The construction aggregate industry is not only the foundation for highways and infrastructure but also the foundation for economic growth.
From the Executive Director,
Jeff Wansley
GCAA has had a busy end of summer and early fall season. Several of the items I mention in my notes will be highlighted in the communication below. GCAA participated in multiple dialogues regarding the Fulton County and city of Atlanta TSPLOST efforts which will be on the ballot this fall. We also participated in meetings with the Perimeter Business Alliance and Senator Isakson, the Council for Quality Growth, the Georgia Transportation Alliance and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The fall golf tournament benefiting our scholarship program and political giving will be held on October 6th. Doug Glaze (Norx) and Travis Miller (Bluegrass) are chairing this important fundraising tournament. Thanks for your participation!
- Safety Committee: GCAA was well represented at the MSHA hearings in August. Brian McNamara, Bluegrass Industries testified on our behalf. - Environmental Committee: GCAA met with staff from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to discuss changes in permitting in Georgia. GCAA also hosted staff from the EPD at Vulcans Lithonia facility. - Technical Marketing Committee: Our new committee chairs, Stephen Ashworth (Vulcan), Kevin Mauldin (Bluegrass) and I met with the new material director of GDOT in August. Several members of this committee also participated in the GDOT board dinner in September. - Government and Community Affairs: GCAA supported Megan Hansen for State House, Representative John Carson and we will be contributing to the campaigns of Senator Steve Henson (Senate Minority Leader) and Representative Beth Beskin. Several members and ROCK PAC will be raising funds to help with the re-election of Senator Johnny Isakson. - Management Workshop: The agenda for the 2017 Management Workshop has been set and many of our speakers have been confirmed. We will be meeting later this month to work on breakout sessions. Many thanks to Don Richards (Hanson) for his leadership on this committee.
TSPLOST Update
As mentioned in previous communications, residents of the city of Atlanta as well as those who live in Fulton County will have the opportunity to vote on TSPLOST funding in November. GCAA is playing an important role by supporting the Fulton County TSPLOST initiative. I will be serving as chairman of the Fulton County education initiative which will be managed by the Georgia Transportation Alliance. Both the Fulton County initiative as well as the City of Atlanta opportunity are very important to our industry and we urge you to engage and educate yourself as much as possible about the various referenda.
Fulton County: The hope is that this TSPLOST will raise $570 million over 5 years and this money will go toward building roads and bridges in Fulton County. Private business will contribute to run an advocacy campaign to educate voters on the importance of this ballot question. The CID’s (Community Improvement Districts) are initiating the education campaign for this initiative.
City of Atlanta: There will be two ballot questions for residents of the city of Atlanta. They will vote on an initiative to raise funds for roads and bridges as well as a second initiative which will go to support MARTA. Business interests will fund an advocacy campaign and city based CID’s will work to educate voters on these ballot offerings.
We urge you to share information with your employees that reside in either Fulton County or the City of Atlanta. I will also follow up with GCAA leadership to encourage further participation in the Fulton County initiative.
GDOT Board Dinner The Commerce Club, September 14, 2016
On Wednesday September 14th, GCAA and the Georgia Ready Mix Concrete Association hosted dinner for the Georgia Department of Transportation Board. This was a first for GCAA and it was a great opportunity for our board and members of the GCAA Technical and Marketing Committee to forge relationships with the GDOT Board. There were approximately 35 people in attendance for this event which was held at the Commerce Club in downtown Atlanta. Ten members of the GDOT board were in attendance. Many thanks Bluegrass Materials, Vulcan Materials, Hanson Aggregates, Stephens Industries, Aggregates USA, Martin Marietta, Columbus Quarry and Construction Materials Services for attending.
EPD Tour -
Vulcan Materials Lithonia Quarry
On Sept. 12th, GCAA hosted a tour and dialogue with members of the EPD staff. Audra Dickson, Chief, Wastewater Industrial Permitting Unit and her staff participated. The event was held at the Vulcan Materials Lithonia quarry. Brett Miller and Jeanie Brackman of Vulcan led the tour.
GDOT's 100th Anniversary
Tribute
On August 18th, GCAA participated in the GDOT 100th Anniiversary Tribute held at The Vinings Bank, Smyrna, GA. Commissioner Russell McMurry was in attendance and provided remarks on GDOT's centennial.
The Department’s work over the last century has contributed to a treasured quality of life for Georgians and to the incredible economic development of the Peach State. Georgia DOT has served for 100 years with simply the best in safety, service and innovation. And we will continue to embrace change, encourage innovation, meet new challenges and break new barriers as the next hundred years unfold.
Celebrating A Century of Simply the Best in Safety, Service & Innovation!
Brian McNamara, Bluegrass Materials, GCAA Safety Committee Chairman
On August 4, 2016, in Birmingham, AL, MSHA had a public hearing for the proposed rule addressing the Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines. This was the fourth such hearing. Three other hearings were held in Salt Lake City, UT, Pittsburg, PA and Arlington, VA.
Representing GCAA and NSSGA at the hearing were Brian McNamara, Bluegrass Materials & GCAA Safety Committee Chairman; Greg Muncy, Aggregates USA and Jeff Wansley, GCAA. Brian McNamara presented comments to the panel. Lee Lemke from the Georgia Mining Association was also in attendance. Other companies from the aggregate industry as well as other mining interest groups and United Mine Workers Union gave remarks as well. The hearing lasted approximately 3 ½ hours.
We will update you as soon as remarks from this hearing are made available. You may also review remarks made at earlier hearings via the MSHA website. https://www.msha.gov/
Perimeter Business Alliance Leadership
Conference
Senator Johnny Isakson
On August 12th, GCAA participated in the Perimeter Business Alliance Leadership conference at the Westin, Atlanta, GA.
Senator Johnny Isakson discussed long term federal infrastructure projects including how the FAST Act will impact Perimeter road funding and the I-285@400 Interchange.
What To Expect Next - Infrastructure Funding in a Tax Package?
As Congress prepares to get back into a short, but busy, fall session prior to the presidential election, they’re continuing to quietly make noise about sweeping tax reform for the first time since 1986. If/when we do get a tax package in the next couple of years, there is a glaring need to address revenue shortfalls for infrastructure funding. Recently, House of Representatives Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) rolled out an election-year tax proposal that was long on aspirations such as lowering the individual and corporate tax rates, but it was short on details and notably lacked funding to address infrastructure.Click HERE for rest of article.
- October 5, 2016 GCAA Fall Board Conference Call
- October 6, 2016 GCAA Member Golf Tournament, Windermere Golf Club, Cumming, GA
- October 17, 2016 Atlanta Business Leaders Luncheon honoring Sen. Johnny Isakson,
Little River Farms, Alpharetta, GA - November 30, 2016 2016 Transportation Summit, Athens, GA
- December 7, 2016 GCAA Winter Board Luncheon, Atlanta Athletic Club, Duluth, GA
- January 24, 2017 Joint Transportation Industry Legislative Reception, Commerce Club - Feb. 27 - March 1, 2017 GCAA Management Workshop, Cobb Galleria, Atlanta, GA
- March 23 - 24, 2017 CEFGA CareerExpo, GA International Convention Ctr. College Park
Please contact the GCAA office if you have any questions about upcoming events.
For an exciting opportunity for GCAA members and their customers, click on links below or reach out to Jeff Wansley – jeffwansley@gcaa.orgfor more information. We will be glad to assist.
