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December 10, 2014 • Vol. XXVI • No. 25 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
Inside
U of Miss. to Host Showdowns in $85M Arena By Cindy Riley
Oxford, Miss., is known for its magnolia blossoms, literary heritage and Southern charm. It’s also where animated sports fans gather for heated showdowns on the basketball court each season. An $85 million arena at The University of Mississippi will host spirited matchups, along with other events, when construction is completed by the end of 2015 “The vision is for the Pavilion at Ole Miss to become a multi-purpose arena to serve the entire campus,” said Danny Blanton, public relations director, University of Mississippi. “It will include a food court, academic areas and the basketball facility, and will be used not only for athletic events, but for convocations, concerts and commencements. The 9,500 seat arena will further champion the historic growth of our university.” The current Tad Smith Coliseum was built in 1966. Over time, there have been issues with the building related to normal wear and tear. School officials decided it was best to replace the structure with a new, state-of-the-art Southeastern Precision Engineering Corporation photo Conference facility. Completing the arena is one chief concern for crews, along with the logistics “It has caused a great deal of excitement for alumni, stu- of working on a tight site in the middle of campus with a main drive splitting
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Triton Sitework Development at Work on 100-Acre Site…8
Gregory Poole Obtains ISO 9001: 2008 Certification…14
see ARENA page 46
Thompson Tractor Hosts Open House…22
Table of Contents ....................4 Truck & Trailer Section ....51-54 Recycling Section ............59-73 Attachment & Parts Section ...... ..........................................75-82 Business Calendar ..................96 Auction Section ............100-109 Advertisers Index ................110
the project.
Industry Leasing, Finance ARTBA: Roadside Confidence Hits New High Ditches Are Not The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) released the November 2014 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $903 billion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 64.2, an increase from the October index of 60.4 and the highest level since May. When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Valerie Hayes Jester, president, Brandywine Capital Associates Inc., said, “The mid-term elections are now
over and consumer confidence seems to be improving as gas prices and unemployment statistics continue to decrease. We have experienced an increase in demand for capital equipment purchases and, more importantly, financing for those orders. Another important note is that the equipment being requisitioned appears to be associated with business expansion and not just replacement of older assets.” November 2014 Survey Results The overall MCI-EFI is 64.2, an increase from the October index of 60.4. • When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, see ELFA page 96
‘Waters of the U.S.’ The potential delays and increased costs that would result from extending federal authority to cover roadside ditches would divert resources from timely maintenance activities and potentially threaten the role ditches play in promoting roadway safety, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The association submitted comments Nov. 14 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) opposing a proposed regulation that would alter the definition of “waters of the United States” and expand federal regulation to cover virtually any wet area in the country — including roadside ditches. ARTBA explained that while current federal regulasee DITCHES page 96