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January is shaping up to be a busy month for the Iowa Valley Community College District.
The IVCCD Board approved plans for the Grinnell campus Gunsmithing and Entry Improvements project and set an opening bid date of Jan. 27. The gunsmithing technology program started in 2013.
The cost of the project which includes construction, signage, painting and room for potential unexpected work is estimated at about $873,000.
Board member Clark Lawler noted the estimate presented Wednesday is slightly lower than what had been discussed in recent months.
"Initially OPN (Architects) thought they would need to account for work to move the computer lab out of its existing space. Our internal IT folks did that in the fall semester," Kristi Fisher, IVCCD chancellor, said.
The bidding period will go until Feb. 10, with hopes of awarding the bid during the Feb. 15 board meeting. The contractor would gain access to the site in March.
The estimated completion date of the project is Sept. 3, 2021.
In addition to the Grinnell project, the board set a public hearing date on plans, specifications contract and costs for a locker room and activity center project at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls. The hearing will be held at the Marshalltown Community College Conference Center rooms 608-610, at 3 p.m., Jan. 13.
A public hearing on an interior renovation project at MCC was also set for Jan. 27.
"It's a little different with Grinnell and Ellsworth. It's a more comprehensive list of projects," Treasurer Kathleen Pink said. "These projects won't start at the same time. Architects believe we can get better bids if a contractor bids all these projects together. We're probably not as far along as we are on Ellsworth."
The district had seven employees file for voluntary early retirement, bringing the total in the last three months to 10. These seven employees have a combined 164 years of experience, according to Pink.
"We are truly grateful for the years they have dedicated at this institution. We will have a tough time filling their shoes," said Larry Johnson, board president. "We send our grateful thanks for having them serve us as they did."
In other business, the board approved appointments and elections for the coming year. Several board members will remain in their positions, including:
• Larry Johnson will continue as board president
• Paul Pohlson as vice president
• Barbara Jennings as secretary
• Kathleen Pink as treasurer
Fisher reported 40 students will graduate at the end of this semester, while Johnson lauded the accomplishment considering the many challenges presented by the derecho and COVID-19.
"We had a good year in '20 in spite of the circumstances," he said.
Contact Joe Fisher at jfisher@timesrepublican.com