CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas plans to spend an additional $510,000 on decorative sidewalks, drawing criticism from the chairman of the state Senate’s Education Committee.
The board of trustees voted unanimously Friday to approve the stamped-concrete sidewalks and other capital projects. There was no discussion among the trustees about the sidewalks, which will cover 20,000 square feet.
In other action Friday, trustees agreed to raise room-and-board rates and approved a resolution to build a health-care education building.
On Thursday, Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, questioned the sidewalk plan at a time when the economy is struggling and some legislators are in the mood to cut taxes. After the House passed a bill Wednesday to create a sales-tax holiday for school supplies, Gov. Mike Beebe said that if the measure became law, an equal amount would have to be cut from state services such as higher education.
“Moving forward at this particular time with something like that - somebody is not reading the papers,and somebody is not paying attention to what is going on in the state of Arkansas,” Jeffress said. “[But] if they are, they’re just thumbing their noses at everything.”
Stamped-concrete sidewalks tend to cost 20 percent to 30 percent more than the traditional, broom-brushed type but can fluctuate in price, said Larry Lawrence, UCA’s physical plant director, who hopes to get better pricing this time because of a more flexible installation timeline.
“Stamped concrete, commonly referred to as patterned concrete or imprinted concrete, is concrete that is designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood,” according to ConcreteNetwork.com, which also refers to it as “decorative.”
UCA already has installed some concrete walkways that resemble brick at a cost of almost $500,000.
When asked to comment on Jeffress’ remarks, UCA President Allen C. Meadors wrote in an e-mail, “Since I do not know how the information was presented to Sen. Jeffress nor have I personally ever had a discussion with the Senator regarding the University’s master plan (not to my knowledge has anyone from the Board or university) or about what the Board and facility planners feels regarding the replacement of unsafe and often underwater old sidewalks, it would be hard to respond to your question. It is unfair to speak to someone’s comments when they haven’t been given the opportunity tosit down with the entity ... and discuss the issues.”
The plans call for an estimated $260,000 to go toward 10,500 square feet of sidewalks from Christian Cafeteria to the student center and for $250,000 to go for 9,500 square feet of sidewalks between Arkansas Hall and Snow Fine Arts Center, plus $50,000 for benches in an outdoor seating area that would be constructed.
The money would come from capital-project reserves, according to the board agenda. Diane Newton, vice president of finance and administration, said such reserves can include both public and private funds that have been set aside.
If bids come in too high, Lawrence said, the school might have to reduce the plan somewhat. But he said he hopes work can begin on both projects after graduation in May.
Lawrence said UCA is trying to deal with the campus’s worst sidewalks first.
“Some of them have cracks,” he said. “We’re [also] trying to raise them up to a higher height so that the water drains off them better ... where they do not puddle people in wheelchairs or people in shoes. ... We’re addressing some drainage issues as well.”
Trustees Randy Sims of Conway and Dr. Harold Chakales of Little Rock were absent from the meeting Friday.
In other business, trustees raised room-and-board rates 3 percent from $2,515 to $2,590 per semester for a double-occupancy rate and a 15-mealper-week plan.
The increase, expected to generate $305,000 in revenue annually, will help with maintenance and housing upgrades, UCA said in a news release.
Food services will rise by 3.8 percent, to cover an increase in food supplies and operating costs. The university plans to expand students’ dining options by adding two more restaurant chains.
Trustees also voted to use property at Western and College avenues for a health-education building shared with Conway Regional Health System.
It will be named the Center for Collaborative Healthcare Education and used to address health-care education needs of the hospital staff, academic programs at UCAand area residents.
UCA and Conway Regional Health System plan to seek donations for construction costs.
Also Friday, the board approved an amphitheater to be built in the Student Center courtyard. The Student Government Association has allocated $50,000 toward the amphitheater, and the housing office has provided $25,000, according to the release.
Trustee Rush Harding III of Little Rock announced during the meeting that he would donate $112,500 for the project, and trustees approved an additional $112,000 from a board-supervised fund of university money.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 02/26/2011