January 17, 2012 Minutes of Regular Meeting

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 convened a regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.

Members Physically Present

Dennis N. Thompson, Chair
Leslie-Anne Englehaupt, Secretary
Michael C. Driscoll
Larry D. Huffman
David O. Mallery
James A. Narczewski
Brad Cockrel, Student Trustee             

Members Present Telephonically

Melissa M. Olivero, Vice Chair

Others Physically Present

Jerry Corcoran, President
Cheryl Roelfsema, Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Rick Pearce, Vice President for Learning and Student Development
Lori Scroggs, Vice President for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Walt Zukowski, Attorney

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

It was moved by Dr. Huffman and seconded by Dr. Driscoll to approve the amended agenda as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

CAMPUS UPDATE

Brad Cockrel, Student Trustee, shared his experience this past summer teaching English to high school age children in the Czech Republic.  He had the opportunity to lead and plan three separate English camps with nine students in each.  He was also able to immerse himself in an Eastern European post-communist culture as well as share his beliefs and listen to others express their thoughts on spiritual topics.  Brad’s goals are to participate in Saint Baldrick’s and Locks of Love, a non –profit organization that makes wigs out of human hair in order to give children with cancer high quality wigs.  He will also be encouraging everyone to support TOMS shoes, an organization that sends shoes to countries that are not able to supply shoes to everyone.  With every pair purchased, TOMS will give a new pair to a child in need.  Brad also reported on Claire Kunkel’s summer experience.  Claire is president of the Student Government Association.  She spent her summer in Spain for World Youth Day where she had the opportunity to see the Pope.  This past year Claire collected over $200 for Bling My Bra to support Breast Cancer Awareness.  The Student Government Association has participated in the Adopt-A-Highway campaign with Project Success and Phi Theta Kappa students and members of the Student Government Association are personally contributing to support Bheumuzi.  They will also be hosting a children’s musician/comedian, IVCC Olympics, American’s Elect, and an Extreme Eating contest to support Autism Research.

CONSENT AGENDA

It was moved by Mr. Mallery and seconded by Ms. Englehaupt to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.

The following items were approved in the consent agenda:

Approval of Minutes – December 20, 2011 Board Meeting

Approval of the Bills - $1,778,870.15

Education Fund - $1,039,159.51; Operations and Maintenance Fund - $85,946.38; Operations and Maintenance (Restricted Fund) $30,078.76; Auxiliary Fund - $504,508.94; Restricted Fund - $78,694.43; Audit Fund - $7,000; and Liability, Protection and Settlement Fund - $33,482.13.

Treasurer’s Report

Personnel

Approved the stipends for the pay periods ending December 17, 2011 and December 31, 2011.

Request for Proposal

Approved to solicit requests for proposals for copier lease.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Jerry Corcoran thanked trustees David Mallery, Dr. Larry Huffman and Dr. Mike Driscoll as well as Foundation Board directors O.J. Stoutner and Dr. Frank Zeller for attending the holiday luncheon on December 22. He stated it is always great to have representatives from both boards at programs like these as a way of showing their appreciation to the staff for the fine job they are doing in serving our students. Dr. Corcoran also thanked Bob Mattson and Dr. Rick Pearce for attending with him a full-day’s program at Streator Township High School on Saturday, January 7 in which the High School Board asked approximately 45 stakeholders to participate in a community discussion that would lead to a new set of prioritized goals for the district. Typically anywhere from 11 to 14 percent of IVCC’s student population is from Streator and the College would like to grow that percentage in the future so they were very happy to be a part of the discussion. As an update to the Financial Highlights in the treasurer’s report, George Sollitt Construction Company, the contractor awarded the bid for construction of the Peter Miller Community Technology Center, will begin work the week of January 30. Phase I has a final completion deadline of 690 days (December 2013) which includes site work such as landscaping. The work to be done in the upper gym on the massage therapy lab renovation project has begun and if all goes well that project will wrap up this summer.  Chemistry instructor Dr. Matt Johll has been honored as the 2011 Outstanding Educator/Researcher by the Engineering, Mathematics, and Science Alumni Chapter of the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.  Dr. Johll was nominated for his book publishing works including his latest text, Investigating Chemistry, A Forensic Science Approach, which is being used in introductory chemistry courses at a variety of colleges including IVCC.  Dr. Corcoran congratulated Dr. Rebecca Donna, IVCC’s criminal justice program coordinator, who recently graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy. She is now a police officer in the State of Illinois.  Mike Phillips was recently elected to the Recording Secretary position of the Illinois Community College Faculty Association.  He has served on the Executive Board since November 2008.  Kudos to Frances Whaley and the Library staff for qualifying for and being accepted as a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection Library. This will allow the College and the community to utilize – Foundation Directory Online-the leading grant seeking database on the web, Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, Philanthropy in/Sight®-an interactive mapping tool using a GPS-type function that reveals patterns of giving and funding relationships geographically, and Core Collection of Foundation Center [reference] Publications.  In about two weeks Frances and her staff will be providing free workshops to the greater community (and nonprofit organizations) to instruct them how to use the resources.  Dr. Corcoran reported that Cheryl Roelfsema has advised the staff that on Tuesday, February 7 at 10:15 a.m., the College will participate in the national FEMA earthquake drill. IVCH has hired a nurse practitioner to oversee the Campus Care Clinic, which will open the week of February 20. The clinic will be open 12 hours per week initially and patients will be charged just $57 per visit.  Dr. Corcoran noted some other key upcoming dates:

• Irish Night on Saturday, March 10 at Celebrations 150 with the doors opening at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. - the Foundation’s primary fundraiser;
• Annual employee Recognition Event on Friday, April 20 at Celebrations 150 with hors d’oeuvres at 4:30 p.m. and the program at 5:30 p.m.;
• Hall of Fame induction ceremony – Saturday, April 28 , 7 p.m., Mattheissen Auditorium;
• Nurse Pinning on Saturday, May 19 at 11 a.m., and Commencement at 2:30 p.m. with Dr. Rose Marie Lynch as the speaker; and
• GED Commencement on Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Dr. Huffman reported on the Audit/Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, January 11.  Patrick Berry and Cheryl Roelfsema presented the financial forecast for the next five years.  State funding will remain flat and the tax rate looks to remain flat with the same rate used.  Revenues will increase through tuition increases.  He noted the administration did a good job in projecting figures as well as they could with the information they have available.  They made adjustments in terms of enrollment trends and reducing personnel appropriate to reflect student enrollment.  They looked at both the revenue and expenditure sides.  Dr. Huffman noted that the budget will be tight the next few years.  The administration recommended an $8.25 per credit hour increase in tuition each year for the next five years.  The tuition increase will be brought to the full Board in February.  The administration recommended fee adjustments for a number of courses.  This also will be brought to the full Board in February.  The Audit/Finance Committee reviewed the same information on the Wind Turbine project as the Facilities Committee did prior to the January Board meeting.  A grant application will be filed with the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation for approximately $930,000 and a Request For Proposal will proceed to select an energy company that will work with the College should the Board decide to proceed with the project. The Request for Proposal will provide the College with valuable details about the project’s finances, performance guarantees, ongoing maintenance requirements, electric rate projections and much more to help the Board make an informed decision regarding the Wind Turbine project.  The grant application and the Request for Proposal are both non-binding steps and will not commit the College to anything at this time.  Dr. Huffman reported that Walt Zukowski and Jack Cantlin have approved a draft Fund Transfer Agreement that deals with the relationship between the IVCC Foundation and IVCC Board of Trustees and provides assurance that donations are spent in accordance with restrictions and intentions of the donors. This agreement will be presented to the IVCC Foundation Board on January 23 for approval before being presented to the IVCC Board at its February meeting.  The College’s current auditing firm has been with the College for six years.  Board policy requires changing auditors every six years.  The College will be seeking Request For Proposals for a new auditor for the FY2012 audit.  The Committee was asked to help review the specifications and help with the scoring of the submittals.

Mr. Mallery reported on the Facilities Committee meeting which was held prior to the January Board meeting.  There was consensus among the Board at the last Board meeting to lower the contingency from ten percent to five percent on the Capital Development Board Slope Maintenance Project. It is on this month’s Board agenda for approval by the Board.  This project is one small part of the total slope maintenance project.  It is being funded by Capital Renewal Funds.  At the most, IVCC may have to fund $4,693 if the project goes over the five percent contingency amount.  Priorities for the remaining portion of the slope maintenance project were identified.  The first priority was the repair of the dam and two options were given on how to approach the issue – a dry bottom or restore the lake.  The Committee was in consensus to move forward with soil borings and testing to obtain more detailed information before making a decision.  The Committee was also in consensus to move forward with applying for a major grant and a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the wind turbine project.  Both of these steps are non-binding and do not commit the College to the project.  If any board members have questions regarding the wind turbine project, they were to send them to Dr. Corcoran to be included in the RFP.  The Committee discussed the recognition for the Peter Miller Community Technology Center.  The lighted name on the east end of the building will require a change order.  Paul Basalay will work with the Capital Development Board and George Sollitt Construction on the cost and how the cost will be covered.  The second part of the recognition will be a plaque inside the main entrance to the building. 

Student Advisory Vote:  “Aye” – Mr. Cockrel.  Roll Call Vote:  “Ayes” – Ms. Olivero (telephonically), Ms. Englehaupt, Mr. Mallery, Mr. Narczewski, Dr. Driscoll, Dr. Huffman, and Mr. Thompson. “Nays” – None, motion carried.

The Board entered closed session at 7:29 p.m.  On a motion by Ms. Olivero and seconded by Dr. Huffman, the regular meeting resumed at 8 p.m.  Motion passed by voice vote.

CLOSED SESSION MINUTES

It was moved by Mr. Cockrel and seconded by Ms. Englehaupt to approve and retain the minutes of the December 20, 2011 closed session meeting with the amendments suggested.  Motion passed by voice vote.

RESOLUTION TO FILE INDUSTRIAL APPEALS WITH THE ILLINOIS PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD

It was moved by Mr. Narczewski and seconded by Ms. Englehaupt to approve the Resolution to File Industrial Appeals with the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, as presented.  This resolution authorizes the Zukowski Law Offices to appeal the final decision of the Putnam County Board of Review regarding the Tax Years 2008 and 2011 assessments of the Marquis Energy, LLC ethanol plant to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.  Motion passed by voice vote.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Dr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Cockrel, and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m.  Motion passed by voice vote.