August 26, 2020 Facilities Committee Meeting

The Facilities Committee of the Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 met at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.

Committee Members Physically Present

Angela M. Stevenson, Secretary                     

Committee Members Absent

Committee Members Virtually Present

David O. Mallery, Committee Chair

Maureen O. Rebholz

Other Board Members Physically Present

Jane E. Goetz, Board Chair

Others Physically Present

Jerry Corcoran, President

Chris Dunlap, Director of Information Technology

Dominic Rivara, Mayor, City of Oglesby

Jason Curran, Commissioner, City of Oglesby

Michael Genin, Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA)

Sean McCarthy, Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA)

Dominick Demonica, Demonica/Kemper Architects

Others Virtually Present

Cheryl Roelfsema, Vice President for Business Services and Finance

Deborah Anderson, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Patrice Hess, Director of Learning Resources

Mr. Mallery called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

PROTECTION, HEALTH AND SAFETY (PHS) PROJECTS

Two projects are being recommended for the 2020 tax levy:  Door Access Upgrade and Fireplace Lounge ADA.

Door Access Upgrade

Mr. Demonica informed that the software for the college’s current door access system is outdated and no longer supported by its manufacturer. The project will upgrade this software and add eight additional doors for the key card system. There are 170 door locations for this comprehensive plan and no cost has been assigned to the project yet. Mr. Mallery inquired if the stakeholder groups have been included in the process to rank and prioritize the PHS projects. Ms. Roelfsema noted that the Operations Committee has discussed the projects and is of the opinion that they are high priority.

Fireplace Lounge ADA

This project is for the removal of the ADA lift in the Fireplace Lounge and replacement with a ramp. The lift is close to 20 years old. Mr. Demonica advised that if the maximum capacity of the room is 50 occupants or more, an additional door and stairs would need to be added for the space at an increased cost of approximately $10,000. Dr. Anderson informed that the room is utilized for classes and assembly events with typically 40 people.

 

The committee was in agreement to move forward with the PHS projects and present them to the whole Board. Mr. Demonica noted that both projects would be complete for presentation to the Board on October 8 or November 12.

RAMP DOCUMENTS

Mr. Demonica informed that the Community College Capital Resource Allocation Management Program (RAMP) is the request of each college for state funding for capital improvements. RAMP provides an opportunity for state funds along with college funds to be used locally and make enhancements to the college. Submitting the RAMP projects would get the college on the list for capital requests. The three RAMP projects were discussed at the June 4, 2019 Facilities Committee Meeting. The Board later voted to submit the New Agriculture Center RAMP to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). The Library/Student Success Center and the Professional Development Center (previously referred to as the Technology Commons) projects were held for further discussion.

New Agriculture Center

The New Agriculture Center RAMP has been updated and resubmittal of this project to the ICCB is recommended. Mr. Demonica informed that the Agriculture Center would include a lab, classroom, faculty offices and student space and would be located south of campus in an AG Complex adjacent to a recently completed storage facility.

Library/Student Success Center

The Library/Student Success Center RAMP has some minor changes but no additional cost implications. Changes were made to now include the Student Technology Help Desk in the building A section of the Library. The project involves moving the Help Desk, Writing Center and Peer Tutoring Center from the Learning Commons to Jacobs Library. Mr. Demonica noted that the changes would make the space much more inviting for students and that other colleges are going in this direction with similar designs.

Professional Development Center

The Professional Development Center RAMP also has some minor changes but no additional cost implications. The Center of Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Assessment would relocate to what is now the Learning Commons to become a resource site for faculty and staff training.

 

Mr. Demonica advised that projects from last year would have no escalation factors and would be at status quo with the dollars submitted from last year remaining the same. Mr. Mallery inquired about the priority of the RAMP projects.  Mr. Demonica referred to Table 1 of each proposal with the ranking: 1) Library/Student Success Center; 2) Professional Development Center; and 3) New Agriculture Center. Ms. Goetz expressed appreciation for the great amount of work involved in preparation of the RAMP documents and Ms. Stevenson added that the projects are impressive. The committee recommended that the RAMP proposals be presented to the full Board.

SOLAR FARM FEASIBILITY

Initial discussion on partnering with the City of Oglesby on a solar farm located on the college campus was introduced by Oglesby Mayor Rivara.  The Mayor informed that the city needs a solar farm to increase its renewable energy and locating the farm at IVCC could provide an educational opportunity for the college’s renewable energy program and save the college money on utilities. This would involve IVCC properties annexing into the city first in order to be served by the city. Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) is willing to work with the college and the city to evaluate best means to create a solar installation training center. This would include working with IVCC and the city to assist in securing outside funding sources and coordinated metering and data sharing from the proposed facility. Mr. Mallery noted that there is merit in further discussion of this proposal and thought that the full Board would be interested in hearing about the benefits and proposed opportunity. Committee members were in agreement. Ms. Goetz thanked the participants for the presentation and noted that we will need to continue to study the proposal.

OTHER

Mr. Mallery expressed appreciation to all who participated in the Facilities Committee meeting both physically and virtually.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Mallery declared the meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.