THREE RIVERS COLLEGE TRUSTEES OK $1 MILLION TO RENOVATE CRISP CENTER

DONIPHAN -- Three Rivers Community College trustees have authorized a renovation project for the Crisp Technology Center.

Institutional Development Director Joe Rozman explained the renovations of the $1 million project at a trustee meeting here this week. Of the $1 million, $500,000 would be used for construction and renovation and $500,000 for equipment.

"Right now we're looking at construction and renovation," Rozman explained. "We've got to build it before we can equip it."

The school's chief financial officer, George Jarboe, explained the college has already spent $150,000 to renovate the offices in the front part of the building, which "leaves $350,000 for further expenditures."

The college also has available $250,000, including $146,000 in state-bond money, which was passed in 1994, and "this is the purpose we are going to use it for," Jarboe said. "Another $104,000 is from work force development funds, which is part of our state-aid package for fiscal (year) '96."

This project also has been approved for $600,000 in Missouri tax credits, which can be put against equipment purchases and $100,000 against construction, he said.

These "are eligible for 50 percent tax credit," he said.

Thus far, the college has "firm, signed-on-the-line commitments for $71,000" of the credits and about another $100,000 plus.

This leaves about $200,000, which the college is opening to the general public, Rozman said. A recent newspaper advertisement generated some interest. Three Rivers has until June 30 to solicit the credits.

Trustee Richard Brumitt didn't think "everyone" understands what the credits are.

"It is a good thing," he said. "It's a real savings for anybody who has enough bucks made to use it as a deduct. I would imagine our accountants are talking to people who could benefit."

Rozman has talked with several accountants, including Jay Decker of Kraft, Miles & Tatum. "I think that is where we are going to get some of our main response," he said.

However, Rozman said, he was told most people will wait until the "tail end of the year" before looking for deductions. That is when Decker expects to see people start jumping.

Although the college is hoping to use all of the tax credits, Three Rivers President Dr. Stephen Poort said the college will not "spend anything we don't have. As the money comes in, we will spend it on equipment in support of the technology center."

Chief of administrative affairs Brad Barwick also gave the board an update on what the building was going to look like.

He explained when the college received the Pepsi building on Highway 67 South from Harry L. Crisp, the college was asked that the college dispose of that building and use another building of suitable nature on the campus and retain the name of Crisp in honor of his father.

Barwick said "we feel" by adding on to the current industrial technology building and "making this a very nice building we can honor that commitment to Mr. Crisp."

In addition, Three Rivers needs additional classrooms, especially in the industrial technology areas, he said.

"Right now, we split those between classes held in the library and in the industrial tech building," Barwick explained. "There is only one class and lab in that building. People have to go back and forth. We've put offices in there, but even those offices can't be utilized fully until we get classrooms for them to work out of."

The original building was 6,000 square feet, with another 1,800 square feet added in the spring. Once completed the center will have 11,700 square feet.

Architect Harold Porterfield has drawn up plans for the renovations. Four different-sized classrooms will be added, with the largest being used for a computer lab, Barwick said.

"The instructors within these programs have looked at these drawings and given several suggestions to make sure it fits their particular needs," Barwick explained.

What the board was asked to do Wednesday night was approve the drawings, develop building specifications, determine prevailing wage rates, advertize for bids and bring bids back to the board for approval.

"A timetable has not been determined, but we hope to bring it back in December and then proceed with a contract," Barwick said.

Barwick said they would like to be in this building by next fall semester.