September 2011 Board Report

The Illinois Valley Community College board Tuesday gave notice of intent to issue $5 million in funding bonds to pay debt certificates for the Community Instructional Center project, which includes construction of a new Community Technology Center.

With the state contributing $22.8 million, or 75 percent of the $30.5 million project, IVCC’s local match is $7.6 million. The bonds will cover roughly two-thirds of the match and the college has already made a $2.5 million deposit.

A public hearing on the bonds will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, prior to the board’s monthly meeting. In August, the board accepted the proposal of First National Bank of Ottawa for $5 million in debt certificates with a variable interest rate starting at 2.6 percent.

In a related action, the board formally approved the $21,138,000 bid of George Sollitt Construction Company of Wood Dale for construction of the CTC. Sollitt had been recommended by the Capital Development Board and the board’s own facilities committee.

“All five bids were very close for a project of this size,” said CDB Sr. Project Manager Steve Halm in a letter to the board. “So it’s reasonable to assume the bids accurately reflect the value of the work.”

However, with Sollitt’s bid coming in 6.6 percent over estimate, the board authorized the lowering of the contingency for phase 2 construction from 10 percent to five, a difference of over $1,056,900 million.

“If circumstances dictate a contingency over five percent, we have reserves to make up the difference,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran. Phase 2 focuses on replacement of 40-plus year-old temporary east campus buildings.

A $2.3 million contingency was built into the overall three-phase project.

In other CTC business, the board approved $41,900 in asbestos abatement for Room 202 in Building G by Colfax Corporation. The room, commonly known as the upper gymnasium, will be home to the therapeutic massage program after it moves from its east campus location. Work is expected to begin later this fall.

The board also approved:

  • Renewal of the cash-farm lease with Randall Michelini at $227 per acre on 149 acres for a total payment of $34,000. 
  • An updated Master Plan. Illinois community colleges are required to submit updated master plans to the Illinois Community College Board every five years.
  • Nearly $1.5 million in Protection, Health and Safety (PHS) projects for tax year 2011 such as major renovations to all restrooms, ADA accessibility modifications to the music room (D223), and replacement of all original exterior and interior door panic devices.
  • A letter of intent to connect to, and become an “anchor institution” for, iFiber, Illinois Fiber Resources Group. The letter commits IVCC to connecting its main campus and Ottawa Center to the network by June 2013 at a cost of $7,200 for each site.
  • Request for proposals for an on-site health clinic at the college. The college is seeking proposals from health care providers for an outpatient clinic for students and employees for a minimum of 16 hours a week.
  • 3.5 percent salary increases for Corcoran and vice presidents Rick Pearce, Cheryl Roelfsema and Lori Scroggs.
  • Approval of a financial aid and veteran’s benefits advisor for the financial aid office. The advisor will address a dramatic increase in financial aid applications. Veteran’s Affairs moved into financial aid last year.
  • A resolution supporting La Salle CARES’ application for funding under the Early Childhood Construction Grant. The organization hopes to build a comprehensive early childhood education center.
  • The release of various closed session minutes from 2004 to 2011 and the destruction of all verbatim audiotape recordings of closed session meetings up to March 2010.
  • A 1.5 percent salary increase for coaches for 2011-12.

The board also learned:

  • Jeannie Franklin has been hired as the payroll and benefits coordinator, Joseph Cardona as a third-shift custodian and William Pitsenbarger as a second-shift custodian.
  • Of the retirement of custodian Carol Jo Finley and the resignations of evening enrollment services assistant Kelsey Maas and Illinois Small Business Development Center business specialist Melinda Sammons.
  • The City of Oglesby has approached IVCC about providing electric service to a portion of the college; IVCC currently receives its electricity from Ameren. Corcoran also said Oglesby’s lift station may be in need of an upgrade and the college is assisting by looking for grants to offset some of those costs.
  • The college filled 41 full- and part-time positions in fiscal 2011. Glenna Jones, director of human resources, said 36 percent of IVCC employees are 55 or older. “We are anticipating 58 (employees) or 12 percent of our workforce may be retiring in the next five to ten years,” said Jones.