June 2008 Vol. 44, No. 6 Four builder association members to run Mandatory IBA’s Golf Outing in for Indiana House of Representatives fire sprinklers? swing June 17 our Indiana Builders Association general election. DeVon is a State Director, nce again this year, proponents he Indiana Builders Association members have decided to make a NAHB Life Director, and member of the of fire sprinklers are seeking to 2008 Golf Outing is set for 11 a.m. F run for the Indiana House of HBA of St. Joseph Valley. O mandate these costly systems in T June 17 at the Cherry Hill Golf Club Representatives for the first time in Mark Messmer is running for State the IRC for all one and two in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 2008. Representative in House District 63, which family homes and townhouses and have The event is held to raise funds for the Heath VanNatter is running for House is an open seat after State Representative submitted five different proposals to do National Association of Home Builders’ District 38, which was vacated by Jim Buck Dave Crooks announced he would not seek so. NAHB was successful in preventing a Build-PAC, the political action fund for the who was selected by a caucus as a State another term. Messmer is a member of the favorable committee action on all five of NAHB. Cherry Hill was rated No. 1 by the Senator. VanNatter serves as an IBA Area BA of Dubois County. those proposals. Fort Wayne Magazine and is the only four- Vice President and is one of two trustees Wes Culver is running for State However, advocates for fire sprinkler star public golf course in Fort Wayne. IBA from Indiana on NAHB’s Build-PAC Board Representative in House District 49. Culver mandates will not be discouraged by member Roger Delagrange donated the of Trustees. VanNatter is a member of the knocked off incumbent State these hearing results and will be working course in support of Build-PAC. HBA of Howard Co. Representative John Ulmer in the May hard to “get out the vote” to achieve the Build-PAC supports campaigns of legis- Dale DeVon is running for House primary with over 70 percent of the vote. two-thirds majority needed to overturn lators seeking federal office who support District 8 in northern Indiana. DeVon ran Culver is a member of the BA of Elkhart the committee’s action at the final affordable housing and small business ini- unopposed in the primary and will face County and the BA of Kosciusko-Fulton hearings. In particular, they will likely tiatives. State Representative Ryan Dvorak in the Counties. have the greatest opportunity to prevail This event is not just for golfers, but for on a proposal to mandate fire sprinklers a major cause. IBA is asking each in all new townhouses, which failed by member to make a contribution. an extremely close committee vote of 6- “There are a host of members who 5 for disapproval. support NAHB Build-PAC, how- To counter their efforts at Spring ever it is vital that every member Board, NAHB launched its own grassroots support maintaining affordable campaign against the proposed fire housing,” said IBA Chief Execu- sprinkler mandates. We will be reaching tive Officer Rick Wajda. “Ev- out through our members and local HBAs ery donation, regardless of to educate code officials about NAHB’s size, is important.” VanNatter DeVon Messmer Culver concerns regarding mandated fire For additional details and sprinkler systems and encourage those to register, see page 7 or who are eligible to vote to attend the call the IBA office at (800) Housing industry laws conference Final Action Hearings in Minneapolis 377-6334. Sept. 17-23. offers crucial legal advice This will be the last opportunity for he Indiana Builders Association new and changed laws and regulations. proponents to get a mandate for fire will host its second annual Hous- The conference will address several sprinklers in the body of the IRC for the T ing Industry Laws, Rules and key issues facing the housing industry 2009 Edition. That means, if Regulations Conference on such as immigration, property taxes, clas- unsuccessful, a mandate at the national Wednesday, June 18 from 8:30 a.m. to sification of independent contractors, level in the IRC will PAID noon at the Marriott Fort Wayne. The green building overview and the legal have to wait until PRSRT STD US POSTAGE conference is being held the morning fol- implications of green building. 2012 or later. 279 PERMIT NO. INDIANAPOLIS, IN lowing IBA’s annual golf outing. Registration is $97 for the first attendee NAHB has Tom Bedsole, a partner with Locke from a company and $77 for any addi- revamped the Reynolds law firm, and Rick Wajda, IBA tional attendees from the same company. Residential Fire CEO, will facilitate the conference, up- For more information, see page 3 or call Sprinkler Action dating members on how to comply with the IBA office at (800)377-6334. Kit to include several new and updated resources to assist members in their lobbying of code officials – including a Kreith, GMB, and Sunderman, CAPS, DVD, brochure, talking points and information on a travel assistance grants receive Paul Johnson Award program available to code officials and others who are eligible to vote at the ICC ach year since 1990, IBA recog- Lawrenceburg, tied for Indiana’s No. 1 mem- final hearings and would otherwise not nizes the outstanding efforts of the bership recruiter. be able to travel to Minneapolis. This kit E member who recruits the most new Both Kreith and Sunderman recruited 49 is available to download from NAHB.org members throughout the year with new members and are active members in or by requesting hard copies from NAHB. the Paul Johnson Excellence in Member- their local associations. For more information visit: ship Award. In 2007, Cory Kreith, GMB, Check out new association members and www.nahb.org/sprinklers; or contact Crown Point, and Dave Sunderman, CAPS, locals’ new member standings on page 17. Steve Orlowski (800-368-5242, x8303). Indiana Builders Association 44670 Box P.O. Indianapolis, IN 46244-0670 Page 2, Indiana Builder News June, 2008 Indiana Builder Ensuring a strong association in a weak economy News ust driving past the gas pump these 8. Defeated property tax estimates for build- days shows how many areas of our ers legislation - would have forced builders Official publication of the President’s J life we have little to no control over. to provide an estimate of property taxes in Indiana Builders Association, Inc. Message street address Our industry - after skipping the mild re- writing before signing a contract to build. 1011 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., cession that affected the country in 2001 - By David Compton 9. Defeated fire sprinklers and arc fault cir- Ste. 100, Indianapolis, IN 46202 is in a full-scale depression, as deep as or R.N. Thompson & cuit interrupters from being inserted into mailing address Associates, Fishers P.O. Box 44670 deeper than the 1980 to 1982 recession, the Indiana Residential Code. Indianapolis, IN 46244-0670 when interest rates topped 21 percent on President, 10. Helped pass legislation adopting day- 1-800-377-6334 * (317) 236-6334 short-term financing. Unfortunately, it is Indiana Builders Association light savings time, major moves and the FAX (317) 236-6342 during these times, that government offi- Home Improvement Fraud bill. www.BuildIndiana.org [email protected] cials look to compensate their budgets, 1. Passed the Model Home Act - gives build- These are just a partial listing of the leg- Published monthly. which were previously funded by the islative achievements that the IBA has ac- Advertising rates available upon request. ers a 50 percent property tax break on the This publication will not knowingly accept any advertisement that is in vio- growth occurring during “good times.” A structure for up to three years on three quali- complished over the last three to four years. lation of the law. Inclusion of an advertisement and/or article does NOT indicate approval or endorsement of the product, service, or opinion by strong Indiana Builders Association is vi- fying homes. In addition, the IBA staff supports hundreds Indiana Builders Association. tal to protect our interests and to promote of classes and seminars that keep our mem- Senior Officers 2. Passed Vested Property Rights Statue - President Vice President our causes. prohibits a local unit of government from bers educated and up-to-date on the issues David Compton Dennis Spidel, GMB, CGB, CGR Late in 2007, I asked the staff to look at changing use of land for a fixed period of and opportunities facing us today. Indiana’s R.N. Thompson & Assn. Dennis Spidel Custom Homes a three year projection on IBA finances for time. Midwest Builders Convention, as well as P.O. Box 44670 Angola, IN 46703 the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. I asked other networking and educational events, Indianapolis, IN 46244 (260) 665-1599 3. Defeated requirement for carbon monox- (317) 281-4177 Fax (260) 665-3828 them to take into account the state of the ide detectors in all new homes. help to promote new products and best prac- [email protected] [email protected] industry in projecting revenue as well as 4. Defeated green building mandate for tices in our industry. We all have the op- Treasurer Secretary moving any salaries previously paid buildings. portunity to benefit from the Speedway Gas Andy Place, Sr. Doug Miller through the Housing Protection Fund back 5. Defeated employee classification bill that purchasing program made available to all Place Builders, Inc.