| Good News Stories from Around the State |
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| Short-term Emerging Small Business project yields long-term results |
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New de-icer containment at Cornelius Pass
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Teamwork creates new projects for small businesses around the state
Several dozen Oregon companies received an unexpected boost in late spring from ODOT’s Emerging Small Business program. As the biennium — and the budget — neared its end, staff scrambled to put a final $1 million in the hands of qualified small businesses. The catch: the work had to be completed by June 30. In these economic times, however, that didn’t seem like a problem. And because staff members from across the department teamed up and worked like a well-oiled machine, it wasn’t a problem at all — it was a veritable boon!
Jerry Hoffman, ESB program manager, fired off an urgent email in early May asking for help in finding appropriate projects for what he called the “ESB Short Term Project Initiative.” Call your prospective ESB bidders, he said, at least three of them and preferably five, and explain the potential projects you’ve got — and don’t forget to add the June 30 completion deadline. Call some of the companies that haven’t yet gotten bids. And did I say, don’t forget the June 30 deadline?
In just over a week, Maintenance and Facilities team members came up with 87 projects offering small contracting opportunities for qualified small businesses. The project team selected 40 (46 percent) for funding with an estimated value of $1,042,550. As of June 30, the team — including the small businesses — had accomplished the following:
Approved betterment orders: 40
Contracts awarded: 40
Value of awarded contracts: $775,337.18
Work started: 40
Projects complete: 39!
The final project (at the Sage Hen Rest Area) had to be suspended when a vendor couldn’t get the picnic tables delivered on time. All other work at Sage Hen, however, was complete.
Projects ranged from replacing culverts on Oregon 99 to painting an older facility in Meacham, from pouring a concrete pad in Warrenton to improving sidewalks along the North Umpqua highway. (Below is a photo of a new fence under the highway at Nyberg; work was performed by A2 Fabrication, a woman-owned emerging small business. Above photo shows the new de-icer containmer built by Universal Builders, a minority-owned emerging small business.)
All 40 projects were awarded to Oregon firms certified as emerging small businesses. Ten of the 40 (25 percent) were women-owned and/or minority-owned. There were even some first time companies taking advantage of the opportunities, like Miller Factors, a landscaping company that won a contract to do landscaping on I-5 in the Portland area.
“They’ve done really well,” said Chad Gordon, ODOT District 2A Maintenance assistant manager. “This has been a great opportunity for these small businesses to get their feet wet, so to speak. It gives them a chance to gain confidence, and we get some projects taken care of at the same time.”
In the end, it appeared the ESB Short Term Project Initiative was a raging success: for Oregon small business, for the ODOT team that came together to deliver it, and for Oregonians in general. Just the kind of win-win-win situation we like at ODOT!
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| Veteran thanks incident responder for assistance |
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Help from state program greatly appreciated
John W. sent in his praise recently for the work of Region 2 Incident Responder Joe Scheiman. John wrote, “I am writing this letter to commend one of your Incident Responders, Mr. Joe Schieman…For the first time in my life driving, I had a flat tire…I am a disabled veteran and it was impossible for me to change it…Officer Ratcliff asked if I had a spare and I said yes so he said let’s change it. Right behind him was Mr. Schieman and his fully equipped truck. This was a total shock to me for anyone from the state to offer to help in this way. Mr. Schieman was very courteous and polite to me and my family. To me he exemplified what it means to be a state employee. I want to say thank you to Mr. Schieman and to the state for having this program and people that really help…Thank you Mr. Joe Schieman, you are a rare breed, keep up the help, some of us really appreciate it.”
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| Eastern Oregon couple appreciates ODOT's roadside help |
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A blown tire leaves them leary; an ODOT crew member calms their fears
A Region 5 incident responder recently helped an Enterprise couple with a flat tire, and they sent in a note of gratitude. Steve and Jeanne Hughes wrote, “We…wish to express our deepest gratitude…to the young ODOT worker…he is a great employee to have on your work crew! While heading to Ontario on I-84, our front passenger-side tire exploded and there was no emergency lane…We had just passed this young gentleman 1 1/2 miles back…[we were] looking to get out of harm's way when he pulled his truck behind ours… shielded our vehicle from traffic with his truck and assisted my husband in changing our tire…I truly appreciate what this man did to rescue us from what very likely could have ended in tragedy…We are here today because of this man’s efforts to assist us “two oldies” on the highway with a flat tire that day!...Thank you so much for having such a great human being on your crew!”
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| Native plants getting help from...highway folks? |
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ODOT Archaeologist Kurt Roedel transplants dogbane
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Archaeologist show why ODOT's work isn't just about highways
Don Ivy of Oregon’s Coquille Tribe recently sent in his praises for ODOT’s Maintenance and Archaeology teams, noting the careful work we’ve been doing around native plants. He wrote, “…I was also pleased on Saturday to see camas happily expressing itself along highways and freeways all the way to Portland. Thanks to ODOT District road crews, et. al. for their sensitivity as well.”
Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to support another native plant, through a partnership with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Dogbane, or Apocynum Cannabinum, is a plant native to North America and has been used for thousands of years by Native American Tribes. In the Willamette Valley, large harvestable sections of dogbane are becoming more difficult to find.
“People purposely try to eradicate dogbane,” said Robert Kentta, cultural resource director of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. “They see it as a weed. Some people also think it’s toxic for livestock.”
To the Tribes, dogbane is a key component in their way of life. The plant’s reddish-brown fibers are gently stripped from twigs and twisted into a strong string that can be used in everything from creating fishing nets to weaving intricate baskets.
In 2007, Kentta contacted ODOT archaeologists Kurt Roedel and Mary Turner to inform them that the important plant was growing in a narrow strip of right of way along Oregon 99W north of Corvallis. The precarious location was unsafe for Tribal members to harvest and was subject to yearly sprays of herbicide by District 4 Maintenance.
Roedel and Turner worked with District 4 crews to preclude spraying for one year to allow the dogbane to grow large enough for transplant to a safe location. In the meantime, Roedel and Kentta looked for suitable areas to transplant the dogbane. Working with several county, state, and federal agencies, they located a safe and accessible location in a Department of Fish and Wildlife preserve.
Early this spring, supporters gathered to transplant about 150 plants from the right of way to the wildlife preserve.
Tribal members will monitor the dogbane over the next few months. If it thrives in its new home, more plants may be transplanted to the same location or to similar spots in other protected areas.
“This project has benefits for everyone involved,” said ODOT Archaeologist Roedel, who volunteered his time for the project. “It demonstrates a good interagency spirit of cooperation.”
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