City requests county adopt building code fees

by Dan Sanderson-Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 9:42 AM EDT

The door is not closed on requiring building permit fees for reroofing, residing and installing windows in an least the City of Grayling.

The Grayling City Council has requested the Crawford County Board of Commissioners to add fees for the home improvement projects into its building fee schedule.

The Crawford County Building and Zoning Department handles building code inspections for the City of Grayling.

In May 2009, the county board rejected a proposal to adopt the fees for reroofing, residing and installing windows because they believed it would place a hardship on homeowners and contractors.

In 2009, Joe Duran, director for the Crawford County Building and Zoning Department, recommended the Crawford County Board approve the new fees to protect the unknown public regarding the new building requirements.

Duran said the inspections covered by the fee would ensure the work was being done to manufacturer's specifications. The inspections would also protect the health, safety and welfare of county residents by cutting down mold and mildew contamination in homes and helping eliminate complaints that go to the Department of Consumer and Industry Affairs for shoddy work.

The fee request was prompted by a state law, which went into effect on June 1, 2009, which amended the Michigan Residential Code and incorporates International Residential Code specifications for family dwellings into state building requirements.

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City requests county adopt building code fees

ROCKPORT Pigeon Cove Ledges, a Rockport affordable housing community, is being targeted by its nonprofit owner for an estimated $500,000 to $600,000 renovation project aimed at helping the complex's elderly residents.

The renovations, to be celebrated by Congressman John Tierney and other officials at Pigeon Cove in ceremonies today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include an elevator installation for the two-floor, 30-unit complex as well as projects that improve safety and access for older residents, such as a wheelchair-accessible rear patio door and a new sprinkler system.

There will also be more cosmetic changes, such as repairs to the siding and trim and new paint on the exterior of the building, according to Andrew DeFranza, executive director of Harborlight Community Partners, the Beverly-based nonprofit that has managed the complex since last winter.

"We wanted to make the building as current and safe as possible, which is always important, but especially important when you have an elderly population in the building," DeFranza said.

Renovation plans hatched shortly after Harborlight took ownership of the property in December, preventing what had been affordable housing for 30 years from reverting back to market-rate housing as the terms of the buildings' 1980s lease had permitted.

"We told the residents that we were working on this transaction and were hoping to be putting in an elevator, and they broke into applause," DeFranza said.

Residents will be able to continue living in their apartments throughout the construction, which is set to finish in September, DeFranza said. He said the elevator will be built on the outside of the building, then workers will shape the building around it; sprinkler systems will be piped into the units one by -one.

Funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Rural Development, the town of Rockport's Community Preservation Fund, Rockport Housing Partnership, Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund, and North Shore United Way have all come together to make the project possible, DeFranza said.

Harborlight also applied for and received about $225,000 of additional funding from North Shore HOME Consortium, according to its director, Kevin Hurley.

"Harborlight has a good reputation. They're doing a variety of things large and small, and they've demonstrated their devotion to the community around them," Hurley said.

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Rockport housing complex getting $600k lift

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -06/20/12)- Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited ("LIM" or the "Company") (LIM.TO) today reported its operating and audited financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.

The Company is also pleased to report that it continues to successfully deliver results on a number of key initiatives for the start of the 2012 operating season, including three shipments and sales of iron ore totalling 515,000 tonnes.

Pre-Production Highlights

During the pre-production planning period from January 1 to March 31, 2012, LIM carried out a number of initiatives in support of a successful 2012 operating season:

John Kearney, LIM's Chairman and CEO, commented: "Our strategy during the off-production winter months was to carry out key objectives in order to build a strong foundation for the 2012 mining season. These objectives were designed to address both the operational and organizational requirements critical for the success of our business as we enter the first full season of mining operations in 2012."

Recent Highlights

Full-scale mining operations re-commenced at the James Mine on April 2, 2012 in its first full season of production. To date, the Company has executed key deliverables as follows:

"Given the strong start and progress made to date, we fully expect to achieve our two million tonne production target in 2012" commented Rod Cooper, LIM's President and COO. "With the groundwork at hand, we will continue to focus on optimizing and expanding our operations to achieve excellent results in 2012 and beyond."

Outlook: On Track in 2012

James Mine and Silver Yards

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Labrador Iron Mines Reports March 2012 Year-End Results and Provides Outlook for 2012 Mining Season

BLAIRSBURG - At its regular monthly meeting on June 14, the Northeast Hamilton school board appointed Randy Greenfield to serve the remainder of the director district 5 position vacated by Nate Palmer.

Greenfield will serve until the next regularly scheduled school board election in September 2013. According to board policy, former Vice President Kim Schaa will now serve as board president for the duration of Palmer's vacated term. Roxanne Anderson was elected board vice president.

In contractual business, the board approved contracts for Joan Gelder who will teach three kindergarten through eighth-grade art periods daily, John Seiser will serve as head boys basketball coach and Bret Schutt will serve as head girls basketball coach.

The board accepted the resignations of Kim Schimp as play co-director and co-assistant director, Mary Harreld as bus driver and Ashley Davis as play co-director and co-assistant director and co-prom sponsor.

Principal Patrick Hocking reported on the progress of partial day sharing with Webster City. An informational letter was sent home with 9-12 grade students concerning the student schedule and staff.

Hocking also reported that busses will leave NEH at 7:50 a.m. and students arriving after that time will have to be transported to Webster City by parents. Because of the bussing schedule, NEH will no longer schedule late starts for the beginning of the day, said Hocking. Instead, abbreviated days will include an early dismissal.

Hocking reported he will meet with Webster City personnel this week to discuss orientation and to establish snow day protocol.

The board approved the low bid from Sara Lee for bread and the low bid from Roberts Dairy for milk products.

United Coop was granted the firm low bid of $2.68 per gallon for gasohol and the firm low bid of $3.14 for diesel. Also bidding were Heartland, Star Energy and Doolittle Petroleum.

Star Energy was awarded the contract for the low bid of $1.00 per gallon for propane. Also bidding were Heartland and Innovative Ag Services.

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Greenfield appointed to NEH school board

Camillus, NY Harvey J. Seymour III, the man who died Thursday after falling at a roofing job in Camillus, was a talented bowler, a racing fan and a construction veteran who had been on hundreds of roofs during his career, his mother said today.

But Seymour wasnt supposed to be on the roof from which he fell, his boss said.

Ed Cook, owner of A to Z Contracting, said he hired Jay Seymour on Monday as a laborer. His job was to keep the property clean and hand or toss supplies from the ground to the workers on the roof. He wanted to work side-by-side with Seymour for awhile, making sure Seymours safety ethics matched his, before letting him on a roof, Cook said.

Cook wasnt at the house at 66 North St., Camillus, when the accident happened about 3:05 p.m. Thursday. He said he doesnt know why Seymour was on the roof or whether illness or something else made him fall questions he said kept him up all night.

Im trying to understand it. I cant and its tearing me up, Cook said.

Its a life its someones life, he said.

A to Z Contracting was hired to do interior painting, siding repairs, gutter installation and roofing at the house, Cook said. He said he has shied away from doing roofing work and hired a subcontractor to do it on this job.

According to police, Seymour, 46, of 459 S. First St., Fulton, was placing shingles on the roof of the two-story home. The other two workers on the job neither saw nor heard him fall. One of the workers discovered Seymour on the ground when he went to get a drink of water.

Seymour was taken to Upstate University Hospital. He died about 3:50 p.m.

Evidence at the scene and interviews with workers made it clear that Seymours fall was an accident, Camillus Police Chief Thomas Winn said.

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Man who died after fall from Camillus roof was construction veteran, hall-of-fame bowler

TORONTO, June 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 31, 2012 the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) announced the winners of the 2012 Plastics Industry Awards. CPIA's awards recognize outstanding individuals and businesses for their commitment and dedication to the growth and sustainability of the Canadian plastics industry.

"We are delighted to be able to celebrate the contributions of the winners in all of the award categories." said Carol Hochu, President and CEO of CPIA.

Since 1966 the Leader of the Year Award has been given to individuals that are recognized as having made important contributions to the Canadian plastics industry and continually use their knowledge and influence to improve the competitive, innovative and environmental performance of the industry. In addition, they contribute their time and resources to community and faith groups or other organizations dedicated to society-building.

This year the Leader of the Year Award recipient is Paul Cohen, President of W. Ralston (Canada) Inc.

W. Ralston is a family owned business that has been making polyethylene film in Canada since 1960. The company currently operates six manufacturing facilities in Canada and the USA, employing approximately 450 people.

Paul has always had a strong involvement and leadership in the plastics industry over the years including:

Paul, together with his company, has been a leader in the area of environmental and product stewardship including recycling and composting initiatives and continues to lead and contribute to the growth and development of the Canadian plastics industry.

In addition, Paul's on-going philanthropic activities, fundraising and volunteerism benefits many worthwhile charities and initiatives including his participation on the board of Walrus Magazine, a non-profit charitable magazine about Canada; managing a community hockey team, volunteering and fundraising for his synagogue; and participating in his children's school council by serving as treasurer and by fundraising.

The Plastics Innovation Award is for those companies or individuals that have contributed to the expansion of the Canadian plastics industry, through advancement of plastic technology. This year's Plastics Innovator Award winner is Dr. Mohini Sain, Professor and Director, Centre for BioComposites and BioMaterials, University of Toronto. An academic and entrepreneur with 25 years career in polymer and industrial bioproducts sector.

Dr. Sain continually provides leadership in academia and technology commercialization to industry by actively involving himself in the creation of flagship programs such as Canadian Natural Composite Council, ISO Standardization committee for Nanotechnology, BIOCAR, and Ontario BioAuto Council.

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CPIA Announces 2012 Plastics Industry Award Winners

Public money is available to low- and moderate-income homeowners in Fairfield for repairs and improvements to their homes, the town's Office of Community & Economic Development announced.

Eligible homeowners can receive up to 60 percent of a project's total cost, up to a maximum of $15,000 per applicant per year, the department said in a news release.

Money is awarded in the form of interest-free loans that are not due for repayment until the owners transfer their properties, refinance or die, according to the release.

Projects eligible for financing include exterior painting, siding or roofing projects; installation of new or replacement storm windows and doors; lead-based paint or asbestos abatement projects; installation of replacement boilers or water heaters; heating, plumbing or electrical improvements to address code deficiencies; and modifications to accommodate persons with disabilities.

Applicants must be Fairfield residents and meet income guidelines, which vary depending on size of household.

For more information, call the Office of Community & Economic Development at 203-256-3120 or visit the office at 611 Old Post Road.

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Home-repair money available from town

While Irene did more damage in the Northeast, states farther south are more likely to take a lashing from tropical weather during the new hurricane season that started June 1. The remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl late last month did little damage in North Carolina but served as a reminder of the urgency to rebuild houses before more storms arrive.

Irene caused $15 billion in damage and killed 49 people across an area that stretched from the Carolinas to Vermont. North Carolina took the hardest hit in the Southeast, with at least $1.2 billion in damage, not including uninsured crop losses.

Its like how I expected, said Charles McKinney, a volunteer who came to Virginia. When something like this happens, when it first happens, you have all the media attention, you have the FEMAs and the insurance people. And everybody descends upon the area. But three months this has been close to a year later, and these people still have no homes.

About 2,200 households in Pamlico County, which has a population of about 13,000 people, registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and 104 households received a temporary housing unit from FEMA, a local volunteer leader says. More than 350 people completed the grant application for either buyout or elevation assistance.

The founder of Eight Days of Hope, Steve Tybor, said that while Katrina caused the most damage of any disaster hes seen, he finds the situation in Pamlico County more shocking because so much time has elapsed since the storm.

People dont realize people are still living in homes that are like they were the day after Irene, he said.

Pamlico County is the ninth area visited by Tybors faith-based group, which is based in his hometown of Tupelo, Miss. Tybor started it after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. Its volunteers descend upon a disaster-stricken area for eight days to repair houses. The 1,685 volunteers in North Carolina came from 43 states, Canada and Australia.

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9 months after Irene, people in NC still suffer

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Associated Materials, LLC today announced the appointment of James Kenyon as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Mr. Kenyon, previously Vice President, Human Resources at Rexnord Corporation's Water Management Platform, brings over 20 years of management experience in manufacturing companies.

Jerry W. Burris, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are excited that Jim will be leading the AMI human resource organization. He will play an integral role in linking organizational design to our business strategies that will help us support and drive sustainable profitable growth. Jim's knowledge of organizational design, lean methodologies and talent management will provide valuable leadership to the organization as we continue to strengthen and grow our business."

Mr. Kenyon earned a masters degree in Organizational Development from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Cleveland State University. Prior to joining Associated Materials, Mr. Kenyon served in various management positions at OM Group and Danaher Corporation.

About Associated Materials

The Company is a leading, vertically integrated manufacturer and distributor of exterior residential building products in the United States and Canada. The Company produces a comprehensive offering of exterior building products, including vinyl windows, vinyl siding, aluminum trim coil and aluminum and steel siding and accessories, which are produced at the Company's 11 manufacturing facilities. The Company also sells complementary products that are manufactured by third parties, such as roofing materials, insulation, exterior doors, vinyl siding in a shake and scallop design and installation equipment and tools that are primarily distributed through its company-operated supply centers. The Company's products are sold primarily through its extensive dual-distribution network, consisting of 121 company-operated supply centers, through which it sells directly to its contractor customers, and the Company's direct sales channel, through which it sells to approximately 250 independent distributors and dealers, who then sell to their customers. The Company maintains a website athttp://www.associatedmaterials.com.

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Associated Materials Announces Appointment of Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

NEW YORK, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Vinyl Doors and Windows Industry

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0397770/Global-Vinyl-Doors-and-Windows-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Home_Buil

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Vinyl Doors and Windows in Thousand Units. Market Estimates & Projections provided in the report pertain to Vinyl Windows. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2009 through 2017. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report profiles 242 companies including many key and niche players such as Anglian Group Plc, Atrium Companies, Inc., Chelsea Building Products, Inc., Crystal Window & Door Systems, Ltd., Deceuninck N.V., Fortune Brands, Inc., Groupe Lapeyre, International Window Corporation, Internorm Fenster International GmbH, Jeld-Wen, Inc., Kaycan Ltd, Kolbe Vinyl Windows & Doors, Masco Corp, MI Windows and Door, Inc., Peachtree Doors and Windows, Inc., Pella Corporation, Ply Gem Industries, Inc., Soft-Lite, LLC., True Home Value, Inc., Weather Shield Manufacturing, Inc., and Weru AG. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based upon search engine sources in the public domain.I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONSStudy Reliability and Reporting Limitations I-1Disclaimers I-2Data Interpretation & Reporting Level I-3Quantitative Techniques & Analytics I-3Product Definitions and Scope of Study I-3II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW II-1

A Curtain Raiser II-1

Construction Industry Dips During Recession II-1

Vinyl Window and Door Sales Reflect Decline in Construction

Industry II-2

Global Scenario II-2

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Global Vinyl Doors and Windows Industry