The City of Oglesby will soon begin providing an armed police presence at Illinois Valley Community College.

At their September meeting, the IVCC Board of Trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement with Oglesby to provide police protection on campus 20 hours per week on days and times determined by the college, said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.

“Parents have entrusted us to provide a safe environment for their children,” Corcoran said. “We upgraded our security significantly by contracting with G4S Secure Solutions. With Oglesby police working alongside G4S, our campus will be even safer.”

Patrol duties will include assistance with traffic incidents, incident response, first aid in medical emergencies, alcohol and drug prevention and conflict resolution. IVCC will pay Oglesby a maximum of $41.76 per hour for police coverage through April 30 when the rate will be renegotiated.

In other business, the board approved:

• Requests for Purchase (RFPs) totaling nearly $220,000 for CTC instructional equipment to be paid for through the nearly $1.9 million raised in capital campaign donations. Equipment includes a turbine generator control troubleshooting learning system for the wind lab for $79,854, equipment for the industrial maintenance program totaling $20,165, a lab volt solar/wind energy training system for $45,580 and a lab volt EMS-8010 renewable energy training program for the industrial electricity program for $73,150.
• Replacement of the Cultural Centre sound system at an estimated cost of $691,700 from PHS funds. Parts and components for the antiquated system, working at less than one-third capacity, are no longer available. The new unit will include an assistive listening system that will allow audio from instructors or performers to be broadcast via transmitter microphones to a personal receiver issued to hearing impaired students and guests.
• Purchase of a replacement chiller/air handler for Building A at an estimated cost of $797,907 from PHS funds.
• The appointment of part-time business specialist Gina Czubachowski to a temporary full-time specialist position in the Small Business Development Center. Three part-time positions were combined to create the position.