used
equipment, Rene’s team ensures it is in
top working condition. He seeks professional service from trained mechanics at
local equipment dealers, who make any
necessary repairs or overhauls.
“After equipment is placed into service,” Rene added, “we continue to go to
the experts when we notice hydraulic
leaks, cylinder leaks, or transmission
problems. Other than that, we perform
routine maintenance in-house, to include oil changes and lubrication. The
equipment we bought over the years is in
good working order and we haven’t had
to replace any of them to date.”
To reduce the risk of jobsite theft,
TEX-STATE has implemented standard
measures to protect its fleet. Although
some pieces of equipment have manufacturer-installed locking systems, Rene
safeguards other pieces with self-installed protections.
“Fortunately, we haven’t suffered
any losses due to theft. We weld metal
plates and shields over ignition switches
and secure them with heavy padlocks.
Our operators activate kill switches and
lock them securely at the end of each
day. In our company’s history we did incur one broken windshield on a crane,”
Rene concluded, “but we’ve avoided the
graffiti artists so far!”
San Antonio Construction News • Dec 2003
lease additional equipment and plug it
into the cost of the job. When times are
tighter, I don’t have to bear the burden of
excessive payments for machinery that is
idle. When I buy smaller pieces of equipment I buy new, and I typically buy used
larger machines after thoroughly examining their worthiness.”
In-house, Ryan performs light maintenance routinely, to include oil changes,
lubrication and cleaning filters.
“Other than that,” he added, “I outsource major repairs to people who are
more knowledgeable and can get in and
out faster than my own men. That way
there is less down time, allowing my men to
get back in the field and make me money!”
Other than Ryan’s secretary, all of
Apache’s employees are equipment operators. He said when the amount of
work surpasses the ability of his personnel, he hires trusted subcontractors.
“I have an excellent reputation with
my subcontractors, and we have well established relationships,” he commented.
“It’s just like having my own people.”
Regarding equipment security, Ryan
has a solution that has worked well for
him. When he places a piece of equipment on a jobsite that is, in his opinion,
an unsafe area, he conducts a search of
the neighborhood for nearby populated
businesses or residences.
“I will compensate them for letting
us store equipment on their property,
where they can keep an eye open. It
would be too expensive to have security
or police on site each night, however, on
projects that take several weeks or
months to complete, we do hire security.
When we’re working on larger projects, a
fence is usually in place. We also install
special bolt cutter-proof locks to cover
ignition switches. While we’ve been fortunate to avoid problems with theft,” he
remarked, “we have been hit by vandalism. But, we can deal with minor glass
breakage and a little graffiti.”
Ryan Morris
Apache Demolition
D
emolition contractor Ryan Morris
is the president of Apache Demolition, which he founded in 1982.
Operating from one location, the company staffs eight personnel and performs
the majority of its services in San Antonio, Bexar and surrounding counties.
Working within the private residential
sector, Apache razes single-family dwellings and multi-family units. On the commercial and industrial side, the demolition
company knocks down office buildings,
schools, hospitals, warehouses, and more.
“We also perform floor-to-ceiling interior strip-out work on commercial projects, leaving a shell for redevelopment,”
Ryan explained. “Our customers include
private property owners, real estate
management firms, school districts, general contractors, mortgage companies,
TXDOT, military bases, and businesses of
that nature.”
A machine-intensive business,
Apache Demolition utilizes skid steer
loaders with grapples, rubber tire backhoes with hydraulic grapples, rubber tire
backhoes with hoe rams, track loaders
and excavators. He said he combines
ownership with occasional rentals to operate more efficiently.
“When the times are good and we
have plenty of work,” he continued, “I
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F O C U S
Page 25
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allows you to change steering modes quickly and easily. You’re more efficient
because you can do the
work of two separate machines! Allwheel steer mode is gentle on grass and
other surfaces, meaning little or no rework after the main job is done. It’s also
gentle on its tires, meaning less tire wear
and longer tire life for you. High flow attachments make it even more versatile
than before.
Facts:
Rated Operating Capacity (SAE): 3,000 lbs.
Tipping Load: 6,000 lbs.
Pump Capacity: 20.7 GPM.
Pump Capacity - High Flow: 30.7 GPM.
Travel Speed: 6.9 mph.
Travel Speed (2-speed option): 12.4 mph.
Travel Speed - Inching Mode: 4 mph.
Turning Radius (AWS Mode): 138-in.
Aside from being the most powerful
mechanical trowel on the market, the
new turbocharged, liquid-cooled
Vanguard diesel-powered HHN
trowel utilizes two helical gearboxes that operate at 98
percent efficiency compared to conventional
worm-drive designs and
virtually
eliminate
gearbox overheating. The trowel
features
five
blades, finishes
a path 91 inches (231 cm.)
wide, and has a
fuel tank capacity
of 4.4 gallons (17 liters).
The trowel’s variable speed clutch
supplies maximum torque and speed under any conditions and it comes standard
with a twin-nozzle retardant spray system. Other standard features include twin
pitch control letting the operator simultaneously change the pitch of both rotors
and four powerful halogen lights for optimal performance in low-light areas.
Available options include a wheel kit
for easier movement around the job site
or shop and a 31-HP gasoline engine.
For
more
information,
visit
www.multiquip.com
T
erex introduces the RT 1000. The
Rough Terrain Crane features 100
tons of maximum lifting capacity,
126 ft. of maximum boom length, and
195 ft. of maximum tip height. It has a
4-section full power boom with single
lever control for either 3-section
heavy lift or 4-section long boom
configuration. There is swingaway
jib offsettable 0 degree, 17 degrees,
or 30 degrees, two-speed main and
auxiliary winches and quick-reeving
boom head and hook block. The
crane offers fully independent multiposition out and down outriggers.
The operator’s cab optimizes load
visibility and productivity, with a tight
24 ft. 8 in. turning radius. Terex offers
a 12-month or 2,000-hour warranty,
and major weldments are 5 years or
10,000 hours.
BOBCAT
JOHN
DEERE
J
ohn Deere’s new 710G Backhoe is
well suited to the toughest backhoe
jobs, particularly those where a small
excavator and loader are used together.
The 710G provides the kind of digging
force and lift capacity typically found
only in a twelve-metric-ton excavator.
And on the front end, rivals most twoyard loaders.
Components include the boom, loader arms, cab and tilted hood, all of which
feature design improvements to add
strength and make servicing the machine
as easy as possible. The only backhoe on
the market powered by a 6-cylinder engine, the 710G’s 118-net-hp John Deere
6068T diesel provides the power and versatility needed to maximize productivity
and is Tier II emissions compliant.
With pressure-compensating, loadsensing hydraulics, a 70-gallon fuel tank
allows the 710G to work longer without
re-fueling. Best-in-class “mobile” productivity is delivered through a wide va-
riety of tools, including couplers, hammers, buckets, forks, compactors and
more. Manual controls are standard and
pilot controls are now available. Longer,
box-constructed stabilizers provide enhanced stability through a stance that is
18-ins. wider, yet transport width has
decreased. Numerous enhancements
help improve serviceability and reliability, including a replaceable wear strip on
the swing casting that eliminates hose
wear; replaceable bushings in the swing
cylinder casting to help maintain tightness; a boom lock that eliminates the
need for cable; and a rubber backhoe
boom stop to eliminate “chucking” when
driving on the road. Loader bucket dump
angle is increased to 45 degrees for better bucket clean-out, and 25 percent
more bucket corner prying force. The
bucket joints are positioned higher,
keeping them out of the dirt. The largest
backhoe-loader in Deere’s product line,
the 710G can tackle tough jobs.
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Our expertise in payroll processing,
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reduces risk and costs for our clients.
For more information, please contact us at:
Phone: 210-558-0521 Fax: 210-558-8952
"Quality Service to the Contractor"
BOBCAT OF SAN ANTONIO
Quality Equipment Company
4318 Director Drive
Authorized Dealer
Operating Weight: 8,350 lbs.
Engine Make: Kubota.
Engine Model: V3300-DI .
Engine Fuel: Diesel.
Engine Cooling: Liquid.
Number of Cylinders: 4
Horsepower (SAE NET): 81-HP.
Displacement: 211.7-cubic in.
Fuel Tank: 23 gal (87 L).
Steering and Drive: Forward, reverse,
travel speed and steering controlled by
left-hand joystick.
Hydraulics: Raise/lower lift arms and
dump/rollback bucket controlled by
right-hand joystick.
Transmission: Hydrostatic , four-wheeldrive.
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Page 26
F O C U S
CATERPILLAR
C
AT is now offering the new and
improved Caterpillar 140H, 160H
and 14H Motor Graders.
Each of the new graders offers improved performance and fuel efficiency
with a new electronically controlled CAT
engine. Innovations in comfort, control
and viewing area enhance operator efficiency. Re-engineered inspection and
service points, as well as extended fluid
change intervals reduce maintenance
time and operating costs.
The motor graders operate cleaner,
quieter and meet emissions control standards worldwide, including both current
EU Stage II and future EPA Tier II regulations. The machines generate exterior
sound levels of less than 109 decibels
(ISO 6395) when equipped with a soundsuppression package.
VHP and VHP Plus restrict power
when traction is limited and increase
power in higher gears when the machine demands more power. The result
from this is greater efficiency and higher productivity. The 140H and 160H can
be equipped with the VHP or the new,
optional VHP Plus. In seventh and
eighth gears, VHP Plus
delivers an additional 11
percent more power for
the 140H and 10 percent
more power for the
160H when they are
compared to the VHP arrangement. The 14H
now offers the VHP and
has more power in every
gear when compared to
the previous model.
The CAT 3176 ETA engine powers all three motor graders. Compared to
the engine previously installed, the electronically controlled 3176 gives the new
H-Series graders 9 percent more torque
and 5 to 10 percent better fuel efficiency.
Air-to-air aftercooling improves cooling
efficiency, too.
High torque output and 50 percent
torque rise make the engine very responsive. Its lugging capability maintains consistent grading speeds without
the need to downshift. Rimpull in each
gear is higher and power curves are optimized for each model. The result is
higher productivity.
The 140H, 160H and 14H are designed for straightforward, comfortable
operation. Changes optimize control effort and response and improve sight lines
to the work area to enhance operator
comfort. The Electronic Clutch Pressure
Control delivers optimized inching modulation and smooth, consistent shifting.
The Electronic Monitoring System III
keeps the operator informed and helps
protect the machine from damage. Inspection and service points have been
redesigned to reduce maintenance time
and operating costs.
CASE
T
oday’s challenging material-handling applications require a wheel
loader with superior traction, push
power, lift capacity and quiet, fuel-efficient operation. Case demands even more
from its rugged D Series line of wheel
loaders. Things like comfort, ease of operation and exclusive features that bring
new meaning to the term “productivity.”
From rubber to roof — bucket to
counterweight —Case D Series wheel
loaders deliver smart engineering and
tightly integrated features. A leading
trade magazine’s exclusive testing found
an average production advantage of 15
percent over previous models. An exclusive mid-mount cooling module makes
them fuel efficient and long running,
even in the dustiest environments.
Because the cooling system is between the engine and cab, the engine is
seated behind the rear axle to provide
ballast that makes the wheel loader more
stable for digging and lifting.
Newly designed D Series buckets
more efficiently slice into the pile and fill
more quickly and fully than ever before.
The new bolt-on cutting edge has been
redesigned to penetrate the pile like a
knife. Material quickly moves up the 5degree angled floor plate for a rapid fill
and full bucket every time. Raised bucket
hinges offer increased leverage and help
thrust the bucket forward during rollback
for optimum productivity. Bucket skid
plates are tapered to provide ample
bucket support with reduced rubbing.
A wide array of attachments enhances the versatility of the machine and
make it adjustable to a variety of loadand-carry applications. Ample horsepower and open-center hydraulics deliver superior breakout forces and lift capacity. Industry-leading ease of maintenance assures maximum uptime, and
deluxe cabs provide comfort and an allaround command of the work site.
EQUIPMENT RENTALS
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Austin  Dallas/Ft.Worth
 Houston News
Austin
To read these and other stories in full, go to our Website at
www.constructionnews.net.
Historical house moved
Austin now has a piece of Texas history right next to the new Hilton.
Faulkner-USA officially turned over the Susanna Dickinson-Hanning house to
the City of Austin in a dedication ceremony at the O. Henry Museum on Wed.,
Oct. 28th.
Chasco adds 120,000 sf to Hill Country Bible Church
It is rare with projects of this magnitude that the project manager sees the
process through from schematic design to final construction. Jim Freeman,
Chasco Contracting, has done just that with Hill Country Bible Church’s nearly
$12 million expansion.
Who’s the man?
When Robert Buckingham arrived for his interview with Stan’s Heating and
Air Conditioning, in 1973, he wore bell-bottom pants and platform shoes.
Houston
Lyn-Tile, Inc. a Top 100 Small Biz
The president/owner of Lyn-Tile, Inc., Meredith Lyn Ford, daughter of a general contractor, was no stranger to the rewards and risks that are an intrinsic part
of the construction industry. She credits her early business success in part to the
skills she learned while in high school working as a customer service rep for the
telephone company in Amarillo, TX.
SpawGlass delivers Humble Oil Building restoration
The Humble Oil Building is a Houston landmark that once helped to define
the city’s standing as a Mecca of the oil and gas industry. It served as headquarters for Humble Oil & Refining Company, the oil giant now known as Exxon/
Mobil.
Liquid nitrogen is cool!
TxDOT, PBS&J, and Transit Mix Concrete Co. recently introduced a new concrete cooling technique, using liquid nitrogen(LN). LN was used instead of ice to
cool the concrete used for construction on a portion of the $2.9 billion Central
Texas Turnpike Project.
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Company grasps new soil technology
Preventing erosion is Soil Express’ specialty, whether they are working on a silt
fence replacement or using a special method of lawn installation called terraseeding. All their work is environmentally-friendly for commercial and residential landscaping. Based in Prosper, Texas, Soil Express covers the north Texas territory.
JM Electronic Engineering expands into DFW market
JM Electronic Engineering has been making history in the fire protection industry for over 45 years. JMEE’s founder, J.E. Moore, invented the first automatic
phone dialer for fire alarm systems and the first wireless smoke sensor in 1966.
Linbecks’s teamwork brightens facility
An injured child sits wide-eyed on a comfortable chair and waits to see the
doctor. He looks up to notice bright colors, fun shapes and smiling faces. Within a
few minutes, he feels at ease as he thinks of happy times with friends and family.
In the final completion stage, Cook Children’s Medical Center Patient Pavillion in
Ft. Worth will provide a cheerful non-institutional environment for children.
Republic hosts Marek’s
14th tourney
T
he weekend started on Friday afternoon for 105 golf enthusiasts who
participated in the 14th Annual
Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. Golf Tournament. The Oct. 24th event, held at The
Republic Golf Club, drew local players
and others from as far away as Harlingen,
Austin and Houston. While the club offered ample time for warm-ups on the
driving range, the talent pool of each
foursome was bolstered by the placement of one “decent handicapped” player per grouping.
Brothers and company owners,
Bruce and Paul Marek, joined San Antonio division president Dewitt Churchwell and a mix of employees, customers
and suppliers for the select shot, scramble format tournament.
“It’s a beautiful day,” commented
Dewitt, “and despite the misperception
that my magnetic personality drew over
100 players today, they were more likely
lured by the possibility of winning a great
prize from our raffle extravaganza, which
include a trip to Las Vegas, $1,000 worth
of irons and golf accessories, guided fishing trips, and more!”
After the last foursome submitted its
scores, a hamburger cookout and award
ceremony ensued.
Guided Fishing Trip: Rodney Harrell,
Kunz Construction.
Guided Fishing Trip: Jim Ward, Bartlett
Cocke.
Congratulations to:
1st Place Net: Bruce Marek, MBS; Bob
Aniol, Vaughn Construction; Tom Lyons, Yates Construction; and Andy
Koebel, Kunz Construction.
2nd Place Net: Ray Weldon, Joeris GC;
Tommy Akers, Hilti Equipment; Joe
Contreras, Lyda Builders; and Rodney
Harrell, Kunz Construction.
3rd Place Net: John Devaney, SpawGlass Contractors; Cody Chrismon,
Constructors & Associates; Lane Mitchell, G. W. Mitchell; and Roger Elley,
Bartlett Cocke.
1st Place Gross: Ronnie Hargett, Kunz
Construction; Jeff Carley, The Koehler
Co.; Matt Rothe, Constructors & Associates; and Eddie Atnip, MBS.
Closest to the Hole:
#3 Jim Pearson, Austin Commercial.
#13 Chad Smith, Yates Construction.
#17 Jeff Carley, The Koehler Company.
Longest Drive:
#4 Fred Galvan, Lyda Builders.
#9 Larry Davenport, T. S. Byrnes Co.
Grand Prize: Rodney Harrell, Kunz Construction, Las Vegas Trip.
Grand Prize: Rick O’Riley, Valcon Construction-Harlingen, Ben Hogan Golf
Bag and Clubs.
L-R: Jay Fries and Patrick Fetzer,
Fetzer Companies.
L-R: Chris Wiatrek and Santiago Garza,
Hertz Equipment Rental.
Paul Elmer with the Koehler Company
“Put the tools
in the truck!”
��
��
��
Gilbert Rico
and Mark Belincia,
Incore Construction,
celebrate the finish
of a project
ahead of schedule!
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what a project manager was, but I said I loved them to death. They helped us get
could do it and I managed to build the started, and we gradually started to hire
plant. In the meantime, I met T.M. Gan- more people. Most of our work was
away, who owned a general contracting awarded through the hard bid process.”
company called Coastal Bend ConstrucThe company enjoyed a significant
tion Co. He offered me a job for $900 a jump-start when Jim hired Buzz Park, an
month, plus a car, and I thought that was efficient estimator with experience in
fantastic. I stayed in the general contract- pre-engineered buildings. Dallas Cloud
ing business with him until 1975, when and Paul Hargrave joined the small firm
we went our separate ways.”
and revenues began to increase further.
A divorced, single man, Jim met and Through an alliance with Ceco, the steel
married his second wife and future busi- erectors completed several award-winness partner, Barbara, in 1977.
ning projects.
“We were introduced through mu“We stayed at our east side location
tual friends and it was love at first sight!” until I retired in 1997,” Jim reminisced.
Jim chuckled. “We moved to Horseshoe “When ‘the boys’ and the rest of the emBay, where we built a few houses and ployees bought me out through an ESOP
played a lot of golf! In 1978, I ran into Bob strategy, they continued to grow and exHis neat personal habits consistently Hood, who worked for H.B. Zachry Con- pand, and I’m just as proud of them as I
orn in 1934, Jim Moore spent the
first 12 years of his life in Dallas, the gained him “soldier-of-the-month” sta- struction. They were getting ready to can be. Every time I see one of their red
city of his birth. His father, James K. tus, which was rewarded with extra build a $26 million hospital in Jubail, trucks going down the road I’m filled
Moore, Sr., and mother, Mamie Irene three-day passes, in addition to his regu- Saudi Arabia, and he asked me to be their with pride. And now, they built a beautiful new building near Garden Ridge that
Combs Moore, moved Jim and his sister lar leave time. Anxious to explore the project manager.”
Though the work was challenging, has my name on it!”
Betty to Corpus Christi in 1946. An expe- world, he utilized his passes to visit 13
Jim said life in The Kingdom was very
When Jim tours San Antonio he is
rienced ironworker, Jim’s dad and two countries.
quick to point out work that his father
“The ravaged lands of post-war Eu- limited for his blonde, blue-eyed bride.
partners established a small steel fabrica“Unfortunately, we didn’t live in an completed in 1927, including the ornation company with little more than their rope were still evident,” Jim noted, “and I
combined talent and an old winch truck, was amazed at the devastation, particu- American compound with all the familiar mental rail and sign on the old Joske’s
store and the ornalarly in Germany and France. Next to the amenities. We lived
which they used to set structural steel.
in
a
trailer
near
the
rubble,
reconstruction
activities
were
in
“They eventually built it into a nice
“Every time I see one of their red mental steel that
adorns the exterior
steel fabrication and erection business high gear, and that was the first time I ever construction site. For
trucks going down the road
of the Majestic Thecalled Gulf Iron Works, and it was proba- saw a tower crane, which was pretty im- the most part, BarI’m filled with pride.”
ater. To his credit,
bly the biggest company of its kind in pressive. I spent a fair share of time riding bara was confined to
Moore Erection has
Corpus Christi at one time,” Jim recalled. country busses with local people and their the trailer, because
farm animals. It was she couldn’t appear in public without a left its stamp as well, including several
“I started working for
male escort. When we did go out, her fair miles of handrail around the Alamovery memorable!”
dad at the shop be“But Coach, I want to be
When he was dis- features attracted a lot of unwelcome dome, enlargement of the stage at the
fore I was a teenager,
an ironworker!”
charged, Jim re- stares from the Arab people, and she was Majestic Theater, and erection of the
sweeping, cleaning,
turned to Corpus very uncomfortable. However, we es- Hemisfair Parking Garage and River Cenpainting, and growing up in the business. When I was in high Christi, eager to climb up buildings and caped to Europe as often as we could, ter Mall.
Jim, who has three daughters, and
school I never intended to go to college. I pursue the ironworker activities he loved. and we enjoyed those excursions. We left
was a small kid, probably didn’t weigh In time, he married his first wife, Sara, Saudi after 14 months when Barbara suf- Barbara, who has two sons and a daughter, enjoy time spent with their blended
115-lbs, but I was the manager and train- whose family encouraged him to go to fered an injury during an accidental fall.”
Thankful to be back in San Antonio, family of six, and nine active grandchiler of the football team. The Coach called college. He attended Del Mar Junior Colme in one day and said, ‘Jim, I can get you lege for two years. The young husband Barbara’s condition improved with medi- dren, all of whom live in the nearby area.
a full four-year scholarship to TCU as a and father then transferred to UT-Austin, cal treatment, and the entrepreneurial Residents of Fair Oaks Ranch, Jim can be
trainer. You can take pre-med courses, where he engaged in a course of study couple established their own business, found on the golf course two or three
Moore Erection Company, Inc., in 1979.
time a week, unless he and his wife of 26
and when you get out you can probably titled Business Route to Engineering.
“We bought a small property on the years are trekking across the U.S., the Ca“Now they call it Construction Manwrite your own ticket with any pro team.’
I listened, and with all sincerity I said, ‘But agement,” Jim explained. “It was a hybrid east side and started doing steel fabrica- nadian provinces, or the Caribbean.
A founder of the Associated Builders
Coach, I want to be an ironworker!’ I may plan to incorporate my interest in steel tion and erection, which is what I had alhave missed the best opportunity that erection, commercial construction, and ways wanted to do,” he continued. “I did and Contractors South Texas Chapter,
business. I thought I would go back to the estimating at night and worked in the Jim served two non-consecutive terms
ever came down the pipes!”
After graduating from Roy Miller work for my dad, and eventually take field during the day. Barbara took care of as president; one year as president of The
the office, book- Builder’s Exchange of Texas; two terms as
High School in the tight-knit Class of ’52, over the business.”
keeping and job a board member of American SubconAlthough
Jim
Jim joined the U.S. Army. As the Korean
“I didn’t even know what a
costing. Our plan tractors Association; one year as presiWar raged, it was his good fortune to worked for Gulf Iron
project manager was, but I said
was to carve a niche dent of the Construction Industry Counland a tour of duty in Germany. The Works until 1967, he
I could do it and I managed to
doing miscellaneous cil; and several years on the Ceco Presiyoung artilleryman was soon initiated in left the company for
build the plant.”
steel work, which dential Advisory Board. Jim was awarded
reasons
the country’s age-old pastime…beer personal
broadened our op- the ABC Lifetime Achievement Award,
when his dad retired,
drinking!
portunities.
My
fi
rst
employees
were two and the ASA President’s Award.
choosing
to
work
for
a
local
competitor,
“I didn’t even like beer, and the first
wonderful black brothers who had
time I went out with my buddies it was Mosher Steel Co.
“Mosher decided to build a plant in worked for me at Coastal Bend Construcpretty clear that I was a featherweight. I
finally learned how to hold my own,” he San Antonio and sent me here as project tion. Of all things, their nicknames were
manager,” he added. “I didn’t even know Cool Water and Lightening, and I just
said, “with a lot of practice!”
Old Timer’s
Corner
James Kenneth
“Jim” Moore, Jr.
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TAB Awards recognize Excellence
T
he Texas Association of Builders
(TAB) recognized excellence in
homebuilding and remodeling on
Sat., Oct. 18th, with its annual presentation of the prestigious Lone Star Awards
and Star Awards.
In conjunction with the Sunbelt
Builders Show, the black-tie affair, hosted
at Dallas’ Wyndham Anatole Hotel, began
with a cocktail reception and was followed
with dinner and the awards ceremony.
Carol Baker, the chairwoman for the
Star Awards and Lone Star Awards, said
approximately 360 homebuilders, remodeling contractors, and their guests
attended the event. Representing the
talented accomplishments of TAB members from across the state, 70 awards
were presented during the course of the
evening.
Four Lone Star Awards, which recognize excellence in the remodeling industry, were presented to San Antonio-based
Montelongo Homes and Remodeling.
They included: Whole House Renovation over $500,000; Best Room Addition Award ranging from $50,000 to
$100,000; Best Website Award; and Best
Print Collateral Award.
Montelongo’s marketing and advertising manager Becky Salter said it was
exhilarating to see a 27-year-old, familyowned business compete with accomplished remodeling contractors from
across the state.
L-R: Victor Drozd, Scott Porter, Kristi Sutterfield(TAB executive director), T.W. Bailey,
Bob Garrett(now immediate past president, TAB), Ron Connelly, Ray Tonjes,
and Beverly Koehn, Sunbelt Builders Show Task Force Chair.
“Winning this award lets our customers know that our industry peers are
confirming the level of our good work.
We don’t think about not winning the
awards,” exclaimed Salter.
Initiated in 1992, TAB’s Star Awards
pay tribute to the work of Texas builders,
architects, sales and marketing professionals, designers and other industry leaders. Star Awards were presented to fifty
builders and developers who competed
in categories ranging from Best Product
Design to Best Website, including two San
Antonio-based homebuilders.
Best Custom Home Under $250,000:
Broadway 5 Homes.
Best Custom Home ranging from
$250,000 to $350,000: Sitterle Homes.
Best Custom Home ranging from
$350,000 to $500,000: Sitterle Homes.
Grand Award for Low-Volume Homes:
Sitterle Homes.
Sitterle Homes vice president Jim
Leonard said the Star Awards are an extremely important marketing tool.
“If a customer doesn’t know about a
prospective company, or if they are new
to the San Antonio area, this recognition
helps establish a high level of credibility.
The Star Awards are a big morale boost
for the talented people in our company
because a great deal effort goes into
building the homes.”
Builders/remodelers take
aging seriously
A
s the building industry joined in
the celebration of the first National
Aging in Place Week, a survey by
the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB) showed many of its
members already recognize and meet
the need to design new homes, and remodel existing homes, to eliminate potential barriers.
During the week of Nov. 9-16, the
NAHB Remodelors Council, NAHB Seniors Housing Council, and NAHB Research Center worked with members of
the National Advisory Council on Agingin-Place and the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association to encourage
seniors, retirees, pre-retirees and baby
boomers to ensure home safety and
comfort as they age.
According to the survey, a significant
number of builders include aging-inplace features in homes. Many homes
built today, especially in active adult
communities and senior apartments, are
designed with the following features to
allow residents to live there longer and
facilitate daily activities such as bathing,
cooking or climbing stairs:
*At least one bedroom and bathroom on
the first floor.
*Conveniently located and easy-to-use
controls and handles.
*Extra maneuvering space throughout
the home.
*No-step entrances.
*Larger bathrooms with safety features.
*Improved lighting and multiple controls.
Aging-in-place features can be easily incorporated into existing homes. To
encourage consumers to hire professionals with experience in the aging-in-place
field, the NAHB Remodelors Council also
will spotlight the Certified Aging-inPlace Specialist (CAPS) professional designation.
CAPS professionals are specially
trained to design and build aesthetically
enriching, barrier-free living environments, and can provide consumers with
comprehensive and practical aging-inplace solutions. Additional information
on CAPS and other professional designations awarded by NAHB is available online at www.nahb.org/education.
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15262 Capital Port
210-408-9052
Fax 493-1999
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Lofty ideas soar at weekend convention
T
he Texas Society of Architects (TSA)
hosted its 64th Annual Convention
and Design Products & Ideas Expo,
from Fri. Oct. 31st through Sun. Nov. 1st,
at the Ft. Worth Convention Center. Recognizing outstanding contributions to
architecture by individuals and organizations in Texas, the awards program acknowledged members for achievements
in their respective professions.
This year’s theme, Deep Roots–Many
Branches, celebrated architecture at it’s
finest.
TSA President, John V. Nyfeler,
FAIA, said the theme was named to represent architecture’s significance to today’s civilization.
“In this context, it is an expression
that was coined to describe the vast
sources and lengthy history on which the
current practice of architecture is based.”
Nyfeler added, “It also symbolizes architecture’s expansive reach into the everyday lives of people throughout the
world.”
Over 2,400 design professionals and
industry suppliers, including architects,
interior designers, specifiers, contractors,
developers, builders, landscape artists,
engineers, manufacturers, service providers and civic leaders, made appearances throughout the eventful weekend.
Attendees had the opportunity to
view the sold-out products and services
expo as well as learn more about how to
improve building safety. The three-day
event gave visitors a chance to network
with friends and distinguished industry
leaders.
Two keynote speakers from across
the nation spoke to design professionals
about the latest information in architecture. John R. Sibler, Ph.D., Chancellor
at Boston University, gave a speech titled
“Architecture for the Absurd, Fact or Fiction.” He shared his perspective as a cli-
Ruth Carter Stevenson, recipient of the
Cornerstone Award.
ent of design and architecture. Later in
the afternoon, David Pearce Snyder, a
consulting futurist for over 30 years, delivered his speech called, “Architects as
Activists for Changing Times.”
The Boards of TSA and the International Interior Design Association-Texas/
Oklahoma Chapter were pleased to announce their organizations’ highest honors and recognitions throughout the
weekend convention.
Scrutinized by a panel of three nationally-prominent architects, seven
projects were chosen from among 271
entries in the annual Design Awards
competition. The winners included:
Austin’s Page Southerland Page Architects for the Austin Convention Center; El
Paso’s Alvidrez Architecture for the Marcus. B. Armijo Library Addition; Dallas’
Max Levy Architects for the House by a
Pond and Sunlit House projects; Austin’s
Team Haas Architects for the Goodwill
Industries Retail Prototype project; Hous-
Jim C. Doche, FAIA, awarded the Llewellyn W. Pitts FAIA Award.
ton’s Architectworks for the
Round Valley Office Building
and Garage project; and Austin’s M.J. Neal Architects for
the Twin Peaks project.
On the final day, TSA announced the three highest
awards presented at the Gala.
Ruth Carter Stevenson garnered the 2003 Cornerstone
Award for her lifelong dedication to excellence in architecture in Ft. Worth, around Texas, and across the nation. The
highest individual member
honor, Llewellyn W. Pitts,
FAIA Award, was presented to
Jim C. Doche, FAIA, of Amarillo. Abilene’s James D. Tittle, Tittle Luther Partnership,
received the Architectural
Firm Award for producing distinguished architecture for at
least ten years.
James D. Tittle, FAIA, Tittle Luther Partnership,
receives the Architecture Firm Award.
Fire Alarm Museum captures
past and hints at future
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I
n 1966, J.E. Moore was just doing his
job. In the course of business, he invented the first wireless smoke sensor
and the first fire alarm with an automatic
phone dialer. Nowadays, virtually all fire
alarms use Moore’s technology to
achieve the same goals.
The Fire Alarm Museum is located at
JM Electronic Engineering, Inc.’s offices
in Round Rock. Moore and his son, J.J.
Moore, have taken those early ideas well
into the future. They now offer fire alarm
systems, nurse call systems, emergency
call systems, fire sprinkler systems, fire
extinguishers, kitchen suppression, security systems, cctv systems, access control
systems, magnetic locks and keypads,
PA/sound systems, 24-hour monitoring,
and 24-hour emergency service.
Stopping in for a tour of the museum
will get the visitor more than they have
bargained for. When Construction News
showed up, J.J. Moore, himself, conducted the tour and brought life and insight
to the displays.
Highlights of the museum include a
1934 vintage IBM fire alarm control
housed in a beautiful mahogany box, an
old fire alarm station city municipal box,
a pneumatic fire alarm, a cart-drawn fire
extinguisher, and Moore’s original 1966
patented equipment (complete with patent papers).
The museum opened in 1993. Since
then, fire marshals, firefighting personnel, and fire protection industry people
are the most common visitors to the museum. An acknowledgement from the
Texas Governor is even posted.
Though the museum is filled with
history, it sits within the confines of JM
Electronic Engineering’s quite modern
offices, where the future of the industry is
happening now.
JMEE has just been awarded a $1.2
million contract to replace the fire alarm
systems in 17 schools for Killeen ISD.
Their installation and service territory
ranges from regional offices in Corpus
Christi, San Antonio, Austin, Waco, and
their latest additions of Brownwood and
Dallas/Fort Worth.
continued from Page 1 - Browning Construction Co. delivers Mayan 14 Theaters
select candies, and pay for their favorite treats at a
manned register.
Natural limestone and EIFS were utilized in the exterior construction of the theater’s northwest tower,
which is crowned with an eye-catching neon flame.
Angled columns with spun aluminum bowls create additional exterior flair. The curved box office façade is
constructed from stone, and the exterior is finished
with Thorocoat, a textured paint treatment. The entrances’ new aluminum windowall system provides
access to the lobby area.
San Antonio Construction News spoke with project
superintendent David Carter, who said the construction team faced a minimal number of obstacles during
the fast-track timeline.
“The normal problems that are involved in a renovation typically include structural issues that can’t be
worked out in advance,” David explained. “Once we
opened up the walls we did have to deal with some minor surprises, which we worked out by adding supplemental support to the existing walls. The administrating
architect, Ron Weaver, has significant experience in the
theater renovation niche. Understanding that time was
of the essence, he responded promptly on submittals,
RFI’s, and other changes required in the contract.”
Browning’s vice president of operations Tim Bentley, who served as project manager, complemented the
lead architect, Charles Hodges, Hodges & Associates.
“Charles is an absolute guru when it comes to theaters and high-end retail space. He did a wonderful job
on this design, literally turning an old, dilapidated theater
into a beautiful showpiece for the south side of San Antonio. It’s a part of the built environment that the neighbors
can be proud of and John Santikos should be commended for having the courage to pump dollars into the
city’s south side, when other investors are running away.
We are proud to have been a part of the team.”
Design Professionals: Charles Hodges, Principal Architect, and Ron Weaver, Administering Architect, Hodges
& Associates; Clint Cody, Hunt & Joiner, structural engineer; George Hammons, Toub & Associates, MEP engineer; Aetna Signs and Big Sky (projection equipment/
screen under separate contracts with the owner).
Primary Subcontractors: Urban Concrete; Baker Drywall;
DC Electric; Mission Mechanical; Ventilation Systems;
Rick Stone Masonry; and Richardson Tile & Plaster.
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Browning Construction Company, a pioneer in Texas
construction, has grown to establish itself as a leader in
the construction industry. Caleb Browning founded
the company as C.L. Browning Contractors in 1931.
Beginning as a builder of custom homes in San Antonio, the company branched out to commercial and
military construction. In 1957, the company became
incorporated under its current name. In 1994, the general contractor opened a second office in Austin, to
better serve the demand for its services.
Still operating as a family-run business, president
James Browning and CFO/vice-president Robert
Browning are joined in the management of the
company by vice president of operations Tim Bentley, vice president (San Antonio) Alton S. “Bubba”
Moeller, and vice president (Austin) Russell Garner.
Browning Construction provides construction services to multiple public and private industries including
office, healthcare, retail, government, religious and hospitality. Today, a large portion of its work currently comprises K-12 and university educational projects, in the
form of additions/renovations to existing schools and
the construction of new campuses.
Acknowledged for excellence among its peers, the
San Antonio Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America has recognized Browning as Contractor of the Year, and Safe Contractor of the Year. The
Texas Building Branch of AGC has designated Browning as the recipient of its Outstanding Construction
Awards. AGC National recognizes Browning Construction Company annually for its safety achievements.
Texas
Style




San Antonio
Austin
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Houston
continued from Page 1 - CEC heralds 20th year in practice
Project, originally envisioned by Robert
Hugman in the 1930’s.
“After numerous failed attempts
over the decades,” Don began, “our firm,
together with Bender Wells Clark Design and others, were successful in crystallizing a plan to allow the community to
collect $14 million from the Federal government, which financed a large part of
the Mission Trails project. Our role as a
community consensus builder is not typically a part of engineering, but to keep it
from being opposed or fall by the wayside, we had to define where the road
needed to go, what it should look like, its
sequence of development and aesthetic
enhancements.”
In 1997, Don was one of twenty citizens appointed by Mayor Bill Thornton to
continued from Page 1 - TDIndustries
implements new division
other buildings that we would not consider to be as sizeable as high-rises or
hospitals,” Tim added. “Our mechanical
retrofits would include chillers, cooling
towers, rooftop units, split systems, boilers and equipment of that nature. Electrical retrofit activity would include emergency power generating systems, lighting upgrades and power distribution.”
Tim is actively researching published
projects through area planrooms, as well
as networking with developers and
property owners in his effort to develop
the division.
“TDIndustries has received a lot of
requests to perform this kind of work,
which we turned down in the past. We
are resurrecting this activity to serve our
customers more effectively and the relatively quick turnaround aspect appeals
to us. We have engineers on staff that we
will utilize in any design/build capacity.”
A graduate of Penn State, Tim has 12
years of estimating and project management experience and has been a TDPartner for six years.
serve on the Mayor’s Water Committee.
The group was comprised of people representing stakeholder groups, including
business, environmental and academic
interests, and professional engineers.
“Together, we helped draft the
Framework for Progress that has allowed
our community to break out of the argument that paralyzed us for so many years
and kept us from getting additional water resources,” Don continued. “With the
assistance of an outside facilitator, we
defined the city’s water problems and
sought solutions, working through tough
issues that resulted in the Framework for
Progress. SAWS has taken that and
moved on some specific initiatives that
allowed the community to pursue additional water rights, better utilize the
aquifer, and implement recharge enhancements. I’m personally proud of the
help I volunteered. The simple gratification of giving back to the community was
worth every hour of my time.”
Another showcase project for which
Don and CEC contributed their engineering expertise involved the San Antonio
River Authority.
“The Riverwalk section, from Houston St. to Lexington, had fallen into a
state of serious disrepair,” he added.
“Some of the walls were potentially ready
to fall in, which could have caused damage to adjacent property as well as pedestrians. We worked with a diverse team
of talented architects and artists in restoring that section of the Riverwalk.
Completed in 2002, it looks nice and is
once again structurally sound.”
Throughout his professional career,
Don has applied his intellect and talent
toward helping maintain the structural
integrity of our city as it moves into the
future, while helping retain its link to the
historic past. He said continuing challenges facing the city, that public works
engineers can help solve, lie in three areas: water resources; traffic and transportation; and education.
“As a civil engineer,” he resolved, “I
believe our creative discipline is focused
on making things work, solving problems
and contributing knowledge and experience toward the best and most efficient
way to fund public improvements.”
Round-Up
C
ivil Engineering
Consultants announces that Principal and Survey Division Manager Michael
Haberer,
R.P.L.S. was installed
as president of the
Texas Society of Professional Surveyors
(TSPS). Haberer has more than 31 years
of experience in all phases of surveying.
C
ivil Engineering
Consultants
Principal
Chester
Varner, R.P.L.S. was
elected to a threeyear term as a Director of Texas Society
of Professional Surveyors (TSPS). Varner has over 28 years of experience in all
phases of surveying and extensive experience in working with public agencies.
S
B
S
S
ob Packard has
established a new
manufacturer’s rep
firm,
CONCRETE
POINT, specializing in
concrete construction
products.
Territory
will include the state
of Texas. Packard
brings 20 years of construction industry
sales experience to the business. His lines
include SOUND FOOTINGS; ADJUSTABLE KICKER; and TOOLITE.
outhTrust Bank,
San Antonio, has
named Jaime Elias as
Vice President and
Business Banker to
work with businesses
with annual revenues
of $1 to $5 million.
Prior to this appointment, Elias served as
Financial Center Manager for SouthTrust’s
Hollywood branch winning the Cornerstone Branch of the Quarter for five consecutive quarters in 2001-2002.
outhTrust Bank,
San Antonio, has
named Wendy Albers as Vice President
and Financial Center
Manager for its new
UTSA parkway branch.
In this capacity Albers
will oversee all retail
and operational activities at the branch,
which opened in November. Albers has
over 17 years of banking experience, 10
of which have been with SouthTrust.
outhTrust Bank,
San Antonio, has
named Brian Baumann as Vice President and Middle Market
Commercial
Lender to handle
businesses with annual revenues of $15
to $100 million. Baumann has over eight
years of banking experience and has won
several awards for his contributions in
loan volume.
A
lfonso “Al” Lujan
has been appointed senior vice
president of electric
transmission and distribution systems at
City Public Service
(CPS). Lujan will direct the planning, design, construction and maintenance of
the electric transmission and distribution
systems for San Antonio’s electric and
natural gas utility. A New Mexico native,
Lujan graduated from the University of
Albuquerque and began his utility industry career in 1972.
H
utchison Supply
Company
announces the appointment of Larry Mathis
to the position of General Manager. Mathis,
a San Antonio native
and former Senior Estimator, has been with the door, glass, and
hardware supplies company since 1995.
To include your company in Round-Up, please send information about recently hired or promoted employees to: [email protected]
Time Insurance
Agency
Serving the Industry since 1961
Insurance
•
Bonding
• Builders Risk
• Automobile
• Workers Comp
• Surety Bond
• General Liability
• Property
Give us a call today
10803 Gulfdale, Suite 220
210-344-8898
O’ Come all ye Faithful...
Legislation requires
background checks
H
B750 - Criminal Background
Checks for Installed Sales performed in Homes - became law
on Sept. 1, 2003 in Texas. Previous to 9/
1/03, without mandatory background
checks, employers are potentially liable
for negligent entrustment.
The background check procedure is
a new twist, which gives employers
some measure of protection that has
not existed previously in current law. It
is actually a good thing for employers.
The bill applies to companies that
have employees who enter a residence
for a fee, deliver, place, assemble or install an item, including heating, air-conditioning and ventilation, plumbing or
electrical systems. All such companies
will have to obtain criminal background
checks on employees that enter the
residence either from the DPS, or a company approved by the DPS, that provides the same information.
There is no express “penalty” for
failing to comply; however, if a company
does obtain the criminal record information and the record was clean for 20
years for a felony / 10 years for a misde-
to
Sauer’s
Paint!
Sauer’s Paint & Supplies
“Over 70 Years of Paint Experience Awaits You”
210-545-3880
15701 San Pedro
email: [email protected]
Many Member Benefits
• Discounted Continuing
Ed. Classes
• Discounted Insurances
• Discounted Fuel
And Many Others
call 210-523-1540
Monday - Friday 9-12
meanor involving crimes against persons or property or involving public indecency, then there is a presumption
that the company was not negligent in
hiring the employee (in the event the
employee did something illegal in the
residence).
If a company sends two or more
employees together into a residence, it
shall be deemed to have complied with
the requirement as long as at least one
of those employees has been checked
and, while they are in the residence,
that employee accompanies and directly supervises any employee who
has not been checked, and the company maintains a record of the identity of
any such non-checked employee for at
least two years.
Records should be maintained for
at least two years after the person’s employment with the company ends or for
two years after the company determines not to employ the person, as ap plicable.
Employers can set up their own account directly with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
ABC
Dec. 19: Associated Builders and Contractors looks forward to seeing all of its
members at the multi-association Christmas Gala, 6 pm, Hyatt Riverwalk Hotel.
Please bring a generous heart and wallet
for the Live and Silent Auction. Proceeds
will benefit the foster children of Bexar
County.
AGC
Dec. 4: To celebrate this year’s accomplishments and ring in the holiday season, Associated General Contractors,
IBEW and NECA will co-host a Holiday
Open House, from 4 – 7 pm, at the AGC
Chapter Office, 10806 Gulfdale. Hors
d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. A
caricature artist will be on hand to provide some added fun. Dress is casual.
Please bring an unwrapped toy to benefit
Construct a Kid’s Christmas. For more information call the AGC office at 210-3494921.
Jan. 9: The General Membership Luncheon and Installation of New Directors
will be held at the San Antonio Airport
Hilton from 12 pm to 1:15 pm. Superintendent Dr. Richard Middleton, will install
the new directors for 2004 and speak
about the construction program at
NEISD. Reservations are required by Jan.
6, 2004 and the cost will be $25 for AGC
members and $35 for non-members. For
reservations or to sponsor this event, call
the AGC office at 210-349-4921.
Christmas, a construction industry event
to benefit the foster children of Bexar
County. Cost is $50 per person and we
are asking each individual or couple to
bring an unwrapped gift for children
aged birth to 18. Enjoy casino gaming,
music and dancing, a silent and live auction, delicious buffets and beverages.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
And auction items are welcomed. For information, call 210-349-2105.
Feb. 26: Heads Up! ASA’s 9th Annual
Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet. Mark your calendars for the “firstclass” event!
CSI
The Construction Specification Institute
will not meet in December.
GSABA
Dec. 5: The Greater San Antonio Builders
Association 61st Annual Holiday Gala and
Installation of Officers.
Jan. 6: 2004 Housing Forecast.
Jan. 30: SABPAC Pre-Rodeo Chili CookOff & Barn Dance.
NARI
Jan. 2004: National Association of the
Remodeling Industry 1st Annual Awards
Gala and Presentation of New Officers. By
invitation only.
Feb. 4: Power Breakfast Meeting.
Call Rudy Nino, CGR at 210-732-9663 for
more information.
ASA
Dec.19: American Subcontractors Association has joined forces with ABC, NAWIC, BXTX, and HCA to present the 2003
Christmas Gala at the Hyatt Riverwalk
Hotel, at 6 pm. The Gala will raise funds
and collect toys for Construct A Kid’s
NAWIC
Dec. 19: The San Antonio Chapter of the
National Association of Women in Construction is having a Christmas Gala held
jointly with the Associated Builders and
Contractors (ABC) and the American Sub-
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION NEWS TEAM
contractors Association (ASA), The Builders Exchange of Texas, and The Hispanic
Contractors Association De Tejas.
Location: Hyatt Regency Riverwalk,
from 6 pm to 10 pm. Cost: $50.00 dollars
per person plus an unwrapped gift for
children aged birth to 18. Dress festively
and gather in the Regency Ballroom for
cocktails, dinner, dancing, and gambling!
Fundraiser through Live and Silent Auctions benefits the Construct a Kid’s
Christmas fundraiser benefiting foster
children in Bexar County. RSVP by Dec.
5th to Karen Santino, 210-472-1400 or
visit our website at www.nawicsat.org.
The San Antonio Chapter of the National
Association of Women in Construction
holds their general monthly meetings
the first Wednesday of every month.
PHCC-SA
Dec. 4: Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors – San Antonio Holiday Party and
2004 Officer Installation at the downtown Texas Land & Cattle Company restaurant. Reservations required: call 210523-1540.
Dec. 5: Construct A Kid’s Christmas Toy
Drive to benefit Bexar County’s foster
children, from 10 am to 2 pm, at San Antonio Construction News offices; 11931
Warfield (at Nakoma).
Jan. 8: General Membership Meeting at
Dave & Buster’s from 11 am to 1 pm. Panel
Discussion: local plumbing contractors
discuss personal experiences
with
handling emergencies at the office and
in the field.
Jan. - June 2004: Plumbers Professional
Continuing Education Class Schedule:
Call 1-800-992-7422.
SAMCA
Dec. 19: The San Antonio Masonry Contractors Association will host a “Casino
Night” as its 9th Annual Holiday Celebration and Awards Banquet, at 7 pm, at San
Antonio’s Petroleum Club, 8620 North
New Braunfels (7th Floor). $75 per person
includes a buffet dinner, an open bar and
casino games. During the evening, the
guests will play blackjack, roulette, and
craps. No regular general membership
meeting will be held in December. To
obtain information or reservations for
this event, call Debbie at 830-606-5556.
Jan. 29:
The next regular meeting.
SAST
Dec. 2: Surety Association of South
Texas, Inc.’s Christmas Party from 4 pm
to 7 pm, at Dave & Busters,’ located at
Loop 410 & I10. Enjoy food, drinks and
games. Price of admission is one unwrapped toy or cash donation for Construct a Kid’s Christmas.
TSPE
Dec. 1: Texas Society of Professional Engineers and ASCE Holiday Party; Petroleum Club of San Antonio; Cash bar from
6 pm; Dinner at 7 pm.
Dec. 5: PEPP Executive Committee Meeting; Pape Dawson Conference Room.
Dec. 9: TSPE Board Meeting; 7 am at
Pape Dawson Conference Room.
To RSVP call Judie Guerra at 210-6999090 or [email protected].
TSPS
Dec. 4: Texas Society of Professional Surveyors Chapter Board Meeting, from 5
pm to 6:30 pm, at Bury/Partners.
Dec. 6: Practical Uses of Aerial Photogrammetry, from 8 am to 5 pm, at Omni
Southpark-Austin, TX.
Dec. 17: Chapter Christmas Dinner, from
6:30 pm to 9 pm, at Dave & Buster’s.
Out of ashes, a home rises
L
eft homeless on Jan. 24th, 2003, when a fast-moving fire destroyed their home, the
Ruiz and Leija families accepted housewarming gifts on Oct. 25th from KB Home volunteers, who were among those who helped build and then donated a three-bedroom,
two-bath, 1200-sf home at the family’s original homesite on San Antonio’s east side.
FAQ’s
W
hen a group of remodeling contractors were asked
what questions homeowners asked most frequently, the
group unanimously agreed that
their most popular queries were:
-When can you start?
-When will you be finished?
-What time will you knock on my
door each morning?
-What time will you quit for the
day?
-Are you going to work everyday?
-Can you finish before (insert any
major holiday or significant family
event)?
-How much will it cost per square
foot?
-Who will be working on the project? -Are they employees or subcontractors?
-What is your approach to a project
such as this?
-How many projects like mine have
you completed in the past year?
-May I have a list of references?
-What percentage is repeat or referral business?
-Are you a member of a national
trade association?
-Have you or your employees been
certified in remodeling or had any
special training or education?
-Does your company carry workers
compensation and liability insurance?
The answers are not going to
tell you much about a particular
contractor, so try these:
Asking the right questions is
not enough. You need to pay attention to your instincts and to what
information is missing.
-How long have you been in business?
-Who will be assigned as project
supervisor for the job?
Submitted by Rudy Nino, CGR.
Source: National Association of the
Remodeling Industry.
L-R: Bill Holland, Patrick Jackson, Ed Banner, Silvia Hance, and Dave Keeland, KB Home; Daniel
and Sarah Ruiz and two of their three daughters, Brenda and Taliha and their grandfather,
Jose A. Leija. Behind the family is Becky O’Brien, KB Home and Guy Rubio, Century 21 United
Action, who brought the family’s plight to the attention of the homebuilder. At the podium
hosting the ceremony is Craig Westmoreland, president of KB Home San Antonio.
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What A TRIP
A
ccording to state reports, 784 pieces of commercial equipment were stolen in the year 2000. In
2001, data showed 788 pieces of commercial
equipment stolen.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Crime Records Service has set up the Texas Recovery and Identifi cation Program (TRIP) to help return some of the pilfered equipment to its rightful owners.
TRIP also registers farm equipment, which has seen
a dramatic jump in thefts recently.
In order to register with TRIP, vehicles must have
permanent wheels or tracks, and they must also have
manufacturer Property Identification Numbers (PIN).
The TRIP program works upon the premise that
concerned companies and individuals would like a way
for law enforcement to be able to identify and recover
stolen equipment.
Enrollment in TRIP begins with a company registering their contact information through a web interface.
After registering, the company may then add as many
pieces of equipment as they like. After the company’s
equipment has been entered into TRIP, DPS will mail program information and TRIP stickers, to be placed on each
piece of registered equipment.
One major benefit of TRIP is that law enforcement
will already have your heavy equipment information
available in the event it is stolen. It is even possible that
they might know your equipment is stolen before you
do because your registration information is placed in a
law enforcement database that is accessible 24 hours, 7
days a week.
Rental companies can greatly benefit from TRIP because rental equipment is much more exposed to theft
than privately-owned property. Finding stolen inventory may help rental companies avoid rising insurance
costs and lost time to replace stolen property.
Information in the database includes the equipment’s year, make, style, and color. This information is
provided to help law enforcement personnel make a visual identification of a piece of equipment from a distance.
Decal placement is very important, as law enforcement has been trained on where to look for them on the
equipment. For each piece of equipment registered in
the TRIP system, vehicle owners will be sent four stickers. The decals are made of white reflective material
with black lettering.
DPS reported that 345 pieces of construction equipment have been registered by 189 owners or companies, since this April, when the program started.
Jesse Flores, with DPS said, “The Texas Recovery
and Identification Program was created as an online da-
tabase to assist companies and individual owners register their construction and farm equipment, so that the
law enforcement community can obtain ownership information on equipment they suspect may be stolen or
in the process of being stolen. This program is in its infancy and is slowly being recognized throughout the
state. It will take time to get the message out to the
companies and individual owners of this free service,
provided to them to help identify their property.”
Further information on TRIP is available by calling
(888) 447-5933 or through the website at
www.txdps.state.tx.us.
Urban is being used for all concrete work at the new US Oncology on Brooklyn Ave.
Metropolitan Contracting is the general contractor.
Project superintendent for Metropolitan is Nick Lopez.
CONCRETE CONTRACTORS LTD
Commercial • Residential • MultiFamily
Ronnie Urbanczyk, President • Steven Valerio, Vice President
Estimators Tom Fulks • Robert Cruz • Rick Fulks • Chris Boyd
Professional Engineer, Mike Zezula
New 18,000 sf office/warehouse for Hooker Contracting and South Texas Erectors.
Hooker Contracting is the general contractor.
Project superintendent for Hooker is Steve Jimmerson.
“Building a strong foundation in San Antonio and South Texas”
Business Office
24114 Blanco Road
210 • 490 • 0090 Fax 210 • 490 • 1505 800 • 884 • 6675
Austin Field Office
3206 Highway 183 South Austin, Texas 78744
800 • 884 • 6675
See our ad at CONCRETE CONTRACTORS in
your SBC Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages and at
www.SMARTpages.com
Liquid nitrogen is cool!
On Location
TDIndustries Office Team L-R: Lisa Berry, Sherry Graham, Sandy Maxfield, Mozzelle
Dempster, Priscilla Ballard, Susan Sewell, Sylvia Garza and Karen Nichols.
Transit Mix Concrete Co. batches a cool load of concrete.
T
xDOT, PBS&J, and Transit Mix Concrete Co. recently introduced a new
concrete cooling technique, using
liquid nitrogen (LN). LN was used instead
of ice to cool the concrete used for construction of a portion of the $2.9 billion
Central Texas Turnpike Project.
Working with TxDOT and PBS&J,
Transit Mix batched eight cubic yards of
concrete at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. An LN
wand was then inserted into the readymix drum. After eight minutes, the temperature of the concrete dropped 20 degrees. After three additional minutes of
mixing, the concrete was delivered to the
jobsite and poured into a drilled shaft,
where the concrete temperature registered 78 degrees.
“It is critical to control the temperature of concrete during construction, in
order to control the amount of cracking
that may occur while the concrete cures,”
remarked William Beaver, PBS&J. “The
new process promises to revolutionize
the way concrete is cooled in Texas.”
For road builders in Texas, low-cost
LN offers many advantages over the traditional and impractical ice method.
“Using LN,” Beaver continued, “the
concrete placement schedule is no longer constrained to cooler seasons or
nights. Studies show that cooler, fresh
concrete translates into stronger concrete. Cooler concrete also retains its
workability, allowing the contractor more
time to place it.”
Bridge engineer Ralph Browne,
P.E., TxDOT, said “LN removes risks, allows more thorough mixing of concrete,
and improves yield.”
Transit Mix’s Joe Dan Johnson commented, “From a quality perspective, the
use of LN reduces variables, thus giving
the end user a better product.”
Ceco Concrete Construction provided concrete formwork for the Watermark Hotel
which is still under construction in San Antonio.
Sun produces power
at ITC
V
isitors to the University of Texas at
San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of
Texan Cultures (ITC) have flocked
there to become enlightened about the
Lone Star State’s rich cultural heritage.
Now, they can gain further enlightenment about science, technology and the
future, thanks to a state-of-the-art solar
electric generating unit built by City
Public Service (CPS). CPS General Manager Milton Lee and UTSA President Dr.
Ricardo Romo ceremonially activated
the Solar Power Station Nov. 20th.
Three giant solar arrays, totaling approximately 200 photovoltaic panels,
harness the Texas sun near the flagpoles
at the ITC entrance in HemisFair Park. Two
of the arrays cover an open-air carport,
while the third perches on top of an interactive exhibit on the benefits of solar
power.
“This project epitomizes the Institute’s new focus on science and technology and their influences on the people of
Texas,” said Dr. Romo. “This is a high-visibility project and one that will educate
children and adults alike on the benefits
of solar power.”
During optimal conditions, the
$300,000 project can generate up to 10
kilowatts (kw) of electricity depending
on weather conditions -- enough to
power three average homes. Electricity
from the cells is converted from direct
current to alternating current and powers the kiosk and nightlights around the
Solar Power Station with the majority going directly into CPS’ downtown power
grid. The on-site exhibit includes a realtime display of how much energy the solar arrays are collecting, a comparison of
that number to what the system could be
generating under ideal weather conditions, and a demonstration of how solar
cells would work in an average home.
Construction began in July 2003,
and the project was completed in November. CPS has a 10-year agreement,
with a five-year option to renew, to operate the panels at ITC. Upon expiration of
the contract, the ITC will own the solar
panels, although electricity produced
will continue to feed into CPS’ downtown
grid.
Home solar power systems generally
cost between $7,000 and $10,000 per kw
of power generated, according to statistics from British Petroleum (BP) Solar, a
leading solar power equipment-manufacturing firm based in the United Kingdom. Most homes require between 2 and
4 kilowatts of power. The more customers who demand solar cells for their
homes, the easier it will be to manufacture the cells in large numbers, further
reducing their average cost.
Crew from South Texas Erectors, Inc. lift the first of many wall panels for building one at
Dellview Marketplace Retail Center. Their will be five buildings.
General contractor is Middleman Construction.
Anthony (3rd from left) with the rest of the staff, James, Glen
and Steve from Planet Pickup.
The Escalade Group is just finishing the new headquarters fo
Drash Consulting Engineers at Blanco Junction Shopping Center.
The center is owned by Daniel Jacob Interests.
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