The Labette Community College Board of Trustees heard a report from Aaron Hight with Crossland Construction that they have been working with BranchPattern’s mechanical engineer on making adjustments to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units in the athletic complex following months of high utility bills ranging from $10,000 to $13,000.
The board has voiced concerns on multiple occasions, as such unanticipated costs were not budgeted for.
Hight said the adjustments, which pertain in part to setbacks on operating times, will hopefully make a difference on the bills.
However, he said, with fall weather changes there is no way to know if the college will be comparing apples to apples on cost reductions until next year at this time.
While in operation, the HVAC is set at 70 degrees by design but that temperature can be modified online if the college wants to make further adjustments, he said.
“We’re trying to do the best we can to help LCC,” Hight said. While they are nearing full completion, he said they will continue to assist the college the best they can with the matter.
Hight also reported that the parking lot at the new athletic complex has now been completed.
They are waiting on hallway doors to be shipped Jan. 3, but the interior punch list is otherwise completed. They have not walked the exterior punch list yet to determine completion but are ready to do that.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board:
— Heard a report on the state of higher education.
— Heard a report on the Cherokee campus and upcoming changes to keep the college on the cutting edge into the future.
— Heard a report on student learning.
— Approved policy changes on purchasing; administrative and professional staff: conditions of employment; educational support staff: conditions of employment; and records retention.
— Approved professional staff employment letters for Darcie Martinez, concurrent dual credit coordinator; Jaran Dixon, as part-time assistant men’s basketball coach; Janice Reese, public relations director; Lauren Holmes, Student Support Services academic adviser with general education/health science; Lauren Shepard, Student Support Services academic adviser with health science emphasis.
— Approved a low bid by Gammon Equipment of $24,174 for a digital radiography flat panel system computed radiography imaging system equipment.
— Heard from Kevin Doherty that the 200-watt LED lighting is in for the fenced parking lot and he is working with Bobby Cramer to get it installed by the end of next week. Camera equipment has been ordered but is not in yet.
— Heard training will begin next week on the Blue Light Tower Emergency Systems installed on campus.
— Heard infrared scans are being done on roofs to determine needed repairs and costs. The worst roof, which cannot be scanned, is the metal one over the event center, Doherty said. Someone has gone up there and done extensive patching on the roof. All of that patch material will have to be removed and ground back to the metal, and then they will put new material over the top. Trustee Montie Taylor requested Doherty lay out a schedule for doing one roof each year. Trustee David Winchell said they may find some of the roofs could receive minor repairs to hold them over a year or two years until they can repair the entire roof.
— Heard the college has eight students and one faculty member in isolation from COVID-19, which requires five days of quarantine and five days of wearing a mask in public.
— Heard the student government blood drive brought in 94 units of blood for Red Cross.
