Physical Plant began transitioning toward sustainable energy more than 10 years ago when it converted to propane-fueled lawn mowers. Propane is an alternative energy source that produces next to zero greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants; this is due to the compound’s low carbon content. The department later offered its expertise to other organizations, including Louisville Metro Government, as it began transitioning to propane-powered landscaping equipment.

As technology continued to advance, Physical Plant began working with companies and developers within the industry to procure even more environmentally-conscious equipment. According to Greg Schetler, superintendent of grounds, UofL was the first institution in the commonwealth to start incorporating battery-powered tools into its day-to-day operations.

“We’re all here at the University of Louisville for research and education, and that’s what the Physical Plant is here to support. We have pushed our suppliers to stock, promote and sell sustainable, battery-powered equipment. We’re proud to be the first in the state to move toward these alternatives because it’s absolutely the direction we need to go in,” Schetler said.

Physical Plant currently owns over 25 pieces of battery-powered equipment, including leaf blowers, chainsaws, weed eaters, hedge trimmers and shop tools. In addition to the several propane-fueled lawn mowers, Physical Plant recently acquired a battery-powered, commercial-grade zero turn lawnmower in March of 2020. This made UofL the first organization in the state to purchase and utilize this particular innovation in green landscaping technology.

Despite the host of benefits offered by sustainable alternatives, the adoption of battery-powered equipment does come with its own set of challenges. In addition to an increased price point, some tools are not functional on a commercial level due to their short battery lives. Physical Plant has been able to cross these hurdles through industry research and strong relationships with various suppliers.

“We consider ourselves early adopters of the technology and we want to support it, but we are not willing to overpay for it; we have to be a fiscally responsible department. So, we work with our vendors to demo products before purchasing, or we do a trial run with the product to make sure the battery life can meet the needs of our groundskeepers.”

Physical Plant has served as a champion for sustainability within the industry for the past decade, and the department plans to honor its commitment to the environment by researching and acquiring the newest and cleanest innovations in the coming years.

“It’s only going to continue to get better. The equipment will only become more affordable and reliable with time,” Schetler said. “The Physical Plant team is keeping an eye on what the future of the green industry is going to look like and how we can continue to become even more sustainable moving forward.”

As soon as the spring semester ends, these employees move into action, able to operate more efficiently when the campus is at a slower pace, according to Aaron Boggs, director of Buildings and Grounds.

What the campus community will notice are details such as fresh mulch in the landscape beds, trimming, shrubbery and paint. What they won’t notice as much is all the work that has been done inside of the buildings.

“Many times, Housing will have a list of needs to address inside of the dorms. We also take on larger renovation projects as well as schedule major maintenance on air conditioning systems, electrical systems and plumbing during the summer break,” Boggs said.

The list of priorities for the team is extensive, but having a beautiful campus augments the students’ experience and is well worth it, Boggs adds.

“Our priorities are to make sure the students feel safe and comfortable while on campus and to help provide a great environment for them to learn in. We also believe that giving faculty and staff a great place to work supports them in their efforts of educating students,” he said. “Properly functioning buildings and aesthetically pleasing grounds have a synergistic effect on everyone at UofL.”

Several projects – including renovations in various buildings and refreshed paint – are new this year. However, much of the team’s time has been spent supporting the three major construction projects on the Belknap campus – the Belknap Academic Building, SAC renovations and Cardinal Stadium renovations.

“What most people don’t realize is that Physical Plant has thousands of hours invested in ensuring that our construction projects are successfully delivered,” Boggs said. “There hasn’t been a day that has gone by in the past two years where our staff has not supported these projects in some form or fashion.”

This is especially important for the Physical Plant crew members, as they’re tasked with maintaining the buildings after they’re completed.

Boggs said that while there is a push to get projects completed before the first day of the fall semester, the work isn’t much different than throughout the rest of the school year.

“Everything Physical Plant does all year long is to provide the best environment to learn in,” he said. “All of our effort is just part of the university’s mission to make UofL a great place to learn, work and invest in.”

UofL’s Physical Plant employees have also adopted a teamwork, pride and preparation mentality to ready the Belknap campus for primetime.

ESPN’s College GameDay will air from the heart of campus Saturday morning and, though most eyes will be on Lee Corso’s headgear choice, a number of UofL employees will continue to work as they’ve been all week to make sure the Grawemeyer Hall backdrop looks perfect on millions of high-definition TV sets.

Since ESPN made its location announcement Sunday, about 30 employees have been putting forth a team effort to ensure the Oval is flawless by adding fresh paint, mowing, power washing and more.

“Everyone moved into action first thing Monday morning and they’ve been going all week. These guys are pros and they’re hitting all the details. They know what to look for and how to make it all look better,” said Aaron Boggs, director of Buildings and Grounds. “That’s the great part about working at UofL – everyone comes together for a big event.”

In addition to refreshing paint and manicuring the green space, plumbers have been working on the entrance fountains and electricians have been ensuring the lights are ideally placed for a live broadcast, as well as some night shots. Boggs said there has been an added sense of pride since the location showcases our “prime real estate” Oval.

“We always do what we can to make the Oval look good because it has curb appeal. But Saturday there will be current and possibly future customers both in the Oval and seeing it on national TV and we’re looking at what we can do extra,” he said. “You can’t get a better backdrop than Grawemeyer Hall.”

The team has navigated a few challenges, including a couple of rainy days this week. But Boggs said Mother Nature is always a concern, and it helps the crew think creatively on how to approach all scenarios.

“That’s why we gave (the lawn) a fresh cut on Monday at a lower height, for example. But our biggest challenge will be how to get campus to look like nothing happened here after their crews leave,” Boggs said. “Fortunately, I think the weather on Saturday looks like it’s going to cooperate with us, so hopefully it won’t be too hard.”

Boggs does anticipate even more work being done once ESPN rolls in late Wednesday night and through the weekend to “get things back to normal.” Nobody seems upset about it, however.

“Our guys are excited about this type of stuff and they seem to want to be a part of it. It seems to be its own motivator,” Boggs said. “There are even a couple of UK guys on my staff who are recognizing how cool this is.”

UofL is expecting about 2,000 people in “the pit” area on the Oval Saturday. Fans typically begin lining up for access around 4 a.m. and access begins at 5 a.m. The show will air from 9 a.m. to noon. The game will begin airing at 8 p.m. from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and will be shown on ABC.

The Mayor’s SummerWorks Program started in 2011 when Mayor Greg Fischer saw the high unemployment rate among youth and wanted to improve the community. The program helps students, ages 16 to 21, find jobs and includes workshops, practice interviews, resume reviews and resources. Since its first year, the program has placed 11,600 local youth. The program spans seven weeks throughout the summer and students work in various capacities at various companies around the city.

Williams participated in a similar program in 1973 when he was 16 and worked at the Jefferson County Board of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą. Students in that program worked 7 hours a day Monday through Friday in the summer and 1 to 2 hours after school during the school year.

Williams said that experience inspired him to be a part of the Mayor’s SummerWorks program, adding that the mentorship component is why he believed it would be a good fit for UofL.

Exposure to college experience

Orientation was held on March 15, where employers were educated on the program. Eighty businesses set up booths later that month as part of a career fair for the students participating. Each business brought two to three recruiters to discuss their business with students and gauge their interest. Williams estimated at least 200 students attended the event, and 21 students expressed interest in working with UofL’s Physical Plant department as part of the program.

Those students will work on both the Belknap and Health Science Campuses, doing custodial and groundwork, including landscaping, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., from June 12 to July 28. These students are expected to not only gain valuable work skills, but also a better understanding of life on campus.

“We hope to expose them not only to good work ethics and what we do, but also take them on a tour of the campus for that college experience,” said Carla Meredith, custodial services manager in the Physical Plant Department.

The program requires at least two staff to be trained as mentors, but Williams said all three of his staff will be trained to accommodate summer schedules and ensure the students feel welcome and well assisted.

“(The students) will bring new and fresh ways of doing things that will come from young creativeness and from a young person’s perspective,” he said.

There are already plans for this partnership to continue next year.

The full restoration is still not complete. It may not be until June or July. Nevertheless, campus has power and operations are running as if nothing happened. Physical Plant is to thank for that. When the initial outage happened, the Physical Plant team worked throughout the night to get everything back on track.

Classes were back in session by 10 a.m. the next morning, well ahead of projections. It was a beat-the-odds effort.

On Feb. 23, Interim President Greg Postel, COO Lee Smith and CAO David Adams held an event for the Physical Plant Department to show appreciation for their hard work. The administrators hope to host more of these types of events in the future; though hopefully not stemming from a major power outage.

She began her journey on Jan. 2, 1974, as a receptionist at UofL’s Brandeis School of Law. A couple of years later, she became the secretary to the assistant dean, then the secretary to the associate dean.

In 1991, she went to work for then-Dean Donald Burnett Jr. and has served in the same capacity for subsequent deans Laura Rothstein, Jim Chen and Susan Duncan.

“All of the deans have been so different, so diverse. You couldn’t have a more diverse group. But I’ve liked them all,” she said.

At the end of October, Becky will retire from the Brandeis School of Law.

On that same day, Becky’s husband, Bobby Wimberg, will also retire after 14 years of service in UofL’s Physical Plant department, marking the end of the couple’s combined 57 years of service to the Belknap Campus.

Becky and Bobby were newlyweds when Becky landed at the University of Louisville School of Law (it was named after Justice Louis D. Brandeis in 1997). The campusĚýitself was about a third of the size it is now. Crawford Gym was as far east as the university’s property extended.

Besides the construction and revitalization efforts, Becky said the biggest changes during her tenure have been the transition to computers in the late 80s/early 90s, the law library opening (1974) and the classroom wing expansion (1982).

“The library and the new, beautiful classroom wing were both so good for the school. It was good news for us,” she said.

Becky gravitates toward good news; in all of her years on campus, she points to negative coverage of UofL in general as her least favorite memory.

“It’s hard not to take it personally. It’s like when someone says something bad about your family,” she said.

The law school, especially, has felt like family for Becky.

“We’re like our own little organization here. I like that. I’ve liked getting to know people and their families,” she said. “And I’ve had the chance to get to know some of the students. So many students have come through here and have gone on to become successful. That’s been one of my favorite parts of the job.”

Brandeis School of Law Dean Susan Duncan describes Becky as “the heart and soul of the law school.”

“She is reliable, hardworking, dedicated and extremely talented. She is a wonderful advocate for the school,” Duncan said. “Many past deans are forever grateful that Becky was at their side.ĚýBecky is more than an assistant but a true friend.ĚýWe will miss her tremendously.”

Learning something new every day

When Bobby started working at UofL on Oct. 7, 2002, he had one goal: to learn something new every day.

That day marked a full career change for him after 29 years working at the Philip Morris factory. When the factory closed, he went to HVAC school for a couple of years.

“I always wanted to work on stuff and I figured HVAC wasn’t going to go away,” he said. “I thought (UofL) was a good direction. I had structured hours and a set schedule. I’d also heard it was a good place to work.”

An added perk? They could commute together.

“That’s worked out especially well for me,” Becky joked, noting that it allows her time to read the newspaper each morning. “But it was good when he came here. I think Bobby was always envious that I liked my job here a lot.”

Now, as he eyes retirement at the end of this month, Bobby can confidently say he accomplished his goal.

“When I came here, I had experience, but I was doing routine work at the factory every day in the same building. Now I’m doing a lot of different stuff every day – plumbing, electrical, pneumatics (pressurized air). It’s refreshing,” he said. “When I left Philip Morris I was 46 years old. I thought I was too old to learn anything new. But when I went to school, I was intrigued. I wish I had done that 30 years earlier.”

The memories that stand out most for Bobby are weather-related. For example, when UofL flooded in 2009, a dumpster floated into his van. As the water receded, he noticed it had crashed into his driver side door and was on its side.

And during heavy snowstorms, the Physical Plant team would typically be alone on campus.

“It’s interesting. There’s no activity but us,” he said. “But it’s good because we can always get a lot of work done in the buildings and the classrooms when nobody else is around.”

“Bob has contributed so much to the university and Physical Plant with his calm, patient and courteous manner. He has been the steady hand that has helped lead the shop through floods, hurricanes and ice storms,” said Foreman Clyde Paul.

The Wimbergs have a palpable fondness for their employer. Both describe their colleagues as family. Both are fiercely loyal to the Cardinal sports teams. In fact, one of Bobby’s favorite memories as an employee is winning Sugar Bowl tickets in 2013.

“We were on ESPN and everything,” he said. “That was fun. That’s just the type of stuff our university does. They try to make it a good place to work.”

When asked what they will miss the most about working at UofL, they agree it will be the people.

“I was practically a child when I started working here. The people here and I grew up together. I know their spouses and their kids,” Becky said.

Their retirement plans are simple: They have three young grandkids to keep them busy, they’re building a house, they want to visit at many national parks as they possibly can and they will “absolutely” continue to cheer for UofL.

“I’ve worked here a long time, I think I’m known pretty well,” Ralph said. “I’ve been to every building on every campus.”

Big Ralph said he isn’t nervous about the show; he believes his son and three choir mates, Montre Davis, Shon China Lacy and Ekoe Alexanda, have a great chance of winning the reality show talent competition. If they make it to the finals, he’ll even consider flying out to Los Angeles, although he’s admittedly afraid of flying.

“My son, he always thinks he’s got a chance to win. That’s not him being boastful, just confident,” Ralph said. “You know something; he’s always been singing. He would sing in school, on Sundays in church. He sings at funerals and weddings. He would sing in school plays and I could always tell his voice … I have to go with him winning.”

Big Ralph said his son is a “UofL fan all the way.” It helps that his dad has been a fixture on campus for so long as a laborer, moving furniture, cleaning up from renovations, laying carpet and much more. He has enjoyed every bit ofĚýhis time on campus.

“I love working at UofL. They’ve been very good to me,” he said. “I’ve had my ups and downs but the university has always been good to me and my family.”

Now in his mid-60s, Big Ralph plans on retiring in early 2018. When that happens, he said he’ll spend time sitting on his front porch and talking to his neighbors, traveling a little, and hanging out with his grandchildren, three of whom are Big Rome’s and who also enjoy singing.

“Everyone in my family can sing. I can hold a note, but I’m more of a follower,” Ralph said. “That’s why this is exciting. If (Big Rome) doesn’t win, our arms are wide open for him to come home. He’ll keep on singing. I’m very proud of him.”

According to the Ěýon the “America’s Got Talent” website, the group is best known for its “warm harmonies and emotional performances. Whether on stage, on a corner, in a church of at a doorstep, these guys deliver power and conviction driven by their passion to unite the world through music and love.”

Photo from .Ěý

Locations with specific schedules and occupant impact are listed below:

Monday, July 25

Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium:

• Fire Hydrant testing will discharge into grassy and parking lot areas. Area will be cordoned off for safety.
• Fire Pump testing will discharge into drain.

Tuesday, July 26

Unitas Hall:

• Fire Pump testing will require water to be ejected from roof of building of Unitas. Area will be cordoned off for safety.

University Tower Apartments:

• Fire Pump testing will discharge into parking lot. Area to be cordoned off for safety.

Wednesday, July 27

School of Music:

• Fire Pump testing will discharge onto sidewalk between the north and south buildings, then down to the street. Area will be cordoned off for safety.

Ekstrom Library:

• Fire Pump testing will discharge onto sidewalk on south east corner. Area will be cordoned off for safety.

Fire Pump testing will cause building Fire Safety Systems to be disabled during the test, which means there will be no alarm soundings at the building. Any Fire Alarm activations will route to Public Safety and be called out to the appropriate safety personnel as normal.

The 24 remaining Fire Hydrants across Belknap Campus will also be tested during these three days. There will be minimal to no impact for building occupants, vehicle or pedestrian traffic from the testing of these hydrants. You may notice wet gutters and/or roadways, which is normal.

For additional information, contact Work Control, 852-6241.Ěý

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