Pearce, Powers halls could receive $24.5 million in structural improvements
A $24.5-million Capital Outlay renovation for Pearce and Powers halls is up for approval at Thursday’s board of trustees meeting.
The request, which includes upgrades to classroom furniture, floors, lights, windows, roofing, doors, fiber optics, ceilings and a new HVAC system to both buildings, was submitted to the state Jan. 30. Pearce Hall’s elevators also would be replaced under the plan, said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management.
Before the plan can come to fruition, the Capital Outlay Committee must approve the capital outlay funds for the university. The joint-committee hears requests from the state’s 15 public universities and 20-some community colleges each spring to draw funding for campus projects.
“There’s not a project that is planning to go forward until we receive funding from the state,” Lawrence said. “(The purpose of the renovations) is to extend the buildings’ useful life for the future and make them more energy efficient.”
Pearce Hall would receive $15.5 million toward the renovations and the renovation of Powers Hall will cost $9 million.
Lawrence said when deciding which buildings recieve funds for renovation, the university examines a building’s age, the frequency of use of the building and the building’s condition.
Other business
Also on the board’s agenda is a proposal to give Merit Network, Inc., an organization the university is already affiliated with, part of the annual membership fees to pay down a bond debt acquired by the organization as a part of a project they have ongoing to expand Broadband networks across the state.
Merit acquired bond debt to match federal funds for their project.
Merit is owned by the public universities of Michigan, excluding Saginaw Valley State University, said Roger Rehm, vice president of Information Technology.
“We are asking the board to give Merit the capability to use a portion of our membership fees to pay down a bond they’ve taken on as a result of some networking projects,” Rehm said.
CMU’s portion of the repayment would amount to 4.23 percent of the total $8 million bond, or $264,105, an amount the university pays to the organization annually.
“The impact of the project is pretty significant and what the board of trustees is being asked for is relatively minor, just a legal nicety to make sure the board is aware of what Merit funds are being used for in order to support the project,” Rehm said.
The board also will be asked to approve the president’s authority to negotiate with the Faculty Association (MEA), the Campus Police (POAM) and Service-Maintenance (AFSCME) unions, for “2011-12 and beyond” on the board’s behalf.
Tim Connors, Faculty Association president and Communications and Dramatic Arts professor, said the agreement to give Ross the authority is always part of the negotiating process.
He said the Faculty Association’s contract is up for renewal and the university is in “bargaining mode.”
“Whenever contracts are up for renewal, the president is usually given authority to negotiate,” Connors said.
