CLC Board awards $3 million sustainability contract
Beginning an investment in reducing energy costs and making the College of Lake County more sustainable, the Board of Trustees approved a contract for $3.05 million for the construction of a geothermal field on the west side of the Grayslake campus. The contract was awarded to DeKalb Mechanical Inc. of De Kalb, Ill.
Scheduled for construction from March through August 2015, the geothermal field will consist of 80, 500-foot-deep bores and associated piping valves and controls. It will be used in heating and cooling the A and B Wings and a new cafeteria addition to be constructed as part of the Sustainable Campus Master Plan. Plans call for eventually expanding the geothermal system to provide heating and cooling for the entire Grayslake campus.
"We estimate that our investment in the geothermal field and plant will reduce our energy usage in the A and B wings by 50 percent," said Board Chairman Amanda Howland after the Dec. 16 meeting. "This investment provides the opportunity for our campus to be a living laboratory for teaching students how sustainability can be integrated into all our lives."
The project is part of the college's $148 million Sustainable Campus Master Plan, which will be constructed over the next five years. On the Grayslake campus, the project will include a new science building, renovation of the B and C wings to create a student services center, classroom technology upgrades, a cafeteria addition and repairs to an aging heating and air conditioning system. A major new building and renovations of existing space will be constructed at the Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan and a new chemistry classroom will be added at the Southlake Campus in Vernon Hills.
New general studies degree approved
The trustees also approved a new Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.) degree. The new option requires 21 credit hours in general education course work and 39 credit hours in electives. Pending approval by the Illinois Community College Board, the new degree will be offered starting in the Fall 2015 Semester.
Though the degree can be a practical option for many students, it is particularly useful for those who apply for the college's limited enrollment programs in health care, according to Dr. Richard Haney, vice president for educational affairs.
Before pursuing the degree, which is not intended as a transfer program, students will be required to meet with a counselor and complete a detailed plan of study. Several other area community colleges, including Harper, College of DuPage and Elgin Community College, offer similar degrees.
In addition to the new degree, the board also approved a new 18-credit- hour Installation Technician certificate in the Heating, Air Conditioning Engineering Technology program, effective Jan. 1, 2015. The certificate, which can be completed in one semester, provides graduates with the fundamental skills needed for an entry-level position installing HVAC/R equipment and fabricating sheet metal duct systems.
Financials, contracts and grants
The trustees accepted a grant for $122,648 from the Illinois Tollway and Illinois Community College Board to fund creating a Construction Business Development Center at CLC. The center will assist small businesses in the construction industry in seeking tollway contracts and provide training in finance and accounting for construction contractors; insurance bonding, estimating and bidding; project management; and doing business with the tollway. CLC will become the fourth center in Northern Illinois.
To access $197,500 in unspent State Capital Renewal funds, the trustees approved a change order to a previously approved project for updating the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and fire suppression equipment in the data center on the Grayslake campus. The board approved applying the capital renewal funds toward purchasing an additional roof top HVAC unit and expanding the uninterruptable power supply for the data center at a cost of $235,622. The cost not covered by the Capital Renewal funds will be paid by the college.
The board also approved new premiums for property, liability, accident and workers compensation insurance, as obtained through a quote process by R.J. Galla Co. Premiums for 2015 will total $658,148, up 2.9 percent from 2014.
In addition, the board approved the college's participation in the Securities and Exchange Commission's Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation initiative, relating to the disclosure of bond certificates with official statements dated between Jan. 26, 2012 and Sept. 11, 2013.
Academic calendar
To provide greater institution flexibility, the board approved revising academic calendars for the remainder of the 2014-15 year and the 2015-16 year to delete references to specific advising and registration periods. The change allows the college to begin the registration periods for the summer and fall 2015 semesters earlier.
Purchasing
In addition to the contract with DeKalb Mechanical, the board also approved:
A contract with Highstreet Technologies of Greenwood Village, Colo., for $223,200 to implement an employee time and labor and absence management system.
A contract with Alenco Tool Supply Company of Chicago for $48,590 to purchase two new geared head lathe machines for the machine tool trade program.
Human resources
The trustees approved an employee summer work week that will close the college on nine Fridays from June 12 to Aug. 7, 2015. During this period, employees will work a 36-hour week, Monday through Thursday.
In previous summers, the college offered a similar benefit but allowed employees to choose having Monday or Friday off, and the summer schedule extended for 10 weeks. In exchange for shortening the weeks, the board approved extending the holiday break this year to include Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. The college will re-open on Monday, Jan. 5.
In hiring actions, the board approved appointing Christian Roldan Santos as associate dean, Engineering, Math and Physical Sciences division, and Karl Williams as assistant director, Facilities Administration, both effective Jan. 5, 2015.