Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers, IAAP, held its 47th Annual Convention on April 21 in Springfield, Ill.

Joe McGuire, OMG Midwest Inc., demonstrated a tool to provide effective environmental training to plant employees. Attorney Matthew Korn, Fisher & Phillips, gave advice on how to contest MSHA citations and ensure contractors are operating safely on your mine site.

Changes to IDOT policies and specifications as well as what the future holds for the agency were addressed by IDOT representatives Randy Blankenhorn, Sheila Beshears and Laura Mlacnik. Gary O’Toole, Hanson Material Service, assembled a panel of smart people including Randi Wille, Meyer Material; Becky Andrews, Fairmount Santrol; Joe McGuire, OMG Midwest; and Kevin Cox, Vulcan Materials, who helped make attendees understand what it takes to Improve their site’s community relations. Mark Kennedy, senior technical training instructor of Metso, explained how to maximize your crusher while Jay Behnke, S.T.A.T.E. Testing, addressed the impact of green initiatives & use of fines in tollway construction. The two Matt’s, Matt Hart, Illinois Trucking Association, and Matt Wells, Midwest Truckers Association, answered questions and concerns about trucking in Illinois.

Additionally, Governor Bruce Rauner told a crowd of more than 400 IAAP members and guests during IAAP’s annual convention April 21 that he intends to invest “tens of billions of dollars” in infrastructure during his administration. The Governor indicated that, along with education, rebuilding the state’s infrastructure is one of his administration’s top two priorities. Rauner did not discuss ideas to pay for infrastructure improvements. Prior to Governor Rauner’s speech, IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn addressed the group and spoke about the importance of Illinois’s transportation infrastructure to the general health of the Illinois economy. Blankenhorn also discussed plans for IDOT’s infrastructure needs “listening tour” which began last week.

The IAAP Public Information and Education Committee members sold 50/50 raffle tickets raising money for their educational efforts. Steve Alexander of Hanson Material Service purchased the winning ticket and was awarded $3,000, which he donated $500 to the PIE Committee, thereby benefiting this year’s Rocks, Minerals & Mining workshop for Illinois teachers.

The IAAP Annual Convention is the largest aggregates industry convention in the Midwest with more than 400 attendees each year. The Associates’s Expo is a key part of this event — an opportunity to see and ask questions about a large number of products and services offered by Associate Member companies. Educational seminars, committee reports, luncheon, and evening reception round out the all day program making for a very valuable experience.

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