Economic Stimulus Information

Carey Stranahan, Kokomo

I have been receiving regular updates on the stimulus package from several sources. John Haberman at LTAP provided the following information:

A new FHWA website addressing Economic Recovery issues and questions.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/

From Jodie Coblentz, INDOT - LPA Manager:

INDOT has also added a page as of Monday, January 26 that includes the below link. We hope to have more information as it comes in including our own question and answer sheet as it applies to Indiana LPAs. Thank you for your patience.

http://www.in.gov/indot/div/projects/LPASection/stimulusPackage.htm

2008 IACE Scholarship Award Winner

by Carey Stranahan, Kokomo


It is my pleasure to formally announce the 2008 IACE Scholarship award recipient. This scholarship is presented annually to a sophomore or higher in an engineering, construction engineering/construction technology or engineering management curriculum at a college or university in Indiana.
The 2008 IACE Scholarship award recipient is Dustin Minard. He is a graduate of Maconaquah High School and sophomore at Trine University studying Civil Engineering. Dustin was a seasonal employee for the City of Kokomo last summer and hopes to spend this upcoming summer working for a consulting engineering firm.

We at IACE wish Dustin the best in his upcoming studies and encourage him to consider a position in the public sector as he pursues a position in Civil Engineering.

Back in Business

by Carey Stranahan, Kokomo

I must appologize for the serious layoff over the past two months. As many of you are well aware, the challenges of being a City Engineer have overtaken my other priorities, and thus, I have fallen off the wagon, so to speak.
So here it is, my official hop back on the horse. I cannot gaurantee how long I will be on it, but I'm going to give it all I've got. Certainly there will be topics to discuss, including the much discussed but not yet finalized stimulus package, as well as state house issues and upcoming IACE events. I will do my best to keep you all informed. If any of you have any updates, articles, or announcements, please contact me, and I will post or show you how to post. I still want this to be a collaborative medium.

-Carey

IACT Conference Wrap-up

Carey Stranahan, Kokomo

This week was the annual meeting of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. There were several engineering related sessions ranging from energy conservation contracts, to low impact design. I also attended a very interesting session on developing a crisis communication plan with the Mayor of Columbus.

Tuesday I attended an AWESOME road trip directed by some folks from the South Bend development department. Jeff and Jennifer seem to be the kings of redevelopment. This is an excellent example of a community that is doing things right, so while the rest of the country is economically screaching to a halt, the momentum they have built is keeping them working.
I was a bit dissapointed in the number of our regular members that were able to attend. While it wasn't specifically tailored to engineers, there were several sessions that were very informative. There were also great opportunities to network with vendors from all sorts of specialties.
Our bus trip was cancelled due to the fact that there were only two city engineers in attendance. I encourage each member to take a look at the agenda next year and try to fit it into their schedules. You wll be glad you did.

New City Engineer in Valporaiso

Mayor appoints new city engineer
The NWI Times
Phil Wieland

10/3/08 VALPARAISO The city has a new engineering director for the first time in 15 years.Mayor Jon Costas announced that Tim Burkman will replace Dave Pilz, who retired effective Oct. 1. Burkman has served as chief deputy city engineer since 2005. "We're so pleased to have someone of Tim's quality and experience as city engineer," Costas said. "His transition to city engineer ensures a seamless transition and continued growth in this key department." The appointment took effect on the same day the city received an award for environmental excellence from Gov. Mitch Daniels for the design of Vale Park Way, which Burkman helped design while employed by the engineering consulting firm DLZ Indiana. He also managed the road's construction after joining the city. Burkman was instrumental in designing and securing grants for future projects and in helping manage several existing projects, such as the downtown streetscape, North Calumet Avenue, Eastport Centre Drive and Eastgate, Costas said. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2008/10/03//news/porter_county/doca338730170db97c8862574d70018090d.txt

Upcoming IACE Meeting

The IACE meeting at IACT will be held on Tuesday, October 14 in the Lions Room at the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library located at 209 Lincoln Way East; Mishawaka, IN 46544. Registration will begin at 11:30 and the program will begin at noon and last roughly an hour. We encourage everyone to be there and be seated by noon. There will be a box lunch and drinks provided. Jerry Larson of NRMCA will be administering the continuing education program about the use of concrete pavement and its advantages.

Following the program that ASCE is arranging there will be time for a short business meeting for IACE. We will then have a bus tour of several area projects and programs. Those attending the IACT conference might choose a different option for their a.m. event. It will be somewhat the same tour that the IACT folks will have in the morning, but tailored more for engineering and public works people. Lawson-Fisher Associates is picking up the tab for the bus. Events should conclude between 3:30 and 4:00, depending upon how long it takes to reload the bus at each stop.

GIS Interns Available

Carey Stranahan, Kokomo

A Ball State GIS professor has offered to post internships and openings in the lab if members have any. His name is Dr. Kevin Turcotte. From what I gather, GIS students are required to do 150 hours of internships. This is a great opportunity to get some fine talent in the office to help on some of the more, "strategic" projects, as well as test out potential future "team members".