The Dirt - January

Building Better Communities

6 SAFETY MONTHLY COMMUNICATOR
12 PROJECT OF THE MONTH
18 WELLNESS JANUARY 2019

CONTENTS 10 Chaplain’s Corner 17 Asphalt
11 Pickle Highlights 18 Wellness
3 From the President 12 Project of the Month 19 Mechanics
4 Aggregates 14 Excavation 20 Trucking
5 Communications 15 Hillman Report 21 Cranes & Rigging
6 Safety 16 Concrete 22 Photos
7 Service Recognition
8 Human Resources

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1/1 STEVE FOLKERSMA 1/14 RYAN GROLEAU 1/23 JEFFREY PARKS
1/1 JENNIFER FLICK 1/15 KYLE TWINING 1/23 TONY HOLMAN
1/1 JOSHUA HOFFMAN 1/17 MARK DEMOULPIED 1/27 MARK VOSTERS
1/5 JARED BAHRKE 1/18 SEBASTIAN SCHOECH 1/28 KYLE MOIR
1/7 PETE ROSA 1/18 BUTCH PEEPLES 1/28 DON BRAND
1/8 JOSEPH WHITEFIELD 1/19 AJ LAWHEAD 1/28 TYLER SHARP
1/11 CATHY SCHAUB 1/20 JIM HARRIS 1/29 TYLER BUNKER
1/11 WADE BOYD 1/21 JOHN LILJEROOS 1/30 DAN BECKELIC
1/11 GARY CHESNEY 1/22 RYAN NEUMAN 1/30 AL JEWETT
1/11 ERIC MCCOLLEY 1/22 RICK LICKING 1/30 MICHAEL MORAIRTY
1/14 JOE HERMAN 1/23 AL MACDONALD

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE • Labor Day: September 2, 2019 - Paid Day Off
• Thanksgiving: November 28, 2019 - Paid Day Off
Emergency repair and snowplow crews will remain • After Thanksgiving: November 29, 2019 - Unpaid Day Off
on-call during Holiday Schedule. • Christmas Eve Day: December 24, 2019 - Unpaid Day Off
• Christmas Day: December 25, 2019 - Paid Day Off
• Good Friday: April 19, 2019 - Off At Noon • New Year’s Eve: December 31, 2019 - Unpaid Day Off
• Memorial Day: May 27, 2019 - Paid Day Off • New Year’s Day: January 1, 2020 - Unpaid Day Off
• Independence Day: July 4, 2019 - Paid Day Off
• After Independence Day: July 5, 2019 - UnPaid Day Off
• Company Picnic: July 27, 2019 - Unpaid Day Off, Schedule Permitting

FROM THE PRESIDENT

HAPPY NEW YEAR, They are kicking butt, along with the traveling crew
TEAM! headed to outside locations to get it all done. Scott,
Barry, and company have the asphalt plant ready for
I pray for blessings and mix to be going out and the yard is looking way better
safety for you and your stocked for spring sales!
family in 2019. “May the
Lord bless you and keep The year-end rush for equipment sales is great and
you; may the Lord make helping us reach our stretch goal for the fall with lots
his face shine upon you going on! We even seemed to be catching up a bit
and be gracious to you; at the pits and then the Concrete Division goes and
may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you sells a bunch of concrete and here we go again...
peace.” right back into behind. 

Have things slowed down in your house yet? Are Are you ready for spring training? Have your
you rested and relaxed or still wondering where dates set?! Thanks to all involved for NO MSHA
the last two weeks went? Please tell me there’s no VIOLATIONS in 2018 at the pits. This is huge! No MI
more shopping you have to do! Wishing you peace OSHA violations for the year either!
throughout this wonderful time of year!  WAY TO GO, EVERYONE!

The “Lowe” barn is enclosed and they will pour the I am looking forward to a Safe 2019 and it starts with
floor soon! It’s all looking good and the mountain of YOU! Please help us by sincerely keeping SAFETY
scrap they hauled into Padnos is gone as well. Things FIRST! Also, if you need your CDLs we will be
are looking fine at the old theater property! pushing for you to get it by spring.

The building in Petoskey is coming along. They 2019 is looking to be another GREAT year; many
started footings and the scale pit. We are waiting on blessings abound! Heck, the traffic light Dad paid
the building code office to get our final permit to finish for 20 years ago is finally going up and should be
it up. The crushing crew and Shultz and company operational by April 1, 2019. We’ll see if it’s an April
have the yard going in the right direction to get it Fool’s joke or not, right? 
ready for the brisk sales we can expect this spring. 
Wishing each and every one of you a Blessed 2019...
The weld shop looks like a production factory with until next month, stay warm, think safety first, and
the entire shop split into eight work zones with a God Bless!
brisk schedule for everything to be finished by spring.
Troy

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

3

AGGREGATES

Daniel’s Pit | Petoskey, MI

Welcome To 2019! Remember, Aggregate Training Day is February 25,
2019, to be held in the Traverse City lower level training
I hope that everyone had a room from 8 am to 5 pm. Pens, pencils, test materials,
wonderful Christmas with family and calculators will be supplied. ☺ Any questions and/ or
and friends and you’re looking ideas you may have for training, please call and share.
forward to a fantastic, super,
wonderful, amazing New Year! We are still recycling up north. We just finished up at
Daniel’s pit and are heading to Fall Park Road in Boyne
I can’t get over what a great time City. We still need to get to both of those locations and
of year it is with grandkids. Add get 22A and 23A made first thing in the spring. We are
to that all the memories of your still screening sand at Daniel’s pit and also at M-72 pit to
own children when they were young and innocent. try and get ahead for spring. Thank goodness for the mild
winter allowing us to keep working to get ahead.
Bring on New Year 2019. I can’t believe it’s been 10 long
years since we went from challenging times – traveling Major kudos to ALL crews, ALL guys and gals, ALL
long distances for work – to our biggest backlog of work, mechanics, the fabrication shop, truck drivers, and
ever, in Team Elmer’s history. Thanks to Dad for giving anyone who was involved with pit equipment or operated
us the opportunity and teaching us what’s most important: in the pits. Why? For operating with NO MSHA violations
people. all year, that’s why! Way to go, Team! What an
accomplishment to be proud of. Great job! Keep it up!
We are working diligently in the fabrication shop to get
screens, crushers, conveyors, and stackers built or rebuilt Here’s wishing everyone a safe and prosperous 2019.
to be ready for a (hopeful) early spring start. Smile!

4 Grandpa Todd

COMMUNICATIONS

What an amazing year! “Tomorrow, is the
first blank page of
Looking back on the photos and a 365 page book.
Team Elmer’s 2019 calendar, (Do Write a good one.”
you have yours? Did your family
like it for their Christmas gift?☺) - Brad Paisley
it is amazing to see all that was
accomplished in one short year. I
am reminded of the saying when
I had babies, long days – short
years. Enjoy the moment. I definitely enjoy being a part of
something so great. Thank you for making it so.

My brother, Todd, shared a great story from the Christmas
Mass sermon. The pastor talked about a bag of wrapping
paper and how much he enjoyed Christmas with his
young family. Last year, as his children opened presents,
the pastor saw all the wrapping paper flying and went
to get a garbage bag to pick up the paper. Once all the
paper was picked up, he realized he had missed the
experience. The looks on the children’s faces, the shared
interest, and the time spent together. A great lesson
to live in the moment. You can keep things neat and
tidy, though not at the expense of people. Be present.
Consider the now.

Speaking of considering the present, what is your goal for
2019? Professionally? Personally? What are your goals to
achieve with your spouse, sweetheart, or children? How
about financially? Spiritually? Safety?

There’s lots of opportunity for you to decide what to
focus on for 2019. Pick something. Write it down. Maybe
it’s saying three things you are thankful for – every day.
Maybe it’s looking for one way to serve every day. Pick
one thing. Write it down. Try it. Maybe even pray about it.
Check back in 6 months and at year end and witness how
far you have traveled!

Until next month,

Be The Change You Want to See In the World.

Tonya

P.S. Remember, we are back at Great Wolf Lodge for Mid-
Winter Break in 2020. We are off this winter. Thank you for
your patience and understanding! See you in 2020!

5

SAFETY

Happy New Year, everyone! also noticed the decline and figured he would wait
until the end of the week before approaching Joe
I hope Santa was good to you and your family this holiday about the declining output.
season and a little rest has you ready to start 2019 on
the right foot. Many thanks to Troy, Todd, and Tonya for Friday, at quitting time, Wes called Joe into the office
the Christmas celebration to kick off the holidays, and to discuss the situation. Joe apologized and said he
to everyone behind the scenes who puts in the work would work harder.
decorating and cooking and cleaning!
Wes said, “Joe, I don’t think that’s it. I can see you are
I’d like to start the New Year’s Safety message off with a working hard.” Then he asked, “When was the last
short story about Joe the Lumberjack. We can all learn a time you sharpened that axe of yours?”
good lesson from Joe.
Joe responded, “I haven’t had time to sharpen my axe
Joe was looking for work, so he asked a timber trader because I’ve been too busy chopping down trees!”
friend of his if he had any openings… and Wes, his
friend, put Joe on the payroll as a lumberjack. Happy The bottom line is that we need to work smarter, not
with the break his friend gave him, Joe vowed to do harder. To stay effective and efficient, you have to stop
his best every day. to sharpen your axe every now and then. Sometimes
stepping away from a task also helps us to see it more
Wes said, “Just show up ready to work at 6:00 AM clearly. Make time for yourself. Maintaining your physical
next Monday and we’ll see what you can do.” and mental health will help you to stay more productive
and work safely.
When Joe arrived at 5:45 that Monday morning, he
received an axe from his new boss who led him to the Remember this throughout the year if you happen to feel
wooded area that needed harvesting. Joe had a good yourself getting into a rut at home or at work. Set goals for
day and brought down a total of 15 trees. Wes was the year striving for productive days and no injuries. Start
thrilled with the performance of his friend and told him each day with a good attitude and excitement for the day
so. to come.

The second day was a little tougher for Joe, but he Let’s make a toast to a safe 2019. Cheers!
still cut down 13 trees; not a bad day’s work! Joe’s
production dropped off steadily in the following days, Butch, Eric, Catrina, Jim & Tom
however, leading him to question his strength. Wes

6

RECOGNIZING HARD WORK

”Individual commitment to a group effort--that JANUARY - APRIL 2019
is what makes a team work, a company work, a
society work, a civilization work.” Thank you for being a part of the team here at Elmer’s.
--Vince Lombardi We appreciate your dedication and hard work.
Congratulations on your anniversary!
25 YEARS OF SERVICE
Troy, Todd, & Tonya

STEVE ENDRES SONNY ELEY DAN HUFFMAN DAVE VISWAT ALAN SMITH
Project Manager - Asphalt Project Manager - Asphalt Equipment Operator - Asphalt Project Manager - Asphalt Foreman - Asphalt
Traverse City Traverse City Traverse City Traverse City Traverse City

20 YEARS OF SERVICE 15 YEARS OF SERVICE

ROBERT BLONSHINE CB LOWE STEPHEN MOLLOSEAU DOUGLAS JONES PAULA SAXTON
Equipment Operator - Dispatcher - Trucking & Dirt Paint Technician Ready Mix Driver Billing Clerk
Asphalt Domor Traverse City Traverse City Mt. Pleasant Houghton Lake
Traverse City

10 YEARS OF SERVICE 5 YEARS OF SERVICE

Thomas Patterson, Concrete Plant Manager, Ludington Tom Shelder, Corporate Chaplain, TC Peter Bookless, Truck Driver, TC

Allen Schofield, Foreman - Dirt, Petoskey Jeremiah Smith, Foreman - Dirt, Petoskey Jennifer Flick, Human Resources, TC

John Wildfong - Quality Control Tech - Asphalt, Traverse City Ryan Wurtz, Project Manager - Asphalt, TC Wade Boyd, Mechanic, TC

Jason Hentschel, Parts & Service Mngr, TC Greg Needham, Foreman - Foundation, TC

"The strength of the team is each Mark Storch, Foreman - Crushing, Alpena Colin Kemmis, Truck Driver, Mt. Pleasant
individual member.
The strength of each member is the team."
--Phil Jackson

7

HUMAN RESOURCES

Cindy Karker - middle Career Opportunities
231-943-5544 | [email protected]
Job openings are online - encourage those interested to apply today!
Jennifer Flick - left It’s fast and easy to apply to multiple openings at once.
231-943-5533 | [email protected] Visit www.teamelmers.com/careers.

Kelsey Baker - right WELCOME TO THE TEAM ELMER’S FAMILY!
231-943-5577 | [email protected]
Welcome baby boy David Case, 7 lbs 6 oz and 21 in. Born October
17 to Sean and Megan Emery! Sean is a ready mix driver in
Manistee.

Welcome baby boy Jackson Wayne, 8 lbs 1 oz. Born December 22
to Jess & Josh Schaub. Josh works in Communications in TC.

Welcome baby boy Noah Thomas, 8 lbs 7 oz. Born December 23 to
Kelsey and Dan Baker. Kelsey is the HR Specialist in TC.

COBRA During Layoff • Scroll down to Beneficiary Information and click Add
• Answer the preliminary questions and click Continue
If you elect COBRA continuation coverage, the coverage will • Click Add Beneficiary and enter the name, social
be identical to the coverage you currently have under the
group health plan. security number, primary or contingent designation,
relationship, and benefit percentage for each beneficiary
You will receive your COBRA packet from 44North with • Once all beneficiary information is entered, verify for
instructions on how to continue your group health benefits accuracy and click Submit Designation
during lay off. Please call 44North at 1-855-306-1099 with any • A confirmation will be mailed to you to indicate a
questions. successful beneficiary update
• NOTE: If you are married and submitting a primary
Please note – You must complete the COBRA paperwork beneficiary other than or in addition to your spouse,
and return it to 44 North to retain your group healthcare spousal consent is required when they are not named
coverage while you are laid off, even if you do not have to as sole primary beneficiary - click on the PDF icon for
pay the monthly premium. Beneficiary Online Wizard Form, print, you and your
spouse sign, notarize, and return to One America\
Required Online 401k Beneficiary Information
Even if you currently have beneficiary designation on file with
Have you gone online to complete your required 401k Human Resources, you must still complete the information
beneficiary information? It’s easy: online. Please contact Cindy Karker with any questions.

• Log in or register at www.oaretirement.com 401k Contribution Limits for 2019
• Click on My Profile at the top of the screen
Maximum = $19,000
8 50+ Catch-up = $6,000 additional

Report Changes to HR Amazing Online Healthcare

Keeping your information up-to-date is very important. Did you know you have access to online medical and
Outdated information can cause interruptions in your benefits behavioral health services available anywhere in the United
and prevent you from getting important mailings. You could be States? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is offering the
held responsible for insurance claims paid on someone that Blue Cross Blue Shield Online Visits (bcbsmonlinevisits.
should have been removed from your insurance because of a com), accessible on any smart phone or tablet.
change in status.
To get started:
Please call Kelsey in HR if you have changes to the • Simply download the BCBSM Online Visits app (both
following: Apple and Google Play)
• Add your Blue Care Network health plan information from
• Address or phone # your Blue Care Network medical card
• Marital Status • Add a debit card or credit card
• New Dependent
• Personal Email When you need to see a Doctor:
• Sign into your BCBSM Online Visits app
Flex Spending Account (FSA) • Pick a Doctor to see from the comfort of your home, car (in
park, of course ), or anywhere you have cellular service
If you participate in the Flex Spending Account (medical or • Follow their medical recommendations
dependent care) for 2018, you have until July 15, 2019, to
turn in receipts for any medical/dependent care reimbursable Who can use this app?
expenses. Any questions regarding your FSA should be • Available for all dependents on your Team Elmer’s Group
directed to 44North at 1-855-306-1099. Health Plan
• Anyone, spouse included, over the age of 18 must have
You can also look up your FSA and HRA information online: an individual account (we are all about retaining Health
• Go to www.44.n.com Privacy Information)
• Click on Client/Member Portal (top right of screen)
• Choose the HRA and FSA Claims Portal
• Username: Your last name and last four digits of your Your card will be automatically charged a $40 fee, which is
social security number fully reimbursed through your HRA with 44North. A check or
• Password: Your last name along with your birth date direct deposit is available for reimbursement. If you have any
• Click on the corresponding tabs to view the following: questions, please contact Cindy Karker in Human Resources.

Claims
• Claims Home
• Submit a Claim
• Claims History
Status
• FSA Medical
• DSA Dependent

FOLLOW TEAM ELMER’S!

9

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

A man of Greetings! God, more aware of my true needs, and
integrity the needs of others.
Welcome to 2019. My prayer is that God I want to challenge you to ask yourself
walks will guide you to make wise decisions and reflect on five questions every day
securely. in the coming year. I hope that you had in 2019.
He does so a very Merry Christmas. My wife and I
because he enjoyed the time we were able to spend Question 1: Will I allow God access
isn’t hiding with our children and grandchildren. to my life today? Giving Him access
anything. My only regret is that I ate way too means taking time to read my Bible
much. That is not a good thing with the and praying throughout the day. It also
10 wellness assessment only a couple means that I will try to slow my thinking
weeks away. down and ask God to speak to me.
Doing this helps keep me to be at peace
We have two new classes starting and live a balanced life.
on Wednesday, January 9th at the
Traverse City location. We have a Question 2: Would I want to live with
class for the ladies entitled, “Life someone like me? This helps me to
Lessons from Women in the Bible”. take an honest look at myself.
This six-week study will take you on a
fascinating journey into the personal Question 3: What is good about
lives, culture, and circumstances of my life? It is so easy to let negative
more than 30 Bible women. For the thinking control us. I have a tendency
guys, we are starting a six-week class to get caught up in negative thoughts.
called, “Kingdom Man.” This class will Focusing on what is good about my life
challenge us to accept and implement helps me to take an inventory of the
God’s purpose into our daily lives. These good things in life.
studies are open to employees and their
family members. The ladies will meet on Question 4: What do I need to let go
Wednesdays at noon in the Broadroom. of? The Bible tells us to give all of our
The guys will meet on Wednesdays at 6 worries and cares to God because He
am in the Broadroom. cares for us. The Bible also reminds us
to not allow the sun to go down on our
The next Financial Peace class will start anger. I have learned from experience
on Saturday, January 5th at 9am. If you that holding onto worry and anger is
are interested in attending, there is room not healthy for me or my relationships.
for a few more people. Please contact It helps to question myself otherwise I
me if you would like to be a part of any might not realize I am holding onto these
of these exciting opportunities. destructive emotions.

Many people look to the new year as a Question 5: Am I living a life of
fresh start. They may set some goals integrity? The Bible says that a man
or make some changes in their lives. of integrity walks securely. He does so
For years I was all about setting goals because he isn’t hiding anything. Being
and making changes. Then, a few years a person of integrity is worth pursuing.
back, I was challenged with setting my
goals aside and focusing on changing I’m looking forward to working with you
my inner self. This has caused me to all in the coming year.
ask questions of myself. The result has
been that I am becoming more aware of Tom

GIVE ‘EM PICKLE HIGHLIGHTS
THE PICKLE
11
1 SERVICE

Make serving others
your #1 priority.

You’re in a noble profession.
Be proud of what you do and

where you work.

2 ATTITUDE

Choose your attitude.
How you think about customers

is how you will treat them.
Remember your mental
“I Like Yous!”

3 CONSISTENCY

Customers return because they
like what happened last time.

Stick to your high
service standards.

4 TEAMWORK

Go out of your way
to make each other look good.

Everything you do ends up
in front of the customer.

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

HILBERT’S HONEY | TRAVERSE CITY

Hilbert’s Honey in Traverse City is in Phase 1 of
redeveloping their land. We started the project last
month with site development for their new building.

EXCAVATION

CURRENT PROJECTS

• Hilbert’s Honey Bees
• Traverse City Boardwalk Phase II

Happy New Year to All! Troy, Todd, Karl, Jason, and Brian for helping keep 50
snowplow guys busy and productive. Thanks, as well, to
Hope your holidays have been the snow plow crews and others who stayed on to help
everything you expected, for being patient and flexible to all of the daily changes
wanted, and filled with family and job assignments. It’s supposed to be winter so “Let it
and friends. Snow” already!

I should be telling you how What did I learn from this? Be prepared for anything and
smoothly the snow plow always have a Plan B because things change constantly
operation is running, but it hasn’t been really running at and quickly, and never say never.
all. Mother Nature has been, to say the least, stingy with
the white stuff so far. We got more snow in October and What does 2019 look like? It looks to be another busy
November when we were actually trying to get projects year. We have a good workload to start the season and
done! But, let’s focus on all of the positives: have been low bidder on a few jobs this month. We have
been out talking to the engineers and there is a lot of work
1. We have gotten all of the projects that we couldn’t coming out in January and February that include some
get to done or at least as complete as possible for the large local projects when spring starts.
winter.
I am working on getting reviews completed and
2. We are once again in a position to jump on projects scheduled. I am looking at the first part of February, so I
and can say, “Heck yeah, we can get that done for hope to see all of you then.
you. How does tomorrow sound?”
With a successful 2018 behind us, I would like to thank
3. The clearing in the pits, stripping in the pits, and each and every one of you for all you do each and every
restoration in the pits is all getting done and the day to make this place tick. We have an amazing group of
Aggregate Division will be ready to roll in the spring. incredibly talented people.

4. Troy has all the help he needs for his new building, Until next month, keep calm and dig on.
scrap metal cleanup, concrete silo, asphalt plant, and
other projects around the yard. Max

For it already being the first of the year and almost no
snow to plow, it has been amazingly busy. Thanks to

14

HILLMAN REPORT

Lake Kathleen | Pellston, MI

Happy New Year everybody and on top of everything! We are still waiting
welcome to 2019! Hopefully you all had for bid results on several projects so
a very merry Christmas and you are still hopefully next month I will have several
achieving your New Year’s resolution new projects to report. One of which
goals. Just remember, it’s mind over is in Houghton, MI, where the general
matter, you have to “not” want to do contractor and owner would like to
whatever it is that you want to stop doing negotiate a large site work project with us
more than you want to do it… if you think because of our past performances. Way to
about it, it’s pretty easy! go, Team!

You’ve got to Thank you to all that attended the Hillman Also, it’s that time of year again where
get up every Christmas party this year, which was about we need to add to our roster for next
morning with everybody that either knew about it or summer. We need to add an entire crew in
determination if didn’t have to work - we will do a better job Hillman and in Petoskey, we need to add
you’re going to next year making sure everybody knows a secretary/dispatcher, some drivers, a
go to bed with when the party is! It was great to see all of yard guy, and another dirt crew. That being
satisfaction. the Petoskey guys attend this year, which said, if you know any good candidates,
will more than likely be the last year as please send them my way.
George Lorimer they are getting a brand new facility that
we’re going to want to celebrate in next “How can I help” reviews are coming
year! Progress is coming along nicely with up shortly so get started with your lists.
the clean-up, demo, building pad, storm Whoever comes up with the best idea on
sewer all complete, the new drive and how we can improve wins an all-expense
parking is graded and graveled, GTC is paid trip to Subway. 
pouring the new scale foundations and,
by the time this newsletter comes out, the Remember it’s the off season and
building should be going up. everybody needs to get their dentist and
doctoring needs done now before spring.
So much for an end of season slow Get those appointments scheduled!
down for the estimators as the project
bidding has been absolutely crazy! Until next month, rest hard and have fun!
Thank you Steve, Rance, Dan, Trevor,
and Jeff for all the long hours staying Mike

15

CONCRETE Retaining Wall | Traverse City Plant

Happy New Year!

Many of us see the New Year
as an opportunity to hit reset
and start over. I agree with that
mindset, but would also like to
stay consistent with what we have
been building for multiple years in
a decent economy.

Opportunity 1: Safety. We promised each other we would
put safety at the front of our minds every day. We have an
opportunity to vastly improve. We had too many backing
and “too tall” incidents, along with personal injuries. It is
never fun to talk about the things that we aren’t doing well.
We will be training again this winter, but we all have the
personal responsibility to do this correctly every day. From
putting on a seat belt, using a spotter, staying off a phone
while operating, and making sure we use three points of
contact up and down our truck ladders, your first job is to
keep safety front of mind.

Opportunity 2: Customers. They are our business and
the reason we receive a paycheck. Our job is to bring the
product as they request it and service their needs. We have
to continue to take the opportunity to separate ourselves
from the competition and ensure that our daily work
flourishes. The little things matter like cleaning off a tool
or saying “thank you for your business” or making sure we
don’t run over the yard gnome and bird bath. It isn’t easy,
but remembering that they are the reason we have work is
very important.

Opportunity 3: Take care of each other. We work for a
company that cares about us; we each have the benefit of
knowing the owners. I care about everyone in this company
and what they bring to make us the best every day. If we
take care of each other, and make each other look good,
the rest becomes easy.

Let’s take the opportunity to work hard and shine this year!
Let’s stay in our lane and keep doing what we are good at,
all while getting better. I look forward to another challenging
and productive year!

Safety is the first thing with everything.

jason

16

ASPHALT

Throwback to August
Bayside Park | Acme, MI

Happy New Year, Team! Asphalt Division reviews have been scheduled to begin
January 29th and run through January 31st. If you
I hope everyone had a safe haven’t already heard from your foreman on your specific
and fun way to ring in the New date and time, please reach out to me to make sure we
Year and, of course, make a have you scheduled. Thanks! I look forward to seeing you
bunch of resolutions to torture, and hearing how you felt last season went. I’m interested
uh, to follow through on! Well, in listening to your constructive input on how we can
regardless, it is going to be great better ourselves for the season ahead.
year for everyone. I’m sure of it.
I am also starting to set up hiring interviews for next
2019 is looking to be a very busy construction year season. Please, if you have a good, hard working
with all the work that is out there. We are prepared to candidate in mind looking for a great career at Team
bid effectively and schedule efficiently so that we keep Elmer’s, have them reach out so we can get them started.
overlap to a minimum.
Until next month, stay safe and do your best to stick to
Workload hasn’t grown much since last month, but that your resolutions. You made them for a reason.
is mostly due to the holiday season. Most engineers
and owners don’t see it as the best time of year to let Brian
work, understandably. I expect by the time I talk to you in
February I will have a long list to fill you in on.

17

WELLNESS

TIP OF THE

MONTH

CHOLESTEROL & WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

With biometric screenings occurring this month, it’s time to learn about what cholesterol is and how it
affects your health.

What Is Cholesterol?

There are two specific types of lipids: triglycerides and cholesterol. Cholesterol is naturally produced by the
body and found in each and every cell. It aids in digestion, hormone production and the generation of
Vitamin D. You might be thinking, ‘it sounds pretty good - so what’s the big deal?’ Cholesterol is not only
naturally produced by the body – it is also ingested from the food we eat. Meaning, foods high in cholesterol,
saturated fat, and trans-fat, increase the level of cholesterol in the blood.

High Cholesterol

Having too much cholesterol in the blood stream is dangerous as it begins to build-up on the walls of the
arteries, forming a plaque-like substance. This narrows the arteries and causes a restriction of blood flow. In
some cases, the plaques can eventually block the blood vessel completely, increasing the risk of numerous
problems including coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Total cholesterol levels less than 200 are considered healthy.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

As mentioned earlier, diet is a huge source of cholesterol – specifically, animal foods, dairy, baked goods,
deep-fried foods, and processed foods. Other risk factors include: pre-existing conditions (such as diabetes,
liver disease, or kidney disease), being overweight and smoking.

Lowering Your Levels

To decrease your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease, practice these four simple lifestyle changes:

• Get regular exercise

• Eat a heart-healthy diet

• Quit or avoid smoking

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight that’s right for you

Questions? Ask Jackie.

616-309-2778
[email protected]

18

MECHANICS

Welcome to 2019! Not a lot to report from the PM
Service department this month.
Thank you, Troy, Todd and Tonya
for your generosity and the many The guys are still doing a great
opportunities that came our way job getting all the oil changed on
in 2018. Here’s wishing the entire those units still in use through
Team Elmer’s gang happiness the off-season. In between oil
and good health throughout the changes, the crews are doing
coming year. annual inspections, and repairs to
light plants, arrow boards, utility trailers, and more. Keep
The off season repairs continue and the shop will be up the good work, team!
packed for the next 3-4 months. Happily, we are way
ahead on equipment repairs and DOTs due to starting our I hope everyone’s Christmastime celebrations went well
winter repairs much earlier this year. and I’d like to be among the first to wish all a Happy New
Year! What do you think 2019 will bring? Whatever it is, the
I would like to thank all the mechanics statewide for mechanic shop will be ready!
completing over 12,000 work orders! This makes it two
years in a row we have completed roughly the same Keep calling me if you need an oil change.
amount of repairs. When you think about it, it’s probably
double that considering each work order contains multiple Thanks!
repairs and service codes. Thank you, guys!
Jason
Just to put everything into perspective, the shop will be
going through close to 1,000 pieces of equipment from
now until spring. This includes truck and trailer DOTs,
yellow iron repairs, and crane OSHA inspections, all while
keeping the plated trucks running and all the snow plow
equipment on the road. Needless to say, the shop has its
hands full!

So, who you gonna call? I know I mention this quite
often but, please, call me directly or call the MECH
SHOP – TC contact in all of our cell phones, if you
have any equipment issues.

Until next time, keep it running.

Eric

19

TRUCKING

The New Year Bells Have Rung! I am both excited and a little nervous about our 2019 Truck
2019 Here We Come! Driver Training Classes to be held March 11th & 12th. We
are going to try something new for training. We are not
Are you like most of us and ate going to be sitting around watching videos or listening to
lots of Christmas cookies and a guest speaker come in to talk about how to do our jobs.
snacks, had a great Christmas We want to hear from YOU, the voices of experience. Not
dinner, went out and had a good only do you work with general trucking situations, you work
time on New Year’s Eve, and with some fairly specific Elmer’s types of trucking. Put your
now the elastic on those new thinking caps on and start thinking about what you can do
Christmas PJs is all stretched out? Nice timing that we to be a safer, more efficient individual and employee in
have Wellness screening right after the holidays! Oh, I’m 2019.
not complaining, Cindy. It made me think to be careful
about what all I was eating and drinking through the Let me give you a little help on some topics to be prepared
holidays. for on your training day in March:

All is well in the Trucking Division. We had another good • Safety
December and 2018 was a good year overall. Considering • Driving Techniques
all our late starts and stops due to weather, we still had • Hours of Service
a good year of Utilization Hours on the trucks with an • ELD Tablets - make sure you bring yours with you!
increase in gypsum tonnage and an above average • Laws and Regulations
inventory for the concrete plants with winter pours on the • Loaders
books. • Engines
• Trucks
Let’s start looking at 2019. Have you already set some • Trailers
personal and work goals for yourself to accomplish this
year? If you have thoughts on setting some goals for It is going to be an informative, communicative, and fun
yourself here in trucking, please let me know how I can day. I can’t wait to see everyone and find out what thoughts
help. As for me, I know what I’d like to accomplish in 2019, and ideas you have come up with.
but I’m the quiet type and plan to keep those ideas to
myself for the time being.  Let’s make 2019 one of the safest and best years on
record and it starts in March.

jim

Boardman Riverwalk | Traverse City, MI

20

CRANES & RIGGING

Short’s Brewing Company | Elk Rapids, MI

Happy New Year! Brewery in Elk Rapids for two and a half weeks assisting in
the erection of a new steel building.
Welcome to a new year and new
beginnings. I trust everyone had a We had a crew at Traverse City Munson Hospital on Friday,
great holiday season and enjoyed December 21st from 6:00PM to 3:30AM Saturday. This was
the extra days off with friends and a scheduled job to replace air handling units on the roof.
family. That night was a little different than the previous times we
were there, however. The Traverse City Fire Department
December proved to be a very was dispatched to the parking lot to assist a paraplegic
busy month for us in Crane & Rigging. Al Papcun worked man into the van to take him home. When they arrived,
long and hard to land us a job moving large and heavy they realized they did not have the man power to lift the
production line equipment. As you may or may not know, wheelchair. The fireman asked our crew to assist. Without
East Jordan Iron Works has built a new facility in Elmira hesitation, Brian Kelsey and Tom Kler were on it! I am
and we spent the majority of November and December proud to report the eagerness they had to go above and
moving their equipment from their old shop in East Jordan beyond to help those in need. Way to go, guys! Keep doing
to the new shop. This consisted of numerous oversize load what you do and keep being a great example of the kind
permits, plenty of legal loads, multiple trucks and trailers, people you are.
the 80,000-pound forklift, and both the 165-ton and 185-ton
cranes. The widest load we hauled was 13’7” wide and the What are your goals and thoughts for the year ahead at
heaviest piece was 72,000 pounds. EC&S, the company Team Elmer’s? If it’s something I can help with in the Crane
we are working for, has taken some time off for Christmas & Rigging Division, let me know!
and the New Year, so we will pick up where we left off this
month. Until next time, remember, conduct is the best proof of

Our new 45-ton crane took its maiden voyage to Biewer character.
Sawmill last month. From there it went up to Short’s
Kent

21

WHAT WE’RE UP TO ‘ROUND THE STATE

Lake Kathleen Retaining Wall at TC Plant
Pellston, MI Traverse City, MI

Short’s Brewing Company
Elk Rapids, MI

Mechanic Shop
Traverse City, MI

Daniel’s Pit
Petoskey, MI

PETOSKEY TC ARCADIA PELLSTON

Camp Arcadia
Arcadia, MI

TC Plant Christmas Celebration

Boardman Riverwalk
Traverse City, MI

Hillman Plant Christmas Celebration SonnyMart
Traverse City, MI

AN EOE/AA EMPLOYER PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
3600 Rennie School Road
Traverse City, MI 49685 PAID
TRAVERSE CITY, MI

PERMIT #568