Regents approve Mark Jefferson construction contract

Mark Tower | Eastern Echo

Eastern Michigan's Board of Regents approved a construction management contract for the Mark Jefferson science complex project at their regular June 17 meeting.

The bid process narrowed the choices from 10 companies to four and, after an interview with the two who offered the lowest fees, chose Christman/Dumas at an estimated cost of $4.04 million.

The entire project, which is slated to begin in spring 2009, is estimated to cost $90 million including the construction management price and will be funded through bond proceeds already allocated. These bonds will be repaid largely by tuition increases approved in 2005. This total cost is lower than the original budget of a $5.1 million construction management cost and a total price tag of $100 million.

The Board of Regents identified the Mark Jefferson project as a top priority in 2006 and gave it the green light in January of 2007. The project will include 151,000 square feet of new construction as well as renovation of the existing 180,802 square-foot building.

The board also unanimously approved the $3.9 million renovation of Hoyt Conference Center to use as a new center for the Department of Public Safety at last Friday's meeting.

Public Safety is expected to move into the new facility from their current space in the parking structure in summer 2009. Regent Parker said she was happy with the plan and that it's good use of current resources.

"I'm really glad we're using existing space for this," Parker said.

Eastern Michigan Police Chief Gregory O'Dell said it's very important that the entire department be located together in a highly visible facility.

"We're very excited to be moving to this new location after 38 years in the bottom of a parking structure," O'Dell said.

Currently split up between Bowen Field House and the parking structure, public safety will have room for community meetings in the new building, which O'Dell said was an important improvement.

"We're hoping this new facility will much better serve our constituents," he said.

The regents also passed a resolution to take out a $35 million line of credit to offset the inability of the university to liquidate certain investments in the current credit market. Regent Incarnati added two amendments to the resolution: adding new president Susan Martin to the list of signers, and requiring a monthly report from the treasurer on amounts outstanding and paid on the loan.

Four official congratulations were made to the following EMU athletic teams that excelled in the past 2007-2008 seasons: men's golf, men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track and field and baseball.

The regents also approved a new degree in sports management, re-classified the tuition policy to grant in-state tuition to any member of the armed forces stationed or living in Michigan, and approved a continuation budget based on the budget from July 2007.

The continuation budget allocates $21 million to the general fund, $3.3 million for the auxiliary fund and approves all expenditures for July, pending approval by the board at their special meeting July 30.