Parking structure repairs are noisy, expensive by Victoria Kuohung Daily Staff Reporter Pounding jackhammers assault students' ears as they walk to class. "More construction?" they wonder, and then pass by, deciding it's none of their business. Butconstruction isabigandcom- plicated business at the University. From designing new buildings to renovating old ones, several offices areinvolvedindeciding whatprojects to work on. The Thayer Street parking struc- ture is an example of how a seem- ingly small project is a large affair. Across the street from Hill Audito- rium and the MLB, the 443-space garage - the smallest of all Univer- sity parking structures -was built in 1962 for $858,000. Originally bud- geted for $1,900,000, it's being reno- vated for $1,890,000, where actual construction accounts for $1,565,122 of the total. The rest of the money is being used for testing and supple- mentary fees. Salt, climate, and daily use has worn out the concrete, and three en- tire levels, along with the connecting ramps,are being repaired. Butit's not just a simple matter of blasting out concrete and putting in new levels. "Plant Extension is the division that is engaged to look at a situation," said University Manager of Civil En- gineering at Facilities Planning and Design John Neault. "Parking Ser- vicesrequestedasurvey. Then astudy came through withrecommendations, which then came toPlantExtension." Neault said Plant Extension then determines how to implement those recommendations. Final approval of the project rests with the University * Board of Regents. A study of the Thayer parking structure, along with others, was com- pletedin 1979, saidNeault."The tech- nology of how to repair structures has changed (in 10 years) ... and the technology of design 30 years ago is different than it is today," Neault said. "There's changes in technology between now and the time that they are built, so we try to overcome these (problems) in the structure. "(When we can do) the work de- pends on the need, availability of funding, and how much time is avail- able for construction," he said. "Nor- mally we only work from May 1 to Wednesday, June 17, 1992 - The Michigan Daily Summer Weekly -3 State of Michigan welfare cuts focus of University study Profs to research impact of GA cuts on poor by Mary Chang Daily Staff Reporter A three-year study on the impact of Michigan's 1991 welfare cuts by faculty at the University School of Social Work and officials at the state Department of Social Services is un- derway. The studyis designed to show how previous recipients of the Gen- eral Assistance (GA) Program are be- ing effected by the cuts. Before being terminated October 1,1991 as aresultofbudgetcutsby the Michigan state government, the GA Program provided benefits for 83,000 adults. "We are going to look at what effect the termination of GA has on individuals by tracking information from the department of mental health, education, and our own department," said Chuck Peller, spokesperson for the Department of Social Services. 'There is so little known about the needs and the type of people that used GA. We think that they're people who have a lot of problems but aren't eligible for other govern- mental programs. We're not sure what we're going to find.' - Sandra Danziger School of Social Work prof, following the study. "A lot of states are looking to see if they can cut this program, GA," Danziger said. We're hoping that our results - which will come out in about a year - might help influence other states in determining whether or not to cut their GA funds." The first segment of the study involves an examination of state records for evidence of increased par- ticipation in other welfare programs, such as state medical assistance and employment training. Part two includes interviewing a random sample of 700 people to look at whetherornot they used otherkinds ofgovernmentand local services, such as agencies and shelters, to gain work expeence. "There is so little known about the needs and the type of people that used GA," Danziger said. "We think that they're people who have alot of prob- lems but aren't eligible for other gov- ernment programs. We're not sure what we're going to find." September 1. It's a noisy operatio and we don't want to disturb the aca demic community." Neault said complaints of nois anddustusuallycome frombusinesse rather than students or faculty. Thre businesses have complained about th construction at the Thayer structur since the beginning of this summer. "Our contracts all require that th contractor follow local, state, and fed eral ordinances, and that's what w hang our hat on," said Neault. The University's in-house contra( for handles some parking structur renovation projects, but their involvt mentislimitedby "how many projec do we have them doing, can they con plete a project by a certain date ... th workload is the key here," said Pu chasing Department Purchasing Aget Ronald Trimmer. Trimmer said seven contractor were invited to bid on the Thayt construction. According to Trimm and Neault, the majority of Universit work is by invitation. "We review the past performanc of several contractors, select then and invite them to bid," said Neaul The contractor who was awarded th work for theThayer structure is Spent Brothers of Saginaw, Mich. n a- e es °e 1e re le d- KAISHA HALCU/ai Neault said construction on the structure has taken place four sepa- rate times. Each time requires clos- ing access to faculty and staff who park there. University Parking Services Man- ager Susan Kirkpatrick said over- flow parking created by closing the Thayer structure is directed to all surrounding parking areas such as Fletcher, Church, and Thompson. 'e "We haven't received any com- University Professors Sandra plaints about the closure," she said. Danziger, Larry Gant and Sherrie c- "During the summer the spaces have Kossoudji are working on the study re been sufficient to accomodate the withtheDivisionofPlanningandEvalu- e- overflow." ation at the Michigan Department of Is Theexpenses forrenovating park- Social Services. The research is being u- ing structures run higher than other supportedby a$674,000 grant awarded le parking spaces. to the University by the Ford Founda- r- "Typically a structure space will tion. nt cost $10,000 to construct versus a Because Michigan is the first state surface lot parking space at $1,000 a to have completely eliminated the GA rs space," Kirpatrick said. program, other states are carefully er She said the University has not er received state funding for parking ty renovations. "Money for construction mainte- - X nance and renovation come out of , - a, permit fees, including other permits , It. such as guest parking and retiree per- te mits, paid by faculty and staff," she' e said. Permits for 1992-93 cost $349, of which the University contributes $63. Daseola Stylists UNIVERSITY featuring barbers whoT r have cut women's hair The Best of Campus Life1 since 1939!! Furnished Apartments Great Location 615 East Liberty Corner of S University'. SForest Opposite Jacobson's 761t2680 668-9329 Religious Services rtRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1432 Washtenaw Ave. (I,'ect "IHil & Soth Umersty) Campus Worship&Dinner-;:0p rn. TI' 5DAS. Worship-9:10 a.m. (i T sISDAS Y: Fo nomtocall 662-446 Amc Morrson, (Campus Pastor LUTHERAN CAMP US MINISTRY FORD OF I IGHT LUTIIFRA\ NCHURCH, ELCA S Y Worship1.i a m, 668-7622 REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH WIE S CAMPUS %IISTRY 11,)0 PaulneB ti DAY: orsoh-y'am, : -ert loepner, Pastor, call 662-0663 ST. MARY'S STUDENT PARISH !i1:?t:iomm cthC!: '1:?" ret U-M1 ,' h mpson Streec m ti;al:tn Mass Schedale \' , nn, and; -n ; m UNIVERSITY LUT HER AN CHAPEL-LCMS 1711'.Washtenaw , war 1:H ' Summer Schedule: May-August .A : , .rsh'-n 30- a.m astor. Ed Krafts 663-5560