Current Events

Lafarge North America is selling its Wichita aggregates, concrete and asphalt/paving operations to Summit Materials, Lafarge confirms in an email to the Wichita Business Journal. Lafarge also confirms layoffs will occur as part of the transfer.

Two years ago,Summit purchased Wichita paving and demolition contractor Cornejo & Sons.

The Lafarge-Summit agreement involves Lafarge’s three aggregate operations, five ready-mix concrete sites and three asphalt operations in the Wichita area.The transaction is expected to close in early April.

Lafarge sold its Kansas City operation to Eagle Materials in September.

Lafarge has had the Wichita operations since November 2005, when it purchased theme from Ritchie Corp.

OVER 525 CONCRETE SERVED 

On February 19, 2013 the associations along with our promotional partners, Monarch Cement Co., South Central Cement Promotion Association, MO/KS American Concrete Pavement Association, and Concrete Promotional Group of Kansas City sponsored our annual “Eat Concrete” Day at the Capitol.  We were excited to get back “under the dome” for this highly anticipated Legislative Event, after several years of hosting this event offsite, due to capitol renovations.  We served over 525 concretes to Legislators, Staff and others “under the dome”. 

 

We were also fortunate to have Kansas Governor Sam Brownback take a moment to enjoy his “concrete” with our members.  KDOT Secretary Mike King stopped by as well to visit with our members.

 

People are already anticipating its return in 2014!  Concrete Day is hosted each year to educate Legislators on the importance that the concrete industry has on the State’s Economy.  “Concrete” is frozen custard blended with fruit/candy ingredients for a thick, yummy & creamy TREAT you can EAT!! 

 

Economic Lifelines calls on legislature to keep promise to fund 

T-WORKS

 

TOPEKA--Economic Lifelines, the state's leading transportation coalition, has adopted a resolution calling on policymakers to honor their commitment to fund the T-WORKS Program as outlined in the original legislation. Recognizing that a number of tax and revenue proposals have been introduced by the 2013 Kansas Legislature, the Economic Lifelines Board unanimously adopted a resolution in support of T-WORKS and its current funding structure.

  

For over 25 years, Economic Lifelines has successfully advocated funding Kansas transportation systems including our 10,000 mile state network of highways and bridges. Our advocacy has included passage of necessary funding by the Legislature as well as ensuring taxpayer-provided transportation funds are used for their intended purpose. The Kansas public has been a part of these efforts through the numerous local communities and Chambers of Commerce that comprise the membership of our organization.

 

Economic Lifelines is appreciative of the support from Governor Brownback to fully fund and deliver the 2010 T-WORKS program with the dedicated 4/10 cent sales tax. We commend the Governor and Secretary King for their pledge to all Kansans to deliver the program as promised. We are adamantly opposed to the dedicated 4/10 being diverted to the State General Fund and will work with the Administration in opposing this effort. As the Governor has stated, economic activity and job creation are the best solutions for a budget shortfall and the jobs created by the T-WORKS program are, in fact, driving the economy.

 
Economic Lifelines however, acknowledges our continuing concerns that savings from the Kansas Department of Transportation will go to other programs within the State budget. Three years into the 10 year T-WORKS program, it is hard to believe construction costs and interest rates will remain flat for the remainder of the program. History has proven costs will grow, interest rates will rise, and KDOT will not always have such savings. If there are additional savings to be realized, we believe the fund should be applied to other transportation projects and needs. The State must stop relying on transportation-dedicated funding as a readily available source of funds. We oppose transfers or diversions from the State Transportation Fund.

  

"Members of Economic Lifelines are adamantly against diverting of the 4/10 cent from T-WORKS to the State General Fund," said Michelle Butler. "Kansas communities are counting on these funds to support the transportation investments that are key to providing jobs and growing the Kansas economy."

 T-WORKS is a 10 year, $8.2 billion transportation program passed during the 2010 Legislative Session.

2012 Governor’s Mined Land Reclamation Award Announced

Harshman Construction, LLC of Cedar Point, Kansas, Earns Award

TOPKEA – Harshman Construction, LLC of Cedar Point, Kansas, received the 2012 Governor’s Mined Land Reclamation Award for their reclamation work at their Finerty Quarry.

This award is presented to a company that demonstrated excellence in implementing mined land reclamation and conveying a positive image of mining in Kansas. The award was presented at the Kansas Aggregate Producers Association meeting in Overland Park January 18, 2013.

“Harshman Construction, LLC exceeded state reclamation requirements by reclaiming 20 acres at the site that state law did not require to be reclaimed,” said Scott Carlson, Kansas mined land reclamation program manager. 

The reclaimed area covers 40 acres in Coffey County.  The 40 acres were shaped, seeded and two ponds constructed. The land is now a productive livestock pasture. 

Harshman Construction, LLC operates 17 quarry locations in Southeast Kansas and does custom rock crushing. The extraction of aggregate materials from the earth are processed and then sold to the local construction industry, city and county municipalities.

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For more information, contact Scott Carlson with the Division of Conservation, Kansas Department of Agriculture at  785-296-6803 or scott.carlson@kda.ks.gov.

KAPA & KRMCA PRESENT “DRIVER OF THE YEAR AWARDS”

Topeka, KS – January 22, 2013– Kansas Aggregate Producers’ Association (KAPA) and Kansas Ready Mixed Concrete Association (KRMCA) presented their fifth Driver of the Year awards, January 18, 2013 in Overland Park, KS at the KAPA-KRMCA 46th Annual Joint Convention.  Each recipient was awarded a $250 cash prize, recognition at the KAPA-KRMCA 46th Annual Joint Convention award ceremony, personal plaque and company plaque as well as a Driver of the Year bumper sticker to display on their trucks.

Francisco Ruiz, Jr,

Eakin Enterprises, Larned

KAPA Driver of the Year Winner

Frank is a great guy and a more than reliable driver for our company.  He is on time and there until the job is done no matter what time of day or night it is. He is the best at maximizing his loads to be able to haul as much and as many loads as possible in a days’ time. We never have to worry about efficiency with Frank on the job. He is on top of his truck maintenance and keeping everything safe and in working order. Cleanliness is also a priority as his truck never shows of all the hard work it does.  

We appreciate Frank and all his hard work. He is a valuable asset to our company,” says Chad Eakin, President of Eakin Enterprises. 

Robert Acosta

Andale Ready Mix Central, Inc., Wichita

KRMCA Driver of the Year Winner

Robert has strong work ethics and leads by example.  He is a very dedicated and loyal employee.  When Pete Molitor, President of Andale Ready Mix took ownership of the company in 2006 it was without hesitancy that he leaned on Robert to head up their transportation department. 

Pete Molitor, President, Andale Ready Mix Central, Inc. states that it is a privilege to have Robert as one of their employees.  I respect Robert for his professionalism, work ethics, personal attributes, and all his contributions to helping make Andale Ready Mix Central, Inc. an honest and respected organization. 

KAPA-KRMCA is dedicated to the betterment of the ready mixed concrete and aggregate industries in the state of Kansas and works for members and non-members. For more information about KAPA-KRMCA, please contact our office at (785) 235-1188.

Economic Lifelines Hires New Executive Director

  

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 12, 2012

  

Economic Lifelines, the state's leading transportation coalition, today announced that Michelle Butler, of Capitol Strategies, would become the group's new Executive Director.  The well-known firm of Capitol Strategies will remain their lobbying team. 

 

"Michelle brings a wealth of information from her experience as a former congressional staffer and from her time spent in House leadership offices. She has been a part of our lobbying effort and we welcome her in a new, expanded role on our team," Co-Chair John Koger said.

 

"I look forward to working with Governor Brownback, Secretary King, their staffs and members of the legislature as we promote vital Kansas jobs through T-WORKS and as we protect our commitment to the transportation program," Butler said.

 

Butler was Chief of Staff to three House Majority Leaders, served as Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, and was also State Chief of Staff to a Member of Congress.  She has been a lobbyist with Capitol Strategies for the past four years.

 

Economic Lifelines is the statewide coalition of organizations and community groups which provide the grassroots support for Comprehensive Transportation Programs in Kansas, most recently T-WORKS.  They believe the economic development and jobs generated by such programs are vital to the stability and growth of the Kansas economy and individual communities.

KDOT Announces 2013-2014 T-WORKS Statewide Projects 

  

Today Secretary Mike King announced more than 430 projects scheduled for the 2013-2014 fiscal years.  Of those, 225  are highway projects and 209 are bridges/interchanges.  These projects will result in improvements to 1,600 miles of Kansas roadways.  KDOT estimates these projects to cost $1.1 billion.

 

Specific projects highlighted for the next two years include the reconstruction of the expansion to six lanes of U.S. 54/ Kellogg Avenue in Wichita, the South Lawrence Trafficway and the Johnson County Gateway interchange at the K-10/I435/I-35 junction.

 

Secretary King reiterated his commitment to the full implementation of T-WORKS saying, "These projects have an important role to play in the state's economic recovery and that's why Governor Brownback included implementation of T-WORKS in his Road Map for Kansas."

 

Click here to read the press release from today's event and Click here to see the list of projects. 

EDWARDS APPOINTED NSSGA PRESIDENT & CEO

Gus Edwards, NSSGA’s executive vice president since 2008, has been elected by the Board of Directors to succeed Joy Pinniger as the association’s president and CEO upon her retirement Nov. 2.

Edwards began his service with the National Stone Association in 1997 as vice president for public affairs.  After the merger of NSA and the National Aggregates Association in 2000, he continued as vice president for communications and community relations until his appointment as executive vice president.

Prior to joining NSA, Edwards was vice president for environment, health and safety with The Jefferson Group, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm.  He had previously served as U.S. deputy assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and deputy assistant administrator for external affairs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Those appointments were preceded by 12 years working on Capitol Hill as chief of staff to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a U.S. senator.  Before moving to Capitol Hill, Edwards was a newspaper reporter in Virginia.  He was educated at the Virginia Military Institute, the George Washington University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Edwards and his wife, Anne, are the parents of two daughters and reside in Alexandria, Va.

Based near the nation’s capital, NSSGA is the world’s largest mining association by product volume.  Its member companies represent more than 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel produced annually in the U.S. and approximately 107,800 working men and women in the aggregates industry.  During 2011, a total of nearly two billion metric tons of crushed stone, sand and gravel, valued at $17 billion, were produced and sold in the United States.

Julie Lorenz, Economic Lifelines Executive Director announces resignation.  It has been my great privilege to work with you over the past year.  We've nearly doubled the membership base of Economic Lifelines, successfully fended off all attempts to reduce T-WORKS funding and energized transportation supporters across the State. 

However, my "day-job" at Burns & McDonnell has become increasingly busy and it won't be possible for me to invest the amount of time necessary to successfully educate so many new legislators and advocate strenuously enough to protect transportation funds in what's likely to be another very tough session.

 

It's hard for me to leave Economic Lifelines.  I've thoroughly enjoyed the last year, I've learned a lot and most importantly - my belief that transportation is critical to the Kansas economy and is worth fighting for has been strengthened.  While I won't be the Executive Director much longer, my passion and willingness to help the organization continues.

 

We'll issue a request for proposals (RFP) to begin the search for a new Executive Director with the intent to have a strong advocate in place as soon as possible.

 

We will Julie well!  We appreciate Julie's effort to assist Kansas in our transportation efforts, moving Kansas forward!