Published: October 15, 2008 08:53 am      

RLC board approves welding upgrade

By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

INA — The Rend Lake College Board approved to advertise, ratify and award a bid for a welding lab renovation on campus.

According to information from the college, 14 welding booths are needed to accommodate the demand for certified stainless steel welders for Bechtel Construction Company in support of a Department of Labor Grant.

“The U.S. Department of Labor grant includes welding, coal mining and industrial electronics,” Lisa Payne, interim vice president of vocational programs said. “Overall it’s a great opportunity for people to have this available to them here because it does result in employment opportunities. A lot of welding goes into construction of operations, and this will lead ready-made students into ready-made jobs.”

The estimated cost of the 14 welding booths is $96,240; six double units cost $11,900 each, and two single units cost $8,200 each. Freight to deliver units costs $3,620, welding stand positioners cost $1,820 and portable welding curtains cost $3,000.

The cost of in-house renovation which includes improvements to walls and electrical upgrades costs an additional $12,897.

The bid will be ratified at the November Board meeting, and the project will be funded with institutional funds.

Another item discussed by the board was revisions to an administrative policy that would create stipends to more accurately reflect the needs of the college. The stipend list is reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees, and the revisions will become effective Nov. 4.

In other business, the board:

Approved a recommendation to adopt the 2008 Tax Levy which will be payable in 2009;

Approved a recommendation to authorize authority to access a safe deposit box; and

Approved a recommendation to authorize authority to appoint individuals as authorized contacts for credit card accounts.