2010 july_august

Redrawing Wisconsin’s Political Landscape

Builder Profile: Degnan Design Builders Inc.

July/August 2010www.wisbuild.org

Delivered to you as a benefit of membership

Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org2

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Wisconsin Badger Builder, (ISSN 004-232) is a bi-monthly publication of the Wisconsin shelter industry. It is the official publication of the Wisconsin Builders Association® (WBA) and is published by WBA, 4868 High Crossing Blvd., Madison, WI 53704. Periodicals postage paid at Madison, WI 53701 and additional mailing offices.

All advertising is subject to acceptance by the Wisconsin Badger Builder editorial review committee. The publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered. The contents of all material available in this

publication are copyrighted by WBA unless otherwise indicated. All rights are reserved by WBA, and content may not be reproduced, disseminated, published or transferred in any form or by any means except with the prior written permission of the Wisconsin Builders Association®.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wisconsin Badger Builder, 4868 High Crossing Blvd., Madison, WI 53704.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscriptions available through membership in the Wisconsin Builders Association®.

July/August 2010 Volume 27 • Issue 4features

Capitol Corner ..................................................................... 6Keith Ripp, Wisconsin State Representative, 47th Assembly District, discusses redrawing Wisconsin’s political landscape.

A Strong Finish to the Legislative Session ........................ 8From carbon monoxide detector legislation to a uniform energy code, WBA® stays busy this session protecting and supporting its members.

WBA Building and Legal Hotline ..................................... 11Patrick Stevens, General Counsel, answers questions and gives resources for common building code and legal issues.

Builder Profile: Degnan Design Builders Inc................... 12Abe Degnan’s design-build background, focus on involvement, and commitment to green building and energy efficiency combine to create customer satisfaction.

departmentsPresident’s Perspective ................................................................................ 3Leaders Are Members

Executive Viewpoint ..................................................................................... 4Elections Matter

Local Happenings ......................................................................................... 7Photos and details of WBA local association events around the state

Member Advantage .................................................................................... 14Beyond Health Insurance

News & Events ............................................................................................. 15

Mission StatementA professional trade association, WBA

advances the housing industry for members and consumers through government involvement,

education and promotion.

Vision StatementAffordable, innovative and environmentally

conscious homes accessible to all.

Motto“Dedicated to preserving and promoting

the American Dream”

www.wisbuild.org

Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org

Senior Officers 2010President: Jim Kubasta,

Oshkosh (Winnebago)

President Elect: Don Esposito,

Madison (Madison Area)

Treasurer: Gary Roehrig,

New Holstein (Mid-Shores)

Secretary: Craig Rakowski,

Wauwatosa (Metropolitan)

Immediate Past President: Doug

Scott, Janesville (South Central WI)

Associate Vice President: John

Anderson, Appleton (Winnebago)

Associate Advisor to the Senior Officers: Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis,

Chippewa Falls (Chippewa Valley)

Area Vice-Presidents 2010Southeast Area

Mark Benkowski (Metropolitan)

Darryl Spang (Racine–Kenosha)

Northwest Area Clint Doege (Heart of the North)

Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis (Chippewa Valley)

Southwest AreaTony Szak (La Crosse Area)

Steve Treu (La Crosse Area)

Northeast AreaSteve Atkins (Brown Co.)

Scott Browne (Brown Co.)

South AreaBrian McKee (Madison Area)

Bob Renforth (Madison Area)

East Central AreaEd Schmidt (Valley)

Stan Martenson (Valley)

North Area Pam Jewell (Golden Sands)

Mike Richie (Wausau Area)

East Shore AreaDan Schneider (Mid-Shores)

Sean Kelly (Mid-Shores)

State Representative to NAHBRon Derrick (St. Croix Valley)

Area 10 ChairmanWayne Foster (Metropolitan)

Leaders Are Members

by Kuba, WBA President

Well WBA is a quarter the way through this year and we are all still United As One, and

I thank you for that. With everybody’s hard work and communication, we are continuing to move forward.

I was out in D.C. last month for the legislative conference for NAHB. It was a very cool experience. If you ever get a chance to attend, it is a must-do. While it is pretty much the same as Business Day in Madison, it occurs on the national level at the break-neck pace of D.C. Just to let you all know, the social network-ing was up and running that day. We all were e-mailing WBA Director of Communications Annie Rubens pictures and info, and she was Tweeting them right away and putting them up on Facebook. This is a great way to stay informed as to what WBA is doing for you, so sign up and follow WBA today on Twitter and Facebook and don’t miss the opportunity to network with members on LinkedIn.

My wife and fellow proud WBA member Brenda were talking about membership in trade associations, and she made some great comments I want to share with you.

So the question is,where do home builders and associates go to learn how to succeed no matter what the economy is doing? How do you stop being a follower and figure out how to lead?

Once again, the answer can be simple. Winners and leaders never rest — they are always looking to other winners and leaders in their industry to stay as up-to-date and competitive as possible. Sadly enough, though, when times are tough, many home builders and associate profes-sionals figure they can cut the one “non-essential” cost that offers them critical exposure to other winners and leaders: their association.

They don’t realize that this minor cost of membership — which seemed so easy to cut (or to never incur in the first

place) — might just be the ticket to their future success.

Consider the following analysis before making a decision regarding joining an organization such as the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA).

A recent study conducted by the presi-dent of the American Enterprise Institute, Arthur C. Brooks, Ph.D., entitled “Where the Winners Meet,” states: “On average, association members earn significantly more money and are more satisfied with their jobs than non-members. This is true even after holding constant differences in job categories, disparities in education and all other relevant personal characteristics.”

“However, the benefits of association membership are not as straightforward as we often hear. Membership by itself does not stimulate higher earnings and job satisfaction. On the contrary, the most plausible explanation based on the data is reverse causation — prosperity, success and happiness at work encour-age association membership, because associations are where the winners meet in many professions.”

I have been in the association for more than 10 years, and I can verify this hypothesis. Joining an association will not in and of itself make your business succeed, but if you join a group such as WBA and become involved, you simply surround yourself with winners — the people who are succeeding in your indus-try right now.

Association members are interested in being active in their industry. They are looking to network, and grow, and learn. They are seeking solutions to today’s chal-lenges, and they are willing to forge ahead and be creative in finding those solutions.

The very thing that drives them to join an association and become involved in their industry are the same things that tend to make them leaders, innovators

President’s

perspective

Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org 3

Continued on page 5

Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org4 Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org

WBA Staff4868 High Crossing Blvd.,

Madison, WI 53704 • (608) 242-5151

Executive Vice PresidentJerry Deschane, CAE, ext. 11

[email protected]

Director of Political & Government AffairsBrad Boycks, ext. 16

[email protected]

General CounselPatrick Stevens, ext. [email protected]

Director of CommunicationsAnnie Rubens, ext. [email protected]

Director of Accounting ServicesKathy Johnsen, ext. [email protected]

Accounting & Political Affairs Assistant

Mark Nelson, ext. [email protected]

Event CoordinatorKimberly Fay, ext. 10

[email protected]

WBA FoundationDevelopment DirectorMegan Taylor, ext. [email protected]

WBA Insurance ServicesVice President

Karl Johnson, ext. [email protected]

Published by

Publisher ........................... Kevin Naughton

Supervising Editor ........... Jennifer McDermitt

Graphic Designer ..................... Jason Gabel

Advertising Sales .......................Jeff Pinwar(800) 935-1592, ext. 118 • [email protected]

Marsha Suwienski(800) 935-1592, ext. 106 • [email protected]

Publication Sales Manager ....... Brenda Poe(800) 935-1592, ext. 115 • [email protected]

Elections Matter

by Jerry Deschane, CAE, WBA Executive Vice President

“Elections matter” has become one of my stock answers in the past year or so, and

you’re going to hear it from me a lot more in the next four months. It’s usually given in response to a member question that begins with the words, “Why is the government requiring me to … (fill in the blank)?” As often as not, the member is angry at the government, at his associa-tion, and even at his pet dog, and he’s trying to figure out how to channel that anger. As often as not, the question is “salted,” with a few words that aren’t allowed on prime time television.

Elections really do matter. Contrary to conventional barstool wisdom, our system of government is driven by the people who are elected, not by the people who work for the government. There is a direct link between the governor, the legislature and your building inspec-tor who just handed you a $1,250 fine because your drywaller doesn’t have a current BCR (building contractor regis-tration). The Legislature required the Department of Commerce to implement those paperwork fines by passing a one-liner law buried in a one-thousand page budget last spring. WBA fought vigor-ously against that item, but our opponents ultimately prevailed. Don’t blame the building inspector. Blame the elected officials. And then blame the people who voted for the elected officials. Oops, is your finger pointing back at you?

Almost four years ago, the Department of Commerce published a new regulation requiring fire sprinklers in all apartment buildings — five days after the candidate that WBA had backed for governor lost. Coincidence? Sure.

Is this “code” for a call to elect Republicans? Nope. It’s a call to get involved in the election, no matter

Executive

viewpointwhat political affiliation you person-ally carry. WBA has a long history of working with legislators and governors of both parties. One of our biggest allies during the recently-completed legislative session was Democratic Representative Leon Young of Milwaukee. Representative Young chairs the Assembly Housing Committee and did battle with other legislators and agencies on our behalf several times. Likewise, Senator Dave Hansen, a Democrat from Green Bay, guided several WBA priorities through the process, including bills to improve the subdivision platting laws and carbon monoxide detector legislation.

There’s a simple fact of life in poli-tics: It doesn’t matter whether they are Republican or Democrat, elected offi-cials support the people who support them. That sentence is code for another fact of life: Republican or Democrat, elected officials are inclined to stick it to people that DON’T support them. Elections matter.

Sitting on the sidelines doesn’t earn you a free pass. You can ignore the elec-tion, not take sides and not get involved in elections, and still get rolled. Why? While you were sitting there on the sidewalk, did you happen to notice what your opponent was doing? Did you notice that HE was the one with his arm around the candidate that won? Elections matter, whether you participate or not.

By the time this magazine arrives at your desk, the board of the Wisconsin Builders Association will be on the way toward deciding which candidate for governor the association should endorse. It’s a major decision, associated with major risks for the housing industry. It’s not a decision that WBA will undertake lightly, but it is a decision that the WBA board is determined to make. Why? Because elections matter. X

Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org 5

and winners. And associating with “movers and shakers” in an industry tends to inspire creativity, learning, networking and all of the things that lead to success.

Yes, it’s still tough out there. But, as you look at where you choose to invest your hard-earned dollars, be sure you don’t cut the very thing that can lead to your future success.

It’s true that joining an association has a cost associated with it, but it also comes with valuable benefits. As the word “associa-tion” suggests, being able to “associate” with the leaders in the home building industry can be an invaluable benefit, particularly in tough times like these.

The choice is yours: Cut the cost of association membership and stay within your current mindset, or get involved with your association and choose to be “where the winners meet.”

Keep Smiling. X

president’s perspectiveContinued from page 3

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by Keith Ripp, Wisconsin State Representative, 47th Assembly District

Every 10 years, citizens of the United States are asked to fill out the U.S. Census — you have probably already done this. The U.S. Census Bureau requires every citizen to be

counted by requesting information on the number of individuals

Redrawing Wisconsin’s Political Landscape

Capitol

corner residing within your home. They use this information to determine everything from the amount of federal aid each state receives to the number of U.S. Representative that each state will have in Congress. This information is also used to determine state legislative districts.

Over time, population centers have shifted to different areas in the state, which requires the need for redistricting to ensure that each district remains equal in terms of population. Each Assembly district contains about 60,000 residents, and each Senate district is comprised of three Assembly districts — or about 180,000 residents. Wisconsin’s legislature is made up of 99 Assembly districts and 33 Senate districts; the odd number helps reduce the likelihood of tie votes. Congressional districts are determined by dividing the U.S. population by the 435 seats of the U.S. House of Representatives so that each state receives the proportionate amount of seats.

Redistricting is when the political landscape of Wisconsin gets a makeover. The process of redistricting is when senate, assembly and congressional legislative districts are geographically adjusted and boundary lines redrawn in order to maintain equal representa-tion throughout the state. In Wisconsin, the state Legislature has the responsibility of redrawing legislative and congressional district lines, but often times the court system has drawn the final lines when the Legislature cannot come to an agreement on a new map.

Redistricting requires a tremendous amount of time and effort. States must wait to receive the population estimates from the census data, which normally takes about a year. After population estimates are received, municipalities with more than 1,000 people must divide into wards. This must be completed by August 2011. Then the majority party in each the Assembly and the Senate begin the process of redrawing legislative districts of equal population. The Legislature must then pass the new districts as a bill, and it must be signed into law by the governor. The entire process must be completed by June 1, 2012, in order for candidates to begin filing the necessary paperwork for the fall 2012 elections.

Even though this process is not expected to take effect until the November elections in 2012, the fall elections this year will deter-mine the majority party, which will create the districts for 2012. With the governor’s office and control of both legislative houses up for grabs, this fall your vote will be as important as any in recent memory. I would encourage you to be aware of this issue for fall and remind everyone that you can influence government by being counted in the census this spring and voting this fall. X

Capitol Corner is a regular feature for Badger Builder. In this space, a Wisconsin legislator will provide perspective on an issue. Each guest columnist is offered the opportunity to select their primary issue of concern and present their views independent from any guidelines imposed by the Wisconsin Builders Association®. The views expressed by the columnist are solely their opinion and do not necessarily reflect the views of the WBA, NAHB, the locals, or the members. The Badger Builder editorial department welcomes reader feedback to the issues featured in this section in the spirit of promoting continued discussion on the important issues affecting our daily lives. To submit comments, please send them to Badger Builder Editor Annie Rubens, [email protected]. Only comments in writing will be considered for reprint.

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Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2010 • www.wisbuild.org

Local HappeningsSouth Central Wisconsin BAThree of the 13 students involved with SCWBA’s Student Build home learn to install flooring.

Racine-Kenosha BAKaren Lawrence of Knight Barry Title at the RKBA Bowling for Scholarships Event held in March. All scholarships benefit people continuing their education in a building trade.


Central Wisconsin HBAJerry Keding, JLK Construction, chairman of the CWHBA Booth at the Marshfield Children’s Festival, helps Ben Mancl make a bird house.

Madison Area BATerry Monson, Monson Construction Inc.( left), received recognition from NAHB for 50 years of continuous membership, and retired member Gerry Dohm (G. Dohm Ventures) was awarded MABA Honorary Membership.

Manitowoc County HBAJoe Pusateri conducted seminars on Estimating & Business Management and Negotiating for the Home Building Industry.

Wolf River BAWRBA member Scott Breitrick with Scott Kropf, the winner of the $1000 cash prize for the annual scholarship fund raffle. Scholarships are awarded to three students pursuing further education in some aspect of the building trades.


The 2009-2010 session of the Wisconsin Legislature came to an end in late April. Lawmakers moved on a number of key bills that the Wisconsin Builders Association® (WBA)

supported and, even more importantly, did not take action on a number of bills that we opposed.

“At a time when solutions could be found, the WBA worked tire-lessly to create them,” said Representative Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem). “And, when compromises couldn’t be made, the WBA and its members remained strong advocates for their position.”

In total, there were 1,686 bills introduced this session on top of a number of rules and a seemingly endless number of amend-ments that also needed to be reviewed to determine their effect on housing.

All in all, WBA finished the legislative session very strongly. Along with the grassroots support of members like you, the asso-ciation was able to usher in the passing of four pieces of legisla-tion and was able to stop a number of other proposals that would have had a negative effect on housing in Wisconsin.

“This year’s legislative session was very positive for WBA members,” said Brandon Bartow, WBA Government Affairs chair. “Thankfully, our greatly respected staff and lobbyists at WBA had an extraordinary amount of involvement during this session. The WBA was on the forefront of many discussions on bills affecting our members or amendments to bills that were more friendly to businesses.”

WBA Hits the Road RunningThe challenges to our journey this session began back in

January 2009 when a new Democratic majority in the state Assembly took charge of that chamber for the first time since

Budget Wins• 1% withholding (defeated)• Ag use taxation (defeated)• Liability laws (defeated)• Ability for municipalities to establish loans to

homeowners for energy retrofit projects (passed)• Ironworker licensing (defeated)• Comprehensive planning (passed)• Crane and heavy equipment certification (defeated)• Worker misclassification (passed)• Groundwater regulations (defeated) • Charging fees to provide education courses (defeated) • Efforts to restrict access to CCAP (defeated)• Hold harmless (defeated) • Multifamily meth regulation (defeated) • Changes to the uniform taxation of property (defeated) • Cleaner Environment: Ban on phosphorus in law

fertilizer (passed)• Reauthorization of the Green Tier (passed)• Extra territorial zoning (passed)• Shoreland zoning rule (revised)• ResCheck rule (revised)

A Strong Finish to the Legislative Session

From carbon monoxide detector legislation to a uniform energy code, WBA stayed busy this session protecting and supporting its members.

WBA supported the Platting and Comprehensive Planning Bill signed into

law by Governor Doyle. Pictured: WBA President-Elect Don Esposito (Madison

Area Builders Assoc), Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay,) and Rep. Louis Molepske

(D-Stevens Point).

photo by Jay salvo


1993. Assembly Democrats joined the Senate Democrats who had the majority in that chamber since 2007 with Democratic Governor Jim Doyle.

2010 opened up with a victory that WBA supported, requir-ing carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in Wisconsin homes. Spearheaded by Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) and Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), this initiative was part of the 2009-2010 WBA GA Agenda, which was approved by the WBA Board of Directors in October 2008. WBA’s stance was to support legislation that required existing homes to install a plug-in alarm and requiring any new one- or two-family home to install a hard-wired carbon monoxide alarm.

“Throughout the process of passing SB-415, the WBA was very effective in representing its members,” said Senator Dave Hansen. “At every step of the process, WBA representatives made the concerns of their members known, but did so in a way that not only served their members well, but that also resulted in making both bills better.”

These bills mirrored the current smoke detector law, which essentially means that to comply with this new requirement, you would need to replace a smoke alarm with a “combo alarm” that acts as both a smoke and carbon monoxide detector in new homes. This new law will take effect on Feb. 1, 2011.

Timing is EverythingIn mid-February 2010, members came to Madison for “Business

Day in Madison,” one of the most effective lobbying days that WBA holds every year to give one last grassroots push to help conclude the session. This year, the timing of the event could not have been better. The very day members arrived in Madison was the same day that the state Assembly was voting on an override of Governor Doyle’s veto of the bill to change the way the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources is appointed. WBA member involvement to prevent this veto override was critical, and those efforts paid off turning back the veto override.

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“Defeating the change to the appointment of the secretary of the DNR was probably the tightest and most successful grass-roots campaign that we had from our members this session,” said Bartow. “Members and businesses came together to keep the process as it stands to retain accountability for the position.”

Representative Huebsch agrees, “I have often said that no business group in the state worked harder and had members more active to fight the change to the DNR secretary from that of the governor to the DNR Board than WBA did.”

Sealing the DealWBA members also helped “seal the deal” on two other major

pieces of public policy as part of Business Day in Madison: global warming and the platting reform bill. Up until the very last day of session, the topic of global warming continued to be debated in both houses of the legislature. WBA staff made some progress talking to key members of the state Senate and high-ranking members of Governor Doyle’s staff, but ultimately the inability to make substantial changes to provisions dealing with the one- and two-family energy code were enough to keep WBA in opposition to this wide-ranging plan.

Ultimately, the state Senate adjourned for the session without taking action on the global warming bill, and the state Assembly was forced to pull the bill from their calendar before ending their session as well. If our neighbors to the west, Minnesota, are any guide, defeat of this legislation prevented the possibility of util-ity rate increases in upward of 19 percent.

Before concluding, the legislature did sign off on a WBA supported bill to streamline the platting process in Wisconsin.

This bill provides an important vesting provision that specifies that the local ordinance in place at the time a preliminary plat is submitted are the ordinances that apply to the project.

“Thanks to the input from WBA representatives, I believe SB-626 will help make it easier for Wisconsin home builders to get back to work by providing greater certainty in the plat-ting process, reducing unnecessary red tape and by setting the amount of surety at reasonable levels,” noted Senator Hanson.

This is a stipulation that WBA developers have been fighting to establish for a number of legislative sessions. A special thank you to the authors of this bill, Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Representative Louis Molepske, Jr. (D-Stevens Point), for their work on this subject and to members John DeWitt and Don Esposito for their hard work in the drafting and lobbying effort they both put forth.

Finally, WBA waged a prolonged battle to keep the one- and two-family energy code in Wisconsin uniform in all municipali-ties. There were efforts to allow municipalities to have a much more stringent energy code for one- and two-family homes as long as the code exceeded the current energy code as defined in the Uniform Dwelling Code.

Imagine Milwaukee and Madison — and any other municipal-ity for that matter —writing a separate energy code just for their municipality! “Builders would have to learn each energy code depending on where they were building. In a day and age when we are looking to streamline our efforts, this change would have been a huge step in the wrong direction of our efforts to keep Wisconsin housing affordable,” said WBA president Jim (Kuba) Kubasta. Thankfully, after a number of twists and turns, these proposals were turned back, and a uniform one- and two-family energy code remains the law of the land in Wisconsin.

Looking AheadWhile this session has come to a close, the WBA never stops

working, and the staff is currently preparing for the many battles that await them next session. According to Bartow, the next session will be just as busy. He said, “There are several issues we are keeping a close eye on including residential legislation on sprinkler systems, county vs. state regulation and mandates, Wisconsin resi-dential code — using the Uniform Dwelling Code or International Residential Code, and rescinding the farm land conversion tax.” X

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LegisLAtive sessionContinued from page 9

Governor Doyle, Sen Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Don Esposito (MABA) celebrate the passage of SB-415, which requires the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in Wisconsin homes. photo by Annie rubens.


Payment of Conversion Fees

The state budget, now 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, included a number of initiatives intended to

help preserve farmland. This included a new conversion fee, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2010. This fee is triggered when property zoned as “exclusive agriculture” is rezoned for another use. In contrast, the property tax valuation of agricultural property is based on the agricultural use of the property and not how the property is zoned. The conversion fee amount is equal to three times the Department of Revenue assessed value for tillable crop-land in the area in which the property is located, or an amount specified in a farmland preservation zoning ordinance, whichever is greater.

It is worth noting that some limited development in farmland preservation zoning districts (called “exclusive agriculture” prior to the law change) is allowed and would not require an area to be rezoned. Wis. Stat. § 91.46 (2) provides that a “nonfarm” residence may be allowed as a conditional use in these districts if the following criteria are met: there can be a maximum of five residences (four nonfarm residences and one farm residence) on a “base farm tract”; the ratio of nonfarm acreage to farm acreage cannot be greater than 1:20; and the nonfarm residential parcel may not convert cropland if there is a reasonable alternative location on the property, and the nonfarm residential parcel may not interfere with the agricultural of other farmland.

For a Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) fact sheet that describes in more detail the development that is allowed in farmland preservation zoning districts, go to http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/workinglands/pdf/MinStdsForNonFarmResidences10-25-09.pdf.

Also, DATCP has indicated that land which is rezoned as a result of an update of a farmland preservation plan, rather than at the request of the landowner, is not subject to a conversion fee. Moreover, Wis. Stat. § 91.10(1)(d) specifies that updated farmland preservation plans are not to include “any area that is planned for nonagricultural development within 15 years after the date on which the plan is adopted.” Consequently, once farmland preser-vation plans are updated, land that will be developed in the next 15 years should not be included in farmland preservation zoning districts, and therefore are not subject to a conversion fee.

For a DATCP conversion fee fact sheet, go to http://datcp.state.wi.us/workinglands/pdf/ConversionFeesFAQ12_17.pdf

Asbestos RegulationThe Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) in one of

the agencies that regulate asbestos. DHS does have training and

certification requirements if you are deal-ing with siding that may contain asbestos. A document that describes these requirements is available at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/P0/P00044.pdf. In addition, a guidance document specific to siding, roof-ing and window contractors is available at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/P0/P00042.pdf. For more information regarding DHS’s asbestos regulations, go to http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/asbestos/index.htm.

Unemployment Insurance AuditsYou requested information regarding what

information the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) may obtain during

an unemployment insurance audit. DWD publishes a number of documents that discuss the audit process that may be of interest to you. For a document entitled “Preparing for Your Audit,” go to http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/publications/ui/audit.htm.

As you will see, this document contains information relating to what records an auditor may examine, why the auditor is looking at information in addition to payroll records (certain items are consid-ered payroll under DWD rules) and what happens if you refuse to provide access to documents. These requirements, in addition to the information required to be maintained by an employer, are contained in Wis. Stat. § 108.21. In regard to records, this section provides:

Every employing unit which employs one or more individuals to perform work in this state shall keep an accurate work record for each individual employed by it, including full name, address and social security number, which will permit determination of the weekly wages earned by each such individual, the wages paid within each quarter to that individual and the salary reduction amounts that are not wages and that would have been paid by the employing unit to that individual as salary but for a salary reduc-tion agreement under a cafeteria plan, within the meaning of 26 USC 125. Each such employing unit shall permit any authorized representative of the department to examine, at any reasonable time, the work record and any other records which may show any wages paid by the employing unit, or any salary reduction amounts that are not wages and that would have been paid by the employing unit as salary but for a salary reduction agreement under a cafeteria plan, within the meaning of 26 USC 125, regard-less of the format in which such a record is maintained.

Additional information published by DWD in regard to audits is available at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/UI201/t7201.htm.

Please note that the information contained in this article is general in nature and is not, and should not be relied upon as, legal advice. The WBA Legal and Building Code hotline is an exclusive benefit to members of WBA. Go to www.wisbuild.org for more information. X

WBA Building and Legal Hotline:

Did you Know?by Patrick Stevens, General Counsel


Abe Degnan grew up doing roofing jobs and cleaning up job sites for his dad, who started a remodeling business in 1981.

As his interest in building grew, Degnan began to get more involved with learning about building by working with his dad and at school.

In middle school, Degnan took a CAD class. “I thought it was really cool,” he said. “I started working on computer drafting and decided I wanted to be an architect.” Degnan received his archi-tecture degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and started working as an architect.

Degnan soon realized the do-it-yourself builders and pick-up truck remodelers he was working with weren’t giving him the results he was looking for, because they weren’t following his designs. In 1998, he decided to become a part of his father’s remod-

eling and new home construction business. Since that time, Degnan and his father have worked together to transition the business from the first generation to the second.

Overcoming Obstacles“That’s a major challenge in a family

business,” Degnan said. “It can be diffi-cult to integrate the generations and make changes in business operations.” Degnan and his father have successfully worked through the transition and everyone involved has benefited.

Degnan Design Builders also faces the many challenges of working in the build-ing industry. “Other challenges include the economy, lack of consumer confidence, and

negative attitudes toward our industry from some local govern-ment officials and offices,” Degnan said.

Despite the challenges, Degnan Design Builders have set themselves apart by being adaptable to changes in economic conditions. “We’re a small company, and have made the changes we’ve needed to in order to remain viable in different economic conditions,” Degnan said.

“I also think our focus and leadership in green building and energy efficiency are important to our clients,” he contin-ued. Degnan Design Builders builds Wisconsin ENERGY STAR® homes, is involved with Green Built Home and follows ENERGY STAR® remodeling standards.

BUILDER profiLe

Business Quick Facts• YearsinBusiness:29• LocalAssociation: Madison Area Builders Association• AssociationInvolvement:Current president of the Madison Area Builders

Association, WBA Remodelers Council• RecentAwards:Named one of the Big 50 by Remodeling Magazine, Dane

County Small Business Award, numerous A Cut Above the Rest Awards from WBA Remodelers Council

• Must-HavesfortheJobsite: Notepad, camera and Smartphone

Degnan Design Builders Inc.Abe Degnan’s design-build background, focus on involvement and commitment to green building and energy efficiency combine to create customer satisfaction.


Focusing on design-build is also a unique feature for the company’s clients. “There are a lot of companies that call themselves design-build firms, but few actually have architecture training. We have that component to back up our name as design builders,” Degnan said.

Make the Most of Your InvolvementAssociation involvement is essential in keeping up

with changing trends and getting new ideas. Degnan said, “Association involvement has given me the opportunity to openly collaborate and share information with other remodelers and builders.”

Degnan feels that involvement in the WBA Remodelers Council has been the most important part of his membership. “I’ve been able to meet other remodelers who are not my direct competitors and collaborate with them.”

Degnan recommends making the most of your membership. “Just paying membership dues alone doesn’t give you everything you can get out of being a member. The state, local and national builders associations value every member, but members aren’t getting every bit of what they can until they get involved in committees and boards at any or all of the levels.”

Degnan is also involved in his community. He served three terms on the Village Board and continues to be involved in the Redevelopment Authority and the Board of Zoning Appeals. He was also a high school youth group leader and is now a Sunday school teacher at his church.

Degnan and his wife Lisa have three children: Zachery, 7; Dylan, 5; and, Cora, 4. X


Beyond Health InsuranceMember

AdvAntAgeby Karl Johnson, Vice President, WBA Insurance Services

I have been writing articles for Badger Builder for four years now, and I realized many of you reading these articles may wonder “What is WBA Insurance Services,

and as a member of my local, why do I care?” WBA Insurance Services is nothing like it was when I arrived, so it’s high time I answer the questions: “What is WBA Insurance Services?” and “Who is this Karl Johnson guy?”

WBA Insurance Services was created over 15 years ago. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Wisconsin Builders Association® originally created to provide home warranty products for members of the WBA. As time went by, our focus turned to health insurance, and today we are a full-service insurance agency provid-ing members, their companies and their fami-lies with a variety of insurance services from workers’ compensation and health insurance to personal life insurance and business and retire-ment solutions.

The cornerstone of our agency is our association health plans. Since 2001, WBA Insurance Services has partnered with WPS Health Insurance to provide association member plans. One of the key benefits of these plans is giving the thousands of sole proprietor members of the WBA the option of purchasing a guarantee issue group health insurance plan. On top of that great benefit is the unique plan designs, the ability to choose your provider and see who you want to see when you want to see them, as well as the outstanding claims and customer services that come with doing business with WPS.

In 2008, we introduced a new association plan through Arise Health Care. Arise is a subsidiary of WPS. Many of the benefits are the same. One key difference is Arise is a Health Management Organization or HMO. These plans offer all the same service benefits as WPS but in a more targeted part of the state with a narrow network. Arise is available to members in the northeastern and Wausau areas of the state.

WBA Insurance Services is now going beyond health insurance. Through our various partnerships, we now offer the following new services: Property and Casualty Insurance (P&C) also known as commercial insurance, Business and Retirement Planning, HR Services, and Disability and Accident Insurance through Aflac®.

One of our new partnerships has enabled us to introduce WBA Insurance Services’ Commercial Insurance powered by Diversified. Because of this partnership with one of the largest P&C agencies in the state, we can now handle all of your P&C needs. With our partners at Diversified, we have Safety and Loss Control teams and the Academy of Risk Management. These programs are here to help your company learn how to avoid risk and avoid losses at your company, thus saving you money

and increasing profits. Diversified Insurance Services is one of the leading supporters of the Continental Western WBA program that contin-ues to provide outstanding benefits to members and a pretty sweet dividend check every year.

Another one of our new partnerships has enabled us to provide you with the best Business and Retirement Planning. WBA Insurance Services has partnered with Paul Woita and David Hopkins of Woita and Associates, and they now officially represent WBA Insurance Services and provide valuable services for our members. Together, they have over 35 years of experience in providing customers with retirement planning, investments, life insurance, succession planning, buyouts, buy/sell agreements and so much more. Together we have the knowledge and the tools to protect you, your family and your business.

There is so much more going on at WBA Insurance Services, but if I keep going, I’ll run out

of space! One of the biggest purposes of WBA Insurance Services is to provide the association with non-dues revenue so they can accomplish the goals set forth by the members of the WBA. Since 1994, we have provided roughly $1.5 million in non-dues revenue. The bottom line is doing business with WBA Insurance Services not only helps your business because of the quality products and services we provide, but it also helps your company by supporting your industry’s biggest advocate — WBA!

So what about this Karl Johnson guy? Who the heck is he, and why would I want to work with him? Here’s the dirt on me! I grew up in a small town, Fort Atkinson, Wisc. I spent a lot of weekends with family in Chicago. That’s right, I’m a huge Chicago fan, but in the best interest of business, imagine me as a Packer fan! After graduating from Edgewood High School in Madison, Wis. in June 1997, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After four of the best and proudest years of my life, I began my career in the insur-ance industry working for WPS Health Insurance. After a brief stint in the wholesale flooring industry, I began my career here at WBA Insurance Services and the WBA. I currently live with my beauti-ful wife Terra in Columbus, Wis. We enjoy spending time with our furry children, our families and, of course, watching my beloved Chicago Bears and Cubs lose week after week!

Now that you know what WBA Insurance Services and who Karl Johnson are, we would like to get to know more about you and your company! Call us today to set up an appointment or to learn more about what we have to offer. Visit our Web site, www.wbainsurance.org, and please give WBA Insurance Services the opportunity to earn your business. X

there is so much

more going on at

wBA insurance

services, but if i

keep going, i’ll run

out of space!


LocaL assocIatIon PaRaDe of Homes/Home sHoWs GoLf outInG/BBW otHeR events eDucatIon

Brown County Sept. 18-19 & 23-26, 2010 Showcase of Homes July 14, 2010, The Woods Golf Links ABCs at the HBA 3rd Tues of month. Continuing Ed

offered monthly at BCHBA

Central Wisconsin Sept. 10-12, 2010 Continuing Ed offered during some GMM’s

Chippewa Valley June 12-20, 2010 July 16, 2010 See calendar at www.cvhomebuilders.com

Door County Sept. 9, 2010 Golf Outing and PAC Auction

Dec. 9, 2010 Installation & Holiday Party

HBA of Fond du Lac & Dodge Counties June 28, 2010 Monthly

Golden Sands

Headwaters Aug. 27, 2010 Continuing Ed offered during some GMM’s see www.headwatersbuilders.com

Heart of the North Sept. 18-19 & 25-26, 2010 Nov. 13, 2010 Installation & Holiday Banquet Continuing Ed offered during some GMM’s

La Crosse Area

Lakeland July 31-Aug 1, & Aug 7-8, 2010 See calendar at www.lakelandba.com

Madison Area June 12-27, 2010 Parade of Homes

July 13, 2010 Lake Windsor Golf Club See calendar at www.maba.org

Manitowoc County June 24-27, 2010

Metropolitan Aug 21-Sept. 12, 2010 Parade of Homes

Commerce Approved 12-Hour Course DVD availab-le. $130 for HBA members, $225 for non-members at www.MBAonline.org.

Mid-ShoresOct. 1-3, 2010 Parade of Homes * Feb. 18-20, 2011 Home & Garden Expo

Dec. 3, 2010 Live AuctionAug. 25, 2010 Trap Shoot, Sept. 21, 2010 Legislative Panel, Dec. 3, 2010 Installation & Holiday Party

Mid-Wisconsin

Northland Area Sept. 30, 2010 Voyager Village Golf Club

Networking Nights First Tuesday of the month Contact NABA office for location 5:30 pm Social Hour 6:30 pm Dinner with guest speaker to follow

Racine-KenoshaSept. 11,12,15,18 & 19, 2010 Parade of Homes * March 2011 Home Show

Dec. 2, 2010 Installation, Sept. Parade of Playhouses, Monthly Member Mingles

Monthly

Sheboygan CountySept. 10-12 & Sept. 17-19, 2010 Parade of Homes * April 1-3, 2011 Home Expo

June 16, 2010 Riverdale Golf Course Monthly

South Central WisconsinSept. 11-12 & 15-19, 2010 Parade of Homes * Feb. 25-27, 2011 Home Show

June 18, 2010 Koshdonong Mounds Golf Course * Oct 26, 2010 Silent Auction

July 28, 2010 Brewer Bus Trip go to www.scwbaonline.com

South West Wisconsin

St. Croix ValleySept. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 & Oct. 2-3, 2010 Fall Tour of Homes

July 19, 2010 New Richmond Golf Course

June 22, 2010 Fishing Tournament. Dec. 14, 2010 Holiday Banquet Education classes posted on www.scvhba.com

Valley Aug. 14-22, 2010 Parade of Homes July 15, 2010 June 18, 2010 Fishing Outing. July 29,

2010 Motorcycle Ride Various -- visit www.vhba.com for schedule

Wausau Area June 1-6, 2010

WinnebagoApril 8-10 & 15-17, 2011 Parade of Homes * March 11-13, 2011 Home & Garden Show

Oct. 13, 2010 Auction, LaSure’s Banquet Facility See calendar at www.whba.net

Wolf River Aug. 10, 2010 Golden Sands Golf Course Oct. 12, 2010 Installation See www.wolfriverbuilders.com

rev.5/6/10

2010 july_august

Documents

wisconsin shelter industry

degnan design builders

wisconsin state representative

official publication

common building code

green building

high crossing

bimonthly publication