By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The state’s capital budget includes $25,440,325 for projects in Wood County.
More than $17 million is earmarked for work at Bowling Green State University. The budget includes $7,164,200 for campus-wide electrical upgrades and $8,418,500 for campus wide heating ventilation and air conditioning upgrades. BGSU is in the process of renovating two of its oldest buildings, University Hall and Moseley Hall.
Another $500,000 is going toward the completion of the renovation and extension of South Hall into a new School of Media and Communications and the integration of WBGU-TV into the program.
The state is also contributing $1 million to the university’s development of forensic science programs. Those programs were jumpstarted by the construction of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab on campus in 2014.
Another $80,000 is going to the Bowling Green Curling Club toward its new facility on Ohio 25 just north of Bowling Green.
State Rep. Tim Brown said that the money stems from the fact that changes at the university’s ice arena to improve hockey facilities there eliminated designated curling ice. That means the curling club has been less able to compete on the national and international level. He said the hope is with the new facility that the club may be able to host a national or international tournament for its upcoming 50th anniversary.
Brown said this was less than requested, but that’s the case for most of the awards.
Owens Community College received about $7.2 million for various projects. Those include: $2,250,000 for renovation of University Hall; $2 million for the renovation to the former Penta building; $1.4 million for the transportation technology building and site renovation; $1 million to remedy water infiltration to the administration building; $550,000 for access improvement projects; and $20,000 to replace the HVAC system in the math and science building.
The county Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections received $257,625 for a community-based correctional facility. And the county Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services received $800,000 for the Cocoon Emergency Shelter. (See: http://bgindependentmedia.org/2016/04/13/cocoon-in-line-for-800000-to-help-care-for-domestic-and-sexual-abuse-victims/)
