First Posted: 1/15/2009

LUMBERTON — Construction began successfully on a building that will house the new Workforce Development Center at Robeson Community College, college President Charles Chrestman told the board of trustees Monday night.
Architect of the project, Walter Vick, said contractors have begun installing foundation points in the rotund and hope to complete laying the foundation this month.
Vick told the board that the college can expect to see more money returned after a few tradeoffs and negotiations. The project is expected to be completed in July 2009.
The 19,000-square-foot Workforce Development Center is being built on campus near the Health Science Building. The project is expected to cost in excess of $3 million, which includes a mix of state bond money, two state grants, and a $1 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration.
In other action, Chrestman announced that the college is ready to take bids for re-roofing two buildings. The two buildings will sport metal roofing, new fascia and down spouts similar to the newest additions on the campus.
Architect John Murray said the college “could not be re-roofing at a better time,” and will begin advertising bids this Sunday in newspapers across the region.
Chrestman said that the $485,000 project will be paid for with local money. The bids will be carried to the board for its review in December.
In other business, the board:
— Reviewed state and county budget information. Chrestman has encouraged close monitoring of the budget because of the economy.
— Reaffirmed board of trustee by-laws.
— Approved amendments to the president’s job description, which now includes oversight of school fundraisers.
— Considered new board policies, including veteran preference hiring, and a policy that would prohibit a student who has issued a bad check to make payment with a check for one year.
— Expressed sympathy to the families of the two students who died in a car-train wreck earlier this month.