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Board expresses excitement over facilities master plan
The Advocate
The MHCC District Board was presented an in-depth look at the new college master plan Wednesday night, much to the delight of board members as well as those in attendance.
Deb France, a consultant for OH planning + design, offered the overview and plans for the 10-year project.
After France’s presentation, State Sen. Rod Monroe expressed his excitement to crowd laughter by saying “Let’s do it.” Board Chair Beverly Russell also expressed her excitement, saying, “I think I speak for the whole board and the audience by saying that I’m excited, and I agree with Rod: Let’s do it.”
Prior to Wednesday’s board meeting, MHCC President John Sygielski said of the $225,000 master plan, “Spending money on this, at this time of (faculty contract) negotiations and budget constraints, seems ill-timed; however, if not now, when?
“I am going to be dinged for everything I spend money on,” Sygielski said.
“But if we are going to get money for capital, we need a bond. The reason some of our bonds have failed is because we didn’t have a plan. I need to make sure we are doing our due dilligence to the community. This is going to increase credibility in the view of our community. I am very proud to have said we have a plan.”
Cassie McVeety, vice president of the office of college advancement, said the master plan gives the college a framework for how to continue to build.
“Everything happens within the context of our framework,” McVeety said.
“This is a very normal thing. It’s very unusual for a campus not to have a master plan.”
JoAnn Zahn, vice president of administrative services, said the last time the college had a master plan was in 1999, but that it was put “on the shelf” because a bond wasn’t passed.
Sygielski said the total cost of the plan was unclear.
“It’s all guestimates at this point,” said Sygielski. “At a first pass, we’re looking at probably $125 million to $175 million over the 10-year period.”
Sygielski said the $225,000 for the master plan came from the facilities fund, while the money to fund the building of the project would come from federal, state and private grants.
“We have presented to many businesses and now people have something to get behind,” said Sygielski. “It’s an investment that will bear many more times the money spent to get bonds and other funds. I understand why I’d get dinged but this is money that has to be spent.”
Sygielski said he is “very confident” the college will get the money to fund the project.
After the presentation Wednesday night, only board member Dave Shields expressed some fear, saying, “I just hope we can pay for it.”
France said the next step would be securing state and county approval to begin construction, which she said should happen later this year. Construction is not projected to begin until late 2011 or early 2012.
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