DRAFT Revised 10-5-07
Minutes
MAPE / MnDOT Meet & Confer
October 1, 2007
Air quality issues CO room 130
Jim Harris of Decision Support gave a short report on the problem and the steps taken to date. It appears that, for the time being, the problem has been mitigated by additional filtering, the removal of a part of the air handling system and the relocation of one employee. Additional environmental testing will be done to establish a base line and the Mn/DOT Safety Office will be contacted if any further environmental questions arise.
CO siding and roof
Richard Post, Facilities Program Director, explained the problem with the granite siding and the need for repair. He explained that CO is “owned” by the Department of Administration and the repair project is theirs to administer. The repair project has been in the state bonding bill in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Some combination of votes and vetoes has prevented the project from starting. The plans are drawn and repairs will begin as soon as money is allocated. The project will take 12 to 18 months depending on weather. Dick pointed out that the building is sound; the granite is not structural. The problem is that the hangers holding the siding to the wall are corroding and must be replaced. Exterior pins have been installed as targets used to measure any shifting in the granite blocks. An engineering company has been monitoring the blocks and there has been minimal movement to date. Each block will be removed, cleaned and re-hung using stainless fittings. There will be upgraded caulk and insulation added. The cribbing installed around the second floor is for extra safety in the unlikely event a slab should fall and would have been installed as a part of the repair project. MAPE asked about the possibility of more than one slab falling at a time. Dick stated that the slabs are not interconnected, so one slab falling would not cause other slabs to fall. Also, if a slab were to fall, it would most likely fall away from the building in such a way that the slabs below the falling one would not get disrupted either. MAPE asked that this be made a priority and we were assured that it will be a priority for both MnDOT and Administration and that MnDOT is open to any funding plan that gets the project started. MnDOT will put out an explanation of the project as soon as Maintenance and Communications can get together.
How will legislative action and the 35W bridge repair affect staffing for 2008?
Kevin Gray explained that the legislature and the governor want the bridge rebuilt regardless of political party; which is not to say there will not be some debate. There is agreement that there is a cash flow problem and that delaying other projects is not a good solution. Kevin stated that any delay in the actual appropriation of federal funds or authorization to spend state or federal funds will impact MnDOT’s ability to let projects. The money has to be there before we can let the project. There are no plans for layoffs for financial reasons in 2008. He stated that MnDOT is slowing ordering equipment and rehiring for vacant positions to ensure cash is on hand to pay the bills. He feels that as the money comes in, MnDOT will be able to resume “normal” operations and that whatever delay there is will be minimal.
It was agreed to set up regular Meet and Confer sessions for the year and cancel them if the meeting is not needed.
