KC set to start IMT program
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

On Tuesday night the Board of Trustees for Kilgore College heard a presentation from Julie Fowler, instructional division dean at KC, on the new Industrial Maintenance Technology program.

The program, which is slated to begin at KC in the fall, prepares students for careers in large manufacturing companies as industrial machinery and maintenance technicians.

Fowler told the board the program will initially seat 12 to 16 students who would complete 56 semester hours of courses for a certificate. An associates degree would require an additional 15 hours.

Fowler laid out the tuition costs for the board. An in-district student would pay $2989 for a certificate and $3649 for a degree with approximately $350 costs for books and supplies. Out-of-district students would pay $5733 for a certificate and $7128 for a degree.

Dr. Bill Holda, president of Kilgore College said an instructor has not yet been hired for the program.

Fowler said students both in the degree program and certificate would receive on the job training. "Potential salary for these positions range from $11 per hour to $31 per hour," said Fowler.

Holda said the board already approved the application for the program. Fowler presented an update which also looked at budget costs for the program which would be in the $90,000 range per year which includes instructors salaries.

Holda said many of the courses required for the certificate or degree programs are already being taught on the KC campus and at the Longview campus. "The curriculum es- tablished for this program is endorsed by AEP/SWEPCO, Eastman Chemical Company, Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., KBR Services, LeTourneau Technologies, Inc., M. W. Smith Equipment Inc. and Norris Cylinder Company," said Holda.

In other business, the board approved a quit-claim deed for a one-acre parcel of land owned by Gregg County, the City of Kilgore, Kilgore Independent School District and the College. The taxing entities got the title to the property when it was taken by a Gregg County Sheriff 's tax deed on January 14, 2003.

Jeff Howell, Kilgore city manager, said the one-acre parcel on Hwy. 31 will be occupied by a building to house Champion Ambulance Service, being re-located from Kilgore's Fire Station #3.

Howell said the quit-claim deed has requested from all the county, schjool distroct and college district, leaving the city with sole possession of the property. "The property will remain with the City of Kilgore as ownership, so there will be no taxes collected on the property," said Howell.

Howell said the county and KISD have not yet acted on the request.