Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 1030]

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1946]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

1023

On motion of Mr. Davis, these funds were allocated as recommended, on condition that changes in the allotments shall be approved by the Committee on Buildings and Grounds. The appropriation was made by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Davis, Mr. Fornof, Mr. Livingston, Mr. McKelvey, Mr. McLaughlin, Dr. Meyer, Mr. Nickell, Mr. Williamson; no, none; absent, Mr. Green, Mrs. Grigsby, Dr. Luken.

LEASE OF FACILITIES AT AIRPORT FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS (17) At the meeting of the Board of Trustees on February 14 t h e President of the University was authorized to negotiate with private parties for the use of facilities at the University of Illinois Airport to carry on flight operations. Conferences have been held with and formal proposals have been received from several operators including two local parties. As a result of these conferences it is quite apparent that a basis of comparison must be found for making a selection between the applicants. This matter of selection has been referred to Legal Counsel and he advises under date of February 15 as follows: "In the arrangement of leases to private aviation companies for the care of private airplanes and the giving of flying instruction to persons other than students of the University, one question is what aviation companies the University is bound to consider or negotiate with. "In entering into construction contracts, the practice of the University, normally, is to ask for bids and to let contracts to the lowest and best bidder, but the statutes of the University do not require this in all cases, when there is good reason for not inviting public bids. In leasing property for the operation of private business, as for example, the lease to Katsinas in the Arcade Building, no general invitation for bids was made to the public. "This would seem to be a case, therefore, where the University was under no obligation to ask for the submission of proposals by aviation companies generally. If several aviation companies, whether located in this community o r elsewhere, do in fact propose to negotiate with the University for obtaining facilities for private aviation at the airport, all of such proposals should be given consideration by the University. That is to say, no such proposal should be rejected for the reason that it comes from a company not located in the University community." In pursuance of the procedure recommended in the last paragraph of the Legal Counsel's opinion he further advises, and I concur, that the University should procure detailed data from each applicant as to resources, experience, and ability to perform under a lease agreement, as a basis for selection of any prospective lessee or lessees. T h e terms of such a lease as is now contemplated must cover both a temporary period during which the lessee will of necessity occupy and use certain University buildings and facilities and also a longer period when the lessee will occupy a building and use facilities constructed by the lessee in accordance with the lease agreement. In order that there be no further delay in providing public service at the Airport by one or two private operators, I recommend that the President of the University and the Comptroller be authorized to enter into a temporary arrangement on a monthly basis with no right of continuance with (1) T h e Champaign Airport, and (2) T h e Illini Airport, to use the runways and such facilities as may be specified by the University under terms of use and payment mutually agreed upon and confirmed by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. This temporary arrangement gives these two local companies no preference over other applicants as to final selection as lessees, under whatever method of selection and form of lease agreement may be finally approved by the Board of Trustees.

Professor Britton presented this matter and commented on it. On motion of Mr. McKelvey, authority was granted as recommended.