LINN, MO. -- Some hand-me-downs are more valuable than others.

And electrical distribution students at Linn State Technical College see a lot of value in a bucket truck donated today by Ameren UE. 

Eric Markway of Osage Bend is one of four dozen students studying to be an electrical power linemen at Linn State Technical College. He is not sure why be wanted to be a linemen but is looking forward to it.

"I don't know, it seemed like a fun thing to do. It's a high-payin' job,” Markway said. “There’s plenty of opportunities out there to get a job.”

The two-year training program has room for only 25 new students each year. LSTC Department Chairman Bill Thompson said that he has to turn people away

“We had over 120 applicants last year for the 25 slots,” said Thompson.

"We've hired a number of graduates that you produced,” said Ameren UE Central Ozarks Manager Larry Merry. “They've all be excellent workers for us and we're proud to participate in the program with this donation.”

Linn State Tech has a continuing relationship with Ameren UE. The bucket truck is not the first piece of equipment donated to the school, which supplies a steady stream of workers to Ameren and many rural electric cooperatives.

Thompson said there is about to be a substantial turnover in the workforce. The international brotherhood of electrical workers expects nearly a third of all linemen now on the job to retire within the next five years.

"It's not only important to the college, it's important to the state of Missouri,” said LSTC President Don Claycomb. “And it's the type of job that's not gonna be exported to another country.”

Students Linn State Technical College will not pay more for their training next year

Gov. Nixon announced that, like their four-year counterparts, Missouri’s two-year community colleges have agreed to freeze tuition rates at current levels for the second year in a row.

In a conference call this morning, Nixon told reporters the two-year schools are willing to take an eight-million-dollar loss to hold the line on fees.

"You gotta dig pretty deep with finding a problem with the freezing tuition with Missouri guaranteed funding for higher education at a level that's affordable for Missourians," said Nixon. "Providing predictability and providing stability and excellence in our higher education."

Linn State Technical College is not part of the Missouri Community College association but it is part of the agreement.

The move must still be approved by both the legislature and the governing boards of the state's community colleges.