September 23-30, 2002

REWORKING THE MIDFIELD TERMINAL
Somewhat of an interesting reaction was generated last week when news of an early expansion of the midfield terminal at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport became known. Northwest Airlines apparently wants to add a two story, 41 gate concourse to Concourse C, at an estimated cost of $46 million, nine more gates and additional baggage handling equipment to Concourse B at $34 million, and some new international gates on Concourse A, at an estimated cost of $2.5 million. These proposals began to firm up last July when a $3 million design agreement was signed between the airline and the Smith Group of Detroit. A tip of my hardhat goes to the Detroit Free Press for breaking this story. Like all taxpayers, though, I'm concerned the newspaper had to file a Freedom of Information Act complaint to find all this out. It should have been made public information while the ink on the architectural design contract was still wet. To allow for these expansions some portions of the recently completed Concourse C will have to be demolished and replaced, a requirement that has some tongues waggling about wasted work and excessive costs. Even so, Northwest appears to be reacting to rapid changes in the airline industry that will allow it to expand its use of smaller, 50 seat jet airliners flying regional routes. Construction on the expansion could get underway early next year, aiming for completion by the end of 2004.

FOR A SOUNDER HEARTBEAT
On Sept. 18 the University of Michigan Board of Regents considered a $168 million proposal to add a cardiovascular wing on the south side of the U-M hospital complex in Ann Arbor. The addition would be attached to the hospital's cancer and geriatrics center and could encompass 345,000 sq. ft. Among its facilities are to be eight operating rooms, 24 intensive care unit beds, 14 vascular procedures laboratories, 36 outpatient examination rooms, and a parking deck for 400 vehicles. Michigan's Certificate of Need Commission will have to give its okay to several aspects of this project but U-M officials say they don't expect any problems with approvals. Plans call for completion by 2007.

THE REBORN CCFC
Several contractor groups, including the NEA: The Association of Union Constructors, have recreated the Contractors' Coalition for Fair Contracting. Its mission? To combat distortions and falsehood being spread by opponents of the federal Davis-Bacon Act. Other members of the coalition include the National Electrical Contractors Association, Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, Finishing Contractors Association, and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America. All together they represent 29,000 construction contractors throughout the U.S. Opponents of Davis-Bacon seem to be working toward the elimination of the law by nibbling pieces away from it, one bit at a time. Groups of legislators have also been preventing major construction legislation from coming to a vote unless prevailing wage legislative language is eliminated. Davis-Bacon has even become an issue in the creation of the Homeland Security Department. Opponents argue the federal government is extending the reach of Davis-Bacon when it includes prevailing wage language. Yet, in fact, all the government actually is doing is continuing a policy that extends nearly 70 years. Late last month the CCFC sent a letter to members of Congress with a report on Davis-Bacon. The letter dispelled some myths by pointing out that locally prevailing wages are not union wages, the use of Davis-Bacon does not increase construction costs, and that the Davis-Bacon Act has substantial backing from minority communities. Organizations supporting Davis-Bacon include the NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus, and the National Association of Minority Contractors.

SERIOUS BRAWLING
Early in the twentieth century labor relations on some construction sites could deteriorate so badly that union members and open shop workers would square off and toss a few punches at each other. If not tools, lumber, or worse. A reminder of those days of yesteryear surfaced last July 12 when violence broke out during a union demonstration on a gas pipeline project, located at Lake of Egypt near Marion in southern Illinois, for Duke Energy of Charlotte, N,C. Last week seven union members were arraigned on mob action charges after being indicted by a grand jury. The indictment accuses them of attaching Joel Plunk, a nonunion worker, and damaging several vehicles. They pled not guilty and were released on $10,000 bond each. Plunk was employed by Rogers & Phillips, an open shop contractor from Houston, Tex. Terry M. Green, the defense attorney, said the union members didn't start the violence and were unarmed. The demonstration, after all, was supposed to have been peaceful. Nonunion workers, however, carried two by fours. Violence broke out when a nonunion worker drew a gun. (Interestingly, the armed worker has not been charged by the government. You can carry loaded firearms on project sites?) Unarmed union members disarmed the gunman and other nonunion workers who were packing heat. According to Mr. Green, three union members were seriously injured in the ensuing fracas. Joel A. Groves of Marion, Ill., was shot in both legs. James R. Schumaker of Stonefort, Ill., and Kevn P. Skula of Frankfort, were both struck on the head. Ironically they were all named in the indictment. Of the seven indicted, three are members of Local 318 of the International Union of Operating Engineers and four are with Local 551 of the Plumbers & Pipefitters. Being found guilty of a charge of mob action is punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Happy days are not here again.

ON ITS WAY
As expected, on Sept. 17 final agreement was reached in Congress on legislation giving the National Institute of Standards & Technology the responsibility and power to investigate building failures. The National Construction Safety Team Act was sponsored in the House by U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) President Bush is expected to sign the measure into law soon.

ON THE SEPT. 28 BALLOT
A $62 million bond proposal will be placed before voters this Saturday by Grosse Pointe Public Schools to fund the renovation of athletic facilities, science laboratories, and other improvements. If adopted, the money specifically would go for building a swimming pool at Grosse Pointe North High School and renovating the pool at South High School; renovating the auditoriums at both high schools; updating science laboratories in the school district's middle schools and high schools; and adding air conditioning to certain buildings. Also to be funded are projects to renovate locker rooms and bathrooms, expand and renovate cafeteria facilities, and to remove installations of asbestos. The district's last bond issue was approved 28 years ago. The average age of Grosse Pointe Public School buildings is 62. Some certainly are in need of modernization and repair.

GET YOUR FREE PROGRAM
Interested in modeling thin walled structures? Free software developed by Benjamin Schafer, a civil engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University may ease the assignment. The software performs analysis on thin walled steel structural members to predict load conditions that will make them deform or buckle. It allows for modeling a number of elements together, rather than separately. For example, to model a C-section member, engineers typically model the flange, lip, and web independently. But the software - known as CUFSM - allows the entire assembly to be modeled, providing one value for the section as a whole. Prof. Schafer says his software can provide a more accurate failure analysis because element by element calculations can miss a lot of behavior that can turn up in thin sections. You can download the software - and find out a lot more about the professor and his good work - by visiting www.ce.jhu.edu/bschafer.

PHIL MEATHE PASSES AWAY
The former chairman and chief executive of the Smith Group, Detroit, Philip J. Meathe, AIA, died of heart failure on Sept. 17 while undergoing treatment at the Cleveland Clinic at the age of 76. Mr. Meathe joined what was then Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates in 1979 as executive vice president and rose to chairman and CEO by 1974. He remained at the helm of the architectural and engineering company until his retirement in 1992. After earning a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Michigan in 1948, he took his first architecture job in 1950 with the Detroit firm of Leinweber, Yamasaki & Hellmuth. Five years later he began a partner with Meathe, Kessler & Associates, staying there until his move to SH&G. Mr. Meathe held gold medals from both the Detroit and Michigan Chapters of the American Institute of Architects. Other awards included the Robert F. Hastings Award, the United Foundation Heart of Gold, and the University of Michigan Architecture & Urban Planning Alumni Society Award for Distinguished Service. Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; two daughters, Carol Brossonney and Krisi Mertz; two sons, Jim and Larry; eight grandchildren; and a sister.

Questions? Comments? Idea?
Please submit your responses to the Great Lakes Fabricators & Erectors Association as soon as possible. You can call our new offices in downtown Detroit at 313/309-2000. Or you can drop an email to Guy Snyder at guysny@concentric.net or call him at 313/961-9217. We hope to hear from you soon!