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The construction season of 2003 is close to a finish as I write
this. The weekend forecast has a pretty good chance for the first
measurable snowfall. We finished the year about a month earlier than
normal, so if we get a bunch of snow, I won't feel as bad for the
early shutdown. Looking back on the year, I guess I'm surprised that
we had a fairly respectable year even with all of the cut backs in
funding and lagging economy reports. When I say respectable year, it
is in reference to putting together a steady stream of work through
out the season.
The
subdrain crew just hung it up Nov. 18th, finishing down in Lee
county. Naturally, it was dirt shoulders and the fall rains didn't
help in completion. I've got to hand it to Bob and the crew for
hanging in there on some pretty miserable days when it was cold and
raining. This crew kept the lowboys busy as they completed 26
projects and mobed 54 times. A big portion of those mobes were to
projects on the I-235 reconstruction. These projects require extra
attention as they are exposed to a very high volume of traffic. My
hats off to the material trucks that follow Bob on these projects
for getting in and out safely. The trencher was parked after
completing 485,000 feet for the year. This is about half of what
this crew is capable of in a banner year. One good note is that they
have 422,000 feet on the books for next year already!
Virg
and the sealcoat crew did a smaller than usual season of sealcoat
but filled in the voids with helping Kurt on several stabilization
projects. This crew can wear many hats of responsibility when asked
to. The stabilization market has several promising signs of growth
that I think will fit well as we grow and learn with the different
processes. At this time they also have some work on the books for
next year and I feel confident it will be another full season as
well for them. If the weather breaks early next spring they will be
mixing 4500 ton in Tama county and then 4700 ton in Jasper county
prior to starting the sealcoat season!
The
times of having a surplus of work to bid on has come and gone.
Everything runs in cycles and we will have to wait for our turn to
come around again. Surviving the down turn side takes each and
everyone of us. We have preached safety and will continue to do so.
Our daily lives are tough enough already without adding injuries to
ourselves or others. Survival in down times takes maximizing profits
and cutting costly waste. Accidents are costly wastes. I want to
thank the crews for the tremendous effort put forward. What time I
did spend around the crews, I have seen changes for the good and
will expect even more. We did have a couple of costly incidents that
could of been avoided. Take this time to look back at the year and
realize how easy it would have been to have avoided them. Put those
in your memory for next season and beyond. The old saying of "
those who forget history are destined to repeat it again",
holds true.
With
that I would like to once again thank all of my superintendents and
crew members for putting together another construction season. It is
a pleasure to come to work and know you have such a talented and
dedicated work force to complete projects. My hopes are high in
filling the schedules for 2004 as we have a good start on it
already!
Wishing
you all a safe
and Happy Holidays!
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