1. From the Corner Office
We wanted summer and now we have it. After an extremely wet June, we are finally getting the warm and dry weather we, in construction, were hoping for. Now that everyone is back to work and putting in long hours, I can only hope each of you has enough energy in the evenings and on the weekends to enjoy this summer season with your friends and family.
If you haven’t been able to set aside the time you would like, I have an opportunity for you. On September 24th, my family and I will be walk-ing in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s "Light The Night Walk". The Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. A few quick facts on the illness:
- More than 712,145 Americans living with blood cancer
- Every 5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer
- Every 10 minutes, someone dies from blood cancer (55,100 in 2004)
|
|
| Sometimes when we are generous in small ways it can change someone else's life forever. |
|
I have been asked to try and form a team of walkers from Frattalone Companies. The walk will be a 3- mile journey around Lake Phalen in St. Paul. The walk begins at 7:00 pm with free food and entertainment starting beforehand. All employees, spouses, kids and other family members and friends are welcome and encouraged to join our team. If you would like more information you can contact me in the office (651- 484-0448), email (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) or go to the website at www.lightthenight.org
I would like to thank each of you for your continued support of Frattalone Companies, Inc. Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed and I want to thank you for that.
Enjoy your summer!
Nick Frattalone, Executive Vice President
2. Safety & Training Corner
I have exciting news to relate to everyone. Frattalone Companies, Inc. has recently passed our record of 132,00 hours worked with-out a loss time injury. The total hours worked without a loss time injury is now approaching 200,000! The total as of the week ending 7-14-05 is 188,000!
| This is an achievement you personally should be proud of. The strong safety culture here is showing benefits as our insurance costs continue to be controlled. We also work more productively with no employees off work due to an injury. Most importantly, employees are returning home to their families safe and injury free. I thank each and every one of you for working safely and injury free! |
|
| The secret of joy in work is contained in one word— excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it!
Pearl Buck (1892-1973)
|
|
On certain job sites, Frattalone Companies is required to participate with several employment programs including On The Job Training. I wish to thank all of the employees who have been involved with these programs for your time and the patience you’ve taken to help teach our new employees to work safely while learning their new job requirements. These programs are designed to increase the number of non-traditional workers into the highway-heavy construction field. I am very optimistic the company will gain some very productive long-term employees through these programs.
Although we have not had a lost time injury, several employees have sustained injuries requiring some level of medical attention.
A crushing crew employee twisted his ankle when he stepped on a rock while climbing down a ladder. Keeping the work area clear under the ladder may have prevented this injury.
The next injury was a muscle pull in the middle back of an employee while shoveling. Participating in and continued stretching may have prevented this injury.
A culvert pipe struck an employee after the choker became unhooked from the backhoe bucket hook. The employee received a shoulder abrasion and bruising. Having a safety hook with a latch may have prevented this injury.
The next injury was a broken bone in a finger, caused by loading a railroad rail track section on a truck bed and dropping the rail on the finger. Getting help with a heavy object may have prevented this.
An employee cut his leg with a utility knife while cutting drainage pipe. Having help to hold the pipe so as to not slip while cutting may have prevented this injury.
The last injury was a smashed finger while setting a catch basin grate. Having a larger piece of silt fabric installed under the casting would eliminate the need to reach in under the casting to reposition the fabric, eliminating the chance of dropping the casting on a finger.
| All of these injuries were medical only, but any or all could have been much more serious. Your safety is a personal responsibility. We all make choices. Make yours based on keeping yourself safe at home and at work. This company strives to provide the best possible working conditions and provide each employee a safe and healthy atmosphere where-in all employees may carry out duties. (Taken from the company safety policy) |
|
|
Thank you,
Steven Kohler, Safety and Training Director
3. Duluth Harley Ride
We all met at Sal’s Bar & Grill in Withrow for breakfast on Friday, June 24th. It was a beautiful day for cruising the open road after all the rain we had days before. There was a nice size group of about 35 bikes on the ride.
| We continued our journey up Wisconsin Hwy 35 stopping at a few local watering holes to quench the thirst and wash down the bugs. Tony started the day off with the first smoky burnout. When we arrived in Superior we stopped at the Superior Speedway to watch sprint cars and then headed into Duluth to check into the hotel. |
|
It was a long night and even an earlier morning, with clear skies and 80 degrees. A group of us headed for Bayfield to ride the ferryboat across Lake Superior to Madeline Island to ride six miles around and stop for lunch. Everyone hung out on the island, checking out some shops and Tom’s Burned Down Bar that consisted of a camper trailer and a tent over it. We made it back to the main land and headed for Duluth to meet up with the rest of the crew.
A few of us rode to Two Harbors to meet up with an old friend and past employee of Frattalones. The last day we packed up early and headed for home. We stopped and looked at a job site to make the trip count, then rode back into the cities. Everyone made it home safely. Thanks, go to Frattalones for a fun and eventful weekend.
Hope you can all make it again next year.
Lee Beemer - Assistant Project Manager
4. Project Profile
This Scoop’s project spotlight is on "Scheel’s All Sports" located in The Riverhills Mall in Mankato, MN. The project consists of putting a 40,000 plus square foot addition onto the mall for Scheel’s All Sports. It started this past April and incorporates the three main strengths of Frattalone Companies; demolition, excavation and site utilities.
We first began with the demolition of the existing structure where the addition would be connected to the mall. After the demolition was completed, the real fun started with the excavation of the basement. While the existing mall is a slab on grade structure, the addition has a 16-foot deep basement, which means we needed to export approximately 30,000 cubic yards for the building portion alone.
Currently, Mark Carlson and his crew are working to install an elaborate drain tile system under the floor of the entire addition and hope to have the building backfilled by the middle of August. A large portion of the parking lot is also being redone around the addition. If all goes well, we hope to be completing this project by the beginning of October.
I would like to thank the original demo / dirt superintendent, Mike Rickert, for his work to get this out of town project started and setup. Also a special thanks goes to Dan Sumption and his utility crew, as well as Mark Carlson and his crew for their hard work to keep this project running on schedule throughout the summer.
Ben Eiler, Project Manager
5. Employee of the Month
Each month the superintendents nominate an employee who they feel deserves the title of "Employee of the Month" for the previous month. The person who is chosen receives a gift certificate for $100.00 and picture on a plaque in the office. Congratulations to the following:
- April, 2005 - Dallas Nestvold
- May, 2005 - Don Giles
- June, 2005 - Dennis Hogan
6. Holiday Schedule
Listed below are the days that Frattalone Companies will be closed this year:
- 09/05 -- Labor Day
- 11/24 -- Thanksgiving Day
- 12/26 -- Day After Christmas
7. Frattalone Golf Tourney
We will be playing 9 holes with a 2-person scramble format.
When: Sunday, September 11th
Where: Gem Lake Hills Golf Course
Cost: $20.00 per person, which includes golf, golf balls and lunch after the tournament.
|
|
The 7th Annual Central Lakes College Golf Tournament held on July 26th was a huge success, raising over 21,000 for the heavy equipment program.
|
Please call Shelly in the office if you are interested.
8. Oh, Baby!
Maverick Jamison Woyke, son of Jesse & Kelly Woyke, was born on July 11, 2005. He weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 19.5" long.
Avery Mae Piechowski, daughter of Eric Piechowski & Tina Schwab was born on July 15th, 2005. She weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 19" long.
Mason Robert Giles, son of Tim & Belinda Giles, was born on July 22nd, 2005. He weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz. and was 18.5" long.
Congratulations!
9. Company Meetings
Following are the dates for the all company safety and informational meetings for 2005. These meetings are a very important part of keeping you informed of company policies and procedures. Attendance is mandatory.
- Thursday, 8/4/05
- Thursday, 10/20/05
All meetings will start at 4:00 p.m.
10. Holiday Party
Mark your calendars… the Frattalone Companies’ Holiday Party will be:
Saturday, December 10th
Jimmy’s Conference Center
Vadnais Heights
Back by popular demand, we will be having a CASINO NIGHT! For our out of town guests, we have reserved a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Express, which is connected to Jimmy’s.
11. Jerry Richert Memorial Race
The 5th Annual Jerry Richert Memorial Race will be held at Cedar Lake Speedway on September 10, 2004. Frattalone Companies has reserved the VIP tower where there will be food and bever-ages served before the race. The cost is $20.00 per person, which includes admission to the VIP tower, food, beverages and a memorial t-shirt. Please contact Shelly Boss in the office for more information and/or tickets.
|
