FSCC approves armory acquisition

It's official.

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees, during their regular meeting Monday, approved the lease purchase of the former National Guard Armory building, located at the corner of 23rd and Horton streets, from the City of Fort Scott.

Last month, following a recommendation by former Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner, the Fort Scott City Commission approved a lease purchase proposal for the armory building to FSCC. The contract is for $200,000 for a 15-year term at a 4-percent interest rate. The annual payment will be $17,752 for a monthly total of $1,479. FSCC will be responsible for insurance, utilities, and maintenance of the building, including the roof.

The agreement is expected to begin Oct. 1 and FSCC has the option of paying off the lease early. FSCC would become owners of the armory at the end of the 15-year agreement.

The purchase of the building is expected to allow FSCC to expand its trades programs and bring additional revenue into the city. The original plan is to use the armory to house the college's construction trades program, cosmetology program, and truck driving program, although the board is considering a few other options for the building, all of which involve the college's occupational programs, FSCC President Clayton Tatro said.

The Fort Scott Police Department had also been a candidate for the armory, but expenses were the reason city officials chose to sell the building to FSCC.

On Monday, trustees also had the opportunity to take a tour of the armory building.

In other business Monday, the board:

* Heard a report from Jill Warford, the director of the Gordon Parks Center, on the upcoming Gordon Parks Celebration of Culture and Diversity scheduled to take place Oct. 6-9. Warford said more than 1,000 people from different areas across the United States attended last year's celebration.

* Heard a presentation from representatives of Liberty National Insurance Company on a variety of insurance products the company offers.

* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois State Board of Education for the Opportunities for Success for Out-of-School Youth Migrant Education Program Consortium Incentive Grant. The new agreement extends the contract through Aug. 31, 2012 and increases the amount payable for services rendered by $41,450 with a maximum amount payable not to exceed $82,900.

* Approved the Kansas State Department of Education Migrant Education State Level Activities Application. KSDE has decided to sub-grant specific migrant education operations to FSCC. The award is for the term of one year.

The board also heard a review of the college's finance and operations program and heard various reports from Tatro and Board of Trustees Chairman Curt Shankel.