October 2010 Board Meeting Report

The Illinois Valley Community College board of trustees Tuesday approved equipment purchases for its renewable wind energy technician program including two mobile workstations to troubleshoot turbine problems.

The utility-scale workstations include one with a yaw system and another with a pitch-control unit. The units, totaling $144,200, along with a $22,899 virtual instrumentation suite, will be paid for through a National Science Foundation grant.

IVCC’s wind technician program, directed by electronics instructor Jim Gibson, attracted 24 students when it opened in August.

“We’re pleased with the number of students in the program and we believe enrollment will remain steady,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.

“There are already 500 turbines up in our district and permits are out for another 400. By 2025, the General Assembly has mandated 25 percent of the state’s electricity will come from renewable sources. With industry experts projecting another 7,300 turbines for Illinois, demand for wind technicians should remain high,” Corcoran said.

In other business, the board approved:

• The $85,000 match for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant that will finance HVAC improvements in buildings A, B, C, D and E. Through the $100,000 grant and match, the college will address uneven and inefficient heating and cooling in its five main buildings.
• The $30,850 bid of Hogan Walker of Morris for a utility tractor with a bucket loader and rear blade. The purchase includes trade-in of a 1988 Case tractor.
• The $254,187 bid of Lite Construction of Montgomery to replace fire alarm panels and facilitate the moving of the Security office from the Link to the lower level of Building C.
• Preparation of the 2010 tax levy.
• RFPs for the college’s health insurance including medical, dental and vision coverage. For eight years, IVCC has been a member of the Community College Insurance Consortium with third party administrator Benefit Administrative Systems (BAS). Last year, PPO coverage increased 12 percent and HMO coverage 21 percent.
• Reinstatement of seven Sheridan Correctional Center instructors and support staff for the 2010-11 academic year.
• The district-wide election of four trustees, three for six-year terms and one for a two-year term, on April 5. Nominating petitions can be filed Dec. 13-17 and Dec. 20.