Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.13

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE SECURITY, FILED AND MADE EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND
SUCH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR UNLESS THE ISSUER RECEIVES AN OPINION
OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH
ACT AND SUCH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS IS NOT REQUIRED.

                             OAKHURST COMPANY, INC.

                          SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE

DATE: JULY 18, 2001                                                $1,010,058.91

OAKHURST COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and
assigns the "Issuer") for value received hereby promises to pay to JOSEPH P.
HARPER, SR., or order (the "Noteholder") by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by the Noteholder by notice to the
Issuer, the principal sum of One Million Ten Thousand Fifty-Eight Dollars and
Ninety-One Cents ($1,010,058.91), without interest on the Maturity Date (as
defined herein) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private
debts.

1.   Note Register. The Issuer shall keep at its principal office a register
     (the "Register") in which shall be entered the name and address of the
     registered holder of this Note and of all permitted transfers of this Note.
     References to the "Noteholder" shall mean the Person listed in the Register
     as the payee of the Note. The ownership of this Note shall be proven by the
     Register. For the purpose of paying the principal on this Note, the Issuer
     shall be entitled to rely on the name and address in the Register and
     notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note, no Event
     of Default shall occur under Section 3(c) if payment of principal is made
     in accordance with the name and address contained in the Register. The
     Noteholder may change his address as shown on the Note Register by written
     notice to the Company requesting such change.

2.   Definitions. The following terms for all purposes of this Note shall have
     the meanings specified below. All accounting terms used herein and not
     expressly defined shall have the meanings given to them in accordance with
     generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time.
     The terms defined in this Section 2 include the plural as well as the
     singular.

         (a) "Acceleration Notice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(c).

         (b) "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with,
such Person.

(c) "Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in the State of Delaware are authorized by law to close.

         (d) "Debt" means at any date an amount equal to or greater than
$100,000 of (i) all obligations of the Issuer for borrowed money; (ii) all
obligations of the Issuer evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other
similar instruments; (iii) all obligations of the Issuer in respect of letters
of credit or other similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with
respect thereto;) (iv) all obligations of the Issuer to pay the deferred
purchase price of property or services, except trade payables; (v) all
obligations of the Issuer as lessee under capitalized leases; (vi) all Debt of
others secured by a Lien on any asset of the Issuer, whether or not such Debt is
assumed by such Person; and (vii) any guarantee by the Issuer of the payment
obligation of another Person.

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         (e) A "Default" means any condition or event which constitutes an Event
of Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

         (f) Event of Default" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c).

         (g) "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien,
pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset. For the purposes of this Note, the Issuer shall be deemed to own subject
to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a
vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capitalized lease or
other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

         (h) "Maturity Date" means 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the earliest to
occur of the following dates:

                 (i) The fourth anniversary of the date hereof;

                 (ii) The fourth anniversary of the date of the closing of the
sale by the Issuer of all of its then remaining right, title and interest in and
to New Heights Recovery & Power, LLC to KTI, Inc.; and

                 (iii) The Put Payment Date, as that term is defined in the
Transaction Agreement (defined below.)

         (i) "Notice of Default" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(c).

         (j) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm,
association, joint venture, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity, or any government or regulatory, administrative or
political subdivision or agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

         (k) "Senior Indebtedness" means indebtedness to any bank or other
lending institution, including, but not limited to (i) all currently outstanding
indebtedness of the Issuer to Finova Capital Corporation (the "Senior Lender"),
as the same may be amended, modified, increased or decreased from time to time,
by agreement between the Senior Lender and the Issuer; (ii) any and all
replacements or refinancings of the indebtedness to the Senior Lender with one
or more other lending entities, whether any such refinancing is for a greater or
lesser amount than the current indebtedness to the Senior Lender; (iii) all
obligations of the Issuer to Comerica Bank-Texas ("Comerica") under the guaranty
by the Issuer of the obligations of Sterling Construction Company, a Michigan
corporation, to Comerica (the "Comerica Obligations;") and (iv) any and all
replacements or refinancings of the Comerica Obligations (whether any such
replacement or refinancing is for a greater or lesser amount than the amount
replaced or refinanced) with one or more other lending institutions that is
guaranteed by, or is the direct obligation of, the Issuer.

         (l) "Subordinated Note" and "Subordinated Notes" shall have the
meanings set forth in Section 7.

         (m) "Transaction Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(c).

3.   PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL.

         (a) Payment Obligation. No provision of this Note shall alter or impair
the obligations of the Issuer to pay the principal of this Note at the place and
time, and in the currency, herein prescribed.

         (b) Prepayment. The principal hereunder shall be subject to prepayment
by the Issuer at any time without the consent of the Noteholder and without
premium or penalty. Insomuch as this is a zero coupon note, any prepayment of
this Note shall be in an amount equal to the net present value as

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of the prepayment date of the principal amount hereof, applying an interest rate
of twelve percent (12%) per annum.

         (c) Events of Default and Remedies. In case one or more of the
following events ("Events of Default") shall have occurred and be continuing:

                 (i) Default in the payment of the principal of this Note as and
when the same shall become due and payable, at maturity, upon any redemption, by
declaration or otherwise; or

                 (ii) failure on the part of the Issuer duly to observe or
perform (A) any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer
contained herein (other than those covered by clause (i), above;) or (B) any
material covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer contained in any
other agreement between the Issuer and the Noteholder, including, but not
limited to, that certain Transaction Agreement of even date herewith (the
"Transaction Agreement,") in either such case for a period of 30 days after the
date on which written notice specifying such failure, stating that such notice
is a "Notice of Default" hereunder and demanding that the Issuer remedy the
same, shall have been given by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the Issuer; or

                 (iii) the prepayment of any Subordinated Note in violation of
the provisions of Section 7 of this Note; or

                 (iv) any event or condition shall occur which results in the
acceleration of the maturity of any Debt or enables or, with the giving of
notice or lapse of time or both, would enable the holder of such Debt or any
Person acting on such holder's behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof; or

                 (v) the Issuer pursuant to, or within the meaning of, any
bankruptcy or insolvency law: (A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding; (B)
consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case
or proceeding; (C) consents to the appointment of a receiver or custodian of it
or for all or substantially all of its property; (D) makes a general assignment
for the benefit of its creditors; or (E) admits in writing its inability to pay
its debts as the same become due;

     then, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 3(c), set forth below,
     in each case where an Event of Default specified in Section 3(c)(i) through
     3(c)(iv) occurs, the Noteholder, by notice in writing to the Issuer (the
     "Acceleration Notice") may declare the principal hereunder to be due and
     payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become
     immediately due and payable; provided however, that if an Event of Default
     specified in Section 3(c)(v) occurs, the principal hereunder shall become
     and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on
     the part of the Noteholder.

     Any principal, the payment of which shall become accelerated pursuant to
     this Section 3(c), shall be equal to (i) the net present value as of the
     payment date of the principal amount hereof applying an interest rate of
     twelve percent (12%) per annum less (ii) any prepayments made pursuant to
     Section 3(b), above.

4.   REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. The Issuer shall reimburse the Noteholder, on
     demand, for any and all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys'
     fees and court costs, incurred by the Noteholder in collecting or otherwise
     enforcing this Note or in attempting to do any of the foregoing.

5.   POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT A WAIVER OF DEFAULT.

         (a) No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the
Noteholder is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every
right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in
addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or

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hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment
of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

         (b) No delay or omission of the Noteholder to exercise any right or
power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default occurring and continuing as
aforesaid shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a
waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and
every power and remedy given by this Note or by law may be exercised from time
to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Noteholder.

6.   WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

         (a) The Noteholder may waive any past Default or Event of Default
hereunder and its consequences. In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer and
the Noteholder shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder,
respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default
or impair any right consequent thereon.

         (b) Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist and be
deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, and any Default or Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, and not to have
occurred for every purpose of this Note; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.

7.   SUBORDINATION.

         (a) No payment on account of principal of or interest on (i) that
certain promissory note dated July 3, 2001 in the original principal amount of
$1,000,000 issued to KTI, Inc.; (ii) this Note; or (ii) any other promissory
note issued contemporaneously herewith pursuant to the Transaction Agreement
(each a "Subordinated Note and collectively, the "Subordinated Notes") shall be
made, and no Subordinated Notes shall be redeemed or purchased directly or
indirectly by the Issuer (or any of its subsidiaries), if at the time of such
payment or purchase or immediately after giving effect thereto, (x) there shall
exist a default in any payment with respect to the Senior Indebtedness; or (y)
there shall have occurred any other default or event of default as those terms
may be defined in the instrument under which such Senior Indebtedness is
outstanding (other than a default in the payment of amounts due thereon) with
respect to the Senior Indebtedness permitting the holders thereof to accelerate
the maturity thereof, and such default or event of default shall not have been
cured or waived or shall not have ceased to exist.

         (b) Subject to payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness, the holders
of the Subordinated Notes shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of
Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of the assets of the
Issuer made on such Senior Indebtedness until all principal and interest on the
Subordinated Notes shall be paid in full; and for purposes of such subrogation,
no payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any cash,
property or securities to which any holders of the Subordinated Notes would be
entitled except for the subordination provisions of this Section 7 shall, as
between the holders of the Subordinated Notes and the Issuer and/or its
creditors (other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness) be deemed to be a
payment on account of the Senior Indebtedness.

         (c) The provisions of this Section 7 are and are intended solely for
the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Subordinated
Notes and the holders of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Section 7 shall
impair, as between the Issuer and any holders of the Subordinated Notes, the
obligation of the Issuer, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the
holders of the Subordinated Notes the principal thereof and interest thereon, in
accordance with the terms of the

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Subordinated Notes, nor shall anything herein prevent any holders of the
Subordinated Notes from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by
applicable law or hereunder upon default, subject to the rights set forth above
of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive cash, property or securities
otherwise payable or deliverable to the holders of the Subordinated Notes.

         (d) Upon any payment (including by redemption) which is not a payment
in full of all of the principal amount and accrued interest of all outstanding
Subordinated Notes, the aggregate amount of the payments shall be allocated to
all the Subordinated Notes then outstanding in proportion to the amounts of
principal and interest due thereunder, so that the amount of principal paid
under this Note shall bear the same ratio to the aggregate principal and accrued
interest paid under all of the Subordinated Notes as the then outstanding
principal then owed under this Note (as if the same were then being prepaid
pursuant to Section 3(b)) bears to the aggregate principal and accrued interest
then owed under all Subordinated Notes then outstanding.

8.   MODIFICATION OF NOTE. This Note may be modified only with the written
     consent of the Noteholder and the Issuer.

9.   MISCELLANEOUS. This Note shall be governed by and be construed in
     accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the
     conflicts of law rules of such state. The Issuer hereby waives presentment,
     demand, notice, protest and all other demands and notices in connection
     with the delivery, acceptance, performance and enforcement of this Note,
     except as specifically provided herein, and assents to extensions of the
     time of payment, or forbearance or other indulgence without notice. The
     section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the
     construction hereof. THE ISSUER AND THE NOTEHOLDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE
     ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM
     ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE.

10.  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. The Issuer irrevocably submits to the exclusive
     jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of
     Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising
     out of this Note. The Issuer further agrees that service of any process,
     summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the Issuer address
     set forth below shall be effective service of process for any action, suit
     or proceeding in the State of Delaware with respect to any matters to which
     it has submitted to jurisdiction in this paragraph. The Issuer irrevocably
     and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any
     action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Note in the foregoing
     courts, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally
     waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such
     action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
     inconvenient forum.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed as
of the date first set forth above.

OAKHURST COMPANY, INC.
2751 Centerville Road -- Suite 3131
Wilmington, Delaware 19803

By:  /s/ Robert M. Davies
   ---------------------------------------------
    Robert M. Davies, Chief Executive Officer<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

                                     SECURED

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$400,000                                                           July 19, 2001

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Oakhurst Technology, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Maker"), hereby promises to pay to
the order of James D. Manning (the "Holder"), having an address at 2509
Parkdale, Kingwood, TX 77339, or his assigns, the principal sum of Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($400,000). All principal and accrued but unpaid interest shall
be due to the Holder on July 3, 2005. The Maker shall pay to the Holder in
sixteen (16) equal quarterly payments beginning on October 3, 2001, principal
plus accrued interest at a rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum; provided,
that all such payments shall be made to the extent of and out of the available
Net Cash Flow and Net Cash Proceeds (each as defined below); provided, further,
that, to the extent that accrued interest and/or principal payments cannot be
made on the date such are due on this Note, then such interest and principal
will, at the option of Oakhurst Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("OCI"),
be deferred until sufficient Net Cash Flow or Net Cash Proceeds are available;
provided, however, that such deferment shall not last past July 3, 2005. Any
accrued but unpaid interest on this Note shall be added to the outstanding
principal of this Note for the purpose of computing subsequent interest
payments.

         "Net Cash Flow" as used hereinabove means (a) the operating cash flow
of Steel City Products, Inc. ("SCPI") or Sterling Construction Company, a
Delaware corporation ("Sterling"), to the extent permitted by such entities'
respective bank lenders to upstream such entities' respective operating cash
flows to OCI, plus (b) the proceeds from the sale by OCI of any shares of its
common stock, par value $0.01, plus (c) the proceeds received by OCI from the
exercise by any holders of stock options, minus (d) any and all of the foregoing
amounts in (a), (b) or (c) that OCI's Board of Directors determines, in its sole
discretion, should be reserved for payment of OCI's past, present and future
corporate overhead expenses.

         "Net Cash Proceeds" means (a) the net proceeds available to OCI from
the sale of assets of SCPI (other than sales of SCPI's inventory and other sales
that are made in the ordinary course of business), minus (b) any and all of the
foregoing amounts in clause (a) that OCI's Board of Directors determines, in its
sole discretion, should be reserved for payment of OCI's past, present and
future corporate overhead expenses.

         Net Cash Flow shall be applied in the following order: (1) first, to
pay, pro rata, accrued interest on (i) this Note as well as any other promissory
notes that result from the sale, assignment or transfer of any portion of that
certain promissory note dated October 19, 2000 in the aggregate principal amount
of $800,000 issued by OTI to James D. Manning (collectively, the "Manning Note")
and (ii) that certain promissory note dated October 18, 1999, in the aggregate
principal amount of $672,003 issued by OTI to Robert M. Davies, as amended as of
July 13, 2001 as well as any promissory notes that result from the sale,
assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively, the "Davies
First Note") (2) second, to repay, pro rata, the remaining principal outstanding
on the Manning Note and the Davies First Note; (3) third, upon payment in full
of all accrued interest and outstanding principal on the Manning Note and the
Davies First Note, to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on (i) that certain
promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $254,602

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issued by OCI to Robert M. Davies, as well as any promissory notes that result
from the sale, assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively,
the "Davies Second Note") and (ii) that certain promissory note in the aggregate
principal amount of $132,445 issued by OCI to Maarten D. Hemsley, as well as any
promissory notes that result from the sale, assignment or transfer of any
portion of said note (collectively, the "Hemsley Note") and (4) fourth, to
repay, pro rata, the remaining principal outstanding on the Davies Second Note
and the Hemsley Note.

         Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied in the following order: (1) first,
to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on the Manning Note and the Davies First
Note; (2) second, equal amounts of the remaining Net Cash Proceeds shall be
applied to the repayment of the Manning Note and the Davies First Note until all
accrued interest and outstanding principal on the Manning Note and the Davies
First Note have been paid in full; (3) third, to repay the remaining outstanding
principal on the Manning Note; (4) fourth, upon payment in full of the Manning
Note and the Davies First Note, to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on the Davies
Second Note and the Hemsley Note; and (5) fifth, to repay, pro rata, the
remaining principal outstanding on the Davies Second Note and the Hemsley Note.

         If any of this Note, the Davies First Note, the Davies Second Note or
the Hemsley Note (individually, a "Transferred Note") are sold, assigned or
transferred (which sale, assignment or transfer shall be in full compliance with
applicable securities laws) and new notes are issued to reflect such sale,
assignment or transfer (individually, a "New Note" and collectively, "New
Notes"), the amount of Net Cash Flow and Net Cash Proceeds that would have been
applied to the Transferred Note under the terms of this Note shall be applied to
the New Notes in proportion to the total amount of accrued interest or
principal, as the case may be, owed under the New Notes at the time the
computation is made.

         All payments by the Maker under this Note shall be made without
set-off, defense or counterclaim and be free and clear and without any deduction
or withholding for any taxes or fees of any nature whatever, unless the
obligation to make such deduction or withholding is imposed by law.

         The Maker agrees that: (i) upon the failure to pay when due the
principal and accrued interest hereunder; (ii) if the Maker (1) commences any
voluntary proceeding under any provision of Title 11 of the United States Code,
as now or hereafter amended, or commences any other proceeding, under any law,
now or hereafter in force, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
liquidation, or otherwise to the relief of debtors or the readjustment of
indebtedness, (2) makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors or a
composition or similar arrangement with such creditors, or (3) appoints a
receiver, trustee or similar judicial officer or agent to take charge of or
liquidate any of its property or assets; or (iii) upon the commencement against
the Maker of any involuntary proceeding of the kind described in clause (ii)
above (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) each, an "Event of Default"), all unpaid
principal and accrued but unpaid interest under this Note shall become
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind.

         The obligations of the Maker under this Note are secured by the pledge
of 11,113 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Sterling
Construction Company to the Holder in accordance with the terms of the Stock
Pledge Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between OCI and the Holder (the
"Pledge Agreement"). The Maker shall remain liable for any deficiency if the
proceeds of any sale or other disposition of Collateral (as defined in the
Pledge Agreement) are insufficient to pay the obligations of the Maker
hereunder.

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<PAGE>

         This Note may be prepaid at the option of the Maker, in whole or in
part, upon the refinancing in whole of the multiple advance term loan facility
of OCI pursuant to the Letter Loan Agreement, dated December 29, 1998, between
OCI and KTI, Inc., at any time after such refinancing and from time to time
thereafter, without penalty or premium. Any voluntary prepayment of this Note
shall be applied first to the payment of interest accrued and unpaid on this
Note and second to the payment of principal.

         None of the terms or provisions of this Note may be excluded, modified
or amended except by a written instrument duly executed by the Holder expressly
referring to this Note and setting forth the provision so excluded, modified or
amended.

         The Maker hereby forever waives presentment, demand, presentment for
payment, protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor of this Note and all
other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance,
performance and enforcement of this Note.

         This Note shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and performed entirely in
such State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof, and shall be
binding upon the successors and assigns of the Maker and shall inure to the
benefit of the successors and assigns of the Holder.

                                                  OAKHURST TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                                                  By:
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name:  Robert M. Davies
                                                  Title: President

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Oakhurst Company, Inc. (the "Guarantor") hereby absolutely, unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees on a subordinated basis (the "Guaranty") the full and
punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment,
declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise, of all amounts due under this
Note of the Maker, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise
(including all such amounts which would become due but for the operation of the
automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11
U.S.C. Section 362(a), and the operation of Sections 502(b) and 506(b) of the
United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 502(b) and Section 506(b));
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty only
for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without
rendering this Guaranty, as it relates to the Guarantor, voidable under
applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not
for any greater amount. This Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment when due
and not of collection, and the Guarantor specifically agrees that it shall not
be necessary or required that the Holder exercise any right, assert any claim or
demand or enforce any remedy whatsoever against the Maker before or as a
condition to the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder.

         In case the Maker shall fail to punctually pay its obligations under
the Note in full when due, the Guarantor agrees to make such payment punctually
when and as the same shall become due and payable.

         The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are independent of the
obligations of the Maker, and a separate action or actions may be brought and
prosecuted against the Guarantor, regardless of

                                       3
<PAGE>

whether action is brought against the Maker or whether the Maker is joined in
any such action or actions.

         The Guarantor agrees that its obligations under this Guaranty are
absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity,
regularity or enforceability of this Note, or any substitution, release or
exchange of any other guaranty of or security for the Note, and, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance
whatsoever (including, without limitation, personal defenses of the Maker) which
might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety, guarantor or co-obligor, it being the intent that the obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.

         With respect to its obligations hereunder, the Guarantor hereby
expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all
notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Holder exhaust any right, power
or remedy or proceed against any person under the Note, or against any other
person under any other guaranty of, or security for, or obligation relating to,
the Note.

         The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be
automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment or
performance by or on behalf of any person in respect of the Maker's obligations
under this Note is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any
of the Maker's obligations under this Note, whether as a result of any
proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and the Guarantor
agrees that it will pay to the Holder on demand all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees of counsel) incurred by
the Holder in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such
costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such
payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under
any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

         The Maker and the Holder agree that the indebtedness evidenced by this
Note is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner
provided herein, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Obligations
(hereinafter defined) (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter
created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Obligations.

         Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind
or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors in any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to the Guarantor, all amounts
due or to become due under or with respect to all Senior Obligations shall first
be paid indefeasibly in full in cash before any payment is made on account of
this Guaranty. Upon any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any payment
or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, to which the Holder would be entitled shall be
paid by the Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating
trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, or by the
Holder if received by it, directly to the holders of Senior Obligations (pro
rata to such holders on the basis of the amounts of Senior Obligations held by
such holders) or their Representative, as their interests may appear, for
application to the payment of the Senior Obligations remaining unpaid until all
such Senior Obligations have been paid indefeasibly in full in cash, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to
or for the holders of Senior Obligations.

         (a) In the event of and during the continuation of any default in the
payment of principal of, interest or premium, if any, on any Senior Obligations,
or in the event that any event of default (other

                                       4
<PAGE>

than a payment default) with respect to any Senior Obligations shall have
occurred and be continuing and shall have resulted in such Senior Obligation
becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would
otherwise have become due and payable, or (b) if any event of default other than
as described in clause (a) above with respect to any Senior Obligations shall
have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Senior
Obligations (or their Representative or Representatives) to declare such Senior
Obligations due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have
become due and payable, then no payment shall be made by or on behalf of the
Guarantor on account of this Guaranty, unless and until such default shall have
been cured or waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing
such Senior Obligations or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or
annulled.

         In the event that the Holder receives any payment with respect to this
Guaranty at a time when such payment is prohibited by the provisions hereof,
such payment shall be held by the Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall
be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of
Senior Obligations as their interests may appear or their Representative under
the agreements (if any) pursuant to which Senior Obligations may have been
issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment
of all Obligations with respect to Senior Obligations remaining unpaid to the
extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms,
after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the
holders of Senior Obligations.

         After all Senior Obligations are paid in full and until this Guaranty
is paid in full, the Holder shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all
other Pari Passu Debt (hereinafter defined)) to the rights of holders of Senior
Obligations to receive distributions applicable to Senior Obligations to the
extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holder have been applied to
the payment of Senior Obligations. A distribution made under this Guaranty to
holders of Senior Obligations that otherwise would have been made to the Holder
is not, as between the Guarantor and the Holder, a payment by the Guarantor on
this Guaranty.

         The "Subordination" section of this Guaranty defines the relative
rights of the Holder and holders of Senior Obligations. Nothing in this Guaranty
shall impair, as between the Guarantor and the Holder, the obligations of the
Guarantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and
interest on this Guaranty in accordance with its terms or affect the relative
rights of the Holder and creditors of the Guarantor other than their rights in
relation to holders of Senior Obligations.

         No right of any holder of Senior Obligations to enforce the
subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by this Guaranty shall be impaired
by any act or failure to act by the Guarantor or the Holder or by the failure of
the Guarantor or the Holder to comply with this Guaranty.

         Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph,
the holders of Senior Obligations, or any of them, may, at any time and from
time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holder, without incurring
any liabilities to the Holder and without impairing or releasing the
subordination and other benefits provided in this Guaranty or the obligations of
the Holder to the holders of the Senior Obligations, even if any right of
reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Holder is affected,
impaired or extinguished thereby, take any action with respect to the Senior
Obligations, including, without limitation, any one or more of the following:

         (1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend
the time of payment of, or renew, exchange, amend, increase or alter, the terms
of any Senior Obligations, any security therefor or guaranty thereof or any
liability of any obligor thereon (including any guarantor) to such

                                       5
<PAGE>

holder, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or
otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify, increase or supplement in any
manner any Senior Obligations or any instrument evidencing or guaranteeing or
securing the same or any agreement under which Senior Obligations are
outstanding;

         (2) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or
otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any property pledged,
mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Obligations or any liability of any
obligor thereon, to such holder, or any liability incurred directly or
indirectly in respect thereof;

         (3) settle or compromise any Senior Obligations or any other liability
of any obligor of the Senior Obligations to such holder or any security therefor
or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply
any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including,
without limitation, Senior Obligations) in any manner or order; and

         (4) fail to take or to record or to otherwise perfect, for any reason
or for no reason, any lien or security interest securing Senior Obligations by
whomsoever granted, exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or
remedy against any obligor or any guarantor or any other person, elect any
remedy and otherwise deal freely with any obligor and any security for the
Senior Obligations or any liability of any obligor to such holder or any
liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof.

         Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of
Senior Obligations, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their
Representative (hereinafter defined). Upon any payment or distribution of assets
of the Guarantor referred to in the "Subordination" section of this Guaranty,
the Holder shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court
of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of
the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the
Holder for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in
such distribution, the holders of the Senior Obligations and other indebtedness
of the Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to the
"Subordination" section of this Guaranty.

         "Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings" means (i) any voluntary or
involuntary insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership,
liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding, relative to the
Guarantor or to the creditors of the Guarantor, as such, or to the assets of the
Guarantor, or (ii) any liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or winding up of
the Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary and involving insolvency or
bankruptcy, or (iii) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other
marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Guarantor.

         "Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, expenses, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Senior Obligations.

         "Pari Passu Debt" means any indebtedness of the Guarantor which by its
terms is pari passu in right of payment to this Guaranty.

         "Representative" means the trustee, agent or representative for any
Senior Obligations.

         "Senior Obligations" shall mean all obligations (whether now
outstanding or hereafter incurred) for the payment of which the Guarantor is
responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, except those which by
their express terms are Pari Passu Debt.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         This Guaranty shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and performed
entirely in such State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

                                                 OAKHURST COMPANY, INC.

                                                 By:
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                 Name:  Robert M. Davies
                                                 Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                       7
<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

                                     SECURED

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$300,000                                                           July 19, 2001

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Oakhurst Technology, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Maker"), hereby promises to pay to
the order of Joseph P. Harper, Sr. (the "Holder"), having an address at 2715
Timberjack Place, The Woodlands, TX 77380, or his assigns, the principal sum of
Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000). All principal and accrued but unpaid
interest shall be due to the Holder on July 3, 2005. The Maker shall pay to the
Holder in sixteen (16) equal quarterly payments beginning on October 3, 2001,
principal plus accrued interest at a rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum;
provided, that all such payments shall be made to the extent of and out of the
available Net Cash Flow and Net Cash Proceeds (each as defined below); provided,
further, that, to the extent that accrued interest and/or principal payments
cannot be made on the date such are due on this Note, then such interest and
principal will, at the option of Oakhurst Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("OCI"), be deferred until sufficient Net Cash Flow or Net Cash Proceeds are
available; provided, however, that such deferment shall not last past July 3,
2005. Any accrued but unpaid interest on this Note shall be added to the
outstanding principal of this Note for the purpose of computing subsequent
interest payments.

         "Net Cash Flow" as used hereinabove means (a) the operating cash flow
of Steel City Products, Inc. ("SCPI") or Sterling Construction Company, a
Delaware corporation ("Sterling"), to the extent permitted by such entities'
respective bank lenders to upstream such entities' respective operating cash
flows to OCI, plus (b) the proceeds from the sale by OCI of any shares of its
common stock, par value $0.01, plus (c) the proceeds received by OCI from the
exercise by any holders of stock options, minus (d) any and all of the foregoing
amounts in (a), (b) or (c) that OCI's Board of Directors determines, in its sole
discretion, should be reserved for payment of OCI's past, present and future
corporate overhead expenses.

         "Net Cash Proceeds" means (a) the net proceeds available to OCI from
the sale of assets of SCPI (other than sales of SCPI's inventory and other sales
that are made in the ordinary course of business), minus (b) any and all of the
foregoing amounts in clause (a) that OCI's Board of Directors determines, in its
sole discretion, should be reserved for payment of OCI's past, present and
future corporate overhead expenses.

         Net Cash Flow shall be applied in the following order: (1) first, to
pay, pro rata, accrued interest on (i) this Note as well as any other promissory
notes that result from the sale, assignment or transfer of any portion of that
certain promissory note dated October 19, 2000 in the aggregate principal amount
of $800,000 issued by OTI to James D. Manning (collectively, the "Manning Note")
and (ii) that certain promissory note dated October 18, 1999, in the aggregate
principal amount of $672,003 issued by OTI to Robert M. Davies, as amended as of
July 13, 2001 as well as any promissory notes that result from the sale,
assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively, the "Davies
First Note") (2) second, to repay, pro rata, the remaining principal outstanding
on the Manning Note and the Davies First Note; (3) third, upon payment in full
of all accrued interest and outstanding principal on the Manning Note and the
Davies First Note, to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on (i) that certain
promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $254,602 issued by OCI to
Robert M. Davies, as well as any promissory notes that result from the sale,
assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively, the "Davies
Second Note") and (ii) that

<PAGE>

certain promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $132,445 issued by
OCI to Maarten D. Hemsley, as well as any promissory notes that result from the
sale, assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively, the
"Hemsley Note") and (4) fourth, to repay, pro rata, the remaining principal
outstanding on the Davies Second Note and the Hemsley Note.

         Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied in the following order: (1) first,
to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on the Manning Note and the Davies First
Note; (2) second, equal amounts of the remaining Net Cash Proceeds shall be
applied to the repayment of the Manning Note and the Davies First Note until all
accrued interest and outstanding principal on the Manning Note and the Davies
First Note have been paid in full; (3) third, to repay the remaining outstanding
principal on the Manning Note; (4) fourth, upon payment in full of the Manning
Note and the Davies First Note, to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on the Davies
Second Note and the Hemsley Note; and (5) fifth, to repay, pro rata, the
remaining principal outstanding on the Davies Second Note and the Hemsley Note.

         If any of this Note, the Davies First Note, the Davies Second Note or
the Hemsley Note (individually, a "Transferred Note") are sold, assigned or
transferred (which sale, assignment or transfer shall be in full compliance with
applicable securities laws) and new notes are issued to reflect such sale,
assignment or transfer (individually, a "New Note" and collectively, "New
Notes"), the amount of Net Cash Flow and Net Cash Proceeds that would have been
applied to the Transferred Note under the terms of this Note shall be applied to
the New Notes in proportion to the total amount of accrued interest or
principal, as the case may be, owed under the New Notes at the time the
computation is made.

         All payments by the Maker under this Note shall be made without
set-off, defense or counterclaim and be free and clear and without any deduction
or withholding for any taxes or fees of any nature whatever, unless the
obligation to make such deduction or withholding is imposed by law.

         The Maker agrees that: (i) upon the failure to pay when due the
principal and accrued interest hereunder; (ii) if the Maker (1) commences any
voluntary proceeding under any provision of Title 11 of the United States Code,
as now or hereafter amended, or commences any other proceeding, under any law,
now or hereafter in force, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
liquidation, or otherwise to the relief of debtors or the readjustment of
indebtedness, (2) makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors or a
composition or similar arrangement with such creditors, or (3) appoints a
receiver, trustee or similar judicial officer or agent to take charge of or
liquidate any of its property or assets; or (iii) upon the commencement against
the Maker of any involuntary proceeding of the kind described in clause (ii)
above (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) each, an "Event of Default"), all unpaid
principal and accrued but unpaid interest under this Note shall become
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind.

         The obligations of the Maker under this Note are secured by the pledge
of 8,335 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Sterling
Construction Company to the Holder in accordance with the terms of the Stock
Pledge Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between OCI and the Holder (the
"Pledge Agreement"). The Maker shall remain liable for any deficiency if the
proceeds of any sale or other disposition of Collateral (as defined in the
Pledge Agreement) are insufficient to pay the obligations of the Maker
hereunder.

         This Note may be prepaid at the option of the Maker, in whole or in
part, upon the refinancing in whole of the multiple advance term loan facility
of OCI pursuant to the Letter Loan Agreement, dated December 29, 1998, between
OCI and KTI, Inc., at any time after such refinancing and from

                                        2
<PAGE>

time to time thereafter, without penalty or premium. Any voluntary prepayment of
this Note shall be applied first to the payment of interest accrued and unpaid
on this Note and second to the payment of principal.

         None of the terms or provisions of this Note may be excluded, modified
or amended except by a written instrument duly executed by the Holder expressly
referring to this Note and setting forth the provision so excluded, modified or
amended.

         The Maker hereby forever waives presentment, demand, presentment for
payment, protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor of this Note and all
other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance,
performance and enforcement of this Note.

         This Note shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and performed entirely in
such State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof, and shall be
binding upon the successors and assigns of the Maker and shall inure to the
benefit of the successors and assigns of the Holder.

                                                     OAKHURST TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                                                     By:
                                                        ------------------------
                                                     Name:  Robert M. Davies
                                                     Title: President

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Oakhurst Company, Inc. (the "Guarantor") hereby absolutely, unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees on a subordinated basis (the "Guaranty") the full and
punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment,
declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise, of all amounts due under this
Note of the Maker, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise
(including all such amounts which would become due but for the operation of the
automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11
U.S.C. Section 362(a), and the operation of Sections 502(b) and 506(b) of the
United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 502(b) and Section 506(b));
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty only
for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without
rendering this Guaranty, as it relates to the Guarantor, voidable under
applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not
for any greater amount. This Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment when due
and not of collection, and the Guarantor specifically agrees that it shall not
be necessary or required that the Holder exercise any right, assert any claim or
demand or enforce any remedy whatsoever against the Maker before or as a
condition to the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder.

         In case the Maker shall fail to punctually pay its obligations under
the Note in full when due, the Guarantor agrees to make such payment punctually
when and as the same shall become due and payable.

         The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are independent of the
obligations of the Maker, and a separate action or actions may be brought and
prosecuted against the Guarantor, regardless of whether action is brought
against the Maker or whether the Maker is joined in any such action or actions.

                                        3
<PAGE>

         The Guarantor agrees that its obligations under this Guaranty are
absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity,
regularity or enforceability of this Note, or any substitution, release or
exchange of any other guaranty of or security for the Note, and, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance
whatsoever (including, without limitation, personal defenses of the Maker) which
might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety, guarantor or co-obligor, it being the intent that the obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.

         With respect to its obligations hereunder, the Guarantor hereby
expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all
notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Holder exhaust any right, power
or remedy or proceed against any person under the Note, or against any other
person under any other guaranty of, or security for, or obligation relating to,
the Note.

         The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be
automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment or
performance by or on behalf of any person in respect of the Maker's obligations
under this Note is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any
of the Maker's obligations under this Note, whether as a result of any
proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and the Guarantor
agrees that it will pay to the Holder on demand all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees of counsel) incurred by
the Holder in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such
costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such
payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under
any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

         The Maker and the Holder agree that the indebtedness evidenced by this
Note is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner
provided herein, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Obligations
(hereinafter defined) (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter
created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Obligations.

         Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind
or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors in any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to the Guarantor, all amounts
due or to become due under or with respect to all Senior Obligations shall first
be paid indefeasibly in full in cash before any payment is made on account of
this Guaranty. Upon any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any payment
or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, to which the Holder would be entitled shall be
paid by the Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating
trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, or by the
Holder if received by it, directly to the holders of Senior Obligations (pro
rata to such holders on the basis of the amounts of Senior Obligations held by
such holders) or their Representative, as their interests may appear, for
application to the payment of the Senior Obligations remaining unpaid until all
such Senior Obligations have been paid indefeasibly in full in cash, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to
or for the holders of Senior Obligations.

         (a) In the event of and during the continuation of any default in the
payment of principal of, interest or premium, if any, on any Senior Obligations,
or in the event that any event of default (other than a payment default) with
respect to any Senior Obligations shall have occurred and be continuing and
shall have resulted in such Senior Obligation becoming or being declared due and
payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and
payable, or (b) if any event of default other

                                        4
<PAGE>

than as described in clause (a) above with respect to any Senior Obligations
shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Senior
Obligations (or their Representative or Representatives) to declare such Senior
Obligations due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have
become due and payable, then no payment shall be made by or on behalf of the
Guarantor on account of this Guaranty, unless and until such default shall have
been cured or waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing
such Senior Obligations or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or
annulled.

         In the event that the Holder receives any payment with respect to this
Guaranty at a time when such payment is prohibited by the provisions hereof,
such payment shall be held by the Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall
be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of
Senior Obligations as their interests may appear or their Representative under
the agreements (if any) pursuant to which Senior Obligations may have been
issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment
of all Obligations with respect to Senior Obligations remaining unpaid to the
extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms,
after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the
holders of Senior Obligations.

         After all Senior Obligations are paid in full and until this Guaranty
is paid in full, the Holder shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all
other Pari Passu Debt (hereinafter defined)) to the rights of holders of Senior
Obligations to receive distributions applicable to Senior Obligations to the
extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holder have been applied to
the payment of Senior Obligations. A distribution made under this Guaranty to
holders of Senior Obligations that otherwise would have been made to the Holder
is not, as between the Guarantor and the Holder, a payment by the Guarantor on
this Guaranty.

         The "Subordination" section of this Guaranty defines the relative
rights of the Holder and holders of Senior Obligations. Nothing in this Guaranty
shall impair, as between the Guarantor and the Holder, the obligations of the
Guarantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and
interest on this Guaranty in accordance with its terms or affect the relative
rights of the Holder and creditors of the Guarantor other than their rights in
relation to holders of Senior Obligations.

         No right of any holder of Senior Obligations to enforce the
subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by this Guaranty shall be impaired
by any act or failure to act by the Guarantor or the Holder or by the failure of
the Guarantor or the Holder to comply with this Guaranty.

         Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph,
the holders of Senior Obligations, or any of them, may, at any time and from
time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holder, without incurring
any liabilities to the Holder and without impairing or releasing the
subordination and other benefits provided in this Guaranty or the obligations of
the Holder to the holders of the Senior Obligations, even if any right of
reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Holder is affected,
impaired or extinguished thereby, take any action with respect to the Senior
Obligations, including, without limitation, any one or more of the following:

         (1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend
the time of payment of, or renew, exchange, amend, increase or alter, the terms
of any Senior Obligations, any security therefor or guaranty thereof or any
liability of any obligor thereon (including any guarantor) to such holder, or
any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or otherwise
amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify, increase or supplement in any manner any
Senior Obligations or any

                                        5
<PAGE>

instrument evidencing or guaranteeing or securing the same or any agreement
under which Senior Obligations are outstanding;

         (2) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or
otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any property pledged,
mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Obligations or any liability of any
obligor thereon, to such holder, or any liability incurred directly or
indirectly in respect thereof;

         (3) settle or compromise any Senior Obligations or any other liability
of any obligor of the Senior Obligations to such holder or any security therefor
or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply
any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including,
without limitation, Senior Obligations) in any manner or order; and

         (4) fail to take or to record or to otherwise perfect, for any reason
or for no reason, any lien or security interest securing Senior Obligations by
whomsoever granted, exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or
remedy against any obligor or any guarantor or any other person, elect any
remedy and otherwise deal freely with any obligor and any security for the
Senior Obligations or any liability of any obligor to such holder or any
liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof.

         Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of
Senior Obligations, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their
Representative (hereinafter defined). Upon any payment or distribution of assets
of the Guarantor referred to in the "Subordination" section of this Guaranty,
the Holder shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court
of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of
the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the
Holder for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in
such distribution, the holders of the Senior Obligations and other indebtedness
of the Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to the
"Subordination" section of this Guaranty.

         "Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings" means (i) any voluntary or
involuntary insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership,
liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding, relative to the
Guarantor or to the creditors of the Guarantor, as such, or to the assets of the
Guarantor, or (ii) any liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or winding up of
the Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary and involving insolvency or
bankruptcy, or (iii) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other
marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Guarantor.

         "Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, expenses, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Senior Obligations.

         "Pari Passu Debt" means any indebtedness of the Guarantor which by its
terms is pari passu in right of payment to this Guaranty.

         "Representative" means the trustee, agent or representative for any
Senior Obligations.

         "Senior Obligations" shall mean all obligations (whether now
outstanding or hereafter incurred) for the payment of which the Guarantor is
responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, except those which by
their express terms are Pari Passu Debt.

                                        6
<PAGE>

         This Guaranty shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and performed
entirely in such State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

                                                 OAKHURST COMPANY, INC.

                                                 By:
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                 Name:   Robert M. Davies
                                                 Title:  Chief Executive Officer

                                       7

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

                                     SECURED

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$100,000                                                           July 19, 2001

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Oakhurst Technology, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Maker"), hereby promises to pay to
the order of Anthony F. Colombo (the "Holder"), having an address at 2411 Cooper
Ridge, Arlington, TX 76006, or his assigns, the principal sum of One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000). All principal and accrued but unpaid interest shall
be due to the Holder on July 3, 2005. The Maker shall pay to the Holder in
sixteen (16) equal quarterly payments beginning on October 3, 2001, principal
plus accrued interest at a rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum; provided,
that all such payments shall be made to the extent of and out of the available
Net Cash Flow and Net Cash Proceeds (each as defined below); provided, further,
that, to the extent that accrued interest and/or principal payments cannot be
made on the date such are due on this Note, then such interest and principal
will, at the option of Oakhurst Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("OCI"),
be deferred until sufficient Net Cash Flow or Net Cash Proceeds are available;
provided, however, that such deferment shall not last past July 3, 2005. Any
accrued but unpaid interest on this Note shall be added to the outstanding
principal of this Note for the purpose of computing subsequent interest
payments.

         "Net Cash Flow" as used hereinabove means (a) the operating cash flow
of Steel City Products, Inc. ("SCPI") or Sterling Construction Company, a
Delaware corporation ("Sterling"), to the extent permitted by such entities'
respective bank lenders to upstream such entities' respective operating cash
flows to OCI, plus (b) the proceeds from the sale by OCI of any shares of its
common stock, par value $0.01, plus (c) the proceeds received by OCI from the
exercise by any holders of stock options, minus (d) any and all of the foregoing
amounts in (a), (b) or (c) that OCI's Board of Directors determines, in its sole
discretion, should be reserved for payment of OCI's past, present and future
corporate overhead expenses.

         "Net Cash Proceeds" means (a) the net proceeds available to OCI from
the sale of assets of SCPI (other than sales of SCPI's inventory and other sales
that are made in the ordinary course of business), minus (b) any and all of the
foregoing amounts in clause (a) that OCI's Board of Directors determines, in its
sole discretion, should be reserved for payment of OCI's past, present and
future corporate overhead expenses.

         Net Cash Flow shall be applied in the following order: (1) first, to
pay, pro rata, accrued interest on (i) this Note as well as any other promissory
notes that result from the sale, assignment or transfer of any portion of that
certain promissory note dated October 19, 2000 in the aggregate principal amount
of $800,000 issued by OTI to James D. Manning (collectively, the "Manning Note")
and (ii) that certain promissory note dated October 18, 1999, in the aggregate
principal amount of $672,003 issued by OTI to Robert M. Davies, as amended as of
July 13, 2001 as well as any promissory notes that result from the sale,
assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively, the "Davies
First Note") (2) second, to repay, pro rata, the remaining principal outstanding
on the Manning Note and the Davies First Note; (3) third, upon payment in full
of all accrued interest and outstanding principal on the Manning Note and the
Davies First Note, to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on (i) that certain
promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $254,602 issued by OCI to
Robert M. Davies, as well as any promissory notes that result from the sale,
assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively, the "Davies
Second Note") and (ii) that

<PAGE>

certain promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $132,445 issued by
OCI to Maarten D. Hemsley, as well as any promissory notes that result from the
sale, assignment or transfer of any portion of said note (collectively, the
"Hemsley Note") and (4) fourth, to repay, pro rata, the remaining principal
outstanding on the Davies Second Note and the Hemsley Note.

         Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied in the following order: (1) first,
to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on the Manning Note and the Davies First
Note; (2) second, equal amounts of the remaining Net Cash Proceeds shall be
applied to the repayment of the Manning Note and the Davies First Note until all
accrued interest and outstanding principal on the Manning Note and the Davies
First Note have been paid in full; (3) third, to repay the remaining outstanding
principal on the Manning Note; (4) fourth, upon payment in full of the Manning
Note and the Davies First Note, to pay, pro rata, accrued interest on the Davies
Second Note and the Hemsley Note; and (5) fifth, to repay, pro rata, the
remaining principal outstanding on the Davies Second Note and the Hemsley Note.

         If any of this Note, the Davies First Note, the Davies Second Note or
the Hemsley Note (individually, a "Transferred Note") are sold, assigned or
transferred (which sale, assignment or transfer shall be in full compliance with
applicable securities laws) and new notes are issued to reflect such sale,
assignment or transfer (individually, a "New Note" and collectively, "New
Notes"), the amount of Net Cash Flow and Net Cash Proceeds that would have been
applied to the Transferred Note under the terms of this Note shall be applied to
the New Notes in proportion to the total amount of accrued interest or
principal, as the case may be, owed under the New Notes at the time the
computation is made.

         All payments by the Maker under this Note shall be made without
set-off, defense or counterclaim and be free and clear and without any deduction
or withholding for any taxes or fees of any nature whatever, unless the
obligation to make such deduction or withholding is imposed by law.

         The Maker agrees that: (i) upon the failure to pay when due the
principal and accrued interest hereunder; (ii) if the Maker (1) commences any
voluntary proceeding under any provision of Title 11 of the United States Code,
as now or hereafter amended, or commences any other proceeding, under any law,
now or hereafter in force, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
liquidation, or otherwise to the relief of debtors or the readjustment of
indebtedness, (2) makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors or a
composition or similar arrangement with such creditors, or (3) appoints a
receiver, trustee or similar judicial officer or agent to take charge of or
liquidate any of its property or assets; or (iii) upon the commencement against
the Maker of any involuntary proceeding of the kind described in clause (ii)
above (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) each, an "Event of Default"), all unpaid
principal and accrued but unpaid interest under this Note shall become
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind.

         The obligations of the Maker under this Note are secured by the pledge
of 2,778 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Sterling
Construction Company to the Holder in accordance with the terms of the Stock
Pledge Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between OCI and the Holder (the
"Pledge Agreement"). The Maker shall remain liable for any deficiency if the
proceeds of any sale or other disposition of Collateral (as defined in the
Pledge Agreement) are insufficient to pay the obligations of the Maker
hereunder.

         This Note may be prepaid at the option of the Maker, in whole or in
part, upon the refinancing in whole of the multiple advance term loan facility
of OCI pursuant to the Letter Loan Agreement, dated December 29, 1998, between
OCI and KTI, Inc., at any time after such refinancing and from

                                        2
<PAGE>

time to time thereafter, without penalty or premium. Any voluntary prepayment of
this Note shall be applied first to the payment of interest accrued and unpaid
on this Note and second to the payment of principal.

         None of the terms or provisions of this Note may be excluded, modified
or amended except by a written instrument duly executed by the Holder expressly
referring to this Note and setting forth the provision so excluded, modified or
amended.

         The Maker hereby forever waives presentment, demand, presentment for
payment, protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor of this Note and all
other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance,
performance and enforcement of this Note.

         This Note shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and performed entirely in
such State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof, and shall be
binding upon the successors and assigns of the Maker and shall inure to the
benefit of the successors and assigns of the Holder.

                                                   OAKHURST TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                                                   By:
                                                      --------------------------
                                                   Name:  Robert M. Davies
                                                   Title: President

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Oakhurst Company, Inc. (the "Guarantor") hereby absolutely, unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees on a subordinated basis (the "Guaranty") the full and
punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment,
declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise, of all amounts due under this
Note of the Maker, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise
(including all such amounts which would become due but for the operation of the
automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11
U.S.C. Section 362(a), and the operation of Sections 502(b) and 506(b) of the
United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 502(b) and Section 506(b));
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty only
for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without
rendering this Guaranty, as it relates to the Guarantor, voidable under
applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not
for any greater amount. This Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment when due
and not of collection, and the Guarantor specifically agrees that it shall not
be necessary or required that the Holder exercise any right, assert any claim or
demand or enforce any remedy whatsoever against the Maker before or as a
condition to the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder.

         In case the Maker shall fail to punctually pay its obligations under
the Note in full when due, the Guarantor agrees to make such payment punctually
when and as the same shall become due and payable.

         The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are independent of the
obligations of the Maker, and a separate action or actions may be brought and
prosecuted against the Guarantor, regardless of whether action is brought
against the Maker or whether the Maker is joined in any such action or actions.

                                        3
<PAGE>

         The Guarantor agrees that its obligations under this Guaranty are
absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity,
regularity or enforceability of this Note, or any substitution, release or
exchange of any other guaranty of or security for the Note, and, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance
whatsoever (including, without limitation, personal defenses of the Maker) which
might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety, guarantor or co-obligor, it being the intent that the obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.

         With respect to its obligations hereunder, the Guarantor hereby
expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all
notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Holder exhaust any right, power
or remedy or proceed against any person under the Note, or against any other
person under any other guaranty of, or security for, or obligation relating to,
the Note.

         The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be
automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment or
performance by or on behalf of any person in respect of the Maker's obligations
under this Note is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any
of the Maker's obligations under this Note, whether as a result of any
proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and the Guarantor
agrees that it will pay to the Holder on demand all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees of counsel) incurred by
the Holder in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such
costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such
payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under
any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

         The Maker and the Holder agree that the indebtedness evidenced by this
Note is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner
provided herein, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Obligations
(hereinafter defined) (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter
created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Obligations.

         Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind
or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors in any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to the Guarantor, all amounts
due or to become due under or with respect to all Senior Obligations shall first
be paid indefeasibly in full in cash before any payment is made on account of
this Guaranty. Upon any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any payment
or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, to which the Holder would be entitled shall be
paid by the Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating
trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, or by the
Holder if received by it, directly to the holders of Senior Obligations (pro
rata to such holders on the basis of the amounts of Senior Obligations held by
such holders) or their Representative, as their interests may appear, for
application to the payment of the Senior Obligations remaining unpaid until all
such Senior Obligations have been paid indefeasibly in full in cash, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to
or for the holders of Senior Obligations.

         (a) In the event of and during the continuation of any default in the
payment of principal of, interest or premium, if any, on any Senior Obligations,
or in the event that any event of default (other than a payment default) with
respect to any Senior Obligations shall have occurred and be continuing and
shall have resulted in such Senior Obligation becoming or being declared due and
payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and
payable, or (b) if any event of default other

                                        4
<PAGE>

than as described in clause (a) above with respect to any Senior Obligations
shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Senior
Obligations (or their Representative or Representatives) to declare such Senior
Obligations due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have
become due and payable, then no payment shall be made by or on behalf of the
Guarantor on account of this Guaranty, unless and until such default shall have
been cured or waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing
such Senior Obligations or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or
annulled.

         In the event that the Holder receives any payment with respect to this
Guaranty at a time when such payment is prohibited by the provisions hereof,
such payment shall be held by the Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall
be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of
Senior Obligations as their interests may appear or their Representative under
the agreements (if any) pursuant to which Senior Obligations may have been
issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment
of all Obligations with respect to Senior Obligations remaining unpaid to the
extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms,
after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the
holders of Senior Obligations.

         After all Senior Obligations are paid in full and until this Guaranty
is paid in full, the Holder shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all
other Pari Passu Debt (hereinafter defined)) to the rights of holders of Senior
Obligations to receive distributions applicable to Senior Obligations to the
extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holder have been applied to
the payment of Senior Obligations. A distribution made under this Guaranty to
holders of Senior Obligations that otherwise would have been made to the Holder
is not, as between the Guarantor and the Holder, a payment by the Guarantor on
this Guaranty.

         The "Subordination" section of this Guaranty defines the relative
rights of the Holder and holders of Senior Obligations. Nothing in this Guaranty
shall impair, as between the Guarantor and the Holder, the obligations of the
Guarantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and
interest on this Guaranty in accordance with its terms or affect the relative
rights of the Holder and creditors of the Guarantor other than their rights in
relation to holders of Senior Obligations.

         No right of any holder of Senior Obligations to enforce the
subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by this Guaranty shall be impaired
by any act or failure to act by the Guarantor or the Holder or by the failure of
the Guarantor or the Holder to comply with this Guaranty.

         Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph,
the holders of Senior Obligations, or any of them, may, at any time and from
time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holder, without incurring
any liabilities to the Holder and without impairing or releasing the
subordination and other benefits provided in this Guaranty or the obligations of
the Holder to the holders of the Senior Obligations, even if any right of
reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Holder is affected,
impaired or extinguished thereby, take any action with respect to the Senior
Obligations, including, without limitation, any one or more of the following:

         (1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend
the time of payment of, or renew, exchange, amend, increase or alter, the terms
of any Senior Obligations, any security therefor or guaranty thereof or any
liability of any obligor thereon (including any guarantor) to such holder, or
any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or otherwise
amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify, increase or supplement in any manner any
Senior Obligations or any

                                        5
<PAGE>

instrument evidencing or guaranteeing or securing the same or any agreement
under which Senior Obligations are outstanding;

         (2) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or
otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any property pledged,
mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Obligations or any liability of any
obligor thereon, to such holder, or any liability incurred directly or
indirectly in respect thereof;

         (3) settle or compromise any Senior Obligations or any other liability
of any obligor of the Senior Obligations to such holder or any security therefor
or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply
any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including,
without limitation, Senior Obligations) in any manner or order; and

         (4) fail to take or to record or to otherwise perfect, for any reason
or for no reason, any lien or security interest securing Senior Obligations by
whomsoever granted, exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or
remedy against any obligor or any guarantor or any other person, elect any
remedy and otherwise deal freely with any obligor and any security for the
Senior Obligations or any liability of any obligor to such holder or any
liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof.

         Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of
Senior Obligations, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their
Representative (hereinafter defined). Upon any payment or distribution of assets
of the Guarantor referred to in the "Subordination" section of this Guaranty,
the Holder shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court
of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of
the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the
Holder for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in
such distribution, the holders of the Senior Obligations and other indebtedness
of the Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to the
"Subordination" section of this Guaranty.

         "Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings" means (i) any voluntary or
involuntary insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership,
liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding, relative to the
Guarantor or to the creditors of the Guarantor, as such, or to the assets of the
Guarantor, or (ii) any liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or winding up of
the Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary and involving insolvency or
bankruptcy, or (iii) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other
marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Guarantor.

         "Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, expenses, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Senior Obligations.

         "Pari Passu Debt" means any indebtedness of the Guarantor which by its
terms is pari passu in right of payment to this Guaranty.

         "Representative" means the trustee, agent or representative for any
Senior Obligations.

         "Senior Obligations" shall mean all obligations (whether now
outstanding or hereafter incurred) for the payment of which the Guarantor is
responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, except those which by
their express terms are Pari Passu Debt.

                                        6
<PAGE>

         This Guaranty shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and performed
entirely in such State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

                                                OAKHURST COMPANY, INC.

                                                By: /s/ Robert M. Davies
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                Name:  Robert M. Davies
                                                Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                       7

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