Construction and delays. Over the past few years, those two words have gone hand-in-hand. Barton Community College is experiencing delays in the $3.2 million Ag Technology Center being constructed on the east side of campus.
Barton Vice President of Administration Mark Dean said much of the work is being done without power to the facility. An electrical switchgear and transformer for the building is supposed to be shipped from the east coast on Dec. 15.
"There's just not a lot they can do if they don't have the equipment to do the install," said Dean. "They've put in temporary lighting, propane and electrical heaters. You can't put in any big equipment because we don't have a lot of power."
The 14,000-square-foot facility will house a Top Tech Program to provide training to become Case New Holland technicians. The building will also have space for the CDL program, crop protection and animal science program.
Dean speculated it will be the end of January or early February until contractors are finished with the project. The driver's scale will not be installed until early February.
"The contractor for the scale was installing in other places also," said Dean. "They got way behind because of the weather. That was a piece of it. They're donating the installation to us. Another company donated the scale. We have to allow them to do it when they can do it."
Harbin Construction is handling the construction project with many local subcontractors assisting. Barton was awarded a $1.8 million matching grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce for the development.