TC still negotiating for Ford City drill sites

At its regular monthly meeting, the West Kern Community College District took action on a number of routine end-of-the-year fiscal matters.

Trustees also continued to meet in closed session to discuss the status of negotiations with the  federal government on the price and terms of payment for the seven drill sites in Ford City.

The college has long had its eyes on the vacant lots scattered through Ford city. Two of them are very close to the TC campus.  The lots, once part of  Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1, were transferred from the Navy to the Department of Energy and now the federal government is looking to dispose of them.

There are eight lots total, but one has  soil contamination issues and is not being let go of.

The college has been trying for decades to get possession of the vacant land.

The college looks at the sites as possible parking, dormitory and educational space.

Education is one of the possible uses spelled out in the notice the General Services Administration (GSA) released announcing the properties are being disposed of.

Types of disposal or public use cited by the GSA includes:

Negotiated sales to public bodies for general public use

Educational facility, including school, classroom, or other purposes

Protection of public health, including research and drug rehabilitation

Public park or recreational area

Historic monument

Self-help housing

Correctional facility or law enforcement

Emergency management response, including fire and rescue

Wildlife conservation

Widening of public highways, streets or alleys

Federal aid or other highways

Although there are eight parcels, only seven are being offered at this time.  The eighth, located near the northwest corner of Ash and Fourth streets “will be offered at a later date due to environmental remediation requirements,” the notice said.  That site has contamination issues.

Each of the sites is just over two acres, ranging in size from 2.06 acres to 2.21 acres.  Four are 2.07 acres.  The total available is 14.68 acres.

The board approved:

An agreement with Westec to provide credit instruction and other services for industrial health and safety, criminal justice administration, court reporting and petroleum technology at a reimbursement rate of $6.73 per contact hour, including an instructional reimbursement not to exceed 350 full-time equivalent students.

Renewal of property and liability insurance coverage for the 2012-13 fiscal year at a premium cost of $107,105 – a two percent decrease over the prior year.

District-paid life insurance benefits for board members, management, faculty and classified staff.

Three agreements related to the Transition to Independent Living (TIL) Center -- $10,920 per month to Karwoski Inspections for state-required construction inspections; $10,000 to Dr. Janice Emerzian to provide external evaluation of a federal grant for TIL; and $30 per hour (not to exceed $12,000) to Dorthea Mosby for fund-raising.

Employment of master teacher substitutes for the Children’s Center, fall and winter sports coaching stipends, division chair assignments, extra-duty assignments and 28 petroleum technology instructors.

The next board meeting will be Aug. 9 at 6 p.m.