INA, Ill. (Feb. 21, 2014) - They work behind the scenes, keeping everything running and maintained on all 海角视频 campuses. Since May 2013, employees at the 海角视频 Physical Plant have completed many large projects, but that number isn芒鈧劉t close to the work put in by the 60 employees.
A few of the biggest projects completed in the last year include the new Massage Therapy and Nail Technology labs, the final aspects of the Music Department renovations, the new Cherry Creek Driving Range, the additional weight room in the Hitting Zone, the new HVAC controls system at the MarketPlace, and the pistol shooting range behind the Coal Mine Training Center.
The Massage Therapy Lab moved from the MarketPlace to the Ina campus last summer to make room for the Nail Technology Lab at Studio RLC. Maintenance Technicians Rusty Downen and Chris Maxwell were two individuals of many who worked on the projects at both locations.
芒鈧揥e tore out the walls where massage therapy had been and built all new,芒鈧� said Downen.
Maxwell added, 芒鈧揥e consulted a lot with Daphne Mitchell, Studio RLC Director. She wanted a classroom set up, but we had a lot more to do, like putting in an exhaust fan and dispensary. We had to meet state regulations as well. It was a big project.芒鈧�
Also at the MarketPlace, Grounds Supervisor Donnie Millenbine said it was two weeks of mowing before work on the new golf driving range could begin. The driving range opened last fall and is just part of the 100 acres the Grounds Department keeps up in all three locations.
The RLC Driving Range opened last fall near the Mt. Vernon MarketPlace. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
On the main campus, work was still finishing up on the music department renovations in the form of new risers in the music classroom, Learning Resource Center (LRC) 107. The classroom was open for student use at the start of the Fall 2013 semester.
芒鈧揟he music renovations were a big project last year, as was the second floor of the library where we built the mock hospital rooms. They were both pretty rewarding to be a part of,芒鈧� said Charlie Massie, an electrician.
New risers were placed in the music classroom, LRC 107, last year to finish the renovations. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
More recently, Physical Plant employees put up the new pistol shooting range to accommodate RLC芒鈧劉s new Concealed Carry classes. A temporary range was constructed in one week to house students who had already registered.
芒鈧揟he college had planned to build one, but when we needed to have one done quickly, we put up a temporary one in a few days,芒鈧� said Maintenance Supervisor Dave Mathis. 芒鈧揕ater, we built the permanent range, which took about six weeks. We worked around the classes, but also made sure no one would miss classes. It was a good job done by everyone involved.芒鈧�
A temporary shooting range was erected late last year to accommodate those enrolled in RLC's Concealed Carry class. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Employees also built a weight room for RLC athletes in the Hitting Zone, starting with putting up walls to rewiring to moving equipment across campus.
芒鈧揥e didn芒鈧劉t just come in and paint walls and leave. We put in walls, gutting, wiring, the whole works. Then we moved some equipment from the Fitness Center,芒鈧� said Mathis. 芒鈧揥e don芒鈧劉t ever start anything that we aren芒鈧劉t going to finish. We have a lot of skilled tradespeople who take pride in their work.芒鈧�
For the most part, projects on campus are done in-house, helping the college save money from contracting out work.
芒鈧揈ighty percent of everything we do is in-house. The savings of that is huge,芒鈧� said Mathis. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s like having a home team of people to go to. I hope the college continues to support us so that we can have a positive impact on the students and the learning environment every day.芒鈧�
One of the goals for the Physical Plant employees, as graduates or current students at RLC, is to complete projects, maintenance, and work orders around the students.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s a juggling act, but we take care of what needs to be taken care of,芒鈧� said Mathis. 芒鈧揙ur primary concern is maintaining the campus for the good of the students, which is why we get in and try to do it right the first time. It makes it easier for us in the future. All this has to be done without disturbing the students, so we try to get it done when students aren芒鈧劉t present. That means working on nights and weekends to be out of the way.芒鈧�
Despite constant work requests and projects lasting anywhere from days to months, the workers all agree on one thing: the Physical Plant is a great place to work on the RLC campus.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s a pretty great work environment,芒鈧� said Pat Peto, a carpenter. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s a pleasure to work for RLC and Randall Shively, Director of the Physical Plant.芒鈧�
Massie agreed, stating, 芒鈧揜andall does a good job of making it nice to come to work.芒鈧�
Maxwell added, 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s not monotonous. The variety of our responsibilities makes for a great place to work. I芒鈧劉ve always thought I had the best job, because I know everyone, and there are a lot of great people. Outside of the college, the retail and state people at the MarketPlace are a good group to work with. It芒鈧劉s like my home and my family.芒鈧�
After a day of maintenance work, it芒鈧劉s the Physical Plant芒鈧劉s custodial team who comes in to make sure the space is clean for students the following day and prepare for work in subsequent days.
芒鈧揗ost of the projects were completed by the Maintenance Department on day-shifts; however, each custodian has a part one way or another cleaning up after each day,芒鈧� said Custodial Supervisor Curtis Caldwell. 芒鈧揥e clean the messes up each day the project is going on. Each custodian does an outstanding job keeping everything clean and ready for the next day.芒鈧�
Overall, Mathis said he芒鈧劉s looking forward to seeing what the Physical Plant can accomplish in the next year.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉ve got an extremely strong department. I芒鈧劉ve never worked with a more positive group of people who look forward to being here and seeing the college prosper,芒鈧� said Mathis. 芒鈧揑 hope I keep them all for a long time. They芒鈧劉re self-disciplined with a good skill level. RLC is a great place to work, and it芒鈧劉s good work. It芒鈧劉s nice to be able to do this work for the students and the taxpayers. I am really proud of the work and we all take pride in it.芒鈧�
Other projects completed since May 2013 include: