FLASHBACK – July 21, 2012

July 21, 2000

NMC adds $1.1M to FY 2001 budget

The Northern Marianas College Board of Regents has moved to revise its proposed Fiscal Year 2001 budget request to $9.2 million to include projected expenses for additional personnel and repair of existing school facilities. This, as the college continues to lobby for more general appropriation funds in light of a Legislature appeal to reduce the current tuition rate. Under the present setup, the school’s share in the local appropriation only covers the college’s personnel expenditure. The college sources funds for other expenditures from its tuition collection.

BOR approves self-study draft

The Northern Marianas College Board of Regents yesterday endorsed the college’s draft of a self-study to be submitted to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for review and approval. Included in the self-study draft are major reforms the college has accomplished over the years based on recommendations made by the WASC team as of their last accreditation visit. With the noted improvements, the college is hopeful it stands a chance to secure another full-accreditation as well as gain authority to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees on Education.

July 21, 2003

’NMC not rushing Gateway contract’

About a month after the release of its funding, the Northern Marianas College has yet to reach a final agreement with a private firm for the purchase of a facility for its Pacific Gateway project. NMC Board of Regents chairman Vince Seman said Friday that negotiation on the purchase offer still continues. “It’s not signed yet. Nothing is final at this time. We don’t want to rush it,” he said. The board was set to hold a special meeting Friday on the progress of the project but decided to postpone it for this week. The college formally received a $3.5 million grant on June 19 to acquire a piece of property within 60 days. The fund, received through the Governor’s Office, requires the college to use it within the prescribed period or lose it to other government priority projects.

Govt insurance program loses members

Despite the lifting of the suspension on off-island medical services for Group Health and Life Insurance subscribers and the spike in the NMI Retirement Fund’s investments, things are not all that peachy at the Fund, with GHLI reporting a loss of 572 subscribers due to the recent 15-percent increase in premiums. Fund administrator Karl T. Reyes said that from a membership base of 8,419 members, this went down in June to 7,847 members-a loss of 6.8 percent. “When we increased that [insurance premium] by 15 percent, we lost some members,” said Reyes. The Fund implemented the premium increase in May.

July 21, 2004

NMI gets $15K grant to conduct A&E workshop

The U.S. Department of the Interior-Office of Insular Affairs recently awarded the Northern Mariana Islands government a $15,000 technical assistance grant that would be used to conduct a workshop for local architectural and engineering companies. The one-day workshop will be conducted on Aug. 5, from 8am to 12pm at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. Jim Hatashima of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Honolulu District will assist in conducting the workshop, which will focus on the preparation of documents for Architect and Engineer Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts and registration for Architect-Engineer 8(a) Program under the Small Business Administration.

CDA wants trustee to take over Pacific Gardenia

The Commonwealth Development Authority has asked the Superior Court to appoint a trustee to manage and collect the profits of Pacific Gardenia Hotel until the case against the hotel’s owners is resolved. As of last Jan. 20, Sy’s Corporation and its officers Ronald, Maria Ana, and Jeannette Sablan owe CDA over $2.4 million, and are more than five years delinquent in their payment, according to CDA’s legal counsel. “CDA’s rights and interests.will be irreparably injured unless a receiver [or trustee] is appointed to take charge of the business affairs of Sy’s [Corporation] and to take possession of its property until a final decision or order from this court is issued following foreclosure, selling the assets or otherwise disposing of this action,” attorney F. Matthew Smith said.