The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees met electronically on Tues., August 13, 2019, at 8 a.m. in the president’s office in the college’s Administration Center.
The SWCC board approved the hiring of Jon Oswald of Murray as electrical technology instructor for the 2019-20 academic year. Oswald, who has a Journeyman Class A Electrical License, was most recently employed as an electrical maintenance technician at Wellman Dynamics Corporation in Creston. He has been at Wellman’s since 2010. Prior to that, he was an electrician for Capstone Contracting in Creston and Baker Electric in Des Moines.
Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development, spoke to the board regarding the college’s Five-Year Facilities Plan. Lesan described the facilities plan as a guiding document for facility changes and updates at the college, but explained that projects in the plan may be moved from year-to-year and additional projects added as needs arise. Following Lesan’s presentation, the board approved the Five Year Facilities Plan as presented.
Katie Dukes was appointed as the college board secretary effective Aug. 19, 2019. Dukes, who was recently hired by the college as assistant to the president and coordinator of special projects, will begin her position at the college on Aug. 19 as well.
The board approved an electric line easement between Southwestern Community College and Interstate Power and Light Company. According to a memo from Lesan to Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president, the electrical services requested will go to the College Park Subdivision. The new electric line will cross the college’s furthermost southeast lot (north off of Townline Street), as well as the next lot to the north, to provide redundancy services to all residents of the subdivision. Currently, all services to the subdivision are delivered from North Cherry Street.
Lesan then gave the board a construction update related to the renovation being completed in the science labs in the college’s Instructional Center, as well as the addition to the ag facility located at the SWCC ag site, located north of the Creston campus. Lesan said work in the science labs is progressing on schedule. The underground construction has been completed and pouring of the concrete floors should begin later this week. He said at the ag site, workers are preparing to pour the footings for the building expansion.
Jerry Smith, board member from Osceola and SWCC Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, spoke briefly regarding the annual IACCT conference in Council Bluffs.
The meeting was then adjourned.
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