Building Up BEC

On September 18, 2019, the Boone Electric Cooperative Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve a $25 million project that will greatly improve the headquarters at the cooperative’s current location on Rangeline Street. The board hired local general contractor Coil Construction to oversee the project that will include both new buildings and rehabilitation of existing ones. 

The board of directors spent the last two years strategically planning BEC's future. It had become apparent to the cooperative's leaders that the buildings' problems could no longer be fixed by band-aid repairs. The board hired different firms to study all options which included renovating the buildings, building new, and moving to a different site and starting fresh. After vetting the multiple options and proposals, the board decided Boone Electric's home is here on Rangeline St., but major construction would be necessary for a healthy, safe and efficient work environment.

Boone Electric built its first building on this property in 1952. We built a second building for an expanding operations staff in 1976. In 1996, we built a third building that combined the first two. The 1952 building will be demolished in the final phase of this project. It is the building you see from Rangeline St. It has served this cooperative well for nearly 70 years. Commercial buildings, today, are expected to last 25 years. The remaining two buildings (although under one roof) will be completely gutted and rebuilt to also eliminate their issues. 

We want our members to be in-the-know when it comes to this project. We first introduced this issue during the 2019 Annual Meeting of Members in July. Board President Joel Bullard addressed what the board had been considering the previous 18 months and wanted members to know they were determined to find a solution for the cooperative. You can listen and see his presentation below. We've also included the written and visual version of both so you can read and study at your own pace. A letter was sent out to each member regarding this decision in late September. We encourage anyone with questions or feedback to let us know: (573) 449-4181 or fill out this form.

BEC Current Building Problems

Failing Roof

Roof Issues

The roof which umbrellas three different buildings has been failing for years. An internal guttering system uses five-gallon buckets to catch excess rain water or snow melt throughout the year. At these times, employees often find ceiling tiles and water on floors, work areas, even bathrooms. The ceiling inside is where much of our heating and cooling system is located and creates maintenance issues for employees. 

Inefficient Lobby Layout

Inefficient Lobby Layout

 

A new lobby will offer convenience, efficiency and improved safety for both members and employees. A modern work space will allow employees to either stand or sit throughout their day which is a proven benefit for employees. It will also offer members with disabilities a more welcoming environment. 

Not Energy Efficient

Not Energy Efficient

This project will allow BEC to improve its energy footprint. Our insulation and energy efficiency is below our own standards, but also industry expectations. We know investing in energy efficiency is the right thing to do. We are excited about this option. The renovation and expansion will modernize the headquarters so we can truly be an energy saving company!

Fails Standards

Fails Standards

 

Boone Electric's property falls short of meeting city and federal regulations. It is not compliant with the City of Columbia's stormwater infrastructure standards, does not have a fire suppressant system and its elevator is too small to meet Americans with Disabilities Act codes. These issues will be fixed.

Growing pains

Growing Pains

Boone Electric is lucky enough to experience a steady growth of membership which is great for the co-op. But the industry's materials and equipment has followed suit. Trucks are bigger, spools of underground wire are as big as trucks and that accounts for 93% of our new construction today. We need a larger space that also offers safety and efficiency for our crews. 

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BEC Construction FAQ's

In order to continue offering a safe and efficient facility for members to access and in which employees can work, the current building would need a great deal of updating, along with a number of costly repairs to alleviate chronic issues related to an aging structure. Building costs continue to rise 6-8% every year, so trying to patch a building together for another 10 years means we could pay over $40 million in 10 years.

The BEC board’s decision to construct a new building was based on several concerns:

  1. The expense of continuing to repair persistent issues that have become cost-prohibitive.
  2. The need for a safe and secure environment for employees as well as members.
  3. The growth of the cooperative has resulted in outgrowing the building, which has been added onto several times since it was originally built in 1952. One example is equipment used today measures 9’11” and our garage doors are 10’, making it very difficult to park the vehicles.
  4. The need for improved functionality for both members and employees.
  5. Current and future needs for collaboration spaces and technology.

Yes. The new building will be constructed on the portion of the property that currently serves as BEC’s Community Solar and back parking lot. This allows the current building to remain open and be available for our members to access during construction. This also allows for the most efficient construction process which saves BEC money over the alternative of trying to build around or remodel a space that has to remain open to the public. BEC’s employees will be relatively free of construction interruptions during their workday and the construction workers will be relatively free of us!

After nearly two years of studying and vetting the multiple options and proposals, the Board selected a local general contractor, Coil Construction of Columbia, to manage the project. Subcontractors for the building phase will be able to bid for the construction phases through Coil, but with BEC’s Board of Directors giving final approval.

Coil Construction is in the architectural and engineering phase. The current plan is to have renderings of the new building in the spring or summer of 2020. Once that is completed, the dates of construction will be set. The project is expected to be completed by summer of 2022. BEC will continually update the progress on this page, social media and mailings if necessary.

The building project cost is $25 million, with scheduled completion in the summer of 2022.

The board did review that as an option. There would have been several added expenses including land costs, infrastructure development, and the need to close the office to move which were not feasible for the cooperative. We feel we are established in the best area that also has centralized accessibility to our entire membership.

Construction will take about 30 months once the architecture and design phases are complete. The project is expected to be completed by summer of 2022.

This is a substantial amount of money to invest in our future and we will need a modest rate increase to finance the project. We announced a 5.21% revenue increase in January 2020 that would go into effect on April 1, 2020. For the average member (1,100 kWh/month), about $4.50 of the $6.65 increase to their bill is for the investment in the headquarters building and renovation plan.
See article in the February Rural Missouri.

Yes, that is our goal. BEC has a 60-year history of returning capital credits to its members. It is a priority for our board.

The community solar panels will be relocated to the south side of the property and will give us the opportunity to expand the number of solar panels.

Yes. Along with this page on the BEC website, details about the new building as they become available will be provided in many ways – this includes articles in the Rural Missouri Extra, our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube) and through local media/newspapers. You are also welcome to contact BEC directly by phone at 573-449-4181 or fill out our online form if you have a specific question. We will do our best to ensure that you are kept informed – especially of anything that directly impacts you during the building process.

No. The membership votes on the board of directors and bylaw additions or amendments at the annual meeting. Your elected board members are then tasked with making these types of decisions for the good of the cooperative. This topic was discussed by President Joel Bullard during his 2019 Annual Meeting address.

Yes, in its current location until the final demolition phase begins. A new, convenient drive-up payment location will open once the entire project is complete.

Yes, we will be open for business during the entire period.

It will be available until demolition starts to occur. We will notify the organizations who normally reserve it in advance of its closing date and also announce on our website and social media channels.

Boone Electric Building Project Timeline - (subject to change)

Building Evaluation - Sept. 18, 2019

Coil Construction begins architectural and engineering design phase.

Timeline of construction

Architect Chosen

On February 19, 2020, the board accepted staff's recommendation of Simon Oswald Architecture (SOA) as the main architect to work with Coil Construction.