ECC officials pledge ethics, fiscal responsibility with referendum
A squeaker victory for Elgin Community College referendum proponents, a tanking economy and hefty campaign contributions from area firms may seem a volatile combination to some.
However, college officials said Wednesday, facilities will be updated on fiscally and ethically sound terms.
"We realize it's difficult times for people and the close vote only reinforces that," college President David Sam said. Careful spending, he said, "has been a mantra throughout the campaign and will continue to be as we move forward."
Early Wednesday morning, the final precinct was counted, giving Elgin Community College's $178 million bond request a 29-vote margin, according to unofficial totals. With all 269 precincts counted, 19,456 residents - 50 percent of voters - supported the plan, and 19,427 - 49.9 percent - opposed it. The referendum question sought to fund the first portion of a $387 million master plan to update the college by 2030.
Bonds will be sold to build a $60 million health careers center; a $26 million expansion and redesign of its library; a $24 million renovation of the student resource center; and a new $15 million training facility for police, firefighters and emergency management technicians. Maintenance projects, including installing a sprinkler system, re-roofing some buildings and adding energy-efficient windows, which have been deferred in recent years due to a loss in state funding, also are built in.
Drawings, Sam said, have been completed for the college's new library and health career center. Pending board final review, Sam said, the two facilities will be "shovel ready" in about six months.
Within hours of the referendum's passage, construction contributions were among the topics discussed by commenters on the dailyherald.com Web site.
According to the State Board of Elections, which tracks contributions to campaigns of more than $500, several local construction, engineering and architectural firms backed the ballot question with big bucks.
Elgin-based architects Burnidge, Cassell and Associates donates $17,500 to the Friends of ECC fund supporting the referendum question this spring.
Batavia architecture, engineering and construction firm Kluber, Skahan and Associates gave $22,500.
On top of Elgin's Shales McNutt Construction's $10,000 contribution, firm president Jack Shales gave another $2,500 out of pocket.
Sam said that the majority of firms donating to the friends of ECC fund "are longtime supporters of the college. ... They see the value of ECC, they recruit students from here. They see the college as an asset that enhances businesses. And if they supported it, it's because of that."
Sam said he believes that the economic downturn will guarantee that competitive bidding, not campaign money, will be guide the college's contractor selection process.
"Within the community there are many architectural firms, construction firms. They will compete," Sam said.
The request, according to college estimates, works out to about 31/2 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. For the owner of a $200,000 home, taxes will rise by approximately $23 in the first year; for the owner of a $350,000 home, about $40.
How much local firms contributed to ECC's referendum campaign
Burnidge, Cassell and Associates; Architecture; Elgin; $17,500
Carey Electric Contracting, Inc.; Electrical; McHenry;$2,000
DLA Ltd.; Architecture; Elgin; $5,000
F.J. Bero and Company; Plumbing; Elgin; $3,750
IHC Construction; Construction; Elgin; $15,000
KJWW P.C. Engineering; Engineering; Rock Island; $10,000
Kluber, Skahan and Associates; Architecture; Batavia; $22,500
Lamp Inc.; Construction; Elgin; $15,000
Landmark Engineering Group; Engineering; East Moline;$10,000
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local; Plumbing; Aurora; $1,000
Northwest Contractors Inc.; Construction; Hampshire; $1,000
Shales McNutt Construction; Construction; Elgin; $10,000
Jack Shales, Shales McNutt Pres.; Construction; Elgin; $2,500
Singles Roofing; Roofing; Elgin; $5,000
Walker Parking/Construction; Engineers; Elgin; $1,000
Wet Solutions Inc.; Water Treatment; Arlington Hts.; $1,000
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections contributions database