"News to Build On"- February 2018
Good things on the Horizon:
We're well into 2018. Wow, 2018, it seems to pass faster with each year. Your LAGC has started making some significant changes, many a result of the Long Range Planning Committee that met last October.
For one, LAGC hired a new Area Manager for North Louisiana. Wes Mouk comes to us with a background in both vertical & horizontal construction. Wes spent the first 3 weeks with the Headquarters staff learning as much about our association as possible. He will reside in Ruston & will be a great asset to serve our Monroe, Shreveport & Alexandria areas. Please welcome Wes as he calls upon you!
Secondly, it's with unbridled enthusiasm that I announce that we have merged with the Shreveport AGC, and now we will merge into 1 chapter effective in March. LAGC will be the surviving organization, & have already been blessed with having additional members & member participation in the northwest part of the state. All activities & functions of the Shreveport Chapter will remain & LAGC will bring more AGC resources to that area. This merger makes LAGC the 7th largest chapter in AGC of America.
We're encouraged that much has been talked about regarding the need for additional Infrastructure funding. From Washington, to Baton Rouge, to some of our local governments, we've felt the undercurrent of political leaders from both parties agreeing that we need more Infrastructure funding. LAGC and our coalition members have kept the heat on our elected officials to increase such funding & I'm encouraged that 2018 will see that additional funding.
Your LAGC website has been overhauled & updated to a point that our members are reaching out to me to express thanks & looking forward to even further improvements. You can now find the entire 2018 Calendar of Events so you can plan what functions, meetings, seminars & events to attend. A side bar to improving our website was the effort LAGC's Lauren Fain did launching our new Annual Sponsorship Program & increasing sponsorship participation from our members. Lauren increased our sponsorship dollars over $100,000! This helped us make needed improvements to our website, social media, & helped us launch the LAGC Mobile Conference App, which debuted at Critical Issues.
AGC of America will host their National Convention from February 25-28 in New Orleans. Members, it will never get this closer to us than this! The LAGC discount is still applicable & you can register anytime. Monday, February 26th is the "Louisiana Night Dinner" held at Galatoire's. If you'd like to attend, please email [email protected].
Lastly, it's 2018 Membership renewal time. I know 2017 was tough, & I know because I travel the state and hear from members everywhere. There's an old axiom that states, "when times are tough, that's when I need my association". Over my 39 years with AGC, I've heard every reason possible for not renewing membership; but at the end of the day, ask yourself if there were no LAGC, where would you and your entire industry be?
When You're Hot, You're Hot.
There are times in sports a particular player or team gets hot, can’t miss, everything rolls their way. Well it’s been like that for LAGC and the construction industry lately. We’re hot and on a roll.
For years, LAGC has been involved in litigation that affects the construction industry. Hundreds of cases. A case recently decided by the 1st Court of Appeals between Facility Planning & Control and F.H. Myers regarding the payment of extended overhead drew LAGC’s interest. The issue of a public owner paying extended conditions when the owner or their representative causes a delay or extends the project, has long been argued by LAGC as a legitimate reimbursable cost. LAGC issued an amicus curiae brief on behalf of F.H. Myers. The 1st Circuit ruled in favor of Myers and LAGC. A huge victory for the construction industry.
Keeping that roll going, LAGC took two key issues to the legislature this past session, issues that were a very heavy lift. First introduced in 1984, LAGC has unsuccessfully tried to limit the requirement of having a licensed plumber on your payroll when doing water, drainage and sewer on private or undedicated property even though there was no such requirement on public rights-of-way. This year, with the agreement of those that have opposed this legislation, LAGC was able to pass legislation that repealed that requirement. Another major victory for the construction industry.
Also in this legislative session, LAGC along with the Consulting Engineers and Architects, re-wrote the Public Bid Law. LAGC met with over 40 public owners to gather input and worked with all to accommodate their concerns. What we now have is a much cleaner, more concise Public Bid Law
For years, LAGC has been involved in litigation that affects the construction industry. Hundreds of cases. A case recently decided by the 1st Court of Appeals between Facility Planning & Control and F.H. Myers regarding the payment of extended overhead drew LAGC’s interest. The issue of a public owner paying extended conditions when the owner or their representative causes a delay or extends the project, has long been argued by LAGC as a legitimate reimbursable cost. LAGC issued an amicus curiae brief on behalf of F.H. Myers. The 1st Circuit ruled in favor of Myers and LAGC. A huge victory for the construction industry.
Keeping that roll going, LAGC took two key issues to the legislature this past session, issues that were a very heavy lift. First introduced in 1984, LAGC has unsuccessfully tried to limit the requirement of having a licensed plumber on your payroll when doing water, drainage and sewer on private or undedicated property even though there was no such requirement on public rights-of-way. This year, with the agreement of those that have opposed this legislation, LAGC was able to pass legislation that repealed that requirement. Another major victory for the construction industry.
Also in this legislative session, LAGC along with the Consulting Engineers and Architects, re-wrote the Public Bid Law. LAGC met with over 40 public owners to gather input and worked with all to accommodate their concerns. What we now have is a much cleaner, more concise Public Bid Law
