Michigan Merit - issue 4 2017 by ABCofMichigan

ISSUE 4 2017

MICHIGAN

A PUBLICATION OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

REPEAL PREVAILING WAGE NOW MICHIGAN MERIT â&#x20AC;¢ ISSUE 4 2017

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CONTENTS ISSUE 4 2017

FEATURES 6

Reasons to Repeal Prevailing Wage

8 CALLEY: Prevailing Wage is Outdated, Must be Repealed for Progress By Lt. Gov. Brian Calley

Scrap Prevailing Wage Law

Anderson Economic Group Report

Detroit News Editorial: Let’s Move Past Prevailing Wage

Quotes from Lawmakers

20 The Truth About Michigan’s Prevailing Wage Law 22

Guest Column: Schuette: Prevailing Wage Not Best for Michigan

DEPARTMENTS 5

Executive Perspective

by Jeff Wiggins

Advertiser Index

MICHIGAN MERIT • ISSUE 4 2017

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EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

ince the inception of our state association in 1952, established under the banner of liberty, our members and volunteer leaders have dedicated their blood, sweat, and tears to protecting and advancing the merit shop philosophy. The merit shop exists as a byproduct of the age-old principles of freedom, fairness, individual rights, and the notion that, in America, the best work product at the best price wins the day.

JEFF WIGGINS State Director ABC of Michigan 2017 BOARD of DIRECTORS Mike Houseman, Chairman Wolverine Building Group Western Michigan Chapter Corey Hannahs, Vice Chair Consolidated Electrical Contractors Greater Michigan Chapter Dave Sheffield, Secretary/Treasurer Onslow-Sheffield, Inc. Southeastern Michigan Chapter Dan Murphy, Immediate Past Chair MAG Insulation Greater Michigan Chapter Chris Beckering Pioneer Construction Western Michigan Chapter Jim Cripps Cripps Fontaine Excavating, Inc. Western Michigan Chapter Rick Jackson Jackson Associates, Inc. Southeastern Michigan Chapter Bill Molnar Wm. Molnar Roofing Co., Inc. Southeastern Michigan Chapter Brian Stadler Wolgast Corporation Southeastern Michigan Chapter

Unfortunately, however, the creation of our association was done so to fight back against policies and special interests that served as an antithesis to those merit shop principles. For decades, we stood by as politicians and bureaucrats passed laws and crafted regulations that picked winners and losers, destroying the idea of open and fair competition. That is until merit shop contractors decided it was time to “get into politics, or get out of business!” Fast forward a few decades, and we now find ourselves at a point where the merit shop philosophy is, not only, accepted, but embraced. ABC of Michigan has stood on the front lines and been successful in banning discriminatory project labor agreements, establishing worker freedom by making Michigan a right to work state, and fighting to repeal burdensome rules and regulations that served as roadblocks to job creation and quality work. The next reform requires getting rid of an archaic mandate that has plagued our industry for decades – Michigan’s prevailing wage law. We find ourselves at a point where the Michigan Legislature is likely to vote on citizen-initiated legislation that would repeal Michigan’s prevailing wage law. To be enacted into law, this legislation requires the support of a simple majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. It does not require the signature of the Governor. This special edition of Merit Magazine will focus on the reasons why this law needs to be repealed and how it will lead to the promotion of fair and open competition that has been absent in government construction projects for more than 50 years.

Ed Tanzini Tancor Corporation Greater Michigan Chapter Mike Waalkes Lighthouse Insurance Group Western Michigan Chapter Andy Weisbrodt Bouma Construction Western Michigan Chapte

MICHIGAN MERIT • ISSUE 4 2017

FEATURE

REASONS TO REPEAL PREVAILING WAGE COSTS TO TAXPAYERS • Prevailing wage only exists within the small bubble of government construction. There is no sound reason for inflating the costs of a construction project and expecting the taxpayers to foot the bill, when the same exact project would cost far less in the private sector.

PROMOTE FAIR AND OPEN COMPETITION IN THE MARKET • More than 80% of the skilled labor force is not affiliated with a union, yet the union collective bargaining agreements are what determine the “prevailing” wage. When government mandates less than 20% of the market dictate the price, you no longer have a free market.

• Studies have shown that Michigan would have saved $130 million annually in school construction alone over the past 10 years without the prevailing wage mandate. That does not even account for all the additional savings on other public construction projects.

• No one gets a say in the “prevailing” wage except those party to a collective bargaining agreement. Not legislators, school boards, taxpayers, bureaucrats, or even the Governor.

• Michigan suspended prevailing wage from 1994 – 1997. A study conducted shortly thereafter by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy found school construction costs were reduced by 10%16% during that three-year period, with an increase of 11,000 construction jobs.

• More than 85% of all construction in the state of Michigan is done in the private sector, where free market principles like accountability and fiscal responsibility are key. “Prevailing” wage essentially makes those best practices illegal when it comes to government construction. • There is a myth that repeal of the prevailing wage law will drastically affect union training programs. This is false. Union contracts already have a cents-perhour clause that dedicates a part of wages to training programs. This happens regardless of whether a job is prevailing wage or not. Even if prevailing wage was tied to training costs, which it is not, it would still be mathematically impossible to have the effects claimed, as prevailing wage jobs make up less than 15% of construction statewide.

• In 1997, Ohio repealed its prevailing wage mandate on school construction. Four years after the repeal went into effect, the non-partisan Ohio Legislative Service Commission found that Ohio taxpayers saved almost $500 million during that period.

ELIMINATE BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE • In 2017, Michigan published more prevailing wage classifications (over 500,000) than there are actual construction workers. In fact, more than triple. The idea that we have a system where government and HR staff have to manage such an complex system could not be a better example of a regulatory roadblock to production and job creation.

 THE SUPPORT IS THERE

• On average, states without prevailing wage have more skilled trades construction jobs than those with states that have the mandate. We need more skilled trades job! 6

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• Over 380,000 Michigan citizens signed a petition proposing this piece of legislation to the Michigan Legislature. They are asking their representatives to vote on this, not send it to the ballot. • It is time to join Speaker Leonard, Majority Leader Meekhof, Attorney General Schuette, and Lt. Governor Calley in supporting repeal. MM

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MICHIGAN MERIT • ISSUE 4 2017

FEATURE

CALLEY: PREVAILING WAGE IS OUTDATED, MUST BE REPEALED FOR PROGRESS BY: LT. GOV. BRIAN CALLEY

e have come a long way since the Lost Decade when we saw Michigan lose more jobs and people than any other state. Now seven years later, our state looks a lot different and that didn’t happen by accident. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work on bold reforms that made a statement to the nation and changed Michigan’s trajectory entirely. We achieved two historic tax cuts, balanced budgets, skilled trades investments, regulatory reform and so much more. And what was the result? Jobs. More than 530,000 of them created statewide since 2010 and the lowest unemployment in 17 years. After being dead last on so many lists, we are now number one for job growth in the Great Lakes states and number six nationally. In order to take our state to the next level, we need to eliminate policies that could stand in the way of our progress. Prevailing wage is an out-of-date policy that drives up costs on state and locally funded construction projects for new construction, renovations or repairs of public buildings, schools, bridges, highways and roads. There is no reason for costs to be higher on publiclyfunded construction projects. Taxpayers expect government to be efficient and responsible with their money and prevailing wage prevents government from being fiscally responsible.

into classrooms for our students. Michigan has one of the strictest prevailing wage policies in the country and we need to repeal it to help continue our comeback. What we’ve done in the last seven years shows that anything is possible. Michigan’s foundation is strong and so is our resolve to keep our success going. We need bold plans and bold leadership. That’s why I am running for governor. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but don’t mistake that for being content. Getting to the next level is all about our people. Here are my top priorities: • Make Michigan the best state in the nation for PreK12 education because if you want a great outcome, you need a great beginning. • Fill 100,000 more skilled trades jobs because our economy desperately needs more people in these fields and many people still need a great career. • Transform our social service system into a springboard to employment because maintaining a person on the sidelines is not good enough. • Eradicate the opioid epidemic because every life has purpose, value and worth. • Bring civility back to public service because we are stronger together I hope you’ll join me as we continue the comeback and make Michigan the most prosperous state in the nation.

When prevailing wage was suspended between 19941997, a study by the Mackinac Center found that costs on construction projects were reduced by at least 10 percent. That additional 10 percent could have gone directly

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FEATURE

SCRAP PREVAILING WAGE LAW BY: JARRETT SKORUP

I recently installed a new roof on my house. Before doing so, I did what any responsible homeowner does — I got bids from different companies and made a decision by balancing quality and costs and using market competition to my advantage. Now, luckily for me, I learned how to roof from my father, so the best option for me turned out to be doing it myself. Labor costs were minimal, except for some pizza and beer for the friends who helped. These calculations are what most people make when considering construction projects on their own homes and businesses. But imagine if I had determined from the start that no matter who did the project, I was going to spend a minimum of $12,000 for a new roof because that’s the average price in some areas. You’d probably find that to be a bit silly and a real waste of my money. Why would I pay more than I need to for a service just because it’s the going rate that other people pay? But that is exactly what Michigan’s prevailing wage law does. The decades-old law mandates that all government entities pay union prices for construction projects. Michigan’s law is the most stringent in the nation, setting arbitrary — and often absurd — prices for schools, roads, parks, libraries, and other public construction projects. This drives 10

up costs by hundreds of millions of dollars every year, paid for by taxpayers. In short, these laws mandate specific wages for those working on government projects. It wipes out local control and competitive bidding. Even if local school boards or city councils can find a higher quality at a lower price or more bang for the buck, they aren’t allowed to pay less. Steve Zurcher is a glazier in the Upper Peninsula who installs windows for commercial firms as well as public schools and universities. When he works on a government project, his bid must include the union-mandated wage of more than $43 per hour. That’s more than twice the cost a glazier typically charges in rural, low-cost Dickinson County. In other words, labor costs for a project can be 100 percent higher if it’s paid for by taxpayers. The prevailing wage law often benefits larger construction companies at the expense of the little guy because they are better positioned to swallow the mandated higher cost. This can put Michigan’s small businesses at a disadvantage when competing with out-of-state firms near our borders with Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio. “Wisconsin glazing contractors see prevailing wage as an essential benefit and affords them the means to be able to bid on projects in the U.P.,” said Zurcher, who competes with Badger State firms. “It forces me to elevate my labor costs to their level, which removes a major and key competitive edge we would normally have. Any

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supposed benefit the community and my employees might gain from the increased hourly pay is just as easily lost to competition from businesses outside our community.” Gov. Rick Snyder is opposed to changing the law and has reportedly pledged to veto any bill that undoes prevailing wage. But there is a solution — a citizens’ initiative. Taxpayers around the state are sick of paying higher costs for the same service and are signing a petition that would allow legislators to vote to eliminate the law without the governor’s signature. If the initiative is signed into law, Michigan would finally eliminate an outdated and arbitrary relic. This would mean more money for transportation, schools and other core government services.

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MICHIGAN MERIT • ISSUE 4 2017

FEATURE

ANDERSON ECONOMIC GROUP

THE IMPACT OF MICHIGAN’S PREVAILING WAGE LAW ON EDUCATION CONSTRUCTION EXPENDITURES 2015 UPDATE Below is an excerpt from the Anderson Economic Group’s 2015 study. To read the full study visit TimeforRepeal.com. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW OF APPROACH

Prevailing wage laws set the minimum amount that must be paid to workers laboring on certain types of public construction, with rates varying by trade, occupation, and location. There is a national prevailing wage statute, as well as many state statutes. The federal prevailing wage statute, which was enacted in 1931, is better known as the Davis-Bacon Act.1 It applies to contracts with federal funding in excess of $2,000. Federal prevailing wages are based on a U.S. Department of Labor survey of employers and unions, by trade and occupation within a locality.2

Prevailing wage laws apply to many types of construction, including public buildings, roads, and schools. In this report, we focus on the construction expenditures of K-12 schools, community colleges, and public higher education institutions because data on these expenditures is more uniform and more readily available than other types of construction subject to law.

While the majority of states (32 and the District of Columbia) have their own prevailing wage laws in place, only six states currently have prevailing wage laws based on union agreements. The State of Michigan passed its prevailing wage law in 1965. It was suspended for a short time from 1994 to 1997. Unlike the Davis-Bacon Act, which does not go into effect unless a minimum amount of funding is in place, Michigan’s prevailing wage statute includes any local government projects that use state financial resources.3 Additionally, by law, the prevailing wage rates in Michigan must be based on the rates contained in collective bargaining agreements of state projects.4

We rely on data from the U.S. Census Bureau for government expenditures on the construction of public education facilities in Michigan. We use the most recent data for a 10-year period (2003 through 2012) to estimate a typical annual expenditure amount for education construction in Michigan. We also surveyed the existing literature on prevailing wage laws, including studies of Michigan’s experience in briefly suspending the law from 1994 to 1997. Using this data and research, we then estimated what cost savings could have been realized by state and local governments had the construction contracts for the same education buildings not been subject to the prevailing wage law.

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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 1. We estimate that nearly $2.1 billion in education construction expenditures are subject to Michigan’s prevailing wage law each year.

On average state and local governments in Michigan spend $2.3 billion on the construction and repair of public K-12 schools, community colleges, and public higher education institutions each year. We estimate that 90% of the expenditures were on projects subject to the prevailing wage law, or $2.1 billion. From 2003 through 2012, this would amount to $21 billion in expenditures being impacted. This is a very large expenditure by local government — in particular, community college and K-12 schools — as this is where the majority of funding is used.

2. We estimate that Michigan’s prevailing wage law has increased the financial obligations for education construction by an average of $127 million per year for the last 10 years.

If the prevailing wage law were not in place, neatly $73 million in construction costs for K-12 construction projects and $54 for construction of community colleges and higher-ed institutions could have been avoided. These funds could have been used for other purposes, including building bigger or better buildings, tax cuts, or other spending priorities. From 2003 to 2012 local government costs could have been $1.3 billion lower. See Table 1 below. 4964 Technical Drive Milford, Michigan 48381

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Higher Education Expenditures

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Total School Construction Expenditures

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Anderson Economic Group is a research and consulting firm specializing in economics, finance, business valuation, and industry analysis. Clients include industry associations, private companies, labor unions, governments, universities, and others. The firm was founded in 1996, and has offices in East Lansing, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; and Istanbul, Turkey. MM

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MICHIGAN MERIT • ISSUE 4 2017

FEATURE

DETROIT NEWS EDITORIAL: LET’S MOVE PAST PREVAILING WAGE ALONG WITH THE DESCENT OF WINTER, IT’S DEFINITELY PETITION DRIVE SEASON IN MICHIGAN. CASE IN POINT: TWO SEPARATE INITIATIVES ARE WARRING OVER THE FUTURE OF THE PREVAILING WAGE LAW. AS WE’VE ARGUED FOR YEARS, RESIDENTS (AND LAWMAKERS) SHOULD THROW THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND REPEALING IT.

Prevailing wage, which has been Michigan law since 1965, requires workers be paid union-rate wages and benefits on state-financed construction projects, even if they aren’t in a union. This drives up costs for these projects, thus negatively impacting taxpayers who pick up the inflated check.

Gov. Rick Snyder has maintained his opposition to repealing prevailing wage, arguing that it could discourage interest in the skilled trades, which he has promoted, given the thousands of jobs going unfilled in Michigan. Yet many of his Republican counterparts in the Legislature, including leadership, have voiced their support for repeal to ease the taxpayer burden and higher price tag for government projects. Legislators could do away with the law without Snyder’s signature by approving the repeal initiative when it reaches them, which would take only a simple majority.

The Protecting Michigan Taxpayers ballot committee, funded largely by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, has submitted more than 380,000 signatures for a repeal of the plan. The measure will head to the Legislature if approved by the Board of State Canvassers. The counter-petition effort, the Construction Workers Fair Wage Act, seeks to preserve prevailing wage for state-funded construction projects. And several other groups are trying to convince lawmakers not to take up the repeal. The organizers want lawmakers to sign off on the competing measures going before voters next year, and let state residents decide the measure’s fate.

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If they don’t act within the 40-day window, the measure would go to the general election ballot in November 2018. Jeff Wiggins, state director for ABC and head of the repeal committee, is pleased with the progress to toss prevailing wage. “I’m glad to see the other side has as much confidence in us getting the votes as we do,” he said. Un i o n - s u p p o r t e d contractor groups and other organizers for the counter petition have 180 days to collect more than 250,000 signatures.

Mike Jackson, executive secretary-treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, argues prevailing wage is basically a minimum wage for construction workers and that “lowering wages leads to lower-skilled workers and more mistakes.” But Jarrett Skorup, policy analyst with the Mackinac Center, recently observed in our pages, “Michigan’s [prevailing wage] law is the most stringent in the nation, setting arbitrary — and often absurd — prices for schools, roads, parks, libraries, and other public construction projects.”

taxpayers an average $224 million per year on construction projects for K-12 districts, community colleges and public universities. That’s a lot of money that could go toward other schools and projects. The Legislature should repeal prevailing wage.

First ran in The Detroit News, December 13, 2017 MM

A study by the Anderson Economic Group found that from 2002 to 2012 the prevailing wage law cost

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State Legislative Day MICHIGAN MERIT • ISSUE 4 2017

FEATURE

WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PREVAILING WAGE REPEAL

Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-Olive Township)

Speaker of House Tom Leonard (R- Dewitt Township)

“Repeal of the prevailing wage law has been a top priority of mine since I first served in local government. Prevailing wage laws increase the cost of a project by 10 to 20 percent. It has never made since to me that schools and municipalities should have to pay more for construction. The only thing these laws achieve is costing taxpayers more money.”

“As a former educator and school board trustee I know repealing prevailing wage will save Michigan school districts millions of dollars. The school bond data from surrounding states that do not have prevailing wage proves this. These bond dollars, repaid by tax payers in local communities, will be stretched further and have a greater positive impact on our stuRepresentative dents and staff. I believe that is what Pamela Hornberger (R- Chesterfield Township) Michigan taxpayers want. Repealing prevailing wage is a win for schools, education and taxpayers.”

“Michigan’s economy has made incredible strides since the government stopped picking winners and losers and instead gave everyone in this state a fair shot. Repealing prevailing wage would help us continue to get government out of the way of local businesses and create an even stronger environment where everyone can succeed.”

Representattive Tom Barrett (R-Potterville)

“Competitive bidding has always been one of the best ways for government to ensure quality work at a competitive cost for taxpayers. This remains true when it comes to government construction work. Repealing Michigan’s prevailing wage law will promote open competition, saving taxpayer dollars and ensuring quality work on all taxpayer-funded projects.”

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Senator Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton)

“Prevailing Wage is a government mandate that drives up the cost of taxpayer-fund construction projects and ABC of Michigan deserves immense credit for pursuing the repeal of this costly regulation. Whether advancing Right to Work or repealing Prevailing Wage, those of us who believe in freemarkets are very grateful for ABC of Michigan’s courage, principled leadership and effectiveness.”

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MICHIGAN MERIT • ISSUE 4 2017

FEATURE

THE TRUTH ABOUT MICHIGAN’S PREVAILING WAGE LAW WHAT IS “PREVAILING WAGE?” The so-called “Prevailing Wage” mandate is a requirement for all state-funded public construction projects that requires all employers, union and non-union, to pay their employees the union-negotiated rate for that region. With 80% of the industry workforce not affiliated with a union, this does not make sense. This essentially makes the best practices of competition and fiscal responsibility that exist in the private sector illegal in the public sector.

DOES PREVAILING WAGE INCREASE THE SAFETY OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE? No. State law requires that all construction work be built in accordance with the strict health and safety requirements set forth and enforced by the Michigan Occupational Safety Health Administration (MIOSHA). According to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, “both prevailing wage and non-prevailing wage projects are subject to the same standards in the construction code, workplace health and safety, and wage and hour rules.”

DOES PREVAILING WAGE REQUIRE THAT PROJECTS ARE HELD TO A HIGHER QUALITY STANDARD? No. State law requires that all construction projects be built in accordance with the stringent quality requirements enforced by the Michigan Bureau

of Construction Codes. In fact, the words “quality,” “training,” and “apprenticeship” do not even appear in the prevailing wage law. Training and apprenticeship programs across the state provide this quality of training, with merit shop-affiliated establishments playing a role in providing that necessary education.

DOES PREVAILING WAGE SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS? No. In fact, just the opposite is true. According to recent studies, focusing on school construction projects alone, the state of Michigan could save around $130 million annually if projects operated under free market principles. These savings do not even include what would be realized on all other public construction projects. The math is simple. Prevailing wage unnecessarily costs taxpayers more.

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DOES REPEAL OF PREVAILING WAGE PREVENT NEW PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THE SKILLED TRADES?

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No. Prevailing Wage only applies to government construction. People do not enter the trades because of the occasional government project they might work on. Furthermore, prevailing wage limits construction. The more money taxpayers save on these projects, the more projects they will be able to build.

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FEATURE

GUEST COLUMN: SCHUETTE: PREVAILING WAGE NOT BEST FOR MICHIGAN Fair competition is the hallmark of life, whether it be sports, a job or the law. As our Declaration of Independence states, “All men are created equal.”

think most Michiganians believe whoever can do a quality job at the most competitive price should have the chance to do it. In that same light, there is a citizens’ initiative heading toward the state legislature that would give every Michigan worker an equal opportunity for a job building our schools and other government buildings. BILL SCHUETTE It would cut costs and save valuable dollars for all Michigan taxpayers, giving local officials the opportunity to put more resources back into educating our children. This proposal would repeal a decades-old government mandate known as “prevailing wage” that benefits a select few by requiring that union contracts be given a monopoly in determining work and wage classifications on state-government construction projects. It’s a law so restrictive that Michigan is currently one of only six states that are similarly in statute. The current system is unfair, outdated and doesn’t work toward moving Michigan forward. Open competition brings the best results and Michigan has the best worker, non-union or union. It’s time to sweep away these special deals that favor a select few, punish small business and create unneeded challenges for workers in the form of thousands of unwieldy regulations and outdated requirements.

Unfortunately, some suggest that if non-union workers are allowed to compete with their union counterparts, quality will suffer. But both prevailing wage and nonprevailing wage jobs are subject to the same standards for safety and quality, no matter who is doing the work. This is the law of the land and that won’t change. In my hometown of Midland, for example, construction jobs that are open to competition delivered the best value at the best price to the benefit of everyone. This includes the award-winning, state-of-the-art Dow Diamond, home of the minor league Great Lakes Loons. “Baseball Digest” called Dow Diamond the best new ballpark in America in 2007. In fact, this includes every building in the region, except for government buildings that are required to be built under this costly law. Go to any other community across our great state and almost all projects are built without the constraints of costly and uncompetitive government-mandated restraints. Michiganians are laying the bricks, doing the plumbing and running the electrical all without being held back by government mandates. Our skilled trade workers in Michigan do us proud, union or non-union. The key comes down to quality and cost. It seems to me that whoever can give taxpayers a quality product at the best price should get the work. And most Michiganians agree. The citizens’ initiative currently before the state legislature will help us accomplish that. It will improve on the current, outdated law by allowing construction workers who choose not to belong to a union to have the same

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ISSUE 4 2017

MICHIGAN

ADVERTISER INDEX

A PUBLICATION OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

CONTRIBUTORS

ABC Self Insured Workers Comp Fund.......... 28

Plumbing Co., Inc.......................................... 22

A.J. Veneklasen Const., Inc............................ 15

K & T Electric............................................... 19

PUBLISHER Jeff Wiggins wiggins@abcmi.com

Accurate Construction Services, LLC............... 2

K-Value Insulation........................................... 2

Aerotek.......................................................... 27

Kyle Barnhart Trucking, LLC......................... 14

AIS EQUIPMENT.......................................... 4

Laux Construction......................................... 25

MANAGING EDITOR Breanna Cope cope@abcmi.com

Andrews Hooper Pavlik, PLC........................... 4

Liquid Calcium Chloride Sales......................... 9

Arrow Concrete Cutting................................... 2

Livingston County Concrete.......................... 14

Attitude & Experience, Inc............................... 9

Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis, Gotting, PC.... 21

BCT Benefits Plan............................................ 4

Maltese Construction LLC............................... 9

Blackstar Building Group................................. 2

Mann Construction Inc................................. 21

Blasius, Inc..................................................... 11

Meredith Lea Sand & Gravel, Inc................... 14

Blevins Sanborn Jezdimir Zack PLC............... 24

Merlo Construction Co., Inc.......................... 13

Brigade Fire Protection................................... 23

Michigan Air Compressor Technologies......... 21

Capital Steel & Builders Supply..................... 19

Michigan Cat................................................. 15

Cloverleaf Electric, LLC................................... 9

Michigan Solar & Wind Power Solutions....... 25

Commonwealth Associates, Inc........................ 7

Midland Tool & Supply Co., Inc.................... 14

Constructive Sheet Metal, Inc........................ 13

Modern Concrete........................................... 14

Covenant Occupational Health & Wellness... 14

Moyle Concrete.............................................. 14

Creative Window Treatments........................... 2

Pamar Enterprises............................................. 7

Crowe Horwath LLP........................................ 9

Parrish Excavating Incorporated..................... 19

CSM Mechanical, LLC.................................. 23

Plante Moran................................................. 18

Desai/Nasr Consulting Engineers, Inc.............. 9

Pm Technologies.............................................. 2

E J H Construction, Inc................................. 13

R. Bruton Electric, LLC................................. 19

EMGS Michigan.............................................. 7

R.W. Mercer Co............................................. 24

Energy Optimization...................................... 21

RCI Electric................................................... 22

Enterprise Fleet.............................................. 14

Redi Wall LLC................................................. 9

Expert Heating & Cooling, Inc...................... 18

Robert Clancy Contracting, Inc..................... 19

Fair and Square Construction, Inc.................... 2

Rock Products Co.......................................... 19

Fasteners, Inc.................................................. 19

Scientific Brake & Equipment.......................... 4

FCCI Insurance Group.................................. 25

Standard Supply & Lumber Co........................ 4

Fisher Companies........................................... 19

Stonehenge Consulting, PLC......................... 21

Fred Myer Excavating & Trucking LLC.......... 14

Strategic Safety, Inc........................................ 13

Garber Chevrolet........................................... 25

Summit Electric Inc....................................... 25

GBM Recycled Concrete, LLC....................... 11

Superior Asphalt............................................... 4

Great Lakes Industrial Supply Co., Inc........... 27

Test Gauge & Backflow Supply Inc................ 15

Greener Energy Co......................................... 15

Thornview Electric........................................... 9

Guy Hurley, LLC........................................... 11

Timpson Transport, Inc.................................... 8

HD Supply Waterworks................................. 24

Tradesmen International................................... 2

Hickey Electric, Inc........................................ 13

TRP Crushed Aggregate................................. 15

Independence Commercial Construction, Inc... 24

Universal Spiral Air........................................ 24

Industrial Process Piping, Inc......................... 14

Universal Wall Systems................................... 15

J & D Plumbing & Heating........................... 14

Upright Fence, Inc........................................... 9

J R Bouwkamp & Associates, Inc................... 14

US Marble, Inc.............................................. 15

Jackson Associates, Inc................................... 24

V. Pizzo Electric LLC..................................... 27 Valenti Trobec Chandler................................. 27 Valley Electrical Contractors........................... 24 Van Laan Concrete Construction..................... 7 Vanguard Fire & Security Systems, Inc........... 27 Weiser Recycling.............................................. 9 Wm. Molnar Roofing, Inc.............................. 11

GRAPHIC DESIGN Sally Bancroft Bancroft Graphics www.bancroftgraphics.com PRINTING Keystone Millbrook www.keystonemillbrook.com ADVERTISING Strategic Value Media www.svmmedia.com Michigan Merit (ISSN# 1938-9051) is the official publication of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan (ABC of Michigan) and is published quarterly at 118 W. Ottawa Street Lansing, MI 48933, (517) 853-2545. Please direct all inquiries to the previous address. Articles written by outside authors do not necessarily reflect the views of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan. ABC of Michigan reserves the right to reject or edit all material submitted for publication. The appearance of an advertisement in Michigan Merit does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Michigan Merit or Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan guarantee or warrant any claims or offers made by the advertisers. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from Michigan Merit, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan.”

JBS Contracting, Inc...................................... 27 JGM Machinery Movers & Erectors Incorporated..................................... 23 Jimco Fire Protection, Inc............................... 21 K & H Concrete Cutting, Inc.............. 15K & S

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