I like Hansen Buildings’ Pole Barn Guru blog because of its singular, comprehensive and effective focus: You’ll find the blog useful if you are considering or have interest in post frame (pole barn) structures. Not surprisingly that is this company’s business.
The blog provides “relevant education, information and entertainment regarding all things post frame buildings every day Tuesday through Friday PLUS on Mondays (and some bonus Saturdays) an “Ask the Pole Barn Guru” column where three questions from readers are addressed,” nominator Mike Momb wrote.
However with focus there is diversity, reflecting the fact that pole barn structures have a variety of applications, serving quite different markets, ranging from residential accessory buildings, to agriculture, to public works and institutional environments. You’ll almost certainly find a relevant post (bad pun here) on the topic when you search through the entries.
Here’s an example: Pubic Works Pole Barns, and Labor Costs
The blog post’s theme relates to the challenges many public organizations have in facing high labor costs under the? Davis-Bacon Act’s prevailing wage requirements.
There is an alternative, however.
Here is an example.
Back in the day, my father and uncles were framing contractors in the greater area surrounding Spokane, Washington. Among building projects they framed, were several post offices owned by developer Harlan Douglass (find out more about Harlan Douglas here: http://www.spokane-rentals.com). Harlan would secure long-term leases from the postal service for the buildings, then have them constructed without the need to pay prevailing wages.
This was a win-win for all involved. The postal service got their new buildings, with the monthly lease payments being less than what would have been payments on loans to construct. Harlan could take the leases to the bank to secure funding, so he was building with other people?s money ? making a profit on the spread between the lease income and the underlying mortgage payment. Plus, Harlan could take the depreciation on the buildings as a paper loss on his taxes to offset this and other income. This process also negated the need to go through the public bidding process.
If your municipality needs a new post frame building, following the lead of Harlan Douglass might be an alternative which gets the end resultant sooner rather than later or never ? at a savings to the tax paying public!
I’ll stay out of the debate here about the merits of prevailing wage legislation, but respect blogs with a point of view and perspective — and ideas about how to work with and adapt to rules. It’s a great blog.
Voting for the 2018 Best Construction Blog competition concludes on March 31. You can vote for one or several blogs, but cast only one ballot at your email address.
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