Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1936 [PAGE 404]

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402

BOABD OF TRUSTEES

[September 28,

Summary (1) The University will pay more than its proportionate share on this project, if the request of the local representatives is granted. (2) Information as to complete plans and specifications and construction methods is not available at this time. (3) It might happen that it will be practically impossible to complete the project within the time limit—twelve months. (4) There is the possibility of the University paying its share on this project and receiving little, if any, benefits from the work. This contingency confronts us because of the advisability of starting the work on the east and working west, and it is entirely possible that the program may be called off or the funds exhausted before the project is completed. (5) If the project is undertaken, we recommend that the University do its own work on sheeting and changing of service lines. Very truly yours,

C. S. HAVENS, Director

Physical Plant Department The total cost of the three projects is $1,541,333.86, of which approximately $63,680.95 must be contributed by the local sponsors. On this basis, the sponsors are said to be paying for only four per cent of the total cost of the three projects. Of the total being contributed by the sponsors, or $63,680.95, the local representatives asked that the University contribute $15,000 to $20,000, without which they feel that the whole program will be lost. Another proposal is to leave the stream uncovered but to make the other improvements. Representatives of the two cities and of the two Chambers of Commerce met with the President of the University, the Dean of the College of Engineering, and the Director of the Physical Plant Department on September 21 to present the request. They were advised that the University must have detailed information concerning the method and cost of construction contemplated, as well as information on the possible effects of the improvement on University buildings adjoining the stream; that the University has no funds for such work because all available funds have been budgeted for projects which have been needed and have been under consideration for many years; but that the request would be presented to the Board of Trustees at its meeting today with such engineering data and other pertinent information as could be obtained in the time available.

This matter was discussed at length. Some members of the Board favored the proposal that the University assume the responsibility for the sponsor's share of the Urbana project from Wright Street to Cunningham Avenue in Urbana, on the ground that the benefit to the University would be sufficient to justify such an expenditure, and that otherwise the project would fail. On motion of Dr. Meyer, the Board voted to accept the University's proportion of the expense of this project.

HEADSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY (15) At the meeting of the Board of Trustees on July 26 (Minutes, page 377). a report was presented from the Committee on the Headship of the Department of Surgery. The Board discussed this report and requested the Committee to submit two or three additional recommendations of men prominent in the field of general surgery. The Committee was requested to do this, but because of the absence of its Chairman and other members during the late summer it has been unable to