Campus to get $25M for deferred maintenance
Board of Regents awards $90M to 6 state universities over five-year period
The University of Kansas gets first payment of $9.9 million in 2008, which will be used for tunnel repairs.
Monday, August 13th, 2007
After a deferred maintenance bill was passed by the Kansas House in April, the University submitted a proposal of how it will spend the additional funding for campus repairs to the Board of Regents. The board reviewed the proposal in its June meeting.
The deferred maintenance bill provides a five-year funding plan that will begin in the 2008 fiscal year. Throughout the duration of the plan, $90 million will be distributed for campus repairs at the University and five other state universities.
According to Jim Modig, director of design and construction management, the University expects to receive $25 million during the five years of the plan. It will receive $9.9 million the first year.
“The five-year plan is prioritized,” Modig said. “With the initial five years of funding we plan to make improvements on the tunnels and 11 buildings.”
The University proposed to use funding for tunnel repairs and mechanical improvements in Wescoe Hall and Haworth Hall during the first year of the plan. That includes new air handling units in Wescoe and new exhaust hoods in Haworth’s labs. Modig said the tunnels, which are a century old and provide heat to campus buildings, will either be replaced or repaired.
Funding from the deferred maintenance bill comes from the Statewide Maintenance and Disaster Relief Fund. It could be available to the University in August to hire consultants for the design and construction of repairs. By Spring 2008, Modig said, he hoped the University would have bids for all the year’s projects.
— Edited by Joe Caponio
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