A new sports complex at Three Rivers College is close to completion, but the end date has been extended once again.
Libla Family Sports Complex project architect Mike Pollard said hanging of the four-sided scoreboard "kind of confirms we are getting close to the end."
After the scoreboard was hung Wednesday morning, Pollard, of Dille Traxel Architecture, provided a project update during the TRC Board of Trustees meeting.
"As far as completion, the arena is 90 to 95 percent (complete) and the FEMA building is a few percentage points ahead of that," Pollard said.
Estimating the project is about a month from completion, Pollard said he compiled a punch list of items he would be looking to sign off on and pass to Huffman Construction before considering the project complete.
Going "room by room, corner by corner and ceiling tile by ceiling tile," Pollard said he performed an exhaustive inspection of the FEMA building two weeks ago and the arena Wednesday morning.
Details such as painting, connections and labeling make up the final five percent at the arena to satisfy Pollard.
"They are really close," he said.
The next step for the complex will be regulating the humidity inside the building ahead of floor installation.
Pollard also reported the elevator is installed, but not operational at this time. He added most in the construction business realize these companies do things on their time, but showed frustration by adding, "this is not an August 2018 issue."
"Overall I'm not displeased with the end result of where we are at," Pollard said. "It's a good looking building with neat stuff going on inside."
Financial Update
According to Chief Financial Officer Charlotte Eubank, preliminary financial numbers for the end of the fiscal year were similar to earlier months.
"Revenue is less this year than last fiscal year due to a decrease in enrollment," she said.
President Dr. Wesley Payne reported enrollment numbers were down 5.7 percent at the college, but the board budgeted to be down five percent.
"We came in at what we predicted," he said. "We can deal with these changes and alterations for which we had planned."
From discussing with other colleges in the state, Payne reported TRC was on the "better side of enrollment reduction," with reduction ranges from five to 30 percent.
"You never want to see credit hours reduced, but the fact of the matter is the better the economy gets and remains, the more pressure there is on enrollment," he said.
Eubank also added the college ended the fiscal year ahead of the previous year largely in part to a gift distribution that increased revenue around $3.5 million.
With the start of the new fiscal year July 1, Eubank reported tuition and fees compose about 50 percent of revenues recognized.
"This will continue to grow and change a little through August as students continue to register and drop classes," she said. "All in all, it's a good start to the semester."
In July, bond proceeds were exhausted for the sports complex, Eubank said, so to finish the project, funds that were distributed by TRET (Three Rivers Endowment Trust) building donations from last fiscal year will be used.
Food Service and
Concessions Bid
The board unanimously accepted the higher of two bids received for food service and concessions.
The bid was accepted from Cook Restaurants LLC, doing business as Godfather's Pizza for a term of one year with the option of two one-year extensions.
By accepting the bid, TRC will receive $4,500 a year in rent plus five percent commission of sales. Additionally, Godfather's Pizza will supply the labor for ticket sales and selling of TRC merchandise at ballgames.
Food services will be provided in the Bess Activity Center as well as concessions, ticket and merchandise sales at the Libla Family Sports Complex when ready.
Tax Levy
The board of trustees unanimously set the tax levy at $0.2355 per $100 of assessed valuation of property in the district.
The levy is 0.03/100 of a cent increase from the previous year.
President's Report
Payne reported the mural on the Tinnin Fine Arts Center was "fundamentally complete."
Artist Paul Jackson will return in September to apply a protective coating to the mural. A reception will be held for Jackson and volunteers who worked on the mural.
Payne added the mural is the first piece of exterior art on the campus and hopes it will serve as a seed to grow more.
The first art exhibition for the new school year will take place Friday through Sept. 21 in the Tinnin Gallery.
"The Material and the Ephemeral" by Melissa Gill will be on display and an artist lecture will be held at noon Friday.
The Community Resource Council/TRC annual fall job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Bess Activity Center.
Run 4 the Arts will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 8, beginning at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.
Payne reported all proceeds will go to scholarships for TRC music and art students.
The scholarships that currently have no money will benefit from the event.
"Anything you can do that secures those scholarships for the future and makes them soundly and permanently funded is a very positive thing," Payne said.
TRC players and coaches will be on hand to mingle with the community at Meet the Raiders Night on Sept. 10 at the Bess Activity Center.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6 p.m.
Center Stage Production will hold the first of four events next month.
"The Little Mermaid" will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 8, 13, 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. Sept. 9 and 16 at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at trcc.edu/tinnin.
The Championship College Rodeo will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11, 12 and 13 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Arena.
Grassham Recognized
A plaque was presented to the family of Randy Grassham, longtime TRC trustee who unexpectedly died Aug. 4.
Grassham's children, Heath Grassham and Holly Holt, accepted the plaque on behalf of the family for appreciation of the nine years of dedication and loyal service their father provided as a member of the TRC Board of Trustees.
The board will be accepting letters of interest to fill the vacant position for sub-district two. Letters will be due in the president's office by Sept. 12.