A rural health care pilot program, created in 2006 and funded by the federal government, is being expanded and rural hospitals could see significant benefits very soon. In 2006, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began funding telemedicine infrastructure.

The program's objective has been to improve medical services while reducing health care costs in the nation's rural areas by providing access to urban health clinics. The initial, or pilot, programs were successful and, as a result, about $400 million each year is now available to flow into what is being called the Healthcare Connect Fund. This follows the successful implementation of more than 50 active pilots throughout the country.

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Taller, denser buildings, clusters can help meet student enrollment increases

UC Merced are seeking a campus buildout for residential areas like these dorms that go up and are more dense.

State funding for higher education in California may be dwindling, but at the University of California Merced, things are looking up - literally. And the university's proposed campus schematic may represent a trend that will spread across the country.

UC Merced's Board of Regents recently heard a proposal from the chancellor's office that would build campus buildings taller and making clutters of buildings more dense. This "closeness" among facilities could save approximately $50 million in infrastructure costs alone, 

Dorothy Leland

say UC Merced officials, as utilities such as water, electricity and wastewater lines would not be required on undeveloped land. As the campus population grows, UC Merced officials see the up, and not out, density model as a unique way to keep up with student demands for new buildings, dorms and ancillary buildings.

The proposal would also locate some offices off campus to either leased or purchased office space. In fact, some offices already have been moved into rental properties around the city. Further consolidation of some back-office function offices are planned for the future, some five miles from the campus itself. UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland said that not only frees up space for students, but also gives the downtown and local economy a shot in the arm.

Only seven years old, the campus includes 840 acres, only 104 of which are currently being used. Initial plans were to develop more than 350 acres over the next several years, with more development to follow. Now, according to Leland, school officials want the expansion to only include the current acreage in use and another 115 acres east of the existing campus. Leland said that because of lack of state funding, the expansion that would include the 350 additional acres is "not financially realistic," and she urged consideration of the dense, taller model of expansion.

In addition to the "up and not out" proposal, the college is also studying the use of other financial tools, such as public-private partnerships, to decrease the institution's costs. The proposal will now go before the UC Merced Planning Committee, with the regents set to consider it again in May.

State offers negotiated agreement to other states throughout country 

Know a school district hoping to provide laptops for its students? The nation's only state that provides those mobile devices to the students across the entire state - Maine - is offering to share its contract for negotiating new devices with other states that might be interested.

Maine will soon replace 35,000 Apple laptops and tablets in middle schools and approximately the same number in high schools statewide this fall. It has narrowed its choices mostly to five different vendors, and expects to pay between $217 and $314 a year per device, depending on which device it chooses to purchase.

Maine began providing laptops to its public middle schools almost a dozen years ago and has upgraded three times since then. About half of the state's high schools now participate in the program as well. The state currently has a four-year contract, which is about to expire.

This will be the third time devices have been upgraded since Maine began providing laptops to public middle schools students 11 years ago. The program has since expanded into half of Maine's high schools. A couple of other states - Vermont and Hawaii - are a part of the contract discussions and other states are showing interest. Maine officials note that by increasing purchasing power by adding additional states, bids for the mobile devices have increased significantly. That means more savings for the state as prices become more competitive. Maine and Vermont have selected five bids to consider from the 16 that were offered. Part of the specs for the bids was that a warranty replacement process be in order so no student would be without a device for more than a day and that the bids also include provisions for professional development for teachers.

Maine continues to look for partnering states on the contract, to increase buying power. Officials also note that the more states that participate in the purchasing, the better the possibility for across-state collaborations on issues such as curriculum and technology.

Officials say contracting would likely save state as much as $15 million

In an effort to save up to $15 million by contracting out its prison food service to a private sector firm, Ohio officials are facing some opposition from smaller contractors.

While the administration projects a major windfall by contracting with a private sector firm, some smaller private sector vendors are afraid they will not have opportunities in the bids that are due April 12. Also, the union representing prison employees is working on an alternative proposal that also would save the state money.

State officials are telling smaller businesses that they will not be left out of the process, as they will have subcontracting opportunities and opportunities to provide necessary food service supplies. 

Oklahoma school district approves calling $31 million bond vote

A $31 million school bond has been called for in the Ardmore, Oklahoma, school district. The bond issue would provide funding for a new Lincoln Elementary School, the addition of nine classrooms at Jefferson Elementary and a new roof for Ardmore Middle School and other improvements. Voters will go to the polls on May 14.

Two new buildings being discussed for Southern Oklahoma University campus

Steve Mills

Officials at Southern Oklahoma University are considering construction of two new buildings. In the regular board meeting, the CEO of the University Center of Southern Oklahoma spoke about expansion plans. The facilities would be at the University Center and would be constructed in two phases. The first phase would include a new building for health, science and math and would carry a price tag of about $17 million. Officials of the university hope to build the first building with money from fundraisers and not public funds, said Dr. Steve Mills, CEO of the University Center. "Not on this first building, we're hoping, planning to do it without any," said Mills, "just through our fundraising efforts." The project would not start, said Mills, until the funds are available.

 

North Carolina school voters to be asked to support security upgrades

Wake County, North Carolina, voters are likely to face a school bond issue this fall that will include up to $18 million for security upgrades at the district's schools. School officials are considering security upgrades that could range from $7.1 million to $18.1 million. The bond issue could include additional security and surveillance cameras, an electronic door-locking system, an electronic sign-in system, a buzzer system from front door entry at all elementary schools and a centralize public address system. Recent increased gun incidents on school campuses have increased the interest in better security on campuses across the country. Parent-teacher groups have expressed more interest in technological security than armed guards on campuses in the district. Among the security projects recommended by security staff include: up to $11.7 million for 16 closed-circuit television video cameras at every elementary, 32 at every middle school and 64 at every high school, all networked; up to $3.8 million for an electronic locking system on exterior school doors, with elementary schools equipped first; $1 million for a networked visitor registration system; $1 million for a networked public address intercom system so security officials can make mass notifications from one location; more than $665,000 for an entrance buzzer to be installed at all elementary schools so front doors can be locked. Officials are not sure yet when a bond issue might be called that would include the security measures.

 

Terry Brown

Legislation recently approved by the Mississippi Senate would allow the state to move forward with a proposal to privatize the state's collection of child support payments. If House Bill 1009 passes, the Mississippi Department of Human Services would be allowed to contract with private sector businesses for the collection of unpaid child support. That could result in more than $1 billion in uncollected funds. Although the bill's author, Sen. Terry Brown, said he was not familiar with the business itself, he was more focused on the hundreds of thousands of children in the state who are not receiving the money they are due. "There's no perfect program - I've learned that in my time in government," Brown said. "I'm willing to try this. If it doesn't work we can always change it." The state previously attempted a similar privatization effort that employed a Virginia-based company that collected less money per case than the state did. After passing the Senate, the bill now goes to the House for its consideration.

  

Florida city seeking federal funds for bus rapid transit system

Craig Lowe

Officials in Gainesville, Florida, are seeking $38 million in federal funding to help defray the costs of a bus rapid transit system. The city put the funding for the system among its top priorities for its legislative agenda. In addition, the city is seeking $8.5 million for 20 new buses to replace part of its existing fleet and $3.3 million to expand the Rosa Parks Downtown Station into a multimodal transportation center. That expansion would include covered walkways and intercity bus or shuttle service facilities, taxi service and bus rapid transit. Another $1 million in federal funds being sought would help fund a study to determine the potential for a successful street car system that would link the University of Florida, the Innovation Square development and the downtown area. Estimates are that the infrastructure for a streetcar system would cost $128 million, and have operating costs of $2 million per year. The city, said Mayor Craig Lowe, plans to match any federal funding for bus rapid transit with revenues from a potential transportation sales tax. Voters would face a referendum as early as 2014 for the tax.

  

Capital improvements for the Illinois Tollway are being considered, to the tune of $922 million. The projects are part of a $2.2 billion plan for rebuilding and widening part of Interstate 90. That project includes a new $61 million interchange at Illinois Route 47. New ramps also are expected to be constructed at the Interstate 294 and Interstate 57 interchange. Another $3.4 billion project, the Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project would begin with a groundbreaking and there are repair and maintenance projects set for other parts of the system.

Arizona colonia gets grant for wastewater collection system

A $761,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Border Environment Infrastructure Fund has been awarded to the city of Bisbee, Arizona, by the North American Development Bank (NADB). The funds will be used for development of a new wastewater collection system that will benefit residents of Tintown, a colonia near Bisbee that relies on septic tanks for sewage disposal now. The new system will collect more than 12,000 gallons of wastewater daily and will include a new gravity main, more than 2,900 linear feet of sewer lines and 32 residential connections. Once completed, existing septic tanks and cesspools will be decommissioned and the wastewater will be shipped to a nearby treatment facility for treatment. San Antonio-based NADB works to finance environmental infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Free listings offered for RFPs to public sector entities, nonprofits

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Shreveport foundation seeks P3 to take over public hospital

The Biomedical Research Foundation in Shreveport is seeking a public-private partnership to take over the public hospitals in both Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana. The Foundation is seeking to partner with the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and the E.A. Conway Medical Center in Monroe. Other partners also are possible. The Louisiana state budget supported by Gov. Bobby Jindal supports turning over public hospitals run by LSU to private entities after budget gaps at the facilities have been caused by operational cost increases due to less state funding. The foundation could control the hospitals directly or through a separate nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation. One member of the State Senate called the Foundation's proposal an "innovative, forward-thinking model." If the partnership is approved, a northern Louisiana board would be created to govern the two facilities.  

Atlanta gives go-ahead for its part of funding for new stadium for NFL's Falcons

The 20-year-old Georgia Dome stadium that houses the NFL's Atlanta Falcons will be replaced, thanks to action this week by the Atlanta City Council. Council members approved financing a plan for a new stadium downtown as part of a public-private partnership with the team owners. The council approved the use of city hotel-motel tax revenues for its portion of the $1 billion stadium. The city will pony up $200 million. The Atlanta Falcons team will provide $800 million of the costs and any cost overruns. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said he was pleased with the decision of the Council, noting the new stadium will "lead to the revitalization of some of the city's most historic neighborhoods, create well-paying jobs and ensure that the City of Atlanta remains a competitive, leading city with world-class attractions." The Council's vote came a few days after the board of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority voted to move forward with the stadium plan by entering into an agreement with the city and the Falcons franchise. Invest Atlanta, the city's economic development organization, must also approve. The new stadium would be built near the current dome, with a completion date expected in time for the 2017 NFL season. 

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Nebraska

• The State of Nebraska is seeking a qualified contractor to provide toll free in-bound call center services.
• The State of Nebraska has issued a request for information to gather information to determine options for a Full Risk Capitated Rate Managed Care Program For Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services.

North Dakota

• The Bank of North Dakota is seeking proposals for contractors to develop 10 videos for the College Planning Center, plus the development of 30-second ads for College Planning Center, DEAL Student Loans and College SAVE.
• The North Dakota Insurance Department is seeking bids for administration of insurance license exams, collection and transmission of fingerprints of exam candidates, preparation and review of exams for the Agent Licensing Division.

Virginia

• Stafford County is seeking bids for the rebuilding of Stafford High.
• Longwood University is seeking bids for greenhouse repairs.
• The Virginia Department of General Services is seeking bids for a single commercial carrier for intra-state carrier services for the transportation and distribution of frozen and canned food, paper products, paint, janitorial and other miscellaneous sundry supplies from the Virginia Distribution Center in Sandston, Virginia, to state agencies and institutions throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia on a regular basis and to Virginia cities, counties, towns, school boards and other political subdivisions, as required, on a spot demand basis.

Delaware

• The Delaware Office of Management and Budget is seeking bids for professional services to provide the Delaware Procurement Card Program by supplying business credit card services and management program for eligible organizations within the state.
• The Capital School District is seeking bids for a prime contract for the construction of a new Dover High School in Dover, Delaware.  

Connecticut

• The Connecticut Department of Construction Services is seeking bids for a $5.7 million to $6.1 million project for additions and renovations to the campus of the Connecticut Juvenile Training Center in Middletown.
• The Town of Lebanon, Connecticut, is seeking bids for Phase I additions and renovations to the Jonathan Trumbull Jr. House Museum.

 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 Kevyn Orr.

Kevyn Orr

Kevyn Orr earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Michigan Law School. Over his career he has been a business restructuring specialist. In the past, he has held a number of federal government positions, including senior counsel in the litigation section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in 1991 and assistant general counsel, Resolution Trust Corp. from 1991 to 1995. He is now a partner in the Jones Day law firm in Washington, D.C., specializing in business restructuring and financial institution regulation. The firm has extensive experience in municipal finances, public infrastructure projects, public pension matters and litigation. It has an international reputation for its work with large restructuring efforts. Orr represented Chrysler during its 2009 bankruptcy restructuring. Orr is a member of the Florida and Washington, D.C., bars and has testified before Congress on matters of bankruptcy and financial institution regulation. He was recently chosen by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to become Detroit's emergency financial manager. Snyder chose Orr because Snyder has declared that the city is in a financial emergency with no adequate plan to correct it.

 

The California Senate Rules Committee unanimously voted to confirm the appointment, which must now be approved by the Senate, of Office of Technology Services (OTech) Director Ron Hughes (top left), a 22-year veteran of state government and 12 years in the private sector who was appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr. The Seattle City Council confirmed Acting CTO Erin Devoto (top enter) as the city's new chief technology officer (CTO), following her appointment in January after CTO Bill Schrier retired from public service. Central State University in Ohio has selected Charles Ford (top right), former dean of Winston-Salem State University's College of Arts and Sciences, to fill its second-highest office as provost and vice president for academic affairs, replacing former provost Juliette Bell. Robert Weber, who has been on leave from his job as superintendent of Iowa's Ackley-Geneva-Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock public school district following a criminal investigation, has resigned his post. Lt. Gary Haecker, who joined the Bulverde Police Department in 2004 as a patrol officer until promoted to sergeant and then advancing to lieutenant and second in command of the city department, has been named police chief. Rick Waters, principal at West Side High School in Greers Ferry, Arkansas, and a four-time coach of the year, has been named superintendent of the Genoa, Arkansas, Central School District. Kenneth R. Evans, Ph.D. (middle right), dean of the Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma, has been named sole finalist for president of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, to replace Dr. James Simmons, who is retiring. U.S. Army North commander Lt. Gen. William Caldwell IV (middle center), who oversaw missions at critical junctures in Iraq and Afghanistan, will retire from the Army this year, leaving San Antonio for Georgia where he'll become president of Georgia Military College. The Ohio Board of Education has named Richard Ross (middle left), Gov. John Kasich's chief education adviser and a former superintendent of Reynoldsburg schools, as state superintendent of public instruction, replacing Stan Heffner, who resigned. Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman, charter president of Georgia Gwinnett College, has been named new president and CEO of the 2,700-member Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, effective July 1. Dr. Wade Shaffer, who has served as interim provost/vice president for academic affairs at West Texas State University since March 2012, has been named to the post on a permanent basis, replacing Dr. James Hallmark, who resigned to become vice chancellor for academic affairs of the Texas A&M University System. Stephan Hudson, a 30-year veteran of the Prince William County (Virginia) Police Department, has been named the new chief of police, replacing Charlie Deane, who served for 24 years. Pamela Gunter-Smith (bottom left), most recently provost and academic vice president of Drew University in New Jersey, has been selected to replace George Waldner as president of York College in Pennsylvania. Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll (bottom center) has resigned two days after Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers interviewed her about her involvement with a nonprofit that operates Internet cafes in Florida. Ray Schultz (bottom right), head of Albuquerque's police department, is retiring five months after the U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation that was spurred by protests, lawsuits and demands for a wide-scale change in the department. Jamon Kent, who served as temporary city administrator for the city of Creswell, Oregon, in 2008, has again been appointed temporary city administrator following City Administrator Mark Shrives' resignation. The Temple Terrace (Florida) City Council has hired Gerald J. Seeber, general manager of Tampa Bay Water, to replace City Manager Kim Leinbace, who is retiring. Carl Rommel, captain in the city of Wadsworth, Ohio, Fire Department and a 22-year veteran of the fire service with 18 years with the Wadsworth Fire and EMS Department, has been chosen as the city's new fire chief.