Engineer selected for HVAC upgrade

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The Mid Plains Community College board of governors approved Specialized Engineering Services of Ogallala as engineers for the HVAC upgrade at Brooks Hall in McCook, approved a proposed budget for publication prior to a public hearing Sept. 16, and took steps to purchase property on State Farm Road for $181,500, about seven acres for a rodeo practice arena.

The proposed budget shows a property tax request of $15.279 million, the same as last year, with a proposed operating budget increase of 13%, from $43.49 million to $48.98 million.

The college is expected to receive $19.1 million in state aid.

Other action at the board meeting Wednesday in North Platte included:

-- Meeting Mackenzie Anderson, student representative from McCook Community College, as well as an update on North Platte Community College student representative Antonia Villani.

-- Review of the COVID-19 Campus Outcomes Survey, which indicated overall, MPCC students were about 60% satisfied with the college’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the move to remote classes in the spring of 2020.

The next meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 in North Platte.