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July 24, 2013 • Vol. XXV • No. 15 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
Inside
Construction Continues Along Mighty Miss By Cindy Riley
Known for its sparkling waters and abundance of seafood, Mississippi is experiencing a flurry of construction activity along its coast. A number of new harbors in the Mississippi Gulf are taking shape, including structures in Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian that will add almost 350 new boat slips. “The Pass Christian harbor basin is approximately 22 acres and dredged to 10 feet depth,” said Milady Howard, program manager of M.A. Howard Consulting LLC. “Breakwaters consist of 36 in. square piles capped with a concrete walking surface. Bulkheads consist of vinyl sheet piles with aluminum cap and secant wall with concrete cap. Asphalt parking areas for passenger vehicles and boat trailers will be provided on the north and west sides.” Main piers will be equipped with lighting, electrical, water and sewer and fire protection. Each boat slip will have sewer pump out capability. Commercial seafood operations, currently in the existing harbor, will be moved to the east breakwater of the new harbor. The east breakwater will include two large covered sheds and an icehouse with parking available for crews and large commercial trucks that are required for commercial oyster and shrimp off-loading and transport. “A large oyster reef exists off the Pass Christian coast. All oysters must be inspected when off loaded,” said Howard.
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Grammy W inner Shares His Passion for M usic…8
Customer’s Input Used to Improve Iron…18
Gill’s Crane & Dozer Service Inc. photo
Construction began in late 2011 and includes three phases.
see HARBOR page 60
Eur o Aucti ons Hold s Fi rst U. S. Sale …7 6
Table of Contents ................4 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................36-38 Recycling Section ........41-52 Attachment & Parts Section ......................................53-57 Business Calendar ............70 Auction Section ..........74-83 Advertisers Index ..............82
ASA to File Amicus Brief in Jobless Rate Falls Support of Subcontractor Below 10 Percent On Aug. 23, the American Subcontractors Association will urge the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm an appeals court’s decision in a case concerning whether construction disputes should be resolved in a local forum or, instead, subcontractors can be forced to take their claims to a far off jurisdiction. ASA will file an amicus curiae brief in Atlantic Marine Constr. Co. v. J-Crew Management, Inc., supporting the subcontractor, J-Crew, in a case in which the country’s highest court will determine whether federal courts are required to enforce contractual forum-selection clauses or whether judges have the right to consider other factors, such as the over-
all convenience of the parties and witnesses and the interests of justice when deciding if venue is proper. In the construction industry, out-ofstate general contractors commonly require their subcontractors to sign forum-selection and choice of law clauses, arguing that it’s more convenient and less expensive for them to resolve disputes in a jurisdiction of their choice. “The general contractor’s expediency comes at the detriment of its subcontractors, whose places of business, records, and personnel generally are close to the location of the construction project,” said ASA Chief Advocacy Officer E. Colette see ASA page 64
The unemployment rate for construction workers fell below double digits in June for the first time since 2008 as every segment of the industry added employees, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the relatively positive jobs report for the sector highlights the need to address potential shortages of skilled and entry-level workers. “Construction employment in June was the highest since August 2009,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “But employment is still down by one-quarter from the peak more than seven years ago. Many of those laid-off workers have left the industry — whether for employment elsewhere, more education or retirement — and construction companies face a looming worker shortage.” see EMPLOYMENT page 34