As I sit looking out my window and watching the rain, I know the 2001 construction season is about to end. We still have some work we want to complete though. There is about 20,000 CY left on our Brooklyn job to complete before we shut down for the winter. Monte has about two weeks before we close down the Mitchellville sewer job. Paunch and Dino’s crew have three days at Monsanto to finish that project. Brian and crew are headed to Ames to recycle for Tom. And as soon as a big hoe becomes available, we will head to Tama to strip three acres for Russ.

 The 2001 construction season was not one of our better years. The wet spring and lack of early work really hurt us. One crew did not start paving until late June. But, once we finally started, we were busy to the end. I am glad to say we ended on a positive note.

 Last Saturday, November 24^th, we had our smoothness incentives bonus meeting. Around seventy guys showed up to receive their bonus checks. We gave out over $100,000 to about 100 employees. Our program gives 25% of our smoothness incentive less grinding costs to those that help to achieve this goal. The amount was for the 1999 and 2000 construction season. We believe this is a win-win program. It takes everyone on the crew to provide a smooth pavement. The better we work as a team, the better job we produce.

The 2002 construction season, as far as the PCC division is concerned, looks bright. We have about $8 million carry over, with Hardin County being the largest. Hopefully, we’ll have an early spring and get a great start for the season. The IDOT lettings also look good. We have three large projects being let in our area. They are:

Plus work in Ames, Keokuk County and Hamilton County, I-35. Hopefully, our estimators will snag some of this work.