New appointees joined the Board of Regents for the first time Friday. The Board of Regents now consists of, left to right, Roxanna Swaney, George Speckman, Vice Chair Dr. Marilou Joyner, Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski, Chair Dr. Patrick Harr, John Richmond, Richard Smith, Jason Klindt and Student Regent Janay Orange. (Photos by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Jan. 26, 2018

Board approves restroom, window, electrical upgrades; recognizes officers

The Board authorized the University to execute a contract to move forward on renovations to Franken Hall, which will include new paint, hallway carpet, main floor lounge upgrades, beds, wardrobes, desks, dressers, private bathrooms, windows, HVAC piping and lounge spaces.

University Police Chief Clarence Green shakes the hand of Sydney Smith after recognizing her and officer Jeremy Staples at Friday's Board meeting for their actions at a Jan. 7 emergency.

Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during its regular session on Friday approved a series of renovations and upgrades to campus buildings in addition to celebrating the responses of two University police officers to an emergency earlier this month.

The Board unanimously approved upgrades to restrooms in Perrin Hall and authorized the University to execute a contract to move forward on renovations to Franken Hall. The board also approved proposals to upgrade the electrical system in the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building and replace windows at Colden Hall, both of which are being funded by state deferred maintenance monies.

Vice President of Finance Stacy Carrick brought the proposals to the Board, beginning with the Perrin Hall restroom renovation project, which will upgrade 28 restrooms. The project, which will be competitively bid and funded from the University’s Auxiliary Services account, is expected to be completed this summer.

Following up on the Board’s approval of a plan for renovations to Franken Hall during its December meeting, Carrick informed the Board Friday that the project was competitively bid and the University selected a low bid from Lee Grover Construction Company for $3,990,462. The project will include new paint, hallway carpet, main floor lounge upgrades, beds, wardrobes, desks, dressers, two private bathrooms on each student floor, windows and HVAC piping. Additionally, two rooms on each floor will be converted to lounge space.

“This project doesn’t give us everything we want, but it begins to move around campus with improving what we have,” Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Matt Baker told the Board, adding Franken Hall was built in 1968. “We’re making incremental improvements with the understanding and belief that it will be more appealing to our incoming students.”

The Colden Hall project involves the replacement of an estimated 340 windows with energy-efficient windows. The Board approved the project and authorized the University to execute a contract with the best and lowest contractor through a competitive bid process. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

At the Fine Arts Building, the power distribution system has reached the end of its useful life expectancy, Associate Vice President of Capital Programs and Facility Services Allen Mays said, noting the original system installed in the building in 1965 is obsolete. The upgrade will replace the electrical system, including electrical panels, transformers, switchgear and distribution lines. Electrical capacity also will be added to meet the needs of current and future students. The Board approved the project and authorized the University to execute a contract with the best and lowest contractor through a competitive bid process.

As Friday’s meeting got underway, University Police Chief Clarence Green recognized officers Sydney Smith and Jeremy Staples for their work at the scene of a Jan. 7 emergency at The Palms Bar and Grill that resulted in the death of Northwest student Morgan McCoy. Green presented Staples with a letter of thanks for his work to preserve the scene and gather facts for the investigation. Smith received the Meritorious Conduct Commendation, the second-highest award given to a member of the University Police Department for performing an exemplary act in hazardous or complicated conditions.

Additionally, the Board and meeting attendees observed a moment of silence in memory of McCoy.

The meeting was the first for Jason A. Klindt and George R. Speckman, who Gov. Eric Greitens appointed in December, and it marked a return for Roxanna R. Swaney and Student Regent Janay N. Orange, both of whom served on the Board briefly in 2016 and were reappointed by Greitens. Klindt and Speckman were confirmed this week by the Missouri Senate while Swaney and Orange are awaiting confirmation.

Dr. Patrick B. Harr serves as the Board chair, and Dr. Marilou Joyner was appointed vice chair during Friday’s meeting. John W. Richmond and Richard N. Smith round out the Board, which has one open seat remaining.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.