The fall construction season has been phenomenal! Projects have been coming together and it looks like we will be able to complete all most everything on the books. The weather has taken a change to being more like November as I write this article. It has effected the progress of our remaining projects but if it doesn't become too adverse, we should still be able to complete them.

The sealcoat crew worked right up to the limit again this year. The last project was down at Rathbun Lake and was completed on October 12th. This crew has geared up with some additional crew members and split into 2 and sometimes 3 crews to keep sealcoating and stabilization work going.  Once the distributors were parked, they moved back into Jasper county and completed the 2005 fly ash stabilization project. They finished up Rock Creek lake, Colfax and County Club Estates in Newton. At around the same time Kurt was stabilizing the new Wal-mart site south of Grinnell. It was quite the project as there was virtually no bottom to this site. Kurt had the Cat machine on this project and they basically pulled it everywhere with a D8 dozer to incorporate the first layer of 2, 12" lifts. Virg and Jeremy did a couple of small pulverization projects to wrap up with and Kurt handled 2 projects around Dewitt and Bryant.

On November 9th Virg brought everyone into one crew and started doing subdrain to help Bob keep up with his schedule. They moved down west of Mt Pleasant on Highway 34 to install 56,729 feet on a Carlson project. If all goes well they should finish right at Thanksgiving. It has been another great year with this crew as they step up to the plate and carry the ever-changing workload I seem to throw at them. The stabilization market is growing and I hope to continue our participation in this market as the leader in the state. It takes flexibility and endurance at times to make things come together. These crew members show the pride that Manatt's take in completing a project.    

The subdrain crew has been working away all year on a full schedule. Naturally several contractors called this fall and said they were ready for us all at the same time. With the help of the sealcoat crew we are still ahead of the game. Bob and the guys will probably go up to December 9th depending on the Iowa Speedway progress. If that happens they will have placed 966,113 feet with one crew! Add in the Jefferson project and the total for the year is 1,022,842!

Bob and the crew has become quite an animal to feed each year with the quantity of work they can consume in a season.  I proudly say this is the best subdrain crew in the state! Keep up the safe and great work! We presently have a little over 100,000 feet on the books for next year. A big portion of this is on the next major phase of the 235 freeway. It will require several mobes, but at least it isn't night work! The January and February lettings look to be large lettings and I hope to fill a good portion of the subdrain schedule up early this year.

It seems like this year flew by again. It will be a year I will always remember for the loss of two great leaders and friends, Mike and Tom Manatt. Life can change so fast. I know I have personally taken a different look on life. As they say "take the time to smell the roses along the way!" I want to wish each and everyone a Happy Holiday season! Make time for your families and friends and relax a little along the way. Lets have a safe winter and have everyone back healthy for the 2006 season!