January 26, 2015 Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes

Committee Members Physically Present

David O. Mallery, Chair
Laurie A. Bonucci
Jane E. Goetz

Committee Members Absent

Others Physically Present

Jerry Corcoran, President
Doug Bernabei, Peru Police Chief
Jim Knoblauch, Oglesby Police Chief
Robert Uranich, LaSalle Police Chief
Andy Bacidore, LaSalle Fire Chief
Cheryl Roelfsema, Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Deborah Anderson, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sue Isermann, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mark Grzybowski, Interim Associate Vice President for Student Services
Fran Brolley, Director of Community Relations and Development

The meeting was called to order at 1 p.m. by Mr. Mallery. 

DISCUSSION OF A REGIONAL DISPATCH CENTER

A month ago Dr. Corcoran received a letter from the Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch Center Planning Board (IVRD) requesting to open formal discussions in the hope of constructing a regional dispatch center on or near the grounds of Illinois Valley Community College.  Mr. Bernabei provided a summary of how the IVRD came about. Currently, the cities of LaSalle, Peru, and Oglesby operate their own independent 911 dispatch centers.  In recent years the centers have been faced with major technology upgrades and are being mandated to migrate to “next generation” 911, which has an extremely high cost.  Dispatch centers across the state are being encouraged to consolidate when practical and appropriate. Consolidation would provide a more affordable service and a better public safety service.  The three communities came together and formed a planning board.  They met with a 911 outside consulting firm to make a decision as to doing business as usual, merging within the communities or the regional concept.  The IVRD Board lobbied for funds from the state and was awarded a $1.5 million grant to construct a regional dispatch center.  The next decision was where to locate the center.  As they reviewed maps and looked for somewhere in the middle of the three communities, the IVCC campus and grounds seemed to be a neutral place and an ideal location.  Dr. Corcoran was contacted and the IVRD hoped IVCC would consider partnering with them to some extent.  The IVRD toured other facilities to see what space would be needed and it was determined a free-standing building, approximately 5,000 square feet, would house the IVRD.  Along with an operations room/dispatch room, office space, break room, restrooms, public lobby, classroom facility, technology-based control room, and a sally port garage space, there will be a prisoner booking room and prisoner holding rooms.  Mr. Bernabei reassured the committee members that this will not be a jail, just a holding room until the prisoner can be transferred to a jail.   The IVRD Board would like the dispatch center to be located where the barn is rather than in the heart of the campus.  The IVRD Board is currently in the process of searching for an architect that has experience in designing this type of building.  The IVCC Facilities Committee noted the idea is a great way to save on resources and would like to discuss the College’s Master Plan with its architect to make sure the dispatch center would not jeopardize any future construction on the campus.  By partnering with the IVRD, it could be possible for IVCC to secure water and sewer to its baseball fields.  Agreements could also be reached on snow removal and grass cutting for the dispatch center.  The Facilities Committee is a committee of the IVCC Board which will meet on February 12, 2015 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room.  The IVRD was encouraged to attend the Board meeting to answer any questions or make any comments during the public comment of the meeting.  If the IVCC Board supports the Regional Dispatch Center on February 12, the IVRD would receive a letter of commitment.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Mallery declared the meeting adjourned at 1:38 p.m.