Bulletins
Developments have seemingly been slow on the transportation funding initiative in recent weeks, overshadowed by debate and legislative approval of the federal stimulus money for state road projects. With that action now completed, a singular focus is shifting back to the long-term funding needs, as the funding initiative reaches a
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed legislation authorizing Michigan to spend $873 million of federal recovery money on hundreds of road and transit projects across the state that will create approximately 25,000 jobs. Mike Nystrom and Keith Ledbetter of MITA attended the bill signing, and Nystrom commented on the short-term
Legislation (HB 4282) being debated in House committee this week would allow the state to debar contractors from doing work for the state if they had more than one MIOSHA or prevailing wage violation in the previous three years. As ridiculous as the legislation seems, misguided legislators were holding their
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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.
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
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
