TSUS regents meet in San Marcos

Date of release: 03/05/99

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — The Texas State University System Board of Regents has authorized spending up to $550,000 for emergency repairs to Spring Lake Dam on the San Marcos River.

The repair expenses are contingent upon completion of engineering and design work on repairs to the dam, which were also approved by the board when it met Wednesday and Thursday, March 3 and 4, on the campus of Southwest Texas State University.

At their meeting in January 1998, the regents hired Baker-Aicklen Consulting Engineers to do a feasibility study to determine what repairs to the dam would be necessary as a result of the October 1998 flood. Baker-Aicklen’s report was received in January 1999 and it indicated that repairs were needed to avoid the collapse of the dam.

A request for proposals on the design work has been issued, but those proposals were not yet available at the meeting of the board. Therefore, the board granted the chairman and vice chairman the authority to award the design contract as soon as possible because of the need for emergency repairs to the dam.

Early estimates are that approximately $550,000 will be needed to make emergency repairs to stabilize the dam and prevent further deterioration. A special appropriation in the amount of $5 million from the Texas Legislature is being sought to repair the dam. Emergency repairs to the Spring Lake Dam may begin in May.

In other action, the board authorized SWT to hire the architectural firm RVK of San Antonio to prepare plans and specifications for athletic fields on the SWT west campus. The total project cost is not to exceed $700,000.

The new fields will serve as the home of SWT’s intercollegiate women’s soccer program, which will begin in Fall 1999 with games at Bobcat Stadium. The team will move its games to the west campus fields in 2000. The new fields will also become the permanent home for several SWT recreational sports teams.

In other SWT related action, the board:

  • Authorized the chairman and vice chairman to award a contract not to exceed $500,000 for expansion of the Admission Center. Bids on the project are expected in April.
  • Authorized SWT and TSUS administration to seek introduction of legislation to raise the cap on shuttle bus fees from $29 to $46. The current cap is $30. An increase of more than $1 is needed to pay for services desired by students. Any increases would require approval through a student referendum.
  • Authorized the university to enter an agreement with Texas Parks and Wildlife to pay Graeber, Simmons and Cowan/Lake-Flato architectural and engineering fees associated with the design of the Wetlands Project at Aquarena Center.
  • Tabled a proposal for the university to enter an agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority and the San Marcos Electric Utility for provision of utilities to campus.
  • Approved preliminary plans for the central utility plant expansion project, phase 2, and authorized the university to take bids on the project and award a contract not to exceed $440,000. The project will make the plant Y2K compliant.
  • Issued purchase orders of $218,183 and $312,822 to Beldon Roofing Co. for roof repairs at the Chemistry Building, Arnold Hall, Retama Hall, Riverside A, San Saba Hall and the Tower.
  • Authorized a purchase order not to exceed $225,000 for the demolition of Medina Hall. The project will facilitate construction of the west campus athletic fields.
  • Adopted a resolution honoring Edwin F. Fauver for 27 years of service to SWT as director of the Physical Plant. Fauver retired on Jan. 8.
  • Renominated and elected William A. Nance and McBride Wilson Jr. to new terms as trustees of the SWT Support Foundation.
  • Acknowledged gifts to the university of $5,000 or more.
    • Advanced Micro Devices donated $657,025 in building materials to be used in the construction of the Art/Technology/Physics Complex.
    • SWT received $651,845 in cash from the estate of Henrietta Avent, SWT professor emerita, for the Avent Scholarship Endowment.
    • The Lillian Waltom Foundation donated $164,750 for scholarships for SWT students from Atascosa County.
    • SWT received $100,000 from the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation for the Albert B. Alkek Library and faculty technology development.
    • Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Anderson contributed $50,000 for scholarships in the Department of Physics.
    • The Anheuser-Busch Foundation donated $25,000 for the Rivera Book Award endowment.
    • The Celia Berwin Memorial Foundation gave $25,000 for an endowed scholarship.
    • Eleanor B. Crook contributed $15,000 in support of the SWT Centennial Campaign.
    • Therapeutic exercise equipment valued at $12,400 was given to the Physical Therapy Department by Lawrence Sales and Consulting.
    • The Azadoutioun Foundation gave $10,000 to the Southwestern Writers Collection. -- Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. McDonald III donated $10,000 in support of the SWT Centennial Campaign.
    • Mr. and Mrs. Larry F. Wright gave $10,000 for scholarships and discretionary use by the departments of Chemistry, Agriculture and Aerospace Studies.
    • Mary E. Gillar donated $10,000 for an endowed scholarship for future teachers.
    • SWT received $8,257 from the estate of Reed Parr for the Parr Music Scholarship.
    • Charles D. “Chuck” Nash donated $7,000 for the Elizabeth Topper Nash Modern Language Scholarship.
    • SWT received $6,250 from Norwest Bank Texas, South Central, as payment for an athletic sponsorship package.
    • SWT received $5,675 from IBM for an international program support project.
    • Irene Abernathy donated $5,000 for the Abernathy scholarship fund.
    • Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo R. Byington Jr. contributed $5,000 for the Byington endowed scholarship.
    • James W. Spence donated $5,000 to the Department of Geography and Planning.
    • Craig and Gail Vittitoe contributed $5,000 for the Vittitoe endowed scholarship.
    • Mr. and Mrs. Terry Westbrook donated $5,000 to the SWT Centennial Campaign.
    • David F. Votaw contributed $5,000 to create the Vivian Snow Votaw Endowed Scholarship in Theatre Arts.
    • Spencer C. Tucker gave an art collection valued at $42,740 to the Department of Art and Design.
    • SWT received computer software valued at $40,130 from 3M Health Information Services.
    • Finale Technologies contributed Prolith computer software valued at $7,200.
    • Cecil Atkission Motors donated a vehicle to the Athletic Department. The gift entitled them to a $5,000 value Bobcat Club membership.
  • Granted SWT President Jerome H. Supple permission to serve on the Board of Directors of Frost National Bank.
  • Adopted revisions to the general education core curriculum to be submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  • Authorized the university to issue a purchase order not to exceed $190,000 for a five-year lease/purchase agreement with Danka Office Imaging Co.
  • Formally accepted the cooling tower water supply project.
  • Authorized a change order of $23,735 for work at the new LBJ Student Center to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Accepted reports on financial benchmarks and academic measures for scholarship in athletic programs in system schools.
  • Authorized the chairman of the board and the chairman of the SWT Local Committee to review proposals and enter a land lease agreement for property it owns at McCarty Lane and Interstate 35.
  • Approved electric utility easements along McCarty Lane to the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
  • Amended the agreement between SWT and Web Services for laundry service in residence halls.
  • Authorized the university to lease land adjacent to Bobcat Stadium from Union Pacific Railroad.
  • Affirmed its support for adding substantial new funding to the base formula allocations to enable TSUS institutions to better fulfill their mission.
  • Affirmed its support for the current alignment of institutions within the Higher Education Assistance Fund.
  • Accepted 12th class day reports, approved routine personnel matters and budget adjustments, and received internal audit reports from system schools.

The Texas State University System includes Angelo State University in San Angelo, Lamar University-Beaumont, Lamar University Institute of Technology in Beaumont, Lamar University-Orange, Lamar University-Port Arthur, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, SWT, Sul Ross State University in Alpine and Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College in Uvalde.

Members of the nine-member board are Pollyanna A. Stephens of San Angelo, chair; Floyd Nickerson of Abilene, vice chair; John P. Hageman of Round Rock; Thomas M. Moeller of Beaumont; Elizabeth T. Nash of San Marcos; Nancy R. Neal of Lubbock; Macedonio “Massey” Villarreal of Houston; Craig H. Vittitoe of Harlingen; and Ray Zapata of San Angelo. Chancellor Lamar Urbanovsky manages the system’s office in Austin.