MAPA Enews - March 2026

Gary Sauer, Tiller Corp: 1944 - 2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Gary B. Sauer, longtime President and Chief Executive Officer of Tiller Corporation. Gary, born in 1944, began his career with Barton Contracting in 1967 as Assistant Treasurer. In 1980, he purchased the company and, as Chief Executive Officer, led its transformation through strategic acquisitions and sustained expansion. In 1981, the company was rebranded as Tiller Corporation and organized into Barton Sand and Gravel Co., Commercial Asphalt Co., and Barton Enterprises, Inc.  Beyond his leadership at Tiller, Gary played an influential role in real estate development in the Maple Grove area, including significant contributions to the Arbor Lakes development in partnership with Opus Group and others.

He was a dedicated advocate for the construction and materials industry, serving in leadership positions and on the boards of the National Asphalt and Pavement Association the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association, the Aggregate and Ready-Mix Association of Minnesota, the Transportation Alliance, and other organizations.

MAPA Commercial and Residential Paving Committee

We are officially launching the MAPA Commercial and Residential Paving Committee (CRPC), and we'd love to have you at the table.

Monday, April 7th | 10:00–11:30 AM

1601 Utica Ave S, St. Louis Park

On the agenda:

       • Update on the Scam Pavers bill HF3510 (Meyers)/ SF 3692 (Johnson Stewart)

       • Review of MAPA's current Parking Lot Paving Guide and potential updates

       • Discussion of a new best practices document — working title: MAPA Standards for Residential and             Commercial Pavement — a resource for HOAs, property managers, and other private property                     decision-makers who need trusted, neutral guidance on what quality paving looks like.

Please RSVP to abryduck@mnapa.org

DBE Case Dismissed: What It Means for Minnesota Contractors

A federal court has dismissed the Mid-America Milling Company v. U.S. Department of Transportation, ending a major challenge to the DBE program. The court did not rule on whether the program is constitutional; instead, it closed the case as moot following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent policy changes.

The decision also lifted a temporary order that had required DBE goals to be set to zero on projects where the plaintiffs were bidding. That narrow exception no longer applies.

What hasn’t changed is the U.S. Department of Transportation’s current rule removing race- and gender-based presumptions in DBE certification. That change is still driving uncertainty in how DBE goals are set.

For Minnesota contractors:

      • DBE goals may still be in flux as MnDOT re-evaluates eligibility

      • The pool of certified DBEs may shift, affecting goal attainment

      • The long-term direction of the program is not settled—future administrations or Congress could                change course

Bottom line: The case is over and the “zero goal” exception is gone—but DBE requirements remain uncertain for now.

Now Forming: MAPA's RAP Best Practices Workgroup — Join Us!

MAPA is pleased to announce the formation of a new member-led Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Best Practices Workgroup. Minnesota's asphalt industry already recycles approximately 96% of reclaimed asphalt pavement — among the highest rates in the world — but the question facing our industry today is not whether to recycle RAP, but how to use it more effectively, equitably, and in alignment with Minnesota's growing low-carbon paving goals. 

This workgroup will bring together 5–6 MAPA member representatives — producers, contractors, and mix designers — to review and synthesize existing published research, explore how to maximize RAP's benefits, achieve greater consistency in RAP quality, and thoughtfully evaluate the carbon tradeoffs of expanded milling. 

We are actively recruiting members — if you or someone at your organization would like to participate, please reach out to Abryduck@mnapa.org. This is your opportunity to help shape industry best practices from the ground up. 

April 7th Lunch and Learn at Braun Intertech

Al Hartlieb from MAPA will be facilitating a Lunch and Learn Event on April 7th from 11:30-1pm. The title of the discussion is “The Right Start”, and outlines how good communication, especially in terms of test results, is critical for good outcomes on projects.

All MAPA Members are welcome to attend, if you have interest, please contact John Rutherford from Braun Intertech - JRutherford@braunintertech.com

Legislative Session

The MN State legislature hits its first committee deadlines this week before breaking for Spring Break. Top issues this session include autonomous vehicles, fraud prevention, tax conformity, and the prospect of a bonding bill.

MAPA Supports Smarter Underground Utility Protection

When contractors dig, knowing exactly where underground utilities are located isn't just good practice — it's the law. MAPA is proud to support improvements to Minnesota's Electronic Positive Response (EPR) system, which strengthens the 811 Call Before You Dig process by ensuring utility operators respond accurately and on time before any work begins. Check out our one-pager below for more info about the legislation.

Federal Issues

Last week, National Asphalt Pavement Association First Vice Chairman, Jason Duininck, and our Government Affairs team, Nile Elam and Mitch Baldwin, coordinated an event hosted by Wright County, Minnesota and the City of St. Michael for MN Representative Tom Emmer (Majority Whip), Chairman of the The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sam Graves (MO), and MN Representative Pete Stauber. The event included a tour of the I-94 Gap project in Monticello, MN and highlighted the benefits of and need for Federal transportation investment in Minnesota. We were also joined by Abbey Bryduck, M.A., M.B.A, of the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association.

For more details: https://lnkd.in/ev5tASER.

New Website!

We're excited to share that we’ve launched a brand new website at www.asphaltisbest.com! We've refreshed the look, updated resources, and made it easier than ever to find the information you need. We hope you'll take a few minutes to explore what's new.

With the new site comes a great opportunity to make sure your member profile is current and looking its best. We'd love to ask you to do two quick things:

1. Log in and update your profile

Please take a moment to log in at www.asphaltisbest.com and review your company information. While you're there, we also encourage you to upload your company logo (company) or headshot (personal profile) — it goes a long way toward making your profile stand out in our online member directory.

2. Paving contractors: Opt in to the Find-a-Paver directory

If you're a paving contractor and you'd like to be listed in MAPA's Find-a-Paver directory — a resource homeowners and businesses use to find qualified, reputable pavers in their area — please opt in through your member profile. It's a great way to get visibility and connect with new customers.

If you have any questions about logging in, updating your profile, or opting in to Find-a-Paver, don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to help!

Kate.Heine@mnapa.org

https://www.asphaltisbest.com/

Support or Join the Women of Asphalt MN/Dak as we join #TogetherToFightSuicide

MnDAK Women of Asphalt Branch have joined a nationwide community of people from the Construction industry in support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.  The Construction Hike for Hope is an event meant to engage the construction industry on the importance of mental health and suicide prevention.

Sunday, May 3rd 1:00 -3:00 PM

Legends Crossings at Vikings Lakes, Eagan, MN

Join or Support our Team! https://supporting.afsp.org/teams/385433

Inspiring the Next Generation of Pavement Professionals

Now in its third year, our bidding challenge partnership with Minnetonka High School continues to be one of MAPA's most rewarding community initiatives. Alongside partners Valley Paving, Duininck, Inc., Bituminous Roadways, and the City of Minnetonka, MAPA members bring the industry to life inside the classroom — teaching four lessons in Minnetonka's Construction Math and Construction Physics courses before the real fun begins.

Students then form teams and put their new skills to the test, submitting competitive bids on an actual parking lot project. It's hands-on, it's real-world, and the results are impressive every year.

See for yourself — check out the video from this year's challenge below!

▶ Watch the Minnetonka School Bidding Challenge on Facebook

Purple Wave Upcoming Auction

4/7/26

Arnt Construction Retirement Auction Open House 

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Arnt Construction Address:  2190 Phelps Rd, Hugo, MN 55038 - viewing for Arnt Equipment

Links to the seller spotlight pages on our site: 

https://www.purplewave.com/spotlight/arnt-construction 

https://www.purplewave.com/spotlight/sa-land-clearing

Asphalt Again Leads America's Recycling Effort

NAPA members once again demonstrated that sustainability is core to how the asphalt pavement industry operates. Results from the 2024 Recycled Materials and Warm Mix Usage Asphalt Industry Survey:

Read the full article →

MAPA Regional Partnership Meeting Dates Are Set – Join Us

MAPA is again hosting a series of regional collaboration meetings designed to strengthen relationships, share technical expertise, and improve coordination between city, county, MnDOT personnel, and asphalt contractors. These sessions provide an opportunity for open discussion, timely updates, and meaningful engagement across Greater Minnesota and the Metro.

Agenda topics include:

• 2025 Asphalt Market Report
• Specification updates
  • Oil content
  • E-ticketing
  • Ride Table
  • EPDs
• Bituminous Office Update
• Pavement funding
• Scam pavers legislation
• High-modified asphalt
• Aggregate update
• Meet MAPA Technical Director, Kate Heine

Registration is $25 and includes a boxed lunch. We encourage you to attend, invite colleagues who would benefit, and bring forward any questions or discussion topics.

Upcoming Dates:

Metro: April 10 – St. Louis Park (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.):  Register Today

We look forward to productive conversations and continued collaboration across the state. SAVE THE DATE and look for registration information from MAPA soon.

MAPA EPD Grant Program

NOTICE: If you produce asphalt mix for MnDOT projects, this is an important heads-up.

Beginning this month, many MnDOT projects will require Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) as part of the bid and procurement process. This is no longer theoretical—EPDs are becoming a standard requirement on public projects, and private owners are now requesting them as well.

To help contractors prepare, MAPA is offering the Minnesota Asphalt EPD Grant Program, which covers the cost of creating EPDs using NAPA’s Emerald Eco-Label tool and provides hands-on support through the process. NOTE: We have gotten confirmation from MnDOT that it is not necessary to publish your EPDs publically, the agency view is sufficient at this time.

A few key points to know:

• If you produce mix for MnDOT work, you will increasingly need EPDs bid for work.
• Private corporations are already asking for EPDs on projects.
• The grant funding is limited and only available through June 30.
• Once funds are exhausted, EPD development costs will be the responsibility of individual companies.

If you have not yet enrolled, now is the time. Waiting until EPDs are required on a specific project puts you at a disadvantage and leaves little time to prepare.

👉 Program details and enrollment information:
https://www.asphaltisbest.com/page/MNEPD

If you have questions about eligibility, timing, or what participation involves, contact abryduck@mnapa.org