NUCA President Testifies at Clean Water Act 35th Anniversary Celebration
NUCA Concludes Successful Fall Board and Committee Meetings
Chapter 2 of NUCA Contracts Risk
GUCA Holds Two Successful Events
New Members
NUCA President Testifies at Clean Water Act 35th Anniversary Celebration
On Oct. 18, NUCA President James King testified before the House  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure at a hearing titled “The 35th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act: Successes and Challenges,” which was chaired by TI chairman Congressman James Oberstar (D-Minn.). The morning’s government panelists discussed issues related to the implementation of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
King, who spoke on the afternoon’s panel, provided the unique perspective of a utility contractor who works on water and wastewater systems every day and sees firsthand what they look like when they fail. In his concluding remarks, King made a point of noting that increased federal investment in water and wastewater infrastructure not only ensures public health and safety and protects the environment, but also helps create jobs and expand local tax bases.
“In short,” said King, “clean water goes hand-in-hand with a healthy economy.” For the complete text of King’s testimony as submitted for the record, visit www.nuca.com/files/public/King_Testimony_Oct_07.pdf.
NUCA Concludes Successful Fall Board and Committee Meetings
 NUCA held its Fall Board and Committee Meetings, Oct. 3-5, at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. Highlights of the meetings included: a welcome reception sponsored by Volvo; a networking Georgia barbecue luncheon; presentation of the new Safety Instructors Achievement Award (for 5,000 plus students trained) to David Dow, Bruce Kershner and Greg Strudwick; demonstrations of the soon-to-be-released Pipe Installation Training Series DVD, the Education Committee’s new online “Member Contractor Procedures Sharing” program and the Contract Documents & Specifications Committee’s online Bulletin Board and a Membership Phone-a-Thon.
In addition, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association held their quarterly meeting and trade show in conjunction with the NUCA meetings.
Both events were extremely well attended.
Chapter 2 of NUCA Contracts Risk
Management Manual Now Available to Members
For several years, NUCA’s Contract Documents and Specifications Committee has envisioned the creation of a members-only Contracts Risk  Management Manual that will help utility contractors evaluate the risks associated with different contract provisions. The manual is quickly becoming a reality. Chapter 1: Differing Site Conditions was released in February 2007 and Chapter 2: Indemnification Agreements in October. As many as 10 chapters are being considered. The information contained in both Chapters 1 and 2 was compiled and written by NUCA Construction Attorney Forum member Charles W. Surasky of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP of Atlanta. Since joining the firm in 1978, he has specialized in both construction (75 percent) and government (25 percent) contracts. Surasky is a member of the bars of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and the District of Columbia.
Scoccolo Named UCAW Ditch Digger of the Year
On Oct. 13, the Utility Contractors Association of Washington (UCAW) held its annual Black and White Gala Legislative Auction at the Downtown Seattle Westin Hotel. During the event, UCAW’s past president (2005-2007), Mark Scoccolo of SCI Infrastructure LLC, Pacific, Wa., was named Ditch Digger of the Year. In addition to being a significant contributor to UCAW’s growth in terms of both membership and new programs that benefit the association’s members, Scoccolo has played a leadership role in many local contracting associations.
Thanks to the sponsorships, donations and participation of UCAW members and neighboring businesses, the UCAW Auction brought in $114,000. The success of this year’s event is credited to UCAW’s recent 25 percent membership growth, increased pre-event sponsorships and the generous donations and competitive bidding at the auction. In addition, UCAW’s annual Fund-a-Need item for its legislative efforts in Olympia brought in $10,000.
For more information on UCAW, visit their Web site at www.ucaw.org.
GUCA Holds Two Successful Events
 The Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA) Inc. held its 2007 Fall Quarterly Meeting and Trade Show on Oct. 4 at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. This year’s meeting was held in conjunction with the NUCA Fall Board and Committee Meetings. The trade show consisted of more than 30 exhibitors, including the National Utility Contractors Association Scholarship Foundation. The business meeting included the recognition of GUCA Scholarship recipients, an update by NUCA President James King and a keynote address by South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, who spoke to the group about federal funding for the Georgia Port Authority, the issues of aging Americans and the impact of the utility construction industry in the Southeast.
Less than a week later — on Oct.10 — GUCA held its first area membership meeting for the 2007-2008 membership year at Antonino’s Italian Grotto in Cartersville, Ga. The more than 40 attendees were treated to a free seminar, The Basics of Surety Bonding, which was presented by Allan Webb of Graham-Naylor Agency Inc.
For more information on GUCA, visit their Web site at www.guca.com.
New Members
Contractors
Cutting Edge Group LLC
Thomas A. Davey
14 Walkup Cutoff Rd.
Lake George, NY 12845-4625
Work: (518) 798-4151, Ext. 205
Fax: (518) 798-4152
E-mail: tad@cuttingedge-group.com
S & J Service Inc.
Jose I. Gregorio
9700-D Martin Luther King Jr.
Lanham, MD 20706
Work: (301) 731-9555
Fax: (301) 731-9552
E-mail: jimhess@sj-service.com
Sudduth Plumbing & Utility
Service LLC
Kendal Sudduth
406 Old Sudlow Lake Rd.
North Augusta, SC 29841
Work: (803) 341-2353
Fax: (803) 380-1056
E-mail: kendal6585@comcast.net
J & K Contracting LLC
Jeremy Feldmann
1307 E. Lincoln Way
P.O. Box 1790
Ames, IA 50010
Work: (515) 233-5500
Fax: (515) 233-4049
E-mail: jfeldmann@jandkcontracting-ia.com
Web: www.sundex.com
Pipeline Maintenance Inc.
Ron Peterson
2924 Nicholson Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64120
Work: (816) 231-5105
Fax: (816) 231-6484
E-mail: seeunderground@mchsi.com
Southern States Sitework &
Underground Contracting
Norma Jordan
475 Tribble Gap Rd., Ste. 304
Cummings, GA 30040-2470
Work: (770) 783-1397
Fax: (678) 845-0444
Web: www.travelers.com
Sterling Underground Services
Mike Hancock
3414 N. Main St.
Jacksonville, FL 32206
Work: (904) 358-3085
Fax: (904) 358-3095
Associates
North American Trench Systems LLC
Joe Kondrup
25 N. Cascade Ave., Ste. 203
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Work: (719) 578-0600
Fax: (719) 213-2283
E-mail: joe@joekondrup.com
Sundex Information Systems Inc.
Paul Heino
555 Richmond St., West Ste. 404
Box 700
Toronto, M5V 3B1 Canada
Work: (416) 920-4644, Ext. 24
Fax: (416) 920-0236
Web: southernstatescontracting.com
Travelers
Judy Barrett
One Tower Square, 14CR
Hartford, CT 06183
Work: (860) 277-8379
Fax: (860) 277-7301
E-mail: jebarret@travelus.com
Web: sterlingunderground.com
Institutional
Peco Energy Co.
Ray T. Pugh
300 Front St.
W. Conshohecken, PA 19428
Work: (610) 832-6438
Fax: (610) 832-6466
E-mail: ray.pugh@peco-energy.com
Web: www.cuttingedge-group.com |
