DOBSON — The executive board of the Surry Community College Board of Trustees voted Monday to move forward on a project to build an industrial steel building on campus that would directly benefit the school’s welding programs. The proposed structure could also allow space for the Automated Industrial Systma and computer Assisted Machinist programs.

The full board of the college had earlier voted to allow the executive committee to act on the proposal in a time saving measure because the full board does not meet in July. The full board must later ratify the project as it reaches the next stage of the process.

The proposed building could be a minimum of 6,000 square feet and would be located partially on a wooded site between the college’s engineering and technology building and the body shop. A total of $700,000 has been estimated as the cost of the project. The motion to formally pursue the building project was made by board member Ed Carter and seconded by Van Tucker.

According to SCC Director of Physical Facilities, Randy Rogers, one issue the college will face is the amount of compatible dirt needed to fill a ravine on the proposed site. Rogers told the board that most of the structure would be located on what is now a parking lot to take advantage of dirt that already is compacted.

He said that all organic material must be removed from the ravine before the dirt would be trucked in and compacted in the engineered fill. Rogers told the board that one potential source of fill dirt was the Ararat Rock Company. He said one bid he had received for the project was $75 a load for the compatible fill dirt.

The proposed building would have a “storefront” style facade on the front of the building to match the decor of the campus. Two other metal buildings at the site would be painted to complement the new facility.

Much of the remainder of the meeting concerned revisions to the college’s bylaws. The board approved a measure to allow the secretary to serve as an ex-officio officer of the board. This would allow the secretary to be a back-up officer in case the chairman or vice chairman of the board were not present. The full board also could elect a secretary for the position or appoint a committee to recommend a candidate.

The board also approved a listing of the president’s responsibilities to be in the bylaws. This listing is similar to the job description for the college president.

A brief discussion of a proposed formula stipulating eight members must be present at a meeting to take action on changing bylaws or electing a president ended in the board deciding to omit the new formula and simply state that a quorum must be present and a majority of that quorum must agree for a measure to pass.

A measure was passed that includes a conflict of interest statement and academic freedom statement to be contained in the bylaws. Surry Community College President Dr. David Shockley explained that including the academic freedom statement would allow any out of state accrediting agency to quickly verify that SCC is in compliance.

The approval by the executive committee of the revised bylaws allows Shockley to continue the application process for school accreditation without waiting for the meeting of the full board next month. The bylaws approved by the executive committee will be brought before the full board in August. This action was authorized by the full board prior to Monday’s meeting.

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.