Mesalands may receive partial turbine

Mesalands Community College may receive a donation of a partial wind turbine that would beef up at least one wind-energy course.

Jim Morgan, director of the college's North American Wind Research Training Center, told the board of trustees Dec. 10 a former instructor told him about the possible donation of partial 1.7-megawatt turbine to the college.

In an email, Morgan stated it is the nacelle — or outer housing — of the turbine. He said it measures 12-by-12-by-28 feet and weighs 135,000 pounds.

Morgan also stated the college also might acquire the turbine's hub, which weighs 19 tons, though the prospect of that is less certain.

He said the nacelle, once installed at the wind center, could be used to offer more classes for wind-tower rescue training and for display purposes.

Morgan said at the meeting the only requirement is the college must pay the estimated $9,300 cost of transporting it by truck from Garden City, Kansas — a distance of about 280 miles — and unloading it.

College President John Groesbeck, authorized to pursue lower-cost transactions, said he would negotiate with the parties involved in an effort to move the partial turbine to Tucumcari.

In other business:

• Trustees approved an addendum to the college's 2015-2020 strategic plan. Groesbeck said the addendum is two-pronged to increase enrollment of the college's online courses and develop Tucumcari's National Guard armory, which the college is negotiating to buy.

The addendum states the college by December 2020 plans to use the armory for food service or a cafeteria, a gymnasium for sports, art gallery, student government offices, student health services, outdoor or community education programs and support for international learning programs.

On a related note, trustees after a 20-minute executive session approved a resolution to buy the armory with one sentence added  the transaction be approved by the state's board of finance. The college first announced in September it was pursuing the purchase of the vacant building for $1.

• Trustees heard a report from Vicki Watson, director of the college's Small Business Development Center. The center has outperformed its benchmarks on new businesses started, capital infusion, long-term clients and jobs created or retained.

Watson also told about the center's webinars on grant-writing and helping small businesses and offering tax preparation to local senior citizens.

• Matt Hughes, coach of the rodeo team, said he raised the number of athletes in the program from 14 last year to 22 this year. He said he hopes to eventually raise that to 50 or 60.

For the college's fall rodeo in October, Hughes said he increased total sponsorships from $10,600 to $14,435. He said ticket sales were nearly identical from the previous year, despite predictions of bad weather for the weekend.

Hughes anticipated qualifying at least three Mesalands athletes for the College National Finals Rodeo.

His star athlete is bull rider Levi Gray, whom Hughes said might turn professional soon. Gray's rodeo earnings were $36,000 this fall.

“II plan for him to be my first world champion,” he said.

• Trustees approved a reaffirmation of the college's mission statement, which was the same as the previous year.

• Trustees approved a change of their next meeting from Jan. 15 to Jan. 8 because of a conflict with a meeting with state legislators.

• Trustees approved a $42,000 annual contract with Jenazbar Inc. of Boston for maintenance of the college's computer system.