State delays UW project approvals (UPDATE)

April 24, 2013 4:20 pm Leave a comment

University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly responds to a question during a hearing before the state's Joint Committee on Employment Relations at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, April 23, 2013. The university system has come under fire recently after a disclosure that revealed it finished the year that ended June 30, 2012, with a nearly $650 million surplus spread across multiple accounts at system schools, including $414.1 million in surplus tuition. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart)

The University of Wisconsin System’s hefty cash reserves worked against it Wednesday when the state Building Commission postponed approving several projects so it could decide how to split the cost.

Tagged with: Building Commission Dean Kaufert Fred Risser UW System

St. Croix Crossing lawsuit targets MnDOT

April 24, 2013 2:58 pm Leave a comment

C.S. McCrossan is suing MnDOT after its bid for approach work on the St. Croix Crossing project was rejected because it did not make a “good faith effort” to meet the minority hiring goal. (Artist rendering courtesy of MnDOT)

Maple Grove, Minn.-based C.S. McCrossan is relying on a two-pronged legal strategy in its effort to be reinstated as a contractor on the $626.4 million St. Croix River Crossing project, a job McCrossan lost despite having the lowest bid and best technical score.

Tagged with: Lunda Construction MnDOT St. Croix River Crossing

Dorner to connect homes to Mequon utility

April 24, 2013 2:06 pm Leave a comment

Luxemburg-based Dorner Inc. won a contract to connect roughly 140 Bayside homes to the Mequon water utility.

Tagged with: Dorner Inc. Globe Contractors Heartland Construction MJ Construction

Milwaukee County Board supervisors testify on reform proposal

April 24, 2013 2:01 pm Leave a comment

A group of Milwaukee County supervisors travelled to Madison on Wednesday to testify about a proposal to limit their pay and duties, but their opinions were not unified.

Tagged with: Deanna Alexander Joe Sanfelippo Marina Dimitrijevic Milwaukee County board

Groups call for more local transportation spending in budget

April 23, 2013 4:18 pm Leave a comment

A coalition of nonprofit groups on Tuesday called for the adoption of a state transportation budget that would put more money into local roads and transit at the expense of highways, according to a news release put out by the groups.

Tagged with: 1000 Friends of Wisconsin budget Hoan Bridge Sierra Club WisDOT Wispirg Zoo Interchange

Milwaukee committee signs off on Northwestern Mutual tower

April 23, 2013 3:38 pm Leave a comment

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.’s proposed $400 million downtown Milwaukee office tower won unanimous approval Tuesday from the city’s Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.

Tagged with: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance

Rejected St. Croix Crossing bid prompts suit

April 23, 2013 2:50 pm Leave a comment

Traffic crosses the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge over the St. Croix River on Sept. 7 in Stillwater, Minn. The Minnesota Department of Transportation wants to replace the bridge with the new St. Croix Crossing, which will connect Oak Park Heights, Minn. and St. Joseph, Wis. C.S. McCrossan, Maple Grove, Minn., is suing MnDOT after its bid was rejected for failing to meet requirements for including disadvantaged businesses. (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

Maple Grove-based C.S. McCrossan said in a lawsuit filed Monday that the Minnesota Department of Transportation unfairly rejected its bid to do approach work for the $626 million St. Croix Crossing project.

Tagged with: Lunda Construction MnDOT St. Croix Crossing St. Croix River

Grants help conserve, restore environment

April 22, 2013 3:09 pm Leave a comment

Dane County nonprofit groups will receive $18,718 in grant awards to assist them in their efforts to restore natural areas and promote conservation.

Tagged with: grants

The OSHA report

April 19, 2013 3:36 pm Leave a comment

The Daily Reporter's weekly digest of companies that have been cited by OSHA for violations during work around the state.

Tagged with: aerial lift citation commercial Eau Claire fall protection fatality framing hazard communication health Hudson illness injury institutional ladder Ladysmith liquefied petroleum gas osha Pewaukee Racine remediation remodeling residential respiratory protection roofing safety settlement Sheboygan single-family housing work platform

Lawmaker seeks to put sales-tax exemption in budget

April 19, 2013 2:27 pm Leave a comment

A proposal that would prevent contractors from paying sales taxes on materials they buy for tax-exempt projects will become part of the state’s 2013-2015 budget bill if a state lawmaker has a way.

Tagged with: AGC Andre Jacque Jim Boullion tax exemption