Alaska voters approve $397 million bond referendum for various projects
A new life sciences building on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus is part of a successful $397 million bond proposal approved recently by Alaska voters. The referendum included more than a dozen other projects throughout the state, but the life sciences building getting $88 million in bond revenue was the largest part of the effort. The building will provide additional classrooms, modern lab spaces and an auditorium for science instruction. It was the single capital request sent to the State Legislature this year. UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers (pictured) said he was "thrilled" about the new building, which he said would provide a step forward for the university's science programs. Other projects in the bond issue include a new sports complex at the University of Alaska Anchorage, a fisheries research building in Kodiak, a library-archive building in Juneau and new facilities at the UA campuses in three other areas. Rogers said the life sciences building will be put on a fast track for construction and completion. A committee will present plans for the building to the regents, who are expected to vote on a final design this month. If that happens timely, construction could begin next summer.

Oregon schools to get new buildings, upgrades after successful bond vote
A $65.3 million bond issue in Forest Grove, Oregon, will lead to upgrades and new construction in the school district. Among the new construction will be a new elementary school. The Forest Grove High School will undergo additions and other schools will benefit from improvements and upgrades. The new elementary will be built with a silver or gold LEED environmental certification. The new school is expected to cost $20 million. Among the projects at the high school are expansion of the cafeteria and commons area, an additional gym and a new science wing. Those improvements are expected to carry a $36 million price tag.

Community college planning $55-$60 million for renovations over several years
The Sylvania campus of Portland Community College is due $55 million to $60 million in renovations over the next five to seven years. The result will be a more updated, energy-efficient facility. Jeff Triplett (pictured), dean of instruction, said the Sylvania campus is more than 40 years old and buildings were designed for much smaller student numbers when energy costs were cheaper. "This is all capital expenditures, but we expect to see a cut in energy costs over the long run, and enhance our programs and level of instruction," he said. Voters in the district in 2008 approved a $374 million bond election to upgrade buildings, expand training facilities and add buildings at the three main campuses and seven education centers. Among the planned projects on the Sylvania campus are modernization of the student center, building a child care center, safety upgrades, infrastructure improvements and instituting an environmental program. 

Five Phoenix schools to get additional funding for various projects
Five school districts in Phoenix, Arizona, will have more money to spend for a variety of projects, either through overrides or successful bond issues. Among the successes:

• An override was approved for $3.2 million that will continue to pay for art, music, physical education and smaller class sizes in Creighton Elementary in east Phoenix;
• Washington Elementary School District approved a $65 million school construction bond to allow the north Central Phoenix district to repair and renovate buildings, roofs and parking lots, and a bond and maintenance and operations override over seven years will pay for art, music and physical education instruction and related expenses and continue energy conservation efforts;
• A $20.2 million bond was approved in the Phoenix Elementary School District for renovations and upgrades, including new roofs for current buildings and replacement of HVAC systems;
• West Phoenix voters approved a $27.8 million school construction bond for the Cartwright Elementary School District to replace buses, upgrade air conditioning at all its school and add exterior lighting to campus fields. 

New elementary school planned in Virginia school district thanks to bond issue
A new Leesburg-area (Virginia) elementary school will be constructed after voters recently approved issuance of general obligation capital improvement bonds of up to $27.82 million. The district had previously acquired a site for the school last August. School Board member Tom Marshall (pictured) said the district is lacking in the number of schools needed to meet the continued growth of the student population. He said there was a "pressing need" to build a new elementary school. He pointed out that because bids on construction projects have been coming in under expected prices, the cost is reasonable. The two-story elementary school is expected to open in fall 2012.

School district planning to move forward on transportation center
With the blessing of the county government, officials of the Frederick County (Virginia) School Board are planning on moving forward with their proposed top priority - a new transportation facility. The facility is part of a draft comprehensive plan and budget priority document drafted recently by the board. Land has already been acquired for a transportation center and the county has agreed with the school system to move ahead on the $14 million project that is expected to be completed by July 2012. Behind the transportation center on the priority list are acquiring land for a replacement middle school and a fourth high school. Following those projects on the priority list are improvements to the parking lot at Sherando High School, with a tentative completion date of December 2013.

University of Rhode Island gains approval for new facility, renovations
Passage of a bond election in Kingston, Rhode Island, will provide $78 million in general obligation bonds to finance a new Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. The bond issue also provides for $17 million for renovations and additions to the Rhode Island College Art Center. Robert M. Beagle (pictured), vice president of the Division of University Advancement, said there was a great need for the Center for Forensic Sciences, which will allow faculty to compete more efficiently for research grants. The new center will provide the resources needed one of the nation's key resources for research and training in the battle against terrorism - the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center of Excellence in Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response.

U.S. departments reconsidering casino application for New Mexico tribe
An application by the Jemez Pueblo Indian Tribe to build and open a 48,000-square-foot, $72 million casino is being reconsidered by the U.S Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Department of the Interior. The proposed casino would be near Anthony, New Mexico, some 20 miles north of El Paso. In 2008, the Department of the Interior rejected the tribe's application. If approved the casino would include slot machines, a hotel, card tables and other games. The previous application was turned down but tribal officials are hoping the new administration will see the casino as a way of both stimulating the local economy and creating jobs. "The new administration is taking the time to listen to us," said Jemez governor Joshua Madalena (pictured). Although the proposed casino would be located outside the reservation, the revenue created would be used to create jobs on the reservation and provide basic services, infrastructure, education and improved housing. Pueblo officials also said they have agreed to create a $40 million endowment to assist with scholarships, parks and other community projects.
 
School for deaf to get federal stimulus funds for heating, cooling
A $100,000 grant from the federal Recovery Act is going to the New Mexico School for the Deaf to finish installing a new heating and cooling system at the Santa Fe school as part of a major renovation project there. The project includes replacing the old boiler system with an energy-efficient heating and cooling system in the school's primary instructional building. The first $900,000 for the $1 million project was provided for when a bond issue was approved. The final $100,000 in stimulus funds will help the school complete the project.

Rhode Island gets $10 million more for weatherization projects in state
An additional $10 million in Recovery Act funds has been approved for the State of Rhode Island for weatherization projects. When the original amount was allocated, the state had problems finding enough licensed contractors to do the weatherization projects. The state used up about half of its original $20 million allocation, weatherizing more than 1,000 homes. So the U.S. Department of Energy has now released the final $10 million for projects.

$18 million library gains voter approval for city in Kansas
Voters in Lawrence, Kansas, have approved the sale of $18 million in general obligation bonds for an expansion project at the Lawrence Public Library. City Commissioner Aron Cromwell (pictured) said voter approval shows that the city has weathered the current economic storm and is on its way to digging out of the recession. "I think the library symbolizes that," he said. The project includes a 20,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of current library space, a three-level parking garage with 250 spaces, new space for 100 additional public access computers, double the current meeting room space, double the current space for children's room and a drive-through book drop-off and service window. Officials say the previously released drawings can now be tweaked to fit the community's needs.

El Paso ripe with contracting opportunities for schools, city, infrastructure
A number of contracting opportunities are currently available in El Paso. The Ysletta ISD is seeking bids for event equipment rentals and the Socorro ISD is seeking bids for construction of four classroom additions and miscellaneous components throughout the district to support cable installations. The El Paso ISD is seeking bids for district-wide network cabling moves, adds and changes and the City of El Paso is seeking bids for laboratory supplies. Also in the area, The University of Texas at El Paso is seeking bids for ITB slide furniture for its swimming and fitness center. The Texas Department of Transportation is seeking local let maintenance contracts in El Paso County for culver and storm sewer cleaning and bids for local let maintenance contracts in Hudspeth County and for mowing highway right of way. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, R-3 Southwestern Region is seeking bids for firms to perform design build of a new Ranger Station in Magdalena, New Mexico.

Capital improvement plan includes five priority projects for 2012-2016
The Alamogordo (New Mexico) City Commission has prioritized the top five projects in its recently approved infrastructure capital plan for FY 2012-2016. The projects in order of priority include the following:

• Completion of the design phase for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant;
• Reclaimed water distribution and storage;
• Engineering and design phase of the desalination plant to treat brackish water from a well north of town;
• Improvements to the Recreation Center pool, including adding solar panels to heat the pool and new slide; and
• Upgrades to Department of Public Safety radio equipment.

If funding is not made available through the state, officials could also look to state and federal grants for funding.

LA subway extension gains approval from transportation authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved a subway link from downtown Los Angeles to the Westside, to run under Wilshire Boulevard. LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (pictured) said the subway has been discussed for 50 years and the recent vote was called "historic." An environmental impact study will first have to be conducted, but then construction could begin in 2013. This corridor is the single busiest one in the region, officials said. The $5.15 billion project would be paid for with both federal funding and a half-cent sales tax for transportation projects that was approved by voters in 2008.

New fire station approved for town in Massachusetts
State funding totaling $1 million has been announced to assist Ware, Massachusetts, in building a new fire station. Another $5 million in federal stimulus funds was also recently awarded toward the project through the Assistance to Firefighters State Construction Grant Program. The town has only one fire station, which has been determined to be structurally deficient. Ware was one of only three communities nationwide that was named for a grant of $5 million or more.

Bond issue passage will lead to stormwater projects in Nebraska
The city of Lincoln, Nebraska, recently passed an $8.2 million bond issue for nearly 20 stormwater projects throughout the city. Pipes that carry water from streets underground into nearby streams and creeks will be upgraded. The projects will be spread out over the next two to three years.
 

New public safety complex in the works for Connecticut city
A $5.9 million bond package was recently approved by voters in Montville, Connecticut, with the proceeds to be used to build a new public safety complex. The 17,000-square-foot building will house the dispatch center, police facilities, animal control offices and a community gathering room. 

Voters in Texas city approve three of six bond proposals
Voters in Haltom City, Texas, recently approved three of six bond proposals. The bond issues approved include $12.2 million for street maintenance, $3.655 million for construction of a new fire station and $5.4 million for the renovation, acquisition and remodeling of park facilities.

Port authority approved for $200 million for bridge maintenance costs
A new bridge is planned to replace the old Gerald Desmond Bridge in Long Beach, and state officials recently approved $200 million for the Port Authority for long-term maintenance costs. The California Department of Transportation plans to take ownership of the new structure when it is completed in 2015 or 2016. But since the bridge was built in the 1960s, the Long Beach Harbor Department has been charged with its upkeep, repairs and safety issues. Because the new bridge is being designated a state highway, it will come under the jurisdiction of the highway department. However, the Harbor Department will be paid to continue to provide maintenance on the bridge for 30 years. Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (pictured) said part of the agreement with the port was to provide maintenance for the bridge for 30 years. Funding for the $1.1 billion bridge will come from federal, state and local grants and port savings. It will include six lanes, shoulders in both directions, improved connector routes and earthquake protections. Design-build firms will be asked to bid within the next several months.

Sewer needs will be met by proceeds from bond sale approved by city
A new sewer system in northeast Austin (Minnesota) will be paid for with $2.88 million in bonds to be issued after a vote by the city council. The project will be financed through Build America Bonds, authorized under the stimulus bill that will allow for 35 percent of the interest to be paid by the federal government. 
 
Voters say yes to issuing bonds for sewer system upgrades
Residents of Lake Ozark, Missouri, approved issuance of $6 million in revenue bonds to finish repairs and upgrades to the city sewer system. The increased bonding capacity will allow the city to compete for grants and apply for low-interest loans. The city's project will require some $2.5 million in the next few years to replace manholes and do work on some lift stations and sewer lines. The additional funding from the bond sale will be used to ensure the city is eligible for future grants and loan programs when it decides to expand the current system to areas where no sewer exists.

Infrastructure grant leads to improvements to wastewater plant
A $115,000 infrastructure grant will be used by the city of Deming, New Mexico, for improvements to its wastewater plant. The project will include changes to the site's earthwork and piping and replacement of the lining of retention ponds.

Several libraries to benefit from parts of bond passage
Three of four bond issues in Freedom (New Mexico) were recently approved by voters. Among the projects to be funded by passage of the referendum are $5 million for improvements to public school facilities, including pre-K classrooms, school facilities, schools books and instructional materials. Another nearly $8 million will be used to improve senior citizen facilities statewide.  And finally, $7 million will be for public schools, tribal and public library acquisitions. From the library bond funding, Roosevelt County libraries will be allocated $127,314, another $19,818 will go to the Portales Public Library, $16,788 will go to Portales school libraries and $76,129 is headed to Eastern New Mexico University's Golden Library. The public library will use its funds to add eight more computers stations for customers.

 Are you a government official who has moved into a new position or to a new agency? Did you recently retire? Were you recently named to an executive-level position at a state-supported college, university or community college? Have you secured a new job as superintendent of a public school? If so, we'd like to hear from you - and so would your friends and colleagues - for our "Where Are They Now" column. Just drop us a line at editor@spartnerships.com and let us know about your previous job and where you are now. This week we feature Stan Florence.

Stan Florence earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice management and ethics at Mid-America Bible College and his master's degree in criminal justice from East Central University in Oklahoma. He began a career in law enforcement 27 years ago as a police officer in Duncan, Oklahoma. In 1994, he was named Grady County, Oklahoma, sheriff. He held that post for nine years, resigning in 2003 to become a special agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Florence is also a graduate of the National Sheriff's Institute and holds an advanced level certificate with the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. He serves as an adjunct professor at Mid-America Christian University in the Criminal Justice Management and Ethics bachelor's degree program and in the Leadership and Public Administration master's degree program. Florence, currently an OSBI inspector, was recently named the bureau's new director, effective Nov. 15.

Peggy Gordon Miller (top left), president of South Dakota State University from 1998-2006, president of the University of Akron from 1992-1996 and chancellor of Indiana University Northwest from 1984-1992 and a former acting president for academic and international programs at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C., has been named interim dean of the Texas Tech University Graduate School. Ten years after joining the city of Coral Springs, Florida, as deputy city manager, Erdal Donmez (top middle) has been named city manager. Washington State Revenue Director Cindi Holmstrom (top right), the longest serving director in 35 years, will be leaving her state government post of six years for a private sector job in an economic and government relations firm, effective Dec. 1. New Orleans has a new CIO after Allen Square took over when former city technology chief Greg Meffert pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. Former McAlester, Oklahoma, Judge Steven Taylor has been elected to serve a two-year term as chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, replacing outgoing Chief Justice James Edmondson, and Justice Tom Colbert was elected vice chief justice. Las Vegas, New Mexico, Deputy Police Chief Christian Montano (upper middle right) has been named interim chief, saying he will apply for the chief's position. Francis K. Achampong (upper middle center), former director of academic affairs at Penn State Mont Alto and who has been serving as interim chancellor of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, has been named to the post on a permanent basis. Harry "Hap" McSween (upper middle left), University of Tennessee professor and faculty member for 32 years, has been named interim dean of the UT College of Art and Sciences, taking over for Bruce Bursten, current dean who is stepping down at the end of the year to return to the faculty as a chemistry professor. Mike Jimenez, who has been a sergeant in the Grant County (New Mexico) Sheriff's Office, has accepted the position as administrator of the Grant County Detention Center, where he was a former operations lieutenant twice. Hartsville, South Carolina, has hired Natalie Zeigler, town administrator in Springdale as its new city manager, effective in December, and replacing former City Manager Bill Bruton. David L. Ikenberry (lower middle left), associate dean of the College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Kenneth A. Kavajecz (lower middle center), associate dean for full-time masters programs and associate dean for the undergraduate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business, have been named the two finalists for the position of dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Molly Jahn (lower middle right), who has led the University of Wisconsin-Madison's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 2006, has stepped down as dean of the college, effective Jan. 1, 2011, and will return to the faculty in the agronomy and genetics departments and serve halftime as special adviser to the provost and chancellor for sustainability sciences. The City of Bangor, Maine, has hired Catherine Conlow, Orono's town manager for the last seven years, as the city's new city manager, effective Nov. 29.  Webster Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff's Deputy Will Lynd IV will take over as chief of the Springhill, Louisiana, Police Department in January, replacing two-term Chief Ronnie Coleman. The State of Kansas' Secretary of the Department of Health and Environment, Rod Bremby (bottom left) has announced he will step down. Ron Huberman (bottom center), former director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications in the Chicago mayor's office and former head of the Chicago Transit Authority, has announced he will step down from his job as chief executive of the Chicago Public Schools. New York City Housing Authority General Manager Michael Kelly (bottom right) will be on loan to the Philadelphia Housing Authority following the firing of Philly's former Executive Director Carl R. Greene. The Stafford County (Virginia) School Board has hired Randy Bridges, superintendent of the Almance-Burlington (North Carolina) schools, as its new superintendent, effective in December. Allan Oliver, deputy secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, has been chosen to succeed retiring Secretary Fred Mondragon, effective Nov. 30.