Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. for their regular board meeting.
A public hearing was held for the lease of land for a tower on the Creston campus. During the public hearing, Ken Rech, SWCC board president from Red Oak, asked for any objections or petitions, but none were submitted or heard. Later in the meeting, the land lease was approved with Electronic Engineering. At the June board meeting, Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development, had explained to the board that the lease would need to be extended until September 30, 2012, due to a delay in getting equipment transferred from one tower to another. Lesan said further details of this arrangement have been worked out and with the new terms, the lease will be extended at a rate of $500 per month through the end of the lease. Lesan said if the tower is not removed by September 30, the rent will be increased to $1,000 for the month of October and $2,000 for the months of November and December.
Lesan reported to the board that a collective bargaining agreement was reached between the Southwestern Community College Education Association and Southwestern Community College. The board ratified the agreement, which includes a 3.5 percent salary increase in the salary pool for faculty members, plus a flat $750.
During the president’s report, Dr. Barb Crittenden asked Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development, to report to the board regarding tornado recovery. Lesan stated a June 20 rain storm had caused additional water damage to Spartan Hall, one of the apartment-style residence halls damaged originally by the tornado. Lesan explained the rain storm is considered a separate occurrence from the original tornado damage and, therefore, additional expenses were associated with it. Overall, in regard to student housing, he said the majority of the dry wall in the damaged rooms has been hung and is ready to be painted. He mentioned the glass for the face of the Technical Center, another of the damaged buildings, has started arriving and is being installed. Lesan said the carpet for the adult and continuing education offices, located in the Performing Arts Center, is being laid this week. It is anticipated the adult and continuing education staff will be moving back into their offices next week. The staff members are currently being housed in various areas on campus.
Also during the president’s report, Crittenden invited board members to tour the homes constructed by SWCC’s carpentry and building trades programs at 1305 and 1307 N. Mulberry Street, as well as the site for next year’s carpentry house at 505 S. Elm Street, following the board meeting. Flooring was recently installed in the houses on Mulberry Street and they are both listed with Creston real estate agencies. The foundation has been poured at the 505 S. Elm Street site.