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Southwestern Community College asks county for capital repairs and proposes CDL training; commissioners weigh costs and regional benefits
Summary
Southwestern Community College sought county support for deferred maintenance and capital items including a potential CDL driver-training resurfacing project whose prices have risen to about $800,000.
Southwestern Community College (SCC) presented its operating budget and capital needs to Macon County commissioners, asking for funding for deferred maintenance, modular repairs, HVACs and a possible driver-training (CDL) facility.
College officials explained the college budgets personnel and plant funds under N.C. General Statutes and described a five-year capital request list that included modular reroofing, water-heater replacement, electrical upgrades and paving for a driver-training area. SCC said that bids for the CDL driving range resurfacing had escalated from earlier estimates to about $800,000 and that a remount or paving project is now one of its major near-term capital items.
SCC representatives argued that a local CDL program would provide workforce benefits to the region and to county employers, and said students would pay tuition for the program unless an exemption applied; county officials noted that if public-safety or volunteer departments participate they may qualify for fee exemptions and that the college would investigate that. Commissioners asked whether local fire departments or other users would be charged for training, and SCC said it would explore fee exemptions or scholarship arrangements.
College staff also updated commissioners on a multi-year indoor burn tower project: construction had started and a delivery schedule put the burn tower assembly and completion roughly a year out. The county previously committed funds to the project; SCC said additional operating staff would be required when the facility is active.
SCC said that it serves approximately 450 Macon County residents in non-high-school programs and roughly 300 secondary students through Career & College Promise partnerships; early college students from the county can earn substantial savings on higher education costs. Commissioners acknowledged the college's workforce role but raised questions about funding for large one-time capital items versus recurring operating costs.
Ending: Commissioners asked SCC to refine costs, pursue grant or private contributions for large capital items where feasible and return with options for how the county might support a driver-training facility without shouldering full capital costs.
