Plans are being made for a first-of-its-kind statewide concrete open house scheduled to coincide with Severe Weather Awareness Week.  The event, slated for April 22-23, 2006 will highlight and promote insulated concrete form (ICF) construction around Minnesota and will include existing homes as well as those under construction.  For more information, please visit http://www.chooseconcretehomes.com.

Sponsorships for the event are available.  Click here for more information

If you know of an ICF home that should be part of this event, click here. The deadline for registering a home is March 1st, 2006.

ARM Past-President Tim Becken (Cemstone Products Company) and ARM Member Rick Johnson (Barton Sand & Gravel) joined ARM Executive Director Fred Corrigan in testimony to the Transportation Policy Committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives in response to the MnDOT Truck Weights Proposal.

ARM has been working with Representative Mike Beard (R-Shakopee) who authored HF 1667 in the 2005 legislative session and would change state statutes from the current 5-ton and 9-ton truck weight limits to 7-ton and 10-ton limits. ARM participated in the MnDOT Truck Weights meetings over the summer and fall which were intended to review current Minnesota laws and propose changes for review by the 2006 legislature. There were a number of groups speaking in favor of the proposal and a number of groups including AAA speaking against the proposal.  The Minnesota Trucking Association did not support the proposal.

The MnDOT proposal includes a number of issues of interest to ARM members including:

• County agreement to implement a minimum 7-ton system statewide unless posted and to continue to work on identifying a 10-ton county road network
• Permit single unit straight trucks length to increase to 45 feet maximum from the current 40 feet with a permit fee of $300
• Allow 6-axle 90,000 lb. GVW (99,000 under winter increases), (53 ft. maximum trailer) trucks only on 10,000 mile non-interstate 10-ton network
• Allow 7-axle 97,000 lb GVW (99,000 under winter increases), (53 ft. maximum trailer) trucks only on 10,000 mile non-interstate 10-ton networ
• Remove the 73,280 lb. GVW limit for 5-axle semi-trailers on 9-ton roads and allow axle weights and the bridge formula to control up to 80,000 lb GVW

The Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of Minnesota is pleased to present its 2006 Legislative Breakfast meeting Thursday, March 2, 2006 beginning at 7:30 am at the Dorsey Ewald Conference Center in St. Paul.  The Legislative Breakfast meeting provides a wonderful opportunity for members to be involved in meaningful dialogue of legislative issues that impact the aggregate and ready mix industries with key legislators.  The Legislative Breakfast provides an occasion to meet with legislators face-to-face to discuss important legislative issues.  The breakfast is also a great forum for members to discuss the current state of the industry in regards to legislative issues and a time to formulate plans of action.  We invite you to be a part of this exciting event!  The ARM Board of Directors will meet immediately following the conclusion of the Legislative Breakfast.

ALL ARM MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETING.

Click Here to Download Registration Form

ARM Staffer Dan Frentress, PE will train ready mix producers and others to use the new concrete pavement design guide that has been included on the MnDOT State Aid for Local Streets website which dramatically changes the specifications for concrete pavements on local streets.  The training will take place Friday, March 31 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at Degussa Admixtures in Eagan.

Participants in the course will learn to use the new concrete pavement design guide that has been included on the MnDOT State Aid for Local Streets website and gain insight on how to use NRMCAs Concrete Pavement Analyst Software in parking lot promotions.  John Garrity, MnDOT Bituminous Engineer will also give a presentation on asphalt specifications.

There is a $75 registration fee.  Lunch is being provided by Holcim (US) Inc.  The registration deadline is Friday, March 24, 2006.

Click Here to Download Registration Form

The ARM Aggregate Committee is preparing a survey of ARM aggregate members to clarify aggregate priorities for the committee and ARM in 2006. The topics that the committee believes are important to the industry in Minnesota include:  Research; Legislative Issues; Education; Environmental Issues; Issue Pamphlets; and Training and Certification Safety.

The Committee feels that there are many potential aggregate producers who should be members of ARM and would join the association if ARM became more engaged in these topics.

The committee also agreed that ARM could not support any change in the minimum acreage for an EAW from the current 40 acre minimum and will communicate that position to the EQB. The Committee will continue to work with the construction industry and other ARM members on the passage of the MVST constitutional amendment on the 2006 general election ballot.  The Committee will also continue working with the Materials Office at MnDOT as part of the TERRA Unbound Research Committee and is working on scheduling a meeting at the Materials office in March. ARM lobbyists are also working with ARM members towards passage of the aggregate property tax legislation during the 2006 legislative session.

As spring approaches and questions are raised about concrete popouts, ARM members are reminded that Popout brochures are available by contacting the ARM office.  PDF copies of these brochures are also available by clicking below.

Understanding Concrete Popouts

ARM Popouts

After record-breaking cement consumption in 2004 and 2005, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) predicts additional increases through 2009, according to the 2006 cement consumption forecast presented by Ed Sullivan, PCA chief economist, at a press conference at the World of Concrete 2006 on January 17. Cement consumption in 2006 is expected to reach more than 130 million metric tons, a 3.7% increase from 2005. An average annual increase of 2.5% is projected through 2009.

Driving the demand for cement and concrete products will be an increase in commercial and public construction. After several years of decline, 2006 nonresidential construction and public construction are expected to increase 7% and 4.4%, respectively, over 2005 levels. New industrial and office buildings, hospitals and water supply systems will be the some of the key growth markets.

Mark your calendars because on March 15, 2006, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities will be running NAHB’s Building with Insulating Concrete Forms course.  This course is an excellent introduction to ICFs.  The full-day course covers the advantages and costs of ICF constructions, the components and materials used, design and planning considerations, the logistics of ICF construction and important business and marketing considerations.

The course instructor is Jim Niehoff, Residential Program Manager at the Portland Cement Association.  ARM was instrumental in bringing this course to Minnesota.  It is important that we make this event known to as many potential students as possible.  Continuing education credits are available.

Click Here to Download the Registration Form

Through research, the Insulating Concrete Form Association has gained significant direction in determining how a contractor can qualify for the energy efficient residential tax credit in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. As you will recall, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 gives a $2,000 tax credit (each house) to contractors that build a 50% more energy efficient home based on the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code. This credit is for the entire house's energy efficiency, but requires that 1/5 of the energy saved come from improvements in the envelope system, in this case, the ICF.

The document titled Energy Tax Credits for Homes – Draft Form – 9808 (Click here to download) is the draft tax document that will need to accompany your taxes when you file for fiscal year ending 2006. However, the IRS is allowing everyone to enter the total number of qualified energy efficient homes meeting the 50% standard that were substantially completed after August 8, 2005, and sold during 2006. Please consult with your tax professional to make him aware of the tax credit and download the final form (IRS Form 9808) when it is available.

Guidelines from the Residential Energy Services Network, the association representing energy raters nationwide can be downloaded by clicking here (Resnet procedures). This is the group of individuals that are qualified to certify the house and make the tax credit available for you. In addition to reviewing the procedures, also view Resnet's list of energy raters nationwide. Please click the following link to view their list of Certified Raters.  http://www.natresnet.org/directory/default.htm