CCC board approves house renovation

CLOVIS — The Clovis Community College Board of Trustees still ended up paying six figures to make necessary renovations to its presidential residence in preparation for its new president. But the trustees were much more comfortable with the price tag they decided on Wednesday.

Trustees approved what was considered as Revised Option One during a special board meeting, held two weeks after they were first approached with a request to fix the residence at 1621 E. 21st St.

The original package of work presented to the trustees included painting, concrete patio replacement, pool and pool house demolition and construction of a patio and pavilion. But trustees balked at the $186,770 price.

The package of work by Griego and Sons, under Revised Option One, includes painting, concrete patio replacement, removal of the pool house and a concrete pad. The pad could be used for various college events, and a covered structure can be added at a later date. The price tag was $118,500.

Revised Option Two, at $111,500, included painting, concrete patio replacement, filling in the pool and removing the sliding doors and ceiling panels for the pool house.

Trustees leaned toward Option One, with Martin noting, “it does a little bit more than Revised Option Two.”

Trustee Lora Harlan asked why work did not include ceiling painting or kitchen cabinet staining, to which Interim President Robin Kuykendall said the contractor felt those areas didn’t need work. Harlan asked if the electrical panel for the pool would be replaced, to which Vice President of IT and Operations Norman Kia said any of the options would require it.

Trustee Raymond Mondragon asked about the solar panels in the back yard of the residence. Kuykendall said the electrical connection would be severed between the house and the unused panels, and removal of the panels would be done by CCC staff.

When asked a question about the house’s wells, Kia said both were working with one supplying sprinklers and the other supplying the house. He wasn’t sure when the wells were last tested.

The house’s new tenants, Charles Nwankwo, his wife and two children, are expected to arrive in mid-February.

Each option received a separate vote, in order of presentation. The original option was denied on a 3-1 vote, with Harlan casting the dissenting vote to reflect her original support for the option. Revised Option One passed 4-0 and Revised Option Two failed 4-0.

In other business at the Wednesday meeting, Kuykendall updated the board on a status change for 40 employees from overtime-exempt to overtime-eligible due to new Fair Labor Standards Act requirements in 2020. Kuykendall said each position would be evaluated to see if it justified a salary bump to align with overtime-exempt rules or if it was best to keep it overtime-eligible.

The board meets again at 8 a.m. Dec. 4.