CC okays bids for Pampa workforce center

The Clarendon College Board of Regents approved a bid package totaling more than $2.99 million for a new workforce education building at the CC Pampa Center during their regular meeting last Thursday.

Architect Jim Doche presented the bids and said estimates for the project had ranged as high as $3.3 million but noted that the bidding has been very competitive.

“There were 22 subcategories, and all but one had three or more bidders,” Doche said.

One-third of the winning subcontractors – mechanical work, electrical work, and roofing – are from Pampa, and college officials were pleased that money would be staying in Gray County.

Work will begin within 30 days on the 23,000 square-foot project, which will be completed in 2011. The workforce center is being paid for by bonds paid for by Gray County residents and a donation of $250,000 from the David & Nora Payne Foundation.

During the meeting, Regent John Howard said he had heard some concerns from Donley County residents about the new Pampa project.

“People think that college taxes from Donley County are paying for this, and this is not the case,” Howard said.
CC President Bill Auvenshine said taxes raised in Donley County are only used for the maintenance and operation of the Clarendon campus and noted that the tax revenue does not come close to paying the total bill.

“We have a $1.2 million maintenance and operation budget,” Auvenshine said. “We collect about $403,000 in taxes from Donley County, but our utilities alone cost about $420,000. The rest of that budget is paid for by student tuition and fees.”

The president also noted that Gray County residents are paying a five-cent tax for facilities in that county and, by law, have no representation on the Board of Regents.
Clarendon College has to maintain and expand its Pampa Center otherwise people north of I-40 would likely commute to Borger or Amarillo before coming to Clarendon.

The CC Pampa Center has seen significant enrollment growth this year, but Auvenshine said growth on the Clarendon campus is now limited due to the need for more student housing.

“What we need is more affordable housing for students,” Auvenshine said. “Where is there to rent [in Clarendon]? Where would you live? We need another dorm, but we need the money to do that.”

In other business, the board:
• Approved the purchase a new digital marquee for the Clarendon campus with help from the City of Clarendon and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation as presented by Marketing Coordinator Ashlee Estlack;
• Moved the March board meeting to the fourth Thursday to avoid conflicting with spring break;
• Noted that filing for the May board election will begin February 6 and that the terms of Charles Deyhle, Ruth Robinson, and Susie Shields are expiring this year;
• Heard a preliminary enrollment report that showed a nearly 20 percent headcount increase over last spring; and
• Listened to a presentation from Dean of Students Tex Buckhaults about project that would help the 25 percent of the area population with no high school diploma get their GED and encourage them to further their education.