ACC climbing range plans beginning to take action
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ALPENA -- Alpena Community College's next generation climbing range is in the beginning stages of planning, with a concept design of the range presented on Thursday.
The climbing range plans were discussed at the ACC Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday. The future climbing range will be used by Utility Technology students, who are training to become linemen.
Dawn Stone, dean of workforce development at ACC, said that the climbing range will be located just south of the solar array along Woodward Avenue.
The college has received $3.125 million from the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the new climbing range. The range will allow future linemen to train on steel training towers and utility poles and a substation.
Stone said they have five years to use the grant funds.
"So we've got plenty of time and it’s really going to be a fairly quick project once it gets rolling," Stone said.
The concept design by Progressive Companies--a design, engineering, and architecture firm--
shows a parking lot and a garage/classroom space. The climbing range stretches to the south with two security gates and a gravel drive using ADA accessible gravel.
"We decided to put it just to the south of the solar array we can capitalize on using the same parking lot," Stone said. "When you pull in the driveway you're just gonna see the electric utility mecca."
She said that Progressive really engaged with the faculty and what they want for the climbing range project. Faculty will continue to be heavily engaged with the process.
The grant will also purchase a new bucket truck. The bucket trucks currently owned by ACC are not big enough to use on steel utility poles.
The City of Alpena water, sewer, and gas lines do not run north of the railroad tracks on Woodward Avenue, so a well and septic tank will be built for the classroom/garage space. The building will also have electric heating.
"Hopefully it's temporary, hopefully down the road in a few years we will be able to tap into the city system, ideally, but currently we have a solution, which is, at the moment, the most important thing," Stone said.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
*President Don MacMaster shared information about the Alpena Montmorency Alcona Educational Service District special education millage renewal to the board
*Trustee Joe Gentry discussed sending a survey to all the trustees to define what the board is looking for in the next president of ACC. MacMaster is planning to retire in Dec. 2027.
*Second year students Carter Kosinski and Bella Lear spoke about activities happening around campus including a campus cookout, welcome back bash, and a future laser tag event.
*Humanities Department Chair Sven Peasall gave an update about the department.
*MacMaster reported that headcount, credit hours, and contact hours are all up from Fall 2025.
*A Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) Grant was awarded to ACC for $3 million over five years. The grant will be used to develop a substation technician certificate program, remodel the lecture hall in the Natural Resources Center, installation of two classrooms of tomorrow, and more.
*The trustees approved a local strategic value resolution. The board approves a strategic value resolution each year to receive funds from the state government based on performance and best practice standards.
*The trustees approved the purchase of Admissions AI texting platform for $48,750 from Mongoose for three years. The platform will allow ACC applicants to initiate two-way conversational support 24/7 throughout the admissions process.