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August 23, 2004
Garden work OK despite changes
Jamar Younger
Mesa Legend
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Photos by Rebecca Straughmatt Mesa Legend |
| A new state-of-the-art bus shelter is being constructed right in front of MCC, at the Southern ave. bus stop. The shelter will have a unique weather vent that will allow heat to escape, as well as a drinking fountain so anyone can quench their thirst whether they’re waiting for their bus or just passing by. |
A cement shortage that has hindered the progress of construction jobs around the valley, almost stalled the completion of the veterans section of the rose garden at MCC.
The shortage is a result of massive construction going on in other countries, as well as a lack of production here in the U.S. As a result, smaller companies have suffered as most of the cement has been allocated to larger projects.
Dennis Mickey, owner of Mickey Concrete, said these smaller companies have only a limited amount of cement to use and it slows the progress of the jobs they are working on. “You are at the mercy of what you are given,” Mickey said.
Mickey is the contractor responsible for laying the concrete for the veterans section of the rose garden. Cement is the glue that is used for concrete.
The project has been under construction for two years, but it almost came to a halt when the donors who were supposed to supply the cement pulled their donations.
Luckily, another company came to the rescue.
According to Mickey, Yavapai Materials, a company on the Ft. McDowell reservation, stepped up and was able to contribute some cement. “They took $1 off of the cheapest price,” Mickey said.
As a result of the donation, Mickey received the amount of cement necessary to finish the remaining portion of the rose garden. At the time, the project required 90 cubic yards to be completed.
The amount of construction around the world has restricted the cement market in the U.S. According to Russell Bowers, director of the Arizona Rock Product Association (ARPA), construction in China has started to decimate the supply of cement that comes to Arizona.
Bowers said that Arizona usually buys its cement from California. Because of the building in China, however, the California market has been limited. As a result,
the state cannot sell to Arizona anymore.
Bowers also pointed out that China is building 30 nuclear power plants, as well as the world’s largest dam.
He also said that there was a lot of demand in Europe as well.
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Photos by Rebecca Straughmatt Mesa Legend |
| The cement shortage has affected construction jobs all over the valley. Work on the veterans rose garden at MCC was able to continue depite the limited supply. |
“People are building their own houses instead of living in the row houses,” Bowers said.
Because of the tight supply and all of the work that is being done, Bowers doesn’t believe that there is an end in sight. “It will continue,” he said.
The completion of the veterans rose garden, which is only a segment of the larger rose garden, will be vital because it will be used for various special events, mostly for veterans.
“Veterans are used to getting together in cemeteries,” said Jared Langkilde, coordinator of Public Programs at MCC.
“There are no tombstones around here,” Langkilde said.
Langkilde envisions the garden being a special site for veterans to hold their ceremonies.
The garden itself will have five circular beds representing each service with 1500 patriotically named roses of approximately 100 different varieties. In addition, there will five flagpoles flying the flag of each service, as well as U.S. flag and a POW flag.
Langkilde refers to the site as the “only garden in the country of its kind.”
The garden is scheduled to be dedicated on Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day.
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