Smaller companies will share in Miller Park bid

Three smaller companies in the Racine community will share in the big $5.2 million Miller Park plumbing contract won by Advance Mechanical Contractors, the president of the firm, Emil Ruffalo, announced Monday.

One of the smaller companies is minority owned; a second firm is run by a woman.

Ruffalo held a press conference to announce the official signing of the contract for the new stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. Also on hand were reresentatives of the three subcontractors hired by Advance.

Reresentatives of Franksville's Jaramillo Contractors Inc., a minority owned and operated business; Mount Pleasant's ID-COM Insulators, a firm headed by a woman; and Racine's Thomas Supply Company, which has been in business locally for 74 years - said they were excited about being a part of the project.

"I'm glad Advance Mechanical gave me the chance to work at the new park," said Francisco Jaramillo, president of Jaramillo Contractors.

Jaramillo Contractors will be able to use its involvement with the baseball park project as an advertising tool, Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo Contractors, which currently has six employees, will be providing labor for the project. The company's work will include excavation and pipe installation.

The interior plumbing project will involve about 22.7 miles of pipe, said Wayne Rice, plumbing manager for Advance Mechanical, 1500 Durand Ave.

In addition to other areas of Miller Park, Advance Mechanical will install plumbing for the kitchens, bathrooms, concessions and drinking fountains.

"We're just glad we can participate in this project," said Ruffalo.

Sandra Kairis, owner of ID-COM, was proud that her firm was picked to install insulation on the ballpark's hot and cold water systems.

"We're very excited about being part of the project, of being part of the team that represents the county," she said.

Thomas Supply Company, a plumbing supply house that has less than 10 employees, will supply pipe, valves and fittings for the project. The company's involvement in the project will be one of the accomplishments recognized next year when the family-owned business celebrates its 75th year of business in Racine.

"Being a part of Miller Park (will be) a highlight of those 75 years," said Michael T. McDermott, president and owner of Thomas Supply Company.

"As a small business, we are very happy to be involved in the Miller Park project. It's good for everyone to know that small business is involved in the Miller Park project."

McDermott, like the other officials from the companies at the Monday press conference, said the project is especially exciting because their work involves the baseball stadium.

"I'm a Brewers fan," McDermott said. "To know it's going to support Major League Baseball - I'm very excited about that."

Having subcontractors from the county makes it more convenient for Advance Mechanical in the project, Rice said.

"Everybody is nice and close," Rice said. "We don't have to go 50 miles to see somebody."

Advance Mechanical, which has about 160 employees, will be hiring 10 or 12 more plumbers to work the project, Rice said.

Along with industrial plumbing, Advance Mechanical designs and installs heating and ventilation systems, fire protection systems and mechanical equipment that purifies and treats water and waste water at treatment plants.

Advance was the second Racine County firm to be awarded a major contract for work at Miller Park.

Caledonia's Nielsen Building Systems, 4820 6 Mile Road, received a $3.5 million contract to provide translucent wall panels for the ballpark earlier this year.

State Sen. Kimberly Plache (D-Racine) also attended the press conference. Plache was elected to the Senate in June of 1996 after defeating George Petak in a recall election. Petak, a Republican from Racine, had cast the deciding vote in October 1995 when the state Senate approved a $160 million stadium financing plan for a new Brewers' ballpark. The plan enacted a one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax in five Milwaukee-area counties - including Racine - to raise monies to help pay construction costs of the new stadium.

The recall election was sparked by anger over Petak's vote after he twice earlier voted against the proposal because of his objections to Racine County's inclusion.

Also at Monday's press conference were Racine Mayor Jim Smith and 4th District Alderman Lorna J. George.

RacineCounty.com