Bulletins

Labor

NLRB Decision

MITA was involved in a dispute with the Detroit Area Carpenters relative to the assignment of work on mechanically stabilized earth wall construction (MSE wall).  It was the position of the Carpenters that such work fall within their jurisdiction and should therefore be assigned to Carpenters, rather than Laborers. The
Legislative

Transportation Stimulus Funding Bill Passes MI House

A bill that would provide authorization for the state to spend the federal stimulus transportation money passed the Michigan House this week by a vote of 109-1. MDOT has requested that the appropriations bill be approved by the legislature no later than April 2 so that the first letting can
Legislative

MDOT, MDEQ Announce $1 Billion in Stimulus Projects

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently announced almost $1 billion in projects for roads, bridges, sewer, and water systems to be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that was signed into law in February.  MITA first announced these
Engineering

Fraudulent USDOT Faxes/Email Resurface

As we have advised you in the past to beware, recently several MITA members have received what appears to be official letters (and emails) from the USDOT requesting specific bank account information. Although they are very official looking on USDOT Procurement Office letterhead, we have confirmed with the USDOT’s Office
Engineering

MDOT Stops Mailing Pay Estimates

Beginning April 1, 2009, MDOT will stop the standard practice of mailing pay estimates.  MDOT anticipates that this change will result in significant cost savings to Michigan taxpayers. To obtain a copy of the estimates, contractors can access and print them from the MDOT website. Click here to view the MDOT
Engineering

2009 Michigan Erosion Control Workshop

How to Organize BMPs Into Effective Erosion Control Plans for Linear Projects Michigan’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) is hosting a hands-on training workshop that will focus on how to organize BMPs into effective erosion control plans. Locations are: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 Weber’s Inn 3050 Jackson Avenue Ann Arbor,
Legislative

Proposed Unemployment Insurance Changes Would Get Rid of Solvency Tax

A measure that would relieve Michigan businesses from paying the unemployment insurance “solvency tax” was passed unanimously in the House Thursday. According to analyses, the legislation would save businesses $35 million for interest owed by the state to the federal government for the advances on the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. 
Engineering

MITA Project Advertisement Website

If you have not heard about the MITA Ads website, it is designed to provide MITA members a convenient way to view the advertisements of non-MDOT let public and private projects. It is the common practice of Michigan’s heavy/highway industry to utilize MDOT’s website to find project advertisement and letting information for
Engineering

Tax Liability on Construction Materials

This bulletin will serve as MITA’s annual reminder to our contractor members of the issue of tax liability on construction materials that are being incorporated in projects of tax-exempt owners. Contractors performing work for public agencies, churches and schools are often faced with this precarious issue. Many of these owners
Engineering

FieldManager Contractor is now available!

FieldManager Contractor has all of the functionality of FieldManager Read-Only plus the ability to: Create discrepancy reports Create a daily progress discrepancy by item Establish the basis of a subcontract Easily calculate a subcontractor total dollar amount Import your Expedite Bid (*.ebs) file Track costs of personnel and equipment per
Legislative

Federal Stimulus On Its Way to Michigan

Congressional approval of the federal stimulus package means money will soon flow to Michigan and with it, new jobs. President Obama is expected to sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 tomorrow. Final details are still emerging, but it appears that Michigan will be in line for about
Engineering

MDOT Names New Chief Operations Officer

MDOT Director, Kirk Steudle, has announced that Greg Johnson, MDOT’s Metro Region Engineer, will replace Larry Tibbits as Chief Operations Officer. Greg joined MDOT in 1989 after working six years for the City of Battle Creek.  He worked in the Kalamazoo project office as a resident engineer for six years,