Lochenheath Golf Club
02/2005
If you are driving north towards Elk Rapids, across from New Hope Church, you might witness a new sight in the Traverse City Landscape, A New Golf Course Community. Alright so it’s not that uncommon. What is new, what is uncommon, is Pinnacle Development Group of Arizona, the real estate development company developing LochenHeath. Pinnacle has several courses throughout the United States in Arizona, California, and Hawaii. Pinnacle recently purchased the old LochenHeath Golf Course and an additional 250 acres to create a top end Gated Golf Community with residential lots for sale. Below is an excerpt from their development literature,
"Developing a real estate project demands vision and foresight. But it is the commitment to realize the vision and see it through that brings a project to successful completion. It’s a question of character and work ethic, the qualities by which we measure ourselves at Pinnacle Development Group."
Elmer’s Crane & Dozer, Inc. stepped in with the character and work ethic to get things done for the Pinnacle Development group. When the greens needed to be re-worked and the driving range raised, Team Elmer’s rose to the occasion. Late last fall Elmer’s began 20 hour work days (two 10 hour shifts starting at approximately 5 in the morning and ending well after midnight) to keep the project moving before frost set in. Due to the commitment of our team members, over 185,000 yards of material was moved to re-balance the golf course. 185,000 yards may seem like a large number but let’s gain some perspective. With the upcoming Superbowl imagine the football field, sideline to sideline, including endzones, covered in 86 ft. of soil. Yes, a football field of dirt, over eight stories high, was moved by our crew. Way to go Team!! This was a team project through and through. Grand Traverse Construction is currently building the foundation for the temporary sales office on-site. Way to go GTC. Pinnacle Development Group will continue to develop the course with the installation of sewer and water service, additional infrastructure, and the construction of a Club House and Gate house this Year. Bid packages should be out in the next month.
Pinnacle’s brochure goes on to state another aspect of their philosophy,
"We would need to assemble a staff of the finest talent available, and master every discipline our industry requires. So we did things right, right from the start."
I would agree with Pinnacle, they did make smart choices right from the start by choosing Team Elmer’s. Not only do they get dedicated and caring workers. They get the experience and quality that those employees bring with them every day. A staff of knowledgeable, efficient, and hard working men and women, from estimating to dispatch, construction to office personnel, who want to do things right the first time.
|
|
Wuerfel Park
03/2005
Baseball fan’s hearts are picking up a few beats. Those three little words that inspire passion in people are soon to be uttered – Let’s Play Ball. Okay, maybe you were thinking of three other words. So you have to be a baseball fan for those words to inspire passion, but there are a few local people who have that type of passion. John Wuerfel is one of them. John Wuerfel, his family, and his company Wuerfel Sports Development, LLC, are bringing baseball to the Traverse City Market. The Traverse City Beach Bums will play 96 games (48 home games) in the 2006 season from May through August.
What’s that you say? We already have baseball in the Traverse City market. Yes, I know you have chauffeured any number of kids to local league games. And who doesn’t get a kick out of watching five year olds in little league try to throw to home plate or catch a ball while looking at their shadow. But this is a step up in entertainment. This is Professional Baseball linked to the Frontier League. Imagine a 3500 seat stadium, with luxury suites, a recessed playing field, concession stands, and all the support facilities, with dugouts, bullpens, field maintenance areas, home and visitor clubhouse/locker rooms and an indoor batting facility. A facility where families are welcomed and the action is close. No nasty stares for bringing antsy youngsters to eat. The Wuerfel’s have vision, love families, and possess the passion to see the large construction project through to completion.
There are others in Traverse City who have passion, Team Elmer’s employees. Have you ever watched an Elmer’s employee play in the dirt with their big toys? Have you ever seen a concrete driver pull up to a difficult pour? Or an asphalt crew when you tell them something can’t be done? Their attitude exudes PASSION! Excitement, enthusiasm, zeal, and delight in what they do and how they can help the client. Starting last November Team Elmer’s started on the earth moving portion of the field at Wuerfel Park. Employees doggedly attacked moving 105,000 yards of material to create the bowl structure of the field and stands. With determination, 18,000 yards of topsoil (some places four and five feet deep) were stripped and stockpiled on-site for future restoration. Next Wuerfel Development started construction on the clubhouse area. Footings were dug and poured. As construction continued Elmer’s expertise was called to lift pre-constructed peaked roof sections into place. The roof sections were built and shingled on the ground. Once lifted into placed the trusses were secured to the building. Construction continued and once again our passion and commitment were relied on. We delivered concrete for the indoor batting facility on a cold winter day, providing a solid foundation for future players. Further construction on the stands and other support facilities are slated for the spring and summer. Team Elmer’s employees are poised to persevere on any difficult project. Our employees are the best team around. And who better understands the value of teamwork than a baseball park owner?
|
|
Waterfront Inn Demolition
04/2005
Elmer’s specializes in shoreline stabilization, but the demolition of the Waterfront Inn is a different type of restoration work. Originally built in the early 1970’s and expanded later in the decade, the Waterfront Inn was a two wing, four story hotel structure with over 150 rooms, including an entrance hall, pool area, and Reflections restaurant atop the four story structure that offered fine dining for its’ patrons. Working along the waterfront at the Waterfront Inn, demands an awareness of nature, the ebb and flow of tidal waves that build up and tear down shores across the lake front.
Elmer’s Crane and Dozer, Inc. knows about building up and tearing down sites. Our demolition crews are experienced, highly skilled professionals, who care about safety. Their attention to detail creates an efficient demolition job-site that will clear the way for updated construction and a better use of resources.
Team Elmer’s utilized excavators, demolition trailers, and loaders for the Waterfront Inn project, hauling off 3,500 yards of wood material. The intricate removal process with the separate wings and small site were handled with patience and knowledge, to ensure safety. The crushing crews set up to recycle the concrete in the structure by crushing it into 4,000 yards of material for use at the new construction site, harnessing value from a demolished site. The new development, Tamarack Lodge, is a condominium complex with four buildings to be erected in separate phases on the existing site. The Waterfront Inn Convention center is slated for demolition in 2007 or 2008 near the end of the construction schedule. In Northern Michigan the Seasons change, leaves bud, change color, and drop, waters build up and tear down shorelines; the same could be said for development along the Lake Front. The Development choices change with the seasons and Elmer’s/GTC, your qualified contractor, can tear down and build up any development need, year after year.
|
|
Fannon Development
05/2005
Erector sets, Lincoln Logs, and Lego buildings were a dream of childhood. Being able to assemble any number of building configurations was exhilarating. The joyful hours spent continually changing and modifying your design before an act of Godzilla (or your little brother or sister) laid waste to all your efforts. They say you can never go back to childhood, but you can still build with amazing speed, accuracy, and cost savings. Take for example the Mitch Fannon Development project on East Silver Lake Road at US-31 near Chums Corners. A speculative Development process, Fannon Development needed one source to handle all the questions. Team Elmer’s is the perfect choice. Like the days of your childhood, the Star building system (which specializes in Pre-engineered Steel Buildings) is able to design and re-design your building easily before going to final plans. The Star Building system allows design flexibility for storage and office interior space, as well as versatility for exterior finishes. Steel buildings are being used to construct a myriad of projects such as school gymnasiums/auditoriums, office buildings, churches, and auto dealerships.
The Fannon Development is a Design Build project from start to finish for Team Elmer’s. We supplied the site design engineering, surveying and building design through Elmer’s Construction Engineering, Inc., then onto site development with earthwork, water, sewer, and parking lot paving through Elmer’s Crane & Dozer, Inc., then to the actual building construction with a pre-engineered steel building that came ready to assemble and finish through Grand Traverse Construction. Aesthetic appeal far exceeded any Lincoln Log or Lego. Our talented team of masons laid a brick façade at the front face of the building adding to the professional atmosphere. A real team effort from one end of our building to the other, helped construct Fannon Development’s building from their site foundation through the roof top and beyond. Congratulations Team Elmer’s on knowledgeable, committed employees who know how to construct a beautiful building that, unlike childhood, is strong enough to withstand your little sister, even after you destroyed her Barbie dolls.
|
|
Traverse Area Recreational Trails (T.A.R.T.)
06/2005
Northern Michigan is known for many things, beautiful vistas, lakes for fishing and boating, wildlife, agriculture and farming – cherries most specifically. When you hear the term tart – you usually think of cherry pie - but that does not always apply. The T.A.R.T. Trail is a network of paths throughout the Traverse City Region that allows pedestrians and bikers alike to enjoy the peaceful vistas of our area without worrying about traffic signals and road enraged motorist. The trail system will expand to eventually include several recreational trails reaching from Williamsburg to Suttons Bay, and perhaps beyond. The most current phase being constructed is a two mile section between Lautner Road and Bates road in the Acme/Williamsburg Area.
Life is not always a bowl full of cherries, many difficult challenges were conquered before construction could begin. Team Elmer’s, as always, is able to meet the challenge. In a time when right of ways are more and more sacred, it is a wonder the current section of trails was able to be constructed in an operating railroad system’s area. Special planning was required to complete piling and other preliminary work in conjunction with The Tuscola-Saginaw Bay railroad schedules. Due to the sensitive nature of an operating railroad system, Tuscola-Saginaw Bay had their own inspector on site at all times. In addition to the two miles of trail (6,000 ton of gravel and 1,635 ton of asphalt), there are two bridge structures that need to be constructed. The talented crews at Grand Traverse Construction answered the call to build 130 ft. and 290 ft. of bridge decking to span two creek areas. These bridge sections are built with over 50,000 board feet of rustic rough sawn lumber on 88 piles that are 30 ft. tall and driven into the soft soil for support. One call really does it all to overcome obstacles in soil types, scheduling, and construction. Way to go Team! And enjoy your own Cherry pie at the Open space after you’ve biked in from Williamsburg – with no traffic jams.
|
|
Wexford County Land Fill
07/2005
Accuracy is necessary in many critical applications, horseshoes or darts when a bet’s on the line, any surgical procedure, and your wife’s birthday (a day late does not count). There are other applications where accuracy is imperative, your local landfill. You may not realize it but exact grades are needed to create a healthy, viable, and properly working system to ensure drainage. Wexford County Landfill requires that accuracy in the construction of their new area Cell F. Team Elmer’s is up to the challenge, with help from a new tool as well.
Elmer’s crews have moved 90,000 yards of material to date creating the new cell area. Another 62,000 will be moved before the project is complete. A triple layer liner system in the base of the cell structure ensures containment of leachate (liquids) from the cell area. Two feet of sand covers the liner and houses the leachate removal system. 1,630 lineal ft. of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe will be installed in the leachate removal system, starting with a 6" perforated pipe at the bottom of the cell which gravity feeds to the sump area. A primary and secondary 18" diameter sump riser line carries leachate from the bottom of the cell. This liquid is pumped into a 3" line which is encased in a 6" backup line, known as a dual containment line. This removal line ties into another 3" line which is encased in an 18" backup pipe line. This line then outlets into a 72" diameter leachate vault which receives material from Cells A, B, and C. The leachate vault has two lines, both 3" in 6" casing, exiting the vault and collecting in an 85,000 gallon leachate storage tank. A steel tank lined in glass to ensure no leakage. The leachate storage tank has a 70 ft. diameter secondary containment tank with a 136,000 gallon storage capacity. The leachate is then pumped into trucks to be treated.
The network of piping and lines is critical to the removal of leachate and the viability of the Cell system. Wexford County understood the need for accuracy and tapped Team Elmer’s for their expertise and talent. Elmer’s had the opportunity to use a new tool on this project. The GPS Dozer (see profile) allowed accuracy for machine grades within 0.1 ft. without grade stakes. This is a remarkable feat for "eyeballing" it. So next time your taking the garbage out because you forgot your wife’s birthday you will know the Wexford County Landfill is able to meet your needs and Team Elmer’s will exceed your expectations.
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
|
University Of Michigan Coastal Buoy
08/2005
One of our most coveted natural resources are the pristine lakes that surround our area. Thousands of locals enjoy them and even more tourists flock to them. Be it fisherman or family boater, many slathered in sun tan lotion and with a cooler of beverages or bait (maybe both), set out on the water for a day of sun, sand, and fun. But do those boaters ever wonder about the action of the water before or after they set sail? The Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory from the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering School at the University of Michigan has an insatiable curiosity. So much so they designed a Coastal Monitoring Buoy to be positioned in the Grand Traverse Bay that would gather scientific information 24 hours a day. A perpetual influx of data to educate even the most experienced of boaters, any time, day or night.
Team Elmer’s is always up to the challenge, 24 hours a day. Elmer’s provided the anchor system for the buoy to stay in position during the summer sizzle and large November storm waves. With something as important as scientific research, Team Elmer’s was the first on call to lend expertise to this educational endeavor. The solar-powered buoy transmits data six times per hour via radio signal to a computer server at Northwest Michigan College in Traverse City. Researchers at the University of Michigan Hydrodynamics Laboratory manage the data, which is updated every 10 minutes.
The buoy will monitor a few parameters such as wave action, wind speed, water current speed, wave height, and other information. All data is available on line at http://207.74.227.36.
The buoy is located off of McKinley Road in West Bay in 150’ of water. It puts a new spin on the phrase, "Let’s go Blue!" Hold onto your fishing bait, if you’re a boater or a swimmer; make a link to this site.
|
|
The Village at Bay Ridge
09/2005
Hot August days and endless sun kept things pretty dry in the Northern Michigan Region. But our crew at the Village at Bay Ridge had no problems keeping cool with the amount of water they were fighting. Catch basins set at 18 ft. depths caused some interesting work days on the job site. High ground water and extremely wet conditions are a challenge for any crew. Team Elmer’s was up for the task. With extensive dewatering equipment, our guys battled the rushing water to set catch basins with surface water in the bottom of the trench box up to 18 inches deep, at times. If you like mud pies this was the perfect place for you. Over 4,500 lineal feet of storm, water, and sewer lines were installed for the new retirement community behind the Great Wolf Lodge. Three crews installed the lines, moving approximately 25,000 yards of dirt. The site continues to progress with dryer ground and shorter catch basin heights to install. Once the project is completed 4,500 ton of gravel will be in place and 2,200 ton of asphalt ready to take vehicle traffic.
Peace of mind is easily achieved for those wanting a firm foundation to build their retirement dreams. Elmer’s provides all that and more. You can even recapture some of your youth. Just step outside, mud pies are easy to make, just be sure to be home in time for dinner.
|
|
Chum's Corners
10/2005
The truth about cats and dogs? Either the cat is swiping at the dog with razor sharp claws. Or the dog is getting even by trying to eat the cat or at least its’ food. They usually don’t like each other or get along. The truth about concrete and asphalt – they usually don’t work well together. Listen to the lobbyist groups in government and you think cats and dogs were best friends compared to the remarks each takes against the other’s industry. Enter the US-31 Highway reconstruction at Chum’s Corners, which decided to use both methods to solve the increasing amount of traffic funneled through that intersection. Using both concrete and asphalt construction methods was a unique solution to the ever increasing problem of large truck traffic, high volume, and stop and go traffic patterns.
And who was the one company that could meet both calls? Team Elmer’s. With the finesse of a lion tamer with doggie treats in their pocket, Team Elmer’s was able to meet the stringent standards of the Michigan Department of Transportation. By supplying both state certified and tested ready-mix concrete to the sight, as well as hot mix asphalt, Team Elmer’s accomplished what few companies in all of the nation can. Both concrete and asphalt in harmonious conjunction! Team Elmer’s supplied concrete curbing and tough concrete pavement mix in certain sections of the project only to return other days to pave asphalt, widening the road and turn lanes to connect to the new concrete intersection.
Stringent standards by the state required exacting work ethics by the crews. There was no room for error. M.D.O.T. supplied their own inspector at the Elmer’s dispatch office to confirm the high standards we require. A total team effort, from truckers and pit personal supplying the state certified aggregates at both the asphalt and concrete plants, to the testing lab confirming we exceeded expectations, from the loader operators who kept materials uncontaminated and bins properly loaded, to plant operators who created each mix designs with care and detail, from the truck drivers who delivered each load of concrete and asphalt, to the asphalt crew that placed the final lane. Over 4,000 yards of concrete material and 24,000 ton of asphalt material will be used to create this harmonious intersection that should purr like a kitten with even the heaviest trucks traveling across it. Once the intersection opens to complete traffic again, many will wag their tails at no more detours. (Although some of our truck drivers will howl because the traffic light at Rennie School Road is scheduled to be removed.) Congratulations Team Elmer’s on one more job done well!
|
|
Three Mile Road
11/2005
“Ain’t no Mountain high enough. Ain’t no valley low enough. Ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from you.” Diana Ross, during and after The Supremes, was definitive in her opinions. Making large emphatic statements that told you where she stood. We may not have the beehive hair-dos and rhythmic harmonies of the Supremes, or the glittering ball gowns, (let’s face it the high heeled shoes would be in the way and are not proper safety gear), but Ain’t no river wide enough to stop Team Elmer’s. The Three Mile Road sewer project continues this month, with a critical point conquered. A new, larger box culvert has been installed under Three Mile Road to allow better drainage and waterflow in that low lying area. Three divisions of Team Elmer’s were on task to tackle this precise project. First, Elmer’s Excavation crews installed piling to temporarily divert the waters, ( a wonderful tenor). Then Grand Traverse Construction poured the new footings the box culvert would be set into (an interesting alto.). Next our newest team members from Kalkaska brought their crane to set each box culvert section (a beautiful bass). All three worked in perfect harmony to set the box culvert bridge, allowing both mother nature and future traffic to flow.
Great Team work in stringent guidelines created another wonderful project by Team Elmer’s. So as you’re traveling South on Three Mile Road turn the tunes up and sing along….”Ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you, babe.”
|
|
Oleson's Food Store
12/2005
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere you go…” That song triggers visions of holiday cheer, building snowmen in the front yard, Christmas cookies, and asphalt paving? Yes, asphalt paving. When a job has to be done, despite the weather, Team Elmer’s answers the call.
Oleson’s Food Store, with their new grocery store on the corner of Three Mile and Hammond Road, got off to a late start with township delays. Still trying to meet an early spring opening, Team Elmer’s stepped up to the task, getting this project back on track.
Working voraciously on-site, two and three crews at a time, Team Elmer’s created a mountain (15,000 yards) of topsoil, moved 30,000 yards of soil to create retention ponds, balance the site, and exported 11,000 yards of material off-site. Additional materials were moved once grades were set on the lot. Eight inch water mains and two inch water leads totaling 2,150 feet were installed on the site by numerous pipe crews. Eight inch sanitary sewer mains and six inch sanitary sewer leads totaling 1,406 feet were installed by attentive individuals. Storm sewer included 8 inch, 12 inch, and 15 inch diameter pipes, in a system containing 2,295 feet of material. 4,100 cubic yards of gravel was placed prior to paving. After several inclement weather delays, saturated gravel was removed and replaced to prepare for paving – yes in the snow flurries. Asphalt was paved in phases, installing 500 ton and 715 ton at a time for the base course application.
Team Elmer’s answers the challenge again and again, with our knowledgeable staff, our dedicated crew, and our positive attitude. Team Elmer’s who even after 50 years still treats each project as the most important: Treating the client with integrity, quality, and service, in all that we do. Way to go Team!
|
|
Copyright 2008, Elmer's Crane and Dozer, Traverse City, MI Local: (231) 943.3443 Fax: (231) 943.8975