The official minutes of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees are maintained by the Secretary of the Board. Certified copies of minutes may be requested by contacting the Board of Trustees’ Office. Electronic or other copies of original minutes are not official Board of Trustees' documents.

The Buildings and Grounds Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met on Thursday, November 16, 2000, at 2:35 p.m. in Room 107-C of the Osborne Administration Building.

Members present were: Mr. Miles Loadholt, Chairman; Mr. James Bradley; Mr. Alexander English; Dr. C. Edward Floyd; Mr. Toney J. Lister; Mr. J. DuPre Miller; Mr. William C. Hubbard; Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr., Board Chairman; and Mr. Herbert C. Adams, Board Vice Chairman. Members absent were: Mrs. Helen C. Harvey. Other Trustees present were: Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II; Mr. M. Wayne Staton; and Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.

Others present were: President John M. Palms; Secretary Thomas L. Stepp; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jerome D. Odom; Vice President and Chief Operating Officer J. Lyles Glenn; Vice President for Student and Alumni Services Dennis A. Pruitt; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice Provost and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education Chris P. Plyler; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Director of Student Development and University Housing Gene Luna; Director of the Department of Student Life Jerry T. Brewer; Director of Facilities Planning and Construction and University Architect Charles G. Jeffcoat; Director of Facility Services James D. Demarest; Director for Planning Services, Facilities Planning and Construction, Donna Collins; Public Information Coordinator, Office of Media Relations, Jason Snyder; Director of Periodicals, University Publications, Chris Horn; and Trustee's spouse Mary Miller.

Chairman Loadholt called the meeting to order and welcomed those present inviting them to introduce themselves. Mr. Snyder stated that no members of the media were present. Chairman Loadholt stated that the agenda had been posted and the press had been notified as required by the Freedom of Information Act; the agenda and supporting materials had been circulated to the Committee members; and a quorum was present to conduct business.

Open Session

1. Project Status Report: Mr. Jeffcoat stated that he had made a status report of the ongoing projects during the previous Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting held in September. He displayed photographs of ongoing projects at their current stages of completion. They included pictures of Sloan College, the Strom Thurmond Wellness/Fitness Center, and the new basketball arena.

   Chairman Loadholt thanked Mr. Jeffcoat for his presentation.

2. Report on Administrative Project Budget Increase, North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve Headquarters: Chairman Loadholt stated that this project was approved in compliance with established Board Policy.

   Mr. Jeffcoat explained that the North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve Headquarters project was originally established in December 1998 with a budget of $550,000 funded with $400,000 from a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and $151,000 from Institutional Funds.

   The administration increased the project budget by $21,000 to allow construction of the facility as designed because construction bids exceeded the preliminary estimates. The increase resulted in a total project budget of $571,000 funded with $400,000 in Grant Funds and $171,000 in Institutional Funds.

3. National Advocacy Center Wallcovering Installation: Mr. Jeffcoat said that this proposed project was to install new vinyl wallcoverings in all 264 guest rooms of the National Advocacy Center. The existing painted finish did not last as long as expected due to heavy usage.

   Mr. Bradley moved to establish a project to install vinyl wallcovering in the guest rooms of the National Advocacy Center as presented with a total project budget of $300,000 to be funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr. Lister seconded the motion. The vote was taken and the motion carried.

4. Proposed Phase III New Residence Hall: Mr. Jeffcoat stated that Housing wanted to begin the planning of Phase III of South Campus Housing, West Quadrangle. The proposed project would provide up to 500 private student rooms in a combination of apartments and suites, with appropriate academic and commons space. It was hoped that sufficient funding would allow the inclusion of administrative spaces to replace the offices in the Towers. It was envisioned that the project could result in two or three buildings arranged around a courtyard with 175 to 250 students per building.

   If approved, the construction would be completed in May 2004 for occupancy in fall of that year. The estimated cost for the project was $29 million. Potential sites were discussed, and one would be recommended as part of the design development process.

   Discussion ensued regarding the University's ability to service debt on this proposed construction.

   Mr. Miller moved to proceed with design development of the Phase III New Residence Hall, as presented; to refine the project scope, site and elevation schematics; and to develop accurate cost data prior to seeking full project approval. Mr. Lister seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

5. Other Matters: Chairman Loadholt noted that the administration requested that the Buildings and Grounds Committee consider an additional item. Materials regarding the item were distributed, and there were no objections expressed by the Committee members.

   1. Hamilton College Roof Replacement: Mr. Jeffcoat explained that the request was to establish a project to replace the roof on Hamilton College, which was one of the facilities proposed for renovation in the 1997 Bond Act.

      The poor condition of the roof made it necessary to accelerate the schedule for its replacement. The existing asbestos shingles were original to the 1940s building, and they had become brittle, cracked, and loose. The replacement roof would be copper, which had been selected for its durability and longevity. The project was estimated to cost $329,000 which would be funded with State Capital Improvement Bonds from the 1997 Bond Act.

      Mr. Bradley asked the amount of the 1997 Bond funds for historic building renovation which would remain if the Hamilton Roof project was approved. Mr. Jeffcoat responded that of the $14.5 million that had been received, $3.6 million funded the Sloan College renovation, $3.068 million funded the Callcott College renovation, $270,000 had been allocated for A/E services for Petigru, and $6.33 million would be allocated for Petigru's renovation. After the Hamilton College roof replacement project and $330,000 for other renovations to Hamilton College, $553,000 would remain.

      Mr. Bradley moved approval of the project, as presented, with a budget of $329,000 funded with State Capital Improvement Bonds from the 1997 Bond Act. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

   2. Proposed Acquisition of BellSouth Properties: Mr. Glenn briefed the Committee on the status of the proposed acquisition of the BellSouth property. Mr. Glenn explained that the proposed gift/purchase had been negotiated over a two-year period. A number of elements of the proposal had not been resolved such as parking, asbestos abatement, specific rehabilitations of the building, and issues such as the University's need to cancel leases of certain properties simultaneously with the purchase of BellSouth.

      Discussions had continued until BellSouth established a deadline for the University to agree to the acquisition, but BellSouth changed certain, specific guidelines. Based on the new terms, the University could not agree to the circumstances which had been set by BellSouth but noted that if the specifics changed, the University would reconsider the proposal or would consider new proposals such as leasing parking spaces. The proposal to purchase was, therefore, at a standstill.

      Mr. Glenn noted that the University anticipated that a gift/purchase of the 900 Assembly Street property could materialize in the near future. The combination of purchase and rehabilitation of that building might cost less than the previously estimated repair cost alone for the BellSouth property.

      Chairman Loadholt thanked Mr. Glenn and stated that this was received for information.

   3. Annual Student-Trustee Reception: The Committee members were reminded that the annual Student-Trustee Reception was scheduled to begin in 30 minutes in the lobby on the third floor of the Russell House. The annual Carolina v. Clemson Blood Drive for the American Red Cross was currently taking place in the Russell House. The Trustees were encouraged to attend.

There were no other matters to come before the Committee, and Chairman Loadholt declared the meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary