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Events center gets state go-ahead
If the money can be raised, state officials have given the go-ahead for the construction of a new $9.5 million events center at McCook Community College.
At last week's meeting of the Coordinating Commission for Post Secondary Education, the Commission voted to approve Mid-Plains Community College -- Mc-Cook Community College's proposal for construction of the project.
According to Mike Wemhoff, CCPE's Facilities Officer, the Commission accepted MPCC-MCC's proposal to construct a 52,990 gross square feet events center at McCook Community College.
The project would replace functions in True Hall which was constructed in 1939. The commission's approval completes the regulatory conditions mandated by the State of Nebraska with all publicly funded post-secondary educational institutions.
At the June 2007 Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors meeting, the board voted to proceed with raising the funds necessary for the construction of the McCook Events Center, pending the Commission's approval.
The MCC Events Center project is estimated to cost $9.5 million. A minimum of $7 million in private donations, $500,000 in capital improvement property tax funds, and a facilities corporation of up to $2 million are proposed as the source of funds.
The College estimates that about $141,364/year ($2.67/gsf/year) in additional funding would be needed for ongoing facility operating and maintenance (O&M) costs to support the new construction. General operating funds would be the source of funding for the additional O&M costs. These costs take into account shifting existing general operating funds used for True Hall O&M expenses for use in supporting the new facility.
Construction of a new events center will provide space for a gymnasium with 1,500 to 2,000 spectator seats, a smaller gym for practices and physical education activities, aerobics/cardiovascular/ weight training areas, locker rooms, equipment storage, training room, coaching offices, and a meeting/conference room.
Site work would include construction of about 210 additional parking spaces. The McCook Community College Events Center project will be located on a 2.95 acre site is directly north of campus in a portion of Kelley Park.
Approximately 22 percent of students enrolled at McCook Community College participate in one or more of MCC's six intercollegiate sports programs. The facility will also provide intramural and recreation space for MCC's students, faculty, staff and the general population of the McCook area.
The new events center would also be used for commencement and other campus or community programs such as college/career fairs, conferences /workshops, and other student related activities.
According to the information received by the College from the Commission, the approval process calls for progress reports and any major change in scope of the project which may require Commission action per the Commission's Procedures Concerning Capital Construction.
As defined in the Commission's procedures, a Change in Scope means a significant change in a capital construction project including, but not limited to; an increase in the amount of tax funds designated by the Legislature used to construct, acquire or provide facilities' operations and maintenance for a capital construction project by 5 percent or more above inflationary increases (minimum of $50,000 increase); a change in the use of a project budget category by 35 percent or more (minimum of $50,000 reallocation); a change in the allocation of square footage for any major room-use category by 15 percent or more with the amount of this shift in space being at least 5 percent of the total net square feet of the proposed project (minimum of 1,000 net square feet change); or a programmatic change which involves a revision in the program and/or for what purpose the majority of a major room-use category serves.
According to Dr. Michael Chipps, President of Mid-Plains Community College, the fundraising process has begun. "We are pleased to be on our way to expanding the college. We have signed a contract with the Clements Group-a highly successful nationally recognized fund-raising firm to conduct the fundraising campaign. We have also appointed Terri Burchell to assist the Clements Group, the College, and my office with the capital campaign. While we are just getting started, we have already made significant progress with developing our fundraising efforts."
The College has submitted a similar proposal to the Commission for the construction of a health complex on the South Campus of North Platte Community College. The Commission will review that proposal at their September meeting which, coincidently, will be held at North Platte Community College's North Campus.
"In recent months, we have been in direct contact with Commission staff to answer questions about the proposed facility in North Platte," said Dr. Chipps. "It is an exciting time in the life of Mid-Plains Community College and under the direction of our visionary Board of Governors we are taking the College to a new level of successful operations. We anticipate that our constituents will support our efforts to make these facilities a reality."