Tech responds to Pickens County

In a statement, Tri-County Tech says it is confident that it has provided all of the information requested by Pickens County regarding the college’s plans for a Student Success Center on its main campus. That statement also says, “We also have repeatedly conveyed our willingness, both verbally and in writing, to provide whatever additional information is needed.”  A war of words has broken out between Pickens County and Tri-County Technical College over whether Pickens County will pay its share of the building project.  The county claims Dr. Ronnie Booth, Tech president, provided only general information.  It also used the word “disappointed” to have learned that, without an allocation from the county, the college would raise the tuition of the students who attend from Pickens County. Here’s what Tech said about providing information to Pickens County:

1.      October 12, 2015 meeting of the Pickens County Committee of the Whole: Tri-County Technical administrators and the project architect answered detailed questions during the meeting and provided copies of the following:

·        Project scope and description, including cost estimates

·        Information about space utilization

·        Project cost and projected timeline

·        Square footage summary

·        Tentative timeline for construction

·        Draft floor plans

 

2.      Following the meeting of the Pickens County Council Committee of the Whole on October 12, Pickens County signed a letter of support for the Tri-County Technical College Student Success Center, dated October 19. Additional details about the project were requested verbally by Council, and on January 26 representatives of Tri-County Technical College met with Tom Hendrix, Pickens County representative on the Tri-County Technical College Commission, to address the questions. (Note:  Several days later Hendrix was named Interim County Administrator). During that meeting a packet of information was put together and given to Mr. Hendrix to deliver to the Pickens County Council.   That packet included:

·        Responses to the questions asked by Council regarding deferred maintenance costs and energy savings, space utilization

·        Architectural detailed floor plans

·        Detailed timeline for construction

·        Historical summary of timeline and deliverables

·        LEED and Green Globe cost estimates for construction specifications as required by State statue

 

3.      On May 25, 2016, Tri-County Technical College presented its annual budget request to the Pickens County Council. Only three council members attended. No questions were asked about the Student Success Center project. Questions were asked about deferred maintenance needs of Pendleton Campus facilities.

 

4.      The same information referenced in #2 above was provided to Chairwoman Jennifer Willis on June 2.

 

We are confident that we have responded to and provided all of the information requested by Pickens County. We have not received any written requests, and we have responded to every verbal request.  We also have repeatedly conveyed our willingness, both verbally and in writing, to provide whatever additional information is needed.”