A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Transcription

1 A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT A Note from the President... 1 Road Scholar Level Conference Call... 2 Career Awareness APWA Spring Conference Did You Know?... 7 Chuck Barlett, PE Alfred Benesch & Company As I write this, our legislature is debating a tax program and budget for the next fiscal year. As we are all painfully aware, this impacts how we serve our communities in a number of ways. Funding for our work comes through grants and other sources linked to our state government. Permits for various types of improvements are also processed through these agencies. The decisions made in Topeka affect us both in time and dollars used in caring for our communities. Once again, Public Works Departments across the state will be tasked with developing creative ways of caring for and improving infrastructure. The time has come for us to share with decision makers and the public how our folks do their jobs and do it very well under difficult circumstances. I encourage everyone to take those opportunities to promote the role of public works in our communities. I also want to thank each of you for persevering through the challenges in the past and those yet to come. 1

2 Road Scholar Level 1 David Cronin, PE, City Engineer, Lawrence Three City of Lawrence employees recently completed Road Scholar Level 1 certification: Carol Fittell, Bill Koerner, and Steve Unfred. The certificates were presented by David Cronin, City of Lawrence, and Lisa Harris, of LTAP. Conference Call Kenzil Lynn, Schwab-Eaton The Board of Directors recently had a conference call to discuss the proposed Budget, Peter King s resignation and the 2017 and 2018 recommendations for Congress. The following was some of the discussion on all three items: 1. The Associations financial health is pretty positive. The new budget which will be adopted by the Board at our meeting later this month will allow us the opportunity to enhance some of the programs and build our reserves. I ll provide more information after the Board formally approves the budget. 2

3 2. Peter s resignation is effective July 20th. An Interim Director has been identified and a contract is being negotiated. A search committee will be formed to assist with the selection of the new Executive Director. 3. The Board approved Congress locations for 2017 and Orlando will host the 2017 Conference and Kansas City will host in Career Awareness Doug Whitacre, City of Topeka A Career Awareness presentation was made to the KU Student Chapter of ASCE on Wednesday April 29 th. Brian Armstrong from Bartlett & West and Doug Whitacre from the City of Topeka made the presentation to approximately 25 students. The major topics for the presentation were: Importance of Licensure Private Side Opportunities Public Side Opportunities APWA Membership and Benefits Scholarship Opportunities Pizza was provided for the attendees. 3

4 CHAPTER NEWS 2015 APWA Spring Conference Karla Waters, Wilson & Company Project of the Year Small City/Rural County Environmental Project Name Stewart Street, 14th Avenue to 9th Avenue Managing Agency: City of Winfield Consultant: Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. (PEC) Contractor: Cornejo & Sons Brian Coomes, PEC Bruce Remsberg, PEC Russ Tomevi, City of Winfield Brett Letkowski, Transystems, APWA Awards Chair Project of the Year Small City/Rural County Transportation Project Name Abilene East First Street Improvements Managing Agency: City of Abilene Consultant: Schwab Eaton Contractor: Smoky Hill, LLC Ian Reekie, Schwab Eaton Brice Barragar, Smoky Hill, LLC Lee Stockwell, Smoky Hill, LLC Lon Schrader, City of Abilene Brett Letkowski, Transystems, APWA Awards Chair 4

5 Project of the Year Small City/Rural County Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair Project Name Harveyville Tornado Disaster Emergency Wastewater Repairs Managing Agency: City of Harveyville Consultant: BG Consultants, Inc. Contractor: Middlecreek Corporation Brian Kingsley, BG Consultants Dustin Kuntz, Mayor of Harveyville Nicolas Kuntz, Harveyville Brett Letkowski, Transystems, APWA Awards Chair Project of the Year Less than $5 Million Transportation Project Name 23rd Street & Iowa Street Reconstruction Managing Agency: City of Lawrence Consultant: BG Consultants, Inc. Contractor: Amino Brothers Company, Inc. Frank McMahon, Amino Brothers Company, Inc., Jason Hoskinson, BG Consultants Pat Weyer, City of Lawrence David Cronin, City of Lawrence Brett Letkowski, Transystems, APWA Awards Chair 5

6 Project of the Year Excellence in Program Operations Project Name Solid Waste Management Program Owner: City of Lawrence Craig Pruett, City of Lawrence Kathy Richardson, City of Lawrence Brett Letkowski, Transystems, APWA Awards Chair George Williams Award Presented to Russ Tomevi, City of Winfield by Brett Letkowski, Transystems, APWA Awards Chair APWA Top Ten Award Presented to Greg McCaffery, City of Junction City by Larry Stevens, National APWA President 6

7 Did You Know Lesser Known Facts about The Star Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key intended his verses to be song lyrics, not poetry Key was not imprisoned on a British warship when he penned his verses The flag Key hailed at the twilight s last gleaming did not fly through the perilous fight. The song was not originally entitled The Star-Spangled Banner. It did not become the national anthem until more than a century after it was written The national anthem has four verses Key opposed American entry into the War of 1812 Key was a consummate Washington insider Key was a one-hit wonder who might have been tone deaf. 7

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