By Kara Phelps
Published: Tuesday, January 27, =
2009
at 4:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 8:21 a.m.
PCC President Eileen Holden estimated that the college would sign a
purchase contract within a month.
"It's shovel-ready. The infrastructure is there," she said=
.
During their meeting on the PCC Lakeland campus, trustees discussed
plans for two properties in northeast
The trustees decided on an 8-acre lot adjacent to the hospital along
U.S. Highway 27 as part of the college plan to expand its presence in the a=
rea.
The land is worth $3 million, but Civix MedEplex, its current owner, agreed=
to
sell it to PCC for $2.7 million.
Although the company could get more money by selling the property for
commercial use, such as for a restaurant, the contract will be considered a
donation to the college, Civix MedEplex President Rod Conley said.
"It's intangible. It's a long-term investment," said Conle=
y,
who attended the board meeting.
PCC has plans to construct two classroom buildings up to eight stori=
es high
and one parking lot. Board Vice Chairman Gregory Littleton noted that the
property has enough space to construct a third building if the school choos=
es
to expand in the future.
Holden said the college should move quickly to buy the land before t=
he
regular session of the state Legislature begins in March. The budget crunch=
in
education might cause legislators to cut the funds they previously had
approved.
"All bets are off in
The trustees agreed to execute a purchase contract within a few week=
s.
Haines City City Manager Ann Toney-Deal and Haines City Economic
Development Council Deputy Director Allison Devito also attended the board
meeting to welcome the deal.
PCC officials are in the early stages of talks about another parcel =
of
land owned by JML Land LLC. The college's plans for the undeveloped propert=
y in
Ridgewood Lakes, along U.S. 27, include more multistory classroom buildings=
as
well as a third charter high school.
Trustees also voted to extend Holden's contract to cover a fourth ye=
ar.
Holden came to PCC in 2006, and her two-year contract was extended another
year, in typical fashion. She received rave reviews from the trustees during
her annual evaluation in December. Now, she is staying on for at least anot=
her
year.
Holden did not request a salary increase due to the current difficult
economic situation, board Chairwoman Twyla Ely said.