ACC Trustees sets sights on the future

Crystal Nelson

By CRYSTAL

NELSON

News Staff Writer

The Alpena Community College Board of Trustees is looking toward the future with the approval of a resolution to submit five-year capital outlay documents for 2010-1014. The board voted 7-0 to approve the documents explaining its top three priority projects with the hopes the state of Michigan will fund them.

In his reading of the document, ACC President Olin Joynton said every year the college is required to submit a five-year plan for capital outlay in order to be eligible for a 50 percent match from the state for capital improvements on campus.

The college listed as its first priority the transformation of its utility technology and electrical apprentice programs into a comprehensive and coordinated set of electrical power offerings linked to the state of Michigan's growing markets and alternative energy initiatives. The college would build a new facility estimated to cost $6,825,000 which would house existing programs and new curricular offerings in wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and clean coal combustion technologies.

ACC's second priority would involve the college working in cooperation with Lafarge to build a Lafarge training center onto the World Center for Concrete Technology.

Its third request would continue a proposal to construct a transportation center of excellence at the cost of $5,550,000 and in addition, would renovate the space vacated in the Besser Technical Center Annex and in the Besser Technical Center at the cost of $2,448,000.

Trustee Tom Townsend said the plan is extremely aggressive and extremely well thought out.

"I'd like to say that everybody knows that these are plans that are put in front of the state on a yearly basis that may or may not be funded ... this is probably the best plan we've had in a long time."

The only opposition to the resolution was from Trustee Florence Stibitz who had concerns about the words "clean coal combustion" and a reference to the Wolverine Power Cooperative in the document. Stibitz was concerned the board would be seen as promoting a coal power plant.

The board voted 7-0 to amend the wording of the resolution and omit three words, "as stated above," from it before it was passed.

In other business:

• Joynton reported that he journeyed to Gaylord to sign a memorandum of understanding to start physical assistant instruction coming fall for residents of ACC's service area.

• Joynton also reported that Director of Public Information and Marketing Jay Walterreit completed the ACC Annual Report for the 2007-08 academic year. Walterreit estimated that approximately 1,200 copies of the report would be made and it would be available online in the near future.

• The board voted 7-0 to approve the 403(b) plan. New IRS regulations require the board to approve an administration plan and have it in place by January 1, 2008.

• The next ACC Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Dec. 18 at 7p.m..

Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.