Becca Pryse, the ARM lobbyist at Ewald Consulting, reported to the Board of Directors that ARM was successful in passing trespass language imposing greater penalties for trespass on an aggregate property. ARM also was successful in working with the Minnesota DNR to amend language in a public waters bill that now recognizes active aggregate mining operations. Legislation to change property tax policy related to aggregate properties containing reserves was defeated by last minute amendments unacceptable to ARM introduced by Representative Ron Abrams in the Taxes working group of the Special Session. ARM was successful during this effort in working with Dakota County to remove aggregate host community fees from county policy.

ARM also introduced legislation changing road weight limits from 5 and 9 tons to 7 and 10 tons that was laid over by the House Transportation Committee pending an implementation plan being prepared by MNDOT for consideration by the legislature in 2006. ARM will be working with MNDOT and other groups representing trucking to finally roll back the impact of spring road restrictions.

At its July 12^th meeting in Duluth, the ARM Board of Directors approved the MPCA Case Specific Beneficial Use Determination (CSBUD) for the use of coal ash by ARM members as an ingredient in a controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM), otherwise known as flowable fill, under the conditions set forth in the CSBUD. The Board authorized the ARM staff to prepare and execute an implementation plan for ARM members to achieve the maximum benefit form this approval.

Membership criteria for fly-ash producers and marketers, including membership dues structure, will be reviewed by the Board of Directors in an upcoming conference call.

The ARM Board of Directors approved negotiations a transfer the ownership or license agreement of the Concrete Home Specialist program and pending Certified Mark to the Insulating Concrete Form Association at its July 12^th meeting in Duluth.

The Board of Directors also approved negotiations for the purchase and lease-back of a model ICF home from Terry Babcock Builders. The home is part of the 700 home Stonehedge Estates housing development in north-east Rochester and will allow ARM to build its ICF construction relationship with housing developers and builders.

On July 12^th, the ARM Board of Directors approved efforts of the ARM Technical Committee, ARM members and ARM staff to advocate and put in place a Pervious Concrete Demonstration Project at the MnROAD facility near Albertville, provide that ARM makes no direct financial contribution to this project in 2005. The goal of the project is to demonstrate the durability of pervious concrete during a Minnesota winter.

The ARM Board of Directors approved a draft FY 2006 budget with $874,000 in revenues and $868,760 in expenses at its meeting on July 12^th in Duluth.  Revenues include $218,000 from the ACI Education Program, $222,000 from membership dues, $218,000 from the North Central Cement Council (NCCC), $60,000 from special promotional funding from ARM members and $$81,000 from events. Expenses are divided between the five ARM programs including Promotions/Communications - $321,000, Education - $267,000, Advocacy - $107,000, Operations – $76,000, and $20,000 set aside for the reserve fund.

The Board of Directors also approved mailing of 2006 membership commitment forms to ARM members and requesting ARM members to indicate their level of dues support to ARM before November 1, 2005.  The Board of Directors will then approve a final ARM budget on November 17, 2005 based on the level of dues response by ARM members and the final commitment by NCCC.

The ARM Board of Directors also reducing the ARM Reserve Fund balances to $100,000 from the previous Board approved balance of $200,000 at its July 12^th meeting.  This action is intended to address cash flow issues during the balance of this fiscal year. ARM reserve funds were drawn down over the past two years to invest in promotion and advocacy efforts by the association.

There were 16 students enrolled in the summer Masonry Academy.  Part of the curriculum was a tour of a ready mix plant.  A total of about 22 people toured a cement plant in Mason City, IA and then toured the Central Concrete ready mix plant.  The students were current high school teachers, future industrial arts teachers, construction management students, undergrad and grad students.