HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The biggest challenge was perhaps the boulder in the backyard. The boulder was on a sloped and shady street in southeast Huntsville, the first potential hurdle in the remodeling of the home.

Before the additions could be made, the foundation had to be built on top of the boulder.

"The house is on the upslope of the street, and we had to install and build the footing for this addition on top of a large bolder, which extended beneath the home," said John Allen, president of Southern Construction & Design.

The remodeling lasted from the end of July last year until December. The new bedroom and bathroom were added first, then the kitchen and the outdoor living area.

For its work at the house on Tannahill Drive, Southern Construction & Design was one of the local winners in the 2012 Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards, held recently at the Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville.

Southern Construction & Design won three awards - second place in Outdoor Living, third in Kitchen Remodel $40,000-$80,000 and third in Residential Specialty Project.

The Outdoor Living Award was for the screened porch, and the Residential Specialty Award was for the butler's pantry.

Slaton Custom Homes, owned by Bret Slaton, president of the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association, placed second in Bath Remodel Under $20,000 and third in Commercial Renovation.

Slaton's awards were for his company's work on a home in Governor's Place and the renovation of a Chevron station at East Limestone and Capshaw roads.

"I guess the question is, 'Why do you do this?' " Allen said. "Why is it important for us? It touches on our business, submitting for these awards. We are proud of our work. It's helpful to show people our work, and it's an honor to be recognized by our peers."

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Huntsville contractors' remodeling efforts cited at Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards

SANTA ANA An Orange County Superior Court judge on Friday declined to order the county to stop installing solar panels at a Social Services Agency building in Orange that is the subject of lawsuit.

A dozen current and former agency employees and family members sued the county in 2010, saying that working at 840 N. Eckhoff St. caused illnesses in themselves or their children. One employee has filed a workers' compensation claim.

The county office building at 840 N. Eckhoff Street, Orange.

ANDREW GALVIN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Judge Steven L. Perk on Friday refused to halt the solar panel installation project, which began in March, saying the plaintiffs failed to show they would suffer irreparable harm if the work continues. "What has happened (already) I can't do anything about," he said.

Attorney Peter Alfert, representing the plaintiffs, argued that by digging 7.5-foot-deep, 3-foot-wide holes in parking lots around the building, the county was destroying evidence. The holes are for poles that will support the solar panels.

Plaintiffs in the case argue that contaminants in the soil under and near the office building, which is on a former industrial site at which oil drilling equipment was manufactured, caused their diseases and birth defects.

Soil samples taken from 10 feet beneath the building found "levels warranting further investigation" of an industrial solvent known to be hazardous to human health, the county said in February.

The chemical, perchloroethylene, or perc, has been found by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be a "likely human carcinogen." The amounts of perc vapors found in the soil were within EPA guidelines, but slightly above stricter California guidelines, the county said.

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Judge won’t halt construction at county building

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The dining platform in front of Bistro 412 was fully operational for the Savor the Summit on Saturday, June 19, 2010. (Park Record File Photo)

Main Street restaurant owners and Park City Council members found common ground on charging for outdoor dining decks last week during a council meeting. City fees for restaurants to lease outdoor deck space during the summer months increased to $550 this year, up from last year's price of $310 to lease the space.

The 3-year-long pilot program started in 2010 with fewer than five decks, and now it is entering its third and final year, after which a more long-term proposal for the program will come forward. Nine businesses have applied for leases to build the decks, which are built out into the parking spaces on Main Street. Owners lease the space from the city each year, running through the summer.

This year the city is allowing outdoor dining from the beginning of May to the end of October, a longer window to match the increase in lease price.

Restaurant owners at last week's council meeting said that was where they took issue.

"We're being charged for a month that's not being used," said Kevin Valaika, owner of Shabu.

Many restaurants may not open the decks until the summer tourism season picks up toward the middle of the month, but they would still be required to pay the full amount of the lease for time they were not using. And once the decks are open, restaurants under the city program are required to serve lunch and dinner seven days of the week, a fact owners at the meeting said was a burden on their budgets.

Rather than pay the full amount, the city council worked out an agreement that owners could take off up to a month's worth of the rate if they choose to open outdoor dining later in the season or end 'deck season' early.

"We could charge for the time being used, with up to one month of forgiveness," said councilmember Liza Simpson, offering a solution to complaints.

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Outdoor dining on the way

RICHMOND, Va., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --As homeowners rev into full spring and summer entertaining season, the local deck and outdoor living experts at Archadeck Outdoor Living (www.archadeck.com) are reminding homeowners to check their decks for safety concerns that could lead to accidents and injuries.

"Many of us have delayed home repairs and improvement until they are absolutely essential," said Rob Haislip, vice president of Archadeck. "Even then, sometimes homeowners don't have enough information to decide when something is optional or truly a safety hazard that could result in an injury."

To help ensure safety, especially for decks that are more than 10 years old, Archadeck is sharing seven deck safety inspection guidelines with the acronym of "BE SAFER":

Boards: Look at the condition of your deck boards. While most wood will show some minor cracks and splits over time, boards should be good and not rotting or damaged.

Every Connection: Decks should be built using a variety of fasteners and metal hardware connectors. Check every connection on the deck to make certain that they are not corroded or compromised. Look for nails backing out, red rust and other signs of corrosion that can weaken the integrity of the deck.

Structure: If visible, look at the posts, beams and joists that provide the structural framework of the deck. Is there any noticeable sagging between supports?

Attachment: The attachment of the deck to the house is where most deck failures occur. Ensure that the deck is properly attached to the house with bolts and is properly flashed for water protection. Nails should never be used.

Foundation / Footings: The foundation / footings support the weight, also known as the load, on a deck and the columns that bear on them. A footing that is sinking may cause a noticeable sag in an area or a column to separate from a beam.

Exits: Check the areas where people exit from the deck, usually stairs. Check the condition of the material used on the stair stringers, stair treads and risers. Do the stairs require a handrail? Is there adequate lighting to safely use the exits at night?

Rails: Look at the condition of the rail posts and sections of railing to make sure that they aren't loose or wobbly. Verify that the pickets/balusters are fastened securely and spaced no more than four inches apart.

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May Is National Deck Safety Month: Archadeck's "Be Safer" Campaign Urges Homeowners To Check Their Decks To Ensure A ...

NEW BRAUNFELS County officials are considering taking a legal short cut around the standard competitive-bidding process in order to act fast to remove potentially harmful mold discovered in the Comal County Jail.

State bidding law generally requires competitive proposals to be sought for expenditures over $50,000. However, the law also allows county officials to grant a discretionary exemption to bidding regulations in order to protect or preserve public health and safety.

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Excerpt from:
Commissioners to consider mold remediation for jail

I am dismayed that the Misquamicut sewer project, twice voted down by Westerly residents, will now be considered by the town council without voter input. How did this happen?

I can only surmise that Misquamicut business interests, along with development and civil engineering interests, are behind this. All three of those interests are well-represented on the town council. This project, designed to circumvent voter input, only needs four council votes to pass. Three of those are assured; only one more is needed.

The plan is that the sewers will be paid for with a 20-year bond. Supposedly, Misquamicut businesses and residents will pay for a large portion of it. I see two problems here. Despite what we are told, development will increase in the beach area once the new sewers are installed. That will bring additional taxes to Westerly residents in the forms of increased road maintenance, road maintenance equipment, police protection, etc.; are these new costs mentioned in the plan?

We are told that the sewage treatment plant is capable of handling increased sewage. Will that hold true once development begins? Will we eventually have to pay to increase the plants capacity?

These are hidden costs to the taxpayers and hidden subsidies for developers. Many communities have environmental and development impact fees to help with these new costs to the taxpayer. The Westerly Town Council has made sure that those fees have not been implemented in Westerly.

The other big problem I see is related to the sustainability of the plan.

As we all know, sea levels are rising. Add to that the fact that we are long over due for a major hurricane strike. Hurricane Irene, if she had tracked a mere 50 miles further east, would not have been slowed by grazing New Jersey, and would have hit us as a major storm.

What if Misquamicut is again wiped out as it was in 1938, as it surely will be one day? If the businesses there are destroyed and the owners file for bankruptcy, who will be further burdened by this unpaid debt? Does it make sense to invest millions of dollars in that location? Is there somewhere else that money could be spent for the benefit of all taxpayers, over a long period of time?

Residents of the area are not eligible for low-interest loans to install high-tech septic systems because they are included in the Westerly Sewer District. How did that area get included?

Misquamicut can be removed from the district so that they can get the low-interest loans that they need.

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LETTER: Sewer plan ill-conceived; lack of vote creates ill will

WESTERLY The towns potential financial risk was a chief concern Monday as the Public Works Committee reviewed a proposal to extend the towns sanitary sewer line to much of the Misquamicut area.

Committee member Howard Hyde asked whether the $24 million, 20-year bond proposed to fund the project would be a good investment. Other members of the committee asked whether the bond would have a negative effect on the towns bond rating.

The committee also discussed the towns risk in the event of a major hurricane or other catastrophic weather event, or if any of the businesses committed to helping pay for the project were unable to meet their financial obligations.

The committee, which serves in an advisory capacity to the Town Council, will eventually make a recommendation on the proposed project to the council.

Officials have proposed a two-phase project that would cost Misquamicut residents and business owners $19 million, with the town covering the remainder of the cost. The first phase would require bond financing of $9.3 million; the second phase would require $9.8 million in bond financing.

Town Manager Steven Hartford said the bond, to be issued by the state Clean Water Finance Agency, would be insured. The insurance would pay for the bond in the event that the town Sewer Department was in default and unable to meet bond payments, Hartford said.

Jack Armstrong, a committee member, said he was not convinced that the town would not ultimately be on the hook for paying off the bonds if property owners and businesses fail to meet their obligations.

Hartford said that the bond would be issued by the agency to the town but he said that in addition to insurance, the town would be protected by liens that would be placed on all of the properties affected by the project. While it is important to explore the towns risk, Hartford advised against basing public policy on worst case scenarios.

The project has to get done. The town, ultimately, has to figure out what to do with wastewater in Misquamicut whether its now or later, Hartford said.

Under the proposal, single family households would expect to contribute $1,227 annually for the project. Over 20 years the term of the bond the household cost would be $32,600. Examples of cost for commercial properties include the Breezeway, which would pay $17,795 annually and $355,899 over 20 years, and Marias, which would pay $23,062 annually and $461,241 for the term of the bond.

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Officials debate financial risk of sewer project

Contractors for the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District are proceeding with the installation of sanitary sewer lines in Oswego's Cedar Glen Subdivision and a portion of the Windcrest Subdivision located east of Ill. Route 25, north of Waubonsie Creek.

Jeff Humm, Fox Metro engineering supervisor, estimated the project is currently about 50 percent complete.

Jim Detzler, Fox Metro Board president who lives along Route 25 at the entrance to Cedar Glen, said Monday he and other Fox Metro officials understand the construction is an inconvenience for homeowners in the two subdivisions and their continuing patience is appreciated by Fox Metro and the contractors.

"It will be a real nice improvement once all the work is completed," Detzler said.

Humm said sewer lines have been installed in the right-of-way along Elmwood Drive, Oaklawn Avenue and Evergreen and Glendale drives.

"We've also done Ashlawn (Avenue) from Elmwood up to Eastway (Drive)," he said.

Still yet to be completed, Humm said, is the old portion of the Windcrest Subdivision up to Windcrest Drive near the south end of the project area, and Eastway and Cebold drives on the north end.

Humm added that if weather conditions permit, contractors should have all of the sewer lines installed by the end of June and the streets resurfaced in July. Final landscaping would then be installed in August, he said.

Fox Metro hired Len Cox & Sons Excavating of Joliet to complete the project at a total cost of $1,892,867 last spring and the firm began work in September.

The agency is financing the project through a low interest loan obtained from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

Link:
Oswego sewer project about 50% complete

After 19 years, Keystone Evangelical Free Church in Paradise is about to undertake its first building project.

To commemorate the occasion, the church held a ground-breaking ceremony last week at the site across from the current facility at 6 Pequea Drive.

Although it was a cold, rainy morning, 200 members of the congregation attended the ceremony that included a special worship service, a few words from guest speakers. Members of the congregation even pitched in to pull a plow through the ground to signify the beginning of the project.

Senior pastor Keith Rohrer said a blueprint of the new building was painted on the ground and church members engaged in a "prayer walk" around the outline.

Rohrer said construction of the 33,000-square-foot facility will begin this month and is expected to be finished in January 2013.

The new facility will include a auditorium that will seat 600 people, education rooms, a fellowship hall and kitchen. Offices and much of the youth ministry, which has been a centerpiece of Keystone's work, will remain at the present church.

S.E. Smoker Inc. of Strasburg is the firm that has been chosen to design and build the church, which is expected to cost $3.7 million.

So far, more than $1 million has been pledged by the congregation of about 400 people.

Keystone has come a long way since its humble beginnings when members met in a bar at a banquet facility, Rohrer said. Two years later, a congregation of about 110 people took over the building formerly home to Paradise Baptist Church.

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Paradise church breaks ground on new project

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --

A year has come and gone since the deadly tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa, but scars of the storms destruction are still visible.

Central Church of Christ is hoping new construction will help repair their wounds.

The entire church was damaged during the storm, but that didn't keep the congregation from pitching in.

Longtime member Bert English said, The whole twelve months we've still been involved in helping those who are less fortunate that we are. We individually have homes. So many people around us here did not have homes. And so to some degree we're still helping people even now, a year later.

English has been a member of the church for more than fifty-years. Despite being grateful for being able to meet at the Alabama Fire College, he said he's excited to have their building back.

Members of the church are hoping that the first phase, which will go right about here, will be completed within a year.

The new building will be in the same place as the old one. But it doesn't take a pile of bricks to make the place a church.

Campus Minister Trae Durden said, We've actually grown during this time without a building. So we're really looking forward to having a building again. Hopefully all the different aspects of our service to the community, I'm hoping that that will continue even after we have a building.

Some of the services still include helping other tornado victims recover a year later.

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Tuscaloosa church rebuilds after tornado