Legislative Report for Week 1 of the Georgia General Assembly
AGC will attempt to provide these reports on a weekly basis, but may also submit brief updates on specific issues of importance to the membership as they unfold under the Gold Dome.
The 2006 Georgia General Assembly completed its first full week January 9-13, 2006 with the Governor reporting that Georgia is in a much more secure financial state than prior years, as a result of surging tax revenues from a recovering economy.
AGC is well positioned to represent the interests of the construction industry during what most insiders are calling a “get-in-and-get-out” legislative session. However, there are major issues that have surfaced in the legislative arena, and if not addressed appropriately, they could have a major negative impact on our industry.
Reverse Auction Bidding For Construction
On November 10, 2005 the Georgia Branch, AGC, was victorious in a court case that set a precedent for governmental entities to consider before utilizing reverse auction bidding for construction services. Our chapter, through the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, initiated legal action against the City of Statesboro in Bulloch County Superior Court over their decision to use reverse auction bidding to secure the services of a general contractor to construct their new police headquarters.
As a result of the court decision, the City of Statesboro re-bid the project under the traditional competitive sealed bid method. The original reverse auction bid resulted in a low bid of $5,253,000. The re-bid for the project with the same contractors under the traditional competitive sealed bid method resulted in a low bid of $4,606,000. Some additions and subtractions were made to the scope of the project, but overall AGC’s vigilance and initiation of court action not only helped preserve the integrity of our public works law, but also saved the taxpayers of Statesboro more than $600,000. . . .
Read Full Text of Week 1 Report
Licensing Law: FAQs are posted and application link is available
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(l-r) Dave Cyr, Parrish Construction; Kyle Floyd, Executive Director of the Licensing Board; and Mark Woodall, Georgia Branch, AGC's Governmental Affairs Director helped answer questions from members pertaining to the state's contractor licensing law during a breakfast meeting on January 18 in Macon. In coming days, the chapter will be offering two additional meetings for members who live and work near Metro Atlanta.
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On January 11, Georgia Branch, AGC published it's FAQ section on our website for all
members to review as they begin planning to apply for contractor licensure for all work done in Georgia.
While we encourage you to learn as much about this law and its criteria through our posted resources, we understand you will have questions about how your firm should proceed. Please mark your calendars now for two upcoming open forum meetings, Monday, January 30 and Monday, February 13. Choose the date that works best for your calendar and come to our training center to hear the questions your industry colleagues have and ask those that are keeping you awake at night!
Mark Woodall, Georgia Branch, AGC's Governmental Affairs Director and a key author of the legislation, along with chapter members who are on the state's licensing board will be present to speak about the law and help answer your questions.
Printable Registration Form
January 30 - Register Online
OR
February 13 Register Online
Technology Roundtable Discussion- Free for members
Technology Roundtable Discussion
Best IT Business Practices
February 2, 2006
10:00 - 11:30 am
Georgia Branch, AGC Training Center
Registration Form
Register Online
Georgia Branch, AGC’s Technology Committee is pleased to offer its second Technology Roundtable Discussion as a benefit to those members who are interested in learning and trading tips, best practices and lessons learned pertaining to technology and communication issues on the jobsite, in the office and in between.
If you are interested in learning more about technology related issues within our industry, come join us for the morning’s discussion. It doesn’t matter if you manage your IT department or aren’t real sure what IT means! We welcome your participation in an effort to help everyone learn more about technology and the resources it can offer your firm.
Special Guests: The AGC of America’s Electronic Information Systems (EIS) national committee meeting will be taking place at our headquarters during this roundtable discussion. Learn ideas from contractors here in Georgia, along with those who are visiting from other areas of the country!
We stress the importance of understanding this is not for all the “techies” of the world. We encourage anyone who has the responsibility of doing anything technology related in your office to attend. It’s FREE, so come learn some new ideas!
For more information contact Alyson Abercrombie at 678-298-4106.
Building Georgia Legislative Reception at Georgia Aquarium
6th Annual Building Georgia Joint Legislative Reception
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Georgia Aquarium
5:00 - 8:00 pm
Registration Form
Register Online
NOTE: Different from any of our past events, we will NOT be able to accommodate on-site registrants for this event. Pre-registration is mandatory and on-site registration will not be permitted.
See the Whale Sharks and Beluga Whales through grand viewing windows within our ballroom as you join architects, engineers, AGC contractors and industry professionals at the 6th Annual Building Georgia Legislative Reception.
It’s an election year, and as always the Georgia General Assembly members are invited to this event! Join us at the new and exciting venue to visit with industry professionals, legislators and state officials!
There are a variety of design and construction issues that will be debated during the 2006 General Assembly Session. The Legislative Reception is intended to allow you to focus on person-to-person, legislator contact and to meet with the individuals who design the projects we build. Each member of the General Assembly will receive a formal invitation; however, you are encouraged to personally invite your legislator.
If you’ve been to the Georgia Aquarium, you know the excitement this venue will bring to this event! If you haven’t taken a tour, please come to our event for a grand view into the whale shark and beluga whale exhibits. From our ballroom you will be able to take in the great beauty of these amazing animals. Please note, while our organizations have taken great strides to secure the rooms that view into these tanks, this registration fee ONLY covers the networking event. We encourage you to buy advanced general admission tickets (www.georgiaaquarium.com) for this date and tour the aquarium on your own time if you haven't already been. Be sure to reserve your time slot for the afternoon of February 7, prior to the reception, and then join us in the Arctic and Pacific Ballrooms for drinks, hors d'oeuvres and networking.
For more information on the event, please contact Denise Latham at 678-298-4118.
Upcoming Education, Safety and Professional Development Courses
View more information on all of the courses by clicking here.
The following courses are offered in January and February 2006.
- OSHA 30-Hour
- OSHA 10-Hour
- CPR, First Aid & Bloodborne Pathogens
- Basic Blueprint Reading
- Georgia's Fundamental Seminar (Level 1A) and Exam for Persons Involved with Land Disturbing Activities
- Competent Person: Trenching & Excavation
Contact Cherri Watson at 678-298-4104 for more information.
On January 3, 2006, the following employees of Georgia Branch, AGC members graduated from Ken Bradford's highly acclaimed management class, The Leaders Course®, which was held in Macon, GA.
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Graduate |
Sponsoring Firm |
| Doug Martin |
Ace Electric |
| Jason Beaver |
BECK |
| Doug Park |
General Steel Company |
| Ryan Watson |
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| Richard McWilliams |
MaconPower |
| Daniel Powell |
Performance Contracting, Inc. |
| Geoffrey Ammann |
Piedmont Construction Group, LLC |
| Chris Black |
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| Dan Born |
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| Rick McKeehan |
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| John Miller |
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| David Moore |
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| Dean Rago |
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| Jeff Sterling |
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| Donald Wigley |
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| Paul Wiley |
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From AGC of America - A National Voice Working for You
Data DIGest from January 17, 2006
Published by Ken Simonson, Chief Economist of AGC of America
Industrial production (IP) at mines, utilities, and factories rose 0.6% in December, seasonally adjusted, and 2.8% since December 2004, the Federal Reserve Board announced this morning. Output of construction supplies dropped 0.9% for the month but rose 5.2% for the year. Manufacturing IP climbed 0.2% for the month and 3.8% for the year, while capacity utilization in manufacturing reached 79.6% of capacity in November and December, up from 78.3% in December 2004. Together, rising output and capacity utilization in manufacturing imply further demand for factory construction.
The producer price index (PPI) for finished goods rose 0.9% in December, seasonally adjusted, and 5.4% for the year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday. The monthly and annual gains were driven largely by energy costs. In contrast, the “core” index, which omits food and energy, rose 0.1% for the month and 1.7% for the year. The PPI for materials and components for construction (not seasonally adjusted) rose 0.5% for the month, 2.7% over the past three months, and 6.1% over 12 months. Among construction segments . . .
Read Full Article
WASHINGTON -- Beginning February 1, employers must post a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today. Employers are only required to post the Summary (OSHA Form 300A) -- not the OSHA 300 Log -- from Feb.1 to Apr. 30, 2006.
The summary must list the total numbers of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2005 and were logged on the OSHA 300 form. Employment information about annual average number of employees and total hours worked during the calendar year is also required to assists in calculating incidence rates. Companies with no recordable injuries or illnesses in 2005 must post . . .
Read Full Press Release
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