Asset preservation fee helps tackle maintenance

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Pogue Library, Lovett Auditorium and Wrather Museum are just a fraction of the rich history Murray State University has to offer. 

With the passage of an Asset Preservation Fee, the University joins others across the state in protecting its history and tackling its backlogged deferred maintenance problems. 

In the spring of 2019, the Council on Postsecondary Education approved tuition and fee increases for Murray State, which included a $7 fee for asset preservation. 

Students are charged $7 per non-online credit hour at a maximum of 12 credit hours. The fee will go towards tackling the more than  $300 million in deferred maintenance projects on the academic side of campus. 

Jason Youngblood, director of facilities management, said the University began the first project over the summer. 

“The first round of funds were used to upgrade the HVAC in Waterfield Library and do some waterproofing at Waterfield,” Youngblood said.

The waterproofing included maintenance at the front of the building and resurfacing of the breezeway. 

When students arrived on campus, construction occurred in and around Pogue Library. This pre approved project did not fall under the asset preservation fee. 

“This work is being funded through one time money allocated by the Board,” Youngblood said. “However, this type of project would be similar to a future asset preservation fee project.”

While the deferred maintenance list is being tackled with the asset preservation fee the University is placing a focus on the historic buildings on campus as it gears up for its centennial.

“Lovett Auditorium and the Curris Center will be at the forefront for improvements in the very near future,” Youngblood said. 

Students have already seen some improvements to the Curris Center after parking was expanded over the summer. The center is a hub for student activity and now houses Chick-fil-A in the former Stables location on the first floor.

“Future funds are being planned for electrical upgrades, building systems upgrades or equipment replacements, windows, doors, waterproofing, painting, ADA improvements, and other general academic building preservation projects,” Youngblood said. 

During the Board of Regents meeting on Sept. 6, the committee accepted the Six Year Capital plan put forth by the Buildings and Grounds committee. 

“I’m really proud of this board for keeping this out in front of us because we are the stewards of this property and the way this campus looks and the way it continues to look is on us,” Regent Don Tharpe said during the meeting.

Tharpe has been a champion of the asset preservation fee and finding ways to deal with deferred maintenance projects.

“As I was talking to Jackie it’s hard to find dollars because we are talking about big numbers, we’re not talking little numbers but if we don’t do something this place continues to go down,” Tharpe said during the meeting. “So, I think we’ve got to keep this on our plate all the time.”

During the meeting, Tharpe also brought up the preservation of legacy buildings across campus. 

At the next meeting, the regents will bring up the possibility of creating a pool of $11 million and discuss with legislatures about the state matching that funding to help preserve legacy buildings. 

“That would catch us up on a lot of deferred maintenance at this institution,” President Bob Jackson said during the meeting. 

That would include possible taking Lovett Auditorium off of the old electrical grid and steam line and operate on its own.There are also plans to replace carpet and light fixtures, according to Jackson. 

Lovett still has its original interior as well as the original seats. 

“Those are the types of things we’ve got to catch up on and have these buildings stand alone from the electrical grid and steam standpoint,” Jackson said.