Progress at the Crowder College FEMA Health Science building is ahead of schedule.
Demolition work is complete, a meter installed and the building permit has been issued and, before the rain began on Tuesday morning, contractors were on-site to begin digging footings.
Steel for the project was rebid and came in lower than the October numbers. During their regular business meeting Tuesday, the board approved new bids that include earthwork, demolition and steel.
The college is still seeking donors for the project, rather than pay for it out of reserves.
The safe room portion of the project will be built with pre-formed concrete slab walls and Crowder plans to hold classes in the building by August.
Meanwhile, progress on the MARET Center is inching forward.
The college has received a permit for work from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, but is still awaiting funding approval from the U.S. Department of Energy
They have received a letter stating that that project will be considered after the holidays due to staffing constraints.
The college had hoped to be ready to bid by the January meeting, but since the project probably will not be approved by then, they will have to wait.
Ron Granger, dean of business and support services, told the board he is sure the project would be approved.
“I’m more confident now than I’ve ever been,” Granger said.
The environmental assessment shows a positive impact from the MARET Center and without its implementation there are negative affects listed. They have all the approvals they need from DNR and the engineering is done, but now the school is waiting on the DOE.
“Everything is packaged and ready to go,” Granger said. “We’ve just got to get the approval so we can get it out there.”
