Summer 2007

Look around. You will notice a new call center, an addition to an elementary school, or maybe a new medical health clinic. You will see the general contractor and some of the subcontractors finishing up on a project. You will probably still see the architect's sign. One thing you won't see is General Excavating's best work.

Many utility contractors prefer wide-open jobs where there are few obstacles or other trades to work around. General Excavating thrives on projects where they serve as a sub to mechanical and general contractors. These projects usually include a tight work area, plenty of other subs, and coordination with others phases of construction.

Roper Elementary—Snell Services

General Excavating's project managers spend a great deal of time identifying conflicts prior to construction as well as proposing cost savings ideas that can be passed along to the owner. “These types of projects require a little more time upfront but our goal is to make sure there are no surprises for the mechanicals or generals on our portion,” commented Jim Brunner, project manager at General Excavating.

There are many opportunities to avoid conflicts and maximize the efficiency of the project when contractors are brought on board early. While the initial conversations and drawings are often little more than concepts, General Excavating is often able to solve potential problems before they become an issue for the mechanical or general contractor. Loyal clients appreciate the professionalism General Excavating brings to the job. It happens a lot, we do our best work and no one ever sees it.

Working for Rayburn Auto Parts, Inc., in conjunction with HWS Consulting Group, General Excavating constructed a SVE & Air Sparge Remediation System in Gibbon, Nebraska.

“Dealing with the clean-up of a leaking underground gas tank ...to Okie and General Excavating a great big thank you for a job well done.”

• Joe Rayburn, President
• Rayburn Auto Parts, Inc.

Like the parts of a puzzle, the efforts of all personnel within a company to develop repeat and future business should mesh seamlessly. All have an opportunity to create a positive client experience. Too often the interaction with a customer is compartmentalized. Do the field employees know what the office personnel know and vice versa? Are the marketing and business development people aware of the same information that the project managers know and vice versa? There are plenty of customer relations management programs on the market to assist with these tasks. These systems have their place but can't replace person-to-person communication. It doesn't take much time or effort to update your coworker and the resulting interaction with the client will be enhanced. The goal of these interactions is to create ownership by all within the company. If there is a problem, the problem is everyone's problem. If there is a success, it is everyone's success. When employees in your company are pulling the rope the same direction, you are well on your way to developing loyal repeat customers.

You have questions and we have the answers! One of the more common questions General Excavating is asked by owners, developers, general contractors, and others is the following:

Can General Excavating provide “Turn Key” construction solutions on environmental remediation projects?

"While certain types of remediation projects require the expertise of an environmental engineer, there are also a variety of projects that we can take from the initial application of permits, through construction and testing, to final billing with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. We have also teamed with engineers in the initial design stages of the project as a way of providing the best value to the client."

• Mike Stewart
• Project Manager
• General Excavating Environmental Construction Division

Project

• Farmers Mutual Sanitary Sewer Relocation
• Lincoln, NE

Owner

• Farmers Mutual Insurance Company

Engineer

• HWS Consulting Group, Inc.

Scope

• Relocation of sanitary sewer by horizontal directional boring and appurtenant work.

Project

• Antelope Creek Flood Protection Phase 2B
• Lincoln, NE

Owner

• Joint Antelope Valley Authority

General Contractor

• Hawkins Construction Co.

Scope

• Excavation of contaminated soil as part of the realignment of the Antelope Creek Channel.

Project

• Logan Fiber Washout
• Logan, IA

Owner

• Verizon Business

Engineer

• Verizon Business

Scope

• Installation of new cable for temporary splice and 24-hour monitoring until floodwaters subsided.

Project

• Remediation Excavation & Disposal
• Omaha, NE

Owner

• Aksarben Future Trust

Engineer

• HDR Engineering, Inc.

Scope

• Excavation and disposal of petroleum impacted soil.

• The target... four 8" core drilled holes in the mechanical room at Culler Middle School.
• The problem... the four holes are under a hallway and tunnel beneath the school.
• The solution... General Excavating set up a boring machine outside the school near the newly constructed geothermal well field and shot four bores to the 8" holes. Three inch HDPE pipe was then pulled back to connect the school mechanical systems to the well field.
• The result... Ace Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning, Inc. was able to continue construction with minimum disruption and loss of time on the mechanical systems at Culler Middle School.
• The next step... Let General Excavating be your "underground" partner by providing trenchless construction solutions on your next project.

Jim Oldfield submitted this quarter's winning photograph. A project foreman, Jim has worked at General Excavating for nearly 14 years. Jim completes a wide range of water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer projects for private and public owners throughout the area.

General Excavating, working for the Kiewit Building Group, constructed the site utilities for the new activities and events center at Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska. The photograph illustrates the installation of a sanitary sewer line nearly 27' deep through the side of a hill on the northeast edge of campus.