New Photo by Reagan Voetberg Alpena Community College President Don MacMaster, center, speaks during the ACC Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday night.

ALPENA — The new student housing units project at Alpena Community College can officially start after a board of trustees vote Wednesday night.

At the Feb. 20 ACC Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees approved a resolution authorizing Nick Brege, vice president of administration and finance, to sign contracts related to the grant(s) funding ACC’s new student housing expansion project.

College officials have determined with United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) loan specialists an agreement that Brege should be given signing authority on all aspects of the student housing expansion project including authorization of payment requests to ensure timely execution of project timeline and contract execution.

The board of trustees voted on Wednesday to approve the resolution to give Brege signing authority over the project, including authorizing payment requests.

The new student housing project is being funded through grants from the USDA RD. The housing unit would make room for 32 students, and it is expected to be completed in August 2026 in time for students arriving on campus.

“We had a meeting last Monday with Meridian, the architect, and USDA RD,” ACC President Don MacMaster said. “We basically got the blessing to make it happen.”

“We’re thinking about excavation maybe next week, possibly,” he said.

Kurt Konieczny, director of facilities management at ACC, said that students in the Utility Arborist programs will be taking down a couple trees Thursday to start off the project.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

— The ACC Board of Trustees approved on second reading the proposed changes to Policy 1001, including the noted title substitution, policies 1005, 1006, 2003, 3002, 3003, 3005, and 3008, and the addition of proposed policies 1016 and 1017.

— The ACC Board of Trustees approved the bid from Zann Brothers Concrete for concrete work at the World Center for Concrete Technology at a cost not to exceed $80,260. After 25 years of operation, the Harris Hall facility, which houses the WCCT, is in need of maintenance services, including replacement of its circle drive and paver walkway.

— Each year the Governor of Michigan signs a bill into law that provides funding for K-12 schools, community colleges and state universities. The bill includes an appropriation for Alpena Community College which includes an amount for performance funding. The performance funding is based on “local strategic value,” which is defined in terms of three categories. Each category covers five standards of local strategic value. The law requires the ACC Board of Trustees to pass a resolution certifying that the college meets at least four out of five of the best practice standards under each of the three categories. ACC not only meets but also exceeds the best practice standards required by the appropriations law.

— The ACC Board of Trustees voted to certify that ACC does meet the local strategic value standards required for state appropriations.

— In the President’s report, MacMaster reported that enrollment is up 2.1% in headcount from Fall 2024. They also broke ground on the solar array project this week. Funding for a second climbing range for the utility technology program has been approved.

— Alpena County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Lash reported on the past year being the student liaison officer on campus. It was the first year that the Sheriff’s Office has had a presence on campus.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.