The READY MIXED READY-MIXER CONCRETE 2000 Ready-Mixed Concrete Association 630 Country Green Lane Charlottesville, VA 22902-6478 Phone: 804-977-3716 Fax: 804-979-2439 newsletter APRIL 2004 2004 Spring Convention House Moves to Schedule of Events End Budget Sunday, May 16 Noon–3:00 p.m. VRMCA Advisory Council Board Meeting and Luncheon Deadlock 3:00–5:30 p.m. VRMCA Board of Directors’ Meeting 3:30 p.m. Registration Desk Open he Virginia House of Delegates 6:30–7:30 p.m. VRMCA Reception Ttook a major step toward resolv- 7:30 –9:30 p.m. Dinner On Your Own, Homestead Dining Room ing the State’s budget gridlock March 13 when it passed, on a 52-46 vote, a Monday, May 17 $750 million compromise tax package. 7:00 a.m. Breakfast On Your Own, Homestead Dining Room Some 17 Republicans joined all but 7:30 a.m. Registration Desk Open two Democrats in voting for HB5018, 8:00–8:10 a.m. Introductions sponsored by Delegate Harry Parrish (R- 8:10–9:00 a.m. “Human Resources – An Investment in Organization Manassas). The fol- Performance” by Steve Jones, Chandler Concrete lowing GOP delegates 9:00–9:45 a.m. “Upcoming Transportation Funding & Projects” voted for the bill: 2004 by Jack Rollison, VDOT Preston Bryant, GENERAL 9:45–10:00 a.m. Refreshment Break Vince Callahan, Bill ASSEMBLY 10:00–10:30 a.m. “Virginia’s Concrete Streets & Local Roads Initiative” Carrico, Jim Dillard, William Fralin, Rob- by Bob Long, ACPA ert Hurt, Riley Ingram, Chris Jones, 10:30–11:30 a.m. “GPS 101 for Fleet Management” Danny Marshall, Harvey Morgan, by Kumar Persad, Trimble Navigation Dave Nutter, Glenn Oder, Harry 11:30 a.m. Adjourn for Golf, Tennis, Sporting Clays, Sightseeing, Parrish, Gary Reese, Tom Rust, Ed Shopping, and Relaxation Scott, and Bob Tata. 12:30 p.m. Golf, Shotgun Start, The Old Course (Democrats Johnny Joannu and 1:30–4:30 p.m. Tennis, Homestead Courts Lionel Spruill voted against the bill; 1:30–3:30 p.m. Sporting Clays, Homestead Shooting Club however, Spruill later said he voted no 6:30–7:30 p.m. VRMCA Reception by accident and asked 7:30 -9:30 p.m. Dinner On Your Own, Homestead Dining Room that the House Jour- Register Today! nal note his error.) Tuesday, May 18 Forms Inside The 52-46 vote 7:00 a.m. Breakfast On Your Own, Homestead Dining Room represented a dra- 7:30 a.m. Registration Desk Open matic about-face in 8:00–9:00 a.m. “Contractor Beware” by Richard Kirby, Dominion Power the GOP-dominated 9:00–10:00 a.m. Guest Speaker House, whose lead- Charles Mann, Former Washington Redskins ers for more than three months have Defensive Lineman worked hard to keep 10:00–10:30 a.m. Refreshment Break the Republican cau- 10:30–11 a.m. VRMCA Advisory Council Updates VRMCA cus standing firm 11:00–11:30 a.m. Annual Business Meeting Spring Convention against tax increases. Presentation of Safety Awards May 16-18, 2004 The House went Election of Officers and Directors into session at 9 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Adjourn See Budget, page 2 2 Virginia Ready-Mixed Concrete Association

Concrete Industry Loses Friend and Colleague

Milton L. Woolard, Jr., a superintendent with Richmond- based Emerald Construction Company, died March 20, 2003, of natural causes. Woolard had worked in the construction industry for over 30 years. During his career, he constructed corporate headquarters, high-rise office buildings, industrial facilities, hospitals, retail, schools and multi-level parking decks. One of Woolard’s many strengths was his working knowledge of concrete and the tilt-up concrete wall panel method of construction. He constructed over 1 million square feet of tilt-up construction in the Richmond/Fredericksburg area, The late Milton L. Woolard, Jr. on the job. including Windsor Business Park, Northlake Business Park, and River Run Business Center. In fact, Woolard was certified by the American Concrete Institute as an ACI Tilt-Up Supervisor–an honor held by only 103 construction professionals in the . Woolard, who was 58, is survived by his wife Jackie, two daughters, two sons, a sister, a brother, and seven grandchildren. He was known for his love of family, spending most of his free time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was also known as an avid golfer. As a co-worker, Woolard never lost his sense of humor and was always pleasant and thoughtful in his approach to everyone on the job site and to the demands of the work. Through his work life and his personal life, he made many friends and relationships. He will be missed by all who knew him. Budget Continued from page1 and older. did succeed with an amendment that and the bill did not go to a vote until • Provides certain safe-harbors re- stripped the proposed increase in the 5.15 p.m., following several breaks, lated to Delaware holding companies, recordation tax out of the bill. That much debate, and a series of attempted effective January 1, 2004. amendment erased $224 million from amendments, most of which failed. • Pass-through entities: Requires the bill’s original revenue-raising target The bill’s main features include: pass-through entities’ information re- of $972.5 million. • Estate tax: Eliminates the estate tax turns to be filed with the Tax Depart- The bill now moves to the Senate Fi- for the estates of persons who die on or ment, effective for taxable years begin- nance Committee. The Senate, which al- after November 1, 2004. ning on and after January 1, 2004. ready has backed off a proposal for an • Sales tax on food: Reduces the state • Cigarette tax: Increases the state additional $1.6 billion in funding for sales tax on food by one-half cent effec- cigarette tax from 2.5 cents to 25 cents transportation projects, currently favors tive September 1, 2004, and an additional per pack. Beginning July 1, 2005, the a proposal seeking $1.5 billion in new one-half cent effective July 1, 2005. rate increases to 30 cents per pack. revenues over the Budget’s two-year • Income tax: Increases the personal • Sales tax: Increases the state sales cycle. exemption amount from $800 to $1,000, and use tax one-half percent from 3.5 Any attempts by the Senate to amend effective January 1, 2005. percent to 4 percent, which when com- the bill would send it back to the House • Increases the standard deduction for bined with the local 1 percent sales tax for further debate—and an unknown married individuals from $5,000 to will raise the combined rate from 4.5 future. $6,000, effective January 1, 2005. percent to 5 percent, effective Septem- In the meantime, it is critical that • Raises the filing threshold from ber 1, 2004. VRMCA members and their employees $5,000 to $7,000 for individuals and • Eliminates sales tax exemptions for continue letting lawmakers know of from $8,000 to $14,000 for married certain public service corporations. Virginia’s critical need for additional couples, effective January 1, 2005. • Eliminates the accelerated sales tax revenues for transportation projects. • Maintains the age deduction as it payments. currently exists for taxpayers aged 65 Delegate Thelma Drake (R-Norfolk) April 2004 3 ACI Field Testing Fredericksburg VDOT District Hosts Technician Certification Successful ACI Technician Testing Class Program

By J. Keith Beazley, Director of viduals help with the exam: Brian Upcoming 2004 Seminar Industry Services Buckle, VDOT Fredericksburg Dis- and Exam Schedule The Fredericksburg District trict; Claude Riffe, VDOT District VDOT hosted the second ACI Tech- Materials Engineer; Alex Teklu, As- nician Certification class held in the sistant District Materials Engineer; Richmond area this year. and Ronald Jackson, Materials May 3, 4 & 7 The class, held on the last week of Laboratory, assisted the examiners. March, was well at- Ronald Smith and David Routt as- tended and the number sisted from the Roanoke of certifications contin- ACI Field Technician Culpeper Dis- ues to rise around the trict and served June 23, 24 & 28 Commonwealth. Class Report as supplemental This need and goal examiners. Hampton for more certified indi- The supple- viduals has been recognized by mental examiners from VRMCA July 14, 15 & 19 VRMCA Executive Director Peter were R. D. Dobson, Ennstone; Phil Easter and VDOT Materials Engi- Baumgart, Shockey Company; neer Andy Mergenmeier, and as a Bobby Dunigan, Allied Concrete; Harrisonburg result, a series of classes was estab- Thomas Manning, Titan America; August 18, 19 & 23 lished throughout the state. Rich- Will Adams, Lehigh Cement; Wil- ard Steele, P.E., retired from the liam Shipe, Rowe Concrete; and state highway department, is the Bob Nablo and Keith Beazley, Richmond VRMCA Examiner. VRMCA. Gary Downey, Titan September 15, 16 & 20 The success of the latest class America, donated and arranged for could have not been possible with- the delivery of the concrete for the out the efforts of VDOT personnel testing. The next class will be held Please see the enclosed within the Fredericksburg District. in Richmond on May 3, 4, and 7. registration form for the The District had a number of indi- class times and information on how to register. Register Now for the ICF Training Seminar May 19, 2004, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfax The Northern Virginia Concrete The seminar will be on the basic pro- Advisory is pleased to host a one-day cedures for building with ICF’s and Got News? training seminar about Insulated Con- will be followed up with support on crete Forms on May 19 at the Hilton the installer’s first job. Training will Send your Garden Inn in Fairfax, VA. provide participants with the knowl- Rory Ahern from Tara Contract- edge needed for quality installations announcements, special ing, Inc., distributor of Amvic Insu- and to make ICFs a profitable addi- recognitions, promotions, lated Concrete Forms, will be con- tion to your business. ducting this regional training semi- The registration fee will be $275 and special events nar for custom homebuilders and with a $50 discount for attendees from framing contractors who are inter- the same company. Breakfast, lunch, information to ested in installing Insulated Con- and a tool bag of miscellaneous items crete Forms. for ICF installations will be included. [email protected] Ahern conducts national, as well For questions or to register please call as regional, ICF seminars and has Hessam Nabavi of VRMCA at 703- or fax to 434-979-2439. been a distributor and installer for 966-6743 or Tara Contracting, Inc. at over ten years. 1-866-252-1152.