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The six state universities will split up $7.7 million in stimulus money for deferred maintenance projects, according to the Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday.
The money, which comes from the higher education portion of the Federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to 16 projects on state university campuses.
“These federal dollars, which were allocated to the states as part of the American Recovery [and Reinvestment] Act of 2009, provide an important opportunity for campuses to address critical maintenance needs. This vital work both stimulates the local economy and improves the learning environment for students,” said Reggie Robinson, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. “We are pleased to have the ability to use these one-time funds for critical projects, and we look forward to improving the infrastructure on our campuses as a result of this investment.”
What Robinson doesn’t say is that the stimulus funds barely scratch the surface of what needs to be done.
There is currently a backlog of maintenance projects at state universities that remain to be completed that totals $825 million. Pittsburg State is in the middle of the pack with $67 million of maintenance backlog on campus. That is only behind Kansas State ($291 million), the University of Kansas ($226 million) and the KU Medical Center ($90.5 million). Having a smaller backlog than Pittsburg State are Fort Hays State ($51 million), Emporia State ($50.6 million) and Wichita State ($49.3 million).
“I’m not comfortable in saying that’s because we have worse buildings or worse conditions than those universities,” said Paul Stewart, PSU Facilities Planning director. “I don’t know why it shook out that way. Maybe we have more square footage in our buildings, but I truly don’t know.”
The money from the stimulus package amounts to $569,424, the second least of any state university, only more than Emporia State.
Stewart said the money would be split at Pittsburg State. He said $350,000 would be used for improvements to Kelce Hall including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning improvements, as well as electrical and code compliance issues. The remaining $219,424 would be used to replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at Yates Hall.
That’s not all the deferred maintenance work being done this summer. The Kansas Legislature approved a five-year plan to provide $90 million in state funds and about $44 million in retained interest earnings to the six state universities. However, the Legislature reduced these appropriations by $1.3 million and more will occur because of reduced interest earnings.
“That is just a Band-Aid. It’s a down payment,” Stewart said. “It does do some projects, but everybody acknowledges that is just a start. We have needs beyond that, and it’s only a start. Every little bit helps.”
The roughly $10 million that Pittsburg State receives would be used for renovations at Porter Hall. This summer, the first phase, a $1.5 million renovation of the exterior (including windows, roofing and brick restoration), is already underway and is due to be completed by early in the fall semester.
The second phase, also $1.5 million, is set for next summer. Work on phase II would be primarily inside the building.
The six state universities will split up $7.7 million in stimulus money for deferred maintenance projects, according to the Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday.
The money, which comes from the higher education portion of the Federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to 16 projects on state university campuses.
“These federal dollars, which were allocated to the states as part of the American Recovery [and Reinvestment] Act of 2009, provide an important opportunity for campuses to address critical maintenance needs. This vital work both stimulates the local economy and improves the learning environment for students,” said Reggie Robinson, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. “We are pleased to have the ability to use these one-time funds for critical projects, and we look forward to improving the infrastructure on our campuses as a result of this investment.”
What Robinson doesn’t say is that the stimulus funds barely scratch the surface of what needs to be done.
There is currently a backlog of maintenance projects at state universities that remain to be completed that totals $825 million. Pittsburg State is in the middle of the pack with $67 million of maintenance backlog on campus. That is only behind Kansas State ($291 million), the University of Kansas ($226 million) and the KU Medical Center ($90.5 million). Having a smaller backlog than Pittsburg State are Fort Hays State ($51 million), Emporia State ($50.6 million) and Wichita State ($49.3 million).
“I’m not comfortable in saying that’s because we have worse buildings or worse conditions than those universities,” said Paul Stewart, PSU Facilities Planning director. “I don’t know why it shook out that way. Maybe we have more square footage in our buildings, but I truly don’t know.”
The money from the stimulus package amounts to $569,424, the second least of any state university, only more than Emporia State.
Stewart said the money would be split at Pittsburg State. He said $350,000 would be used for improvements to Kelce Hall including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning improvements, as well as electrical and code compliance issues. The remaining $219,424 would be used to replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at Yates Hall.
That’s not all the deferred maintenance work being done this summer. The Kansas Legislature approved a five-year plan to provide $90 million in state funds and about $44 million in retained interest earnings to the six state universities. However, the Legislature reduced these appropriations by $1.3 million and more will occur because of reduced interest earnings.
“That is just a Band-Aid. It’s a down payment,” Stewart said. “It does do some projects, but everybody acknowledges that is just a start. We have needs beyond that, and it’s only a start. Every little bit helps.”
The roughly $10 million that Pittsburg State receives would be used for renovations at Porter Hall. This summer, the first phase, a $1.5 million renovation of the exterior (including windows, roofing and brick restoration), is already underway and is due to be completed by early in the fall semester.
The second phase, also $1.5 million, is set for next summer. Work on phase II would be primarily inside the building.
BY THE NUMBERS
As for the stimulus money, Pittsburg State’s not the only recipient of deferred maintenance dollars. The following is a list of other projects approved for the $7.7 million stimulus money:
• Emporia State ($466,033) — Bruekelman Science Hall fume hood/ventilation system replacement
• Fort Hays State ($584,856) — Rarick Hall roof repair/replacement
• Wichita State ($847,192) — Engineering Building heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement
• KU Medical Center ($868,024) — Lied infrastructure improvements, campus elevator repairs and campus roof repair/replacement
• KU ($2,073,228) — Campus fire code improvements, campus roof repair/replacement, campus electrical service improvements, research lab improvements, ADA improvements, site and utility infrastructure improvements, Dyche Hall heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements
• Kansas State ($2,307,016) — Campus utility infrastructure and power plant improvements
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
