Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 495]

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492

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SERVICES OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

[August 30

The Secretary, on request of the President of the University, presented the following report.

T h e Board of Trustees on July 28 authorized the employment of the firm of Chapman and Cutler of Chicago for legal services in connection with the acquisition of the airport land at Champaign and Urbana and property acquisitions in Chicago. The Secretary of the Board advised this firm that the Board had authorized its employment and he asked the firm to state the terms under which it would undertake the services and he submits the following reply: August 5, 1943 H, E. Cunningham, Secretary Board of Trustees University of Illinois 358 Administration Building Urbana, Illinois

DEAR M R . CUNNINGHAM:

Thank you for your letter of August 2, 1943, regarding our services to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois in the acquisition of land in Champaign County as a site for an airport for the University, and also in connection with the acquisition of a tract for the Medical School at 1840 Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois, and supervision and drafting of an ordinance to secure the closing of an alley contiguous to the property at 1840 Taylor Street, above mentioned. W e have had several discussions with Mr. F a r r regarding the property at 1840 Taylor Street, and although we have not yet made any specific recommendation, we believe that our final conclusion will be to recommend the use of the Eminent Domain Act in the acquisition of the property, and for this purpose we believe that the Trustees should budget approximately $500 as a fee for this work, plus approximately $500 for costs, including a guarantee policy to be issued by the Chicago Title and T r u s t Company. W e do not believe there will be any considerable amount of legal expense involved in the supervision and preparation of an ordinance for the vacating or closing of the alley contiguous to 1840 Taylor Street. Possibly our services in connection with this work would not run over $150, depending, of course, upon the amount of time involved. As to our fees in regard to our services in connection with the acquisition of land for the airport site in Champaign County, Illinois, it is impossible for us to give you any definite idea in regard to this matter. However, you may rest assured that our fees for this service will be reasonable and we are perfectly willing to leave it to the good judgment of the Committee or the Board in so far as our compensation is concerned. The only thing that might give some guide to the matter would be that if the work is to be done on a per diem basis for our office work, we could probably do the work on the basis of per diem of $75 per day, and for all work necessary in Champaign County or out of the office the per diem would naturally run higher, possibly $100 a day. If the above outline of fees is not clear or if you have any suggestions in connection with the same, or if any member of the Board has any suggestions, please do not hesitate to present them or to communicate with us further in regard to the same. Yours very truly,

CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

T h i s report w a s received for record. HEARING ON OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COUNSEL

At this point, the Board took up the consideration of the office of University Counsel, and Judge Sveinbjorn Johnson was invited to appear, with his counsel. Judge Johnson introduced Mr. Barnabas F. Sears as counsel and Mr. George A. Barr, not as counsel but as a distinguished citizen and as a former member (1925-1937) and President of the Board.