UW - Baraboo/Sauk County Campus Commission

November 21, 2013 UW-Baraboo/Sauk County Campus Commission (395 KB)

UW – Baraboo/Sauk County Campus Commission, Lange Center Executive Dining Room                  

November 21, 2013

Present:  Wedekind, Kolb, Geimer, Giese, DeMars, VonAsten, Lombard

Also Present:  Kohlmeyer, Armstrong, Pleger, Schauf, Palm, Krueger, Geick

Absent:

Chairperson Wedekind called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. and certified compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

MOTION (Lombard/Kolb) to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

MOTION (Kolb/Geimer) to approve the minutes of October 17, 2013. Motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments: None.

Communications:  None.

Financial Report:

C. Giese, City Clerk-Finance Director distributed a Revenue/Expenditure Report for the period 1/1/2013 thru today, indicating an unexpended balance of $ 57,466.16, a Designated Capital Equipment account balance of $ 26,052.41 and $ 29,438.59 in Fund balance.

Maintenance Report and Payment of Bills:

P. Kohlmeyer presented the monthly report and bills for payment.  MOTION (Lombard/Kolb) to approve bills in the amount of $9,886.13.  Motion carried unanimously.

Facilities Planning Report:

D. Armstrong noted the 2014 budget discussion was discussed last month.  He advised that the current operating budget looks good for this year.  Any additional amount will carry over into 2014 for projects needed such as new carpet, sidewalk repair and roof painting.

Discussion and update of Science Building, and Residence Hall sites:

Residence Hall update - D. Armstrong reported that he spoke with Kelly at Bluffstone.  Kelly advised they are currently in the process of estimating construction costs for the residence hall, and sent him copies of an initial design.  Armstrong passed a copy around for all to review. We anticipate receiving the necessary paperwork from the Board of Regents after their meeting on December 5th.  He also reported that UW-Richland held a ceremonial ground breaking in October for their residential expansion project. Dean Pleger reported that within 6 months to one year over half of the campuses will have housing for students; he also commented that parents’ are anxiously calling him with questions.  Chair Wedekind questioned what the status was of the residential lease.  K. Schauf will check with A. Kleczek-Bolin, Assistant Corporation Counsel.  E. Geick had comment as to clarification of the two sketches presented by Bluffstone, and if the commission was leaning towards the “U” shaped design.  Armstrong confirmed that is the design the campus and commission liked; adding that MSA and Bluffstone are working directly together.  Geick suggested that T. Pinion be contacted to participate in discussion of the design.

Science Building update - K. Schauf reported meetings have been going smoothly with Bray. The next UW Building committee meeting is scheduled for first part of December and will be more on the concept of plans.  The consensuses from those present that are on the UW Building committee are well pleased with progress to date.  Schauf stated we are moving towards an initial proposal design.

Discussion and approval of changes to Ice Age Trail MOU:

Armstrong distributed the final MOU for approval and signatures.

Dean’s report

Dean Pleger reported on the following:

University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County announcement of Dean Thomas Pleger having been named a candidate for the open president’s position at Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.  Pleger is one of three finalists for the vacancy upon the current president’s retirement next summer.  He noted he was not looking for another position, but stated he feels much honored to be among the finalists.  Lake Superior State is Michigan’s smallest four-year public university, with about 3,000 students and a $ 50 million budget. LSSU has a number of colleges and schools and is known for environmental studies, engineering, fire science, criminal justice, and its liberal arts programs.  LSSU is also a D-1 hockey school and has significant number of D-2 sports programs. 
Beginning our second year in the UW-BSC BAAS Bachelor’s degree program with excitement.  A proposal is being discussed to develop a second track for the degree that would allow with Wisconsin Technical College graduates to transfer to UW-BSC to earn a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree.  This proposal is pending approval in the UWC Colleges Senate.
Reality of a new State budget is upon us.  UW System received an approximate 65 million base cut with a freeze in tuition.  Approximately 2.5 million of base cuts have been allocated to the two year UW campuses.   The Dean reported on an external firm that has prepared a lengthy report listing for the UW College (the 13 two-year UW campuses as a whole).  The report lists a number of possible strategies for budget reductions including regionalization and centralization proposals.  Currently, a UW Colleges committee is reviewing the report’s options and will make a set of recommendations to the UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor.  UW-BSC would prefer to have some flexibility to deal with the budget reductions at the campus level.  UW-BSC is fortunate as we are running in the black; we have a reserve but it is not sufficient to cover the proposed reductions.  Many two-year campuses and several four-year campuses are not in as good of financial shape.  However, the Dean is anticipating that UW-BSC will have to reduce its staff if the UW Colleges makes reductions across the board to all two-year UW campuses.
Announced the opening of the play “Wit” this evening.

MOTION (Lombard/Kolb) to adjourn until December 19, 2013 at 8:00 A.M and to hold the meeting in the theater.  Motion unanimously carried.

Rebecca A. DeMars

Sauk County Clerk/Secretary