March 29, 2024

$600K project planned at SWCC

A bid of $611,180 was approved for the construction project in room 220 of the instructional building at Southwestern Community College (SWCC) during a board meeting Tuesday.

This project is a result of recent renovations in the 200-bay hallway of the building, during which asbestos was found in the ceiling material, causing SWCC to bring in a company to abate and then clean the whole area affected.

The plan is to get room 220, which is a 250-seat auditorium, back to usable condition, which involves replacing the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) units.

The project has begun and is estimated to be complete Sept. 28. The work will be done by Camblin Mechanical out of Atlantic.

“This is taking original HVAC units from 1970 – there’s nine of them – we’ll be replacing those with five current HVAC systems,” said Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development. “So, they’ll be a lot more efficient and will affect all of (room) 220, the northeast commons, part of the library and all of the mezzanine upstairs. We’ll be air conditioning and heating all of that area with those five units rather than the current nine.”

The project will also improve safety for SWCC employees and anyone who comes out to service the new HVAC units.

“We’ve had a safety issue there, and we’ve known that for some time,” Lesan said. “This is actually going build a 10 foot by 20 foot catwalk suspended from the ceiling and out from the wall. All the (HVAC) units will be suspended from the ceiling around that catwalk. ... It will be a lot safer for employees.”

The work in room 220 will not affect instruction, said Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction.

“The room was out of commission all last year,” Taylor said. “We don’t use it for any normal classrooms; we do use it for when we have speakers come in for students. But, we’ve been using the Allied Health auditorium, and it’s been working just fine for us.”

Building in Leon

The board also approved a new building partnership contract with Decatur County Development Corporation.

For the past 10 years or so, Clarke Community High School and Central Decatur High School students in SWCC’s high school career academy program have together built a house in Osceola. The last time the students built a house in Leon was in 2006-07.

High school juniors and seniors who participate in the building program can earn up to 30 college credits in two years to earn a one-year carpentry diploma. Then, those students have the option of attending SWCC for one more year after high school to earn an associate’s degree.

This fall, SWCC will partner with Decatur County Development Corporation, instead of Clarke County Development Corporation, for the students to build a house in Leon rather than Osceola.

“It’s two-fold. We’ve built for nearly 10 years in Osceola, and Central Decatur, Leon, we have not built a house there for, well, 10 years now, so it’s probably their turn,” Taylor said. “We’d like to get to a point where maybe we alternate – build one in Leon, one in Osceola every other year or maybe two years. Next year, we’re going to go with Decatur County Development because of enrollment and because we haven’t built a house there in a while.”

Of the roughly 22 students enrolled the upcoming year, the majority are Central Decatur students.

“This might be a way to appease that community as well and help the housing market out, (while) getting some students educated,” Taylor said.

The new 1,000- to 1,200-square-foot house will be at 207 NW Sixth St. in Leon. It will be funded by Decatur County Development.

The board also approved the employment of Ron Utley, SWCC carpentry and building trades instructor, whose primary responsibility will be leading this annual high school building project in Leon and Osceola. Utley replaces Charlie Mundy, former carpentry and building trades instructor and sports shooting coach.