Friday, March 17, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Progress on boiler upgrades slow
By Erin McDaniel Special to the Kansas
Insufficient funds and manpower are slowing a project to upgrade old central heating equipment at the University of Kansas, staff at the Central Power Plant said.
Since last spring, Facilities Operations staff has been making repairs and updating equipment at the plant to correct problems that could, if not fixed, leave much of campus without heat this winter. A new boiler arrived yesterday.
George Cone, assistant director of the plant, said improvements had been difficult because the plant was severely low on manpower.
"It's like sending an aircraft carrier to war 40 percent manned," he said. "I'm surprised how much work can get done by so few. It's like a bunch of Marines out there attacking a beach."
Mike Burke, power plant supervisor, agreed, blaming the lack of manpower on the State of Kansas' recent budget cuts and on higher wages in Missouri.
"It's a tough time right now, and they still want more belt-tightening," he said. "It's a real challenge when you're trying to make things built in 1927 work right in the year 2000."
Cone said the power plant had spent more money in the last eight months to recondition the plant than it had on total expenses in the previous 12 months.
"When we started, we were worried because we were running on needles and pins down here," he said. "It lacked maintenance; it lacked caring; it lacked knowledge. But we're going to rectify all of those."
Cone said there had been several small boiler explosions,but a large explosion could cause severe damage and cut heat to the University.
"If this work hadn't been done, students would be very cold this winter," he said. "The power plant
was not in good shape. It has been neglected, and now is the time to pick it up. Ten to 15 years down the road, the plant is going to be in good shape."
Cone said many of the tests and improvements were overdue. Boller tubes were repaired to fix leaks that he said had been there for years. A valve safety check, which is supposed to be performed every five years, was done for the first time since 1981. Two new condensate tanks were installed because the previous tanks were rotted and filled with holes, he said.
with notes he said.
Mike Richardson, director of Facilities Operations, said there recently had been some boiler explosions in the Kansas City area.
"We want to make sure nothing like that happens here because that can be absolutely catastrophic," he said.
he said.
Only the two newest boilers, both 1961 vintages, are being used. Cone said this was not sufficient. The third boiler still needs repairs and a safety check on its combustion system. The power plant is functioning at 75 percent capacity.
"This has been a tough winter with only two boilers," he said. "There have been some cold mornings where we've hit the max. If we were to lose another one, we'd be in serious trouble."
Plant personnel began reconditioning the plant's three boilers after commencement last May. They cleaned the boilers with special machines, replaced worn-out parts and performed tests to verify the boilers' safety.
Cone said the boiler project was a collaboration between the plant and other divisions of Facilities Operations.
"It's been quite a team effort here at F.O." he said. "Plumbers, power plant personnel, electricians, the instrument shop — they've given nothing but 100 percent. I'm very, very proud of these people."
The project would not have gone as smoothly. Cone said, without Richardson's leadership.
A worker from Midwest Mechanical Contractors attaches a new high-pressure steam boiler to a crane yesterday. The new boiler will be used to supply steam to the campus. Photo by Justin Schmidt/KANSAN
"Mike has been the most supportive, team-ori-
ented leader I've come across," he said. "He really
cares about his plant. He's been our A-No. 1 sup-
porter."
Medical students receive residency spots
Students at the University of Kansas Medical Center cheer while their classmates find out where they will be doing their residencies. Yesterday, 125 fourth-year medical students learned which field of medicine they would study. Photo by J.M.Daley/KANSAN
Continued from page 1A
Some students were disappointed with the results. However, most had been placed at one of their choices. Those who were married to another medical student had to wait until both had their envelopes.
Laura Zeiger, senior coordinator of medical affairs at the Med Center, broke down the results. She said the school typically had a large number of graduates placed in primary care residencies. This year, she said, 49 percent were placed in these programs. More students were placed in anesthesiology residencies this year than in previous years, Zeiger said.
al residency before moving on to a speciality.
Twenty-eight students will move twice.
The audience gave Ragnar Peterson, Lindsborg fourth-year medical student, a standing ovation during his turn. Peterson was released from the hospital Wednesday night. Two weeks ago, he broke his back when he fell 25 feet while rock climbing.
Peterson's classmates chose him to carry the school flag down Campanile hill during commencement in May. He began physical therapy yesterday and said he hoped to be walking again by commencement.
The students will finish their rotations and elective classes by the end of April. Residencies will begin in late June or early July.
The University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita had a similar ceremony and celebration yesterday for its 44 fourth-year medical students.
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