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Contact: Office of Media Relations - 208/792-2200
No Down Time for Physical
Plant Staff
LEWISTON - When classes wind down and graduates depart in
May, the on-campus pace changes. Glancing at empty parking spaces, a casual
observer may think the summer months mean a slowdown in all LCSC activities.
Not so. While students and faculty are fewer and administrators try to fit
in their vacations, there is one aspect of campus life that continues
unabated and, in fact, increases in scope and pace.
Summer months bring with them a host of work projects for the LCSC Physical
Plant. When classrooms and offices get a break in use, crews move in to
apply paint, renew flooring, repair walls, remodel or otherwise upgrade
facilities.
This year, Physical Plant Director Scott Brown is working from a list of
roughly 40 capitol projects, each ranging from $750 to $10,000 in value. In
any year, these might include new carpet, electrical work, adding or
removing doors, or building new rooms. Signage also falls in Brown’s
bailiwick, as do projects like the recently-constructed information kiosk,
or things like a new elevator for the fine arts building. The Physical Plant
also works with grant monies and currently has a $20,000 grant to build
classrooms for the college’s diesel technology program.
Most years, the Idaho Department of Public Works also contributes to the
schedule of work, adding projects such as major remodels, new construction,
alterations and repairs. With construction of the Multi-purpose Activity
Center on hold, Brown and his crew will be working on other projects,
including continuing the installation of decorative, period style lighting
from the 5th street campus entrance to Clark Hall. And even though
construction on the activity center has been delayed, there is much to do
around the new parking areas that escaped the holdback in state building
funds.
Also, while the list of to-do’s expands with special projects, the basic
business of keeping the college running continues as well. Buildings still
require maintenance, heating and air conditioning systems need service, and
people still expect the lights and plumbing to work. Belts and filters get
changed, bolts tightened, windows cleaned…The list of activities is as long
as any day.
Seasonal work increases as well. Outdoors, grounds workers hustle to keep up
with acres of lawn, sprinkler systems, trees, shrubs, flower beds and
landscaped areas like the Centennial Mall and fountain area. New plantings
are established and existing ones cared for, limbs are pruned and the
constant battle with invasive plants continues.
Crews also work on less noticeable details—like scraping moss and debris
from between pavers on walkways—things the casual observer might never think
of, but which nonetheless contribute to LCSC’s reputation for a beautiful
campus. On the weekends, there is still someone on campus to take care of
maintenance and troubleshooting.
So, while summer months may mean vacation for some, they bring a full round
of new activities and tasks, in addition to the ones that are on-going every
day, to LCSC Physical Plant staff. Next time we relax on a bench beneath the
shade of a beautiful tree, enjoy the soothing sounds of the Centennial
Fountain, flip the switch for the air conditioner or park in a space cleared
of downed tree branches, we can (and should) thank the physical plant
employees who make it all possible.
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