Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1956 [PAGE 452]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1955]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

449

randum have to do primarily with ( a ) payment to the University of salary funds for farm advisers previously paid directly by farm bureaus to these employees and (b) new provisions relating to funds for facilities, materials, and transportation provided by the farm bureaus. The Department of Agriculture has indicated it would accept such a plan as an interim arrangement until such time as a more permanent one can be effected. It may be impossible to meet fully the conditions of the U.S.D.A. without increasing the state appropriations for agricultural extension work which, of course, can not be done before the 1957-59 biennium and should be considered in relation to the budget for that biennium. The proposed new "Memorandum of Understanding" is on an individual basis with each county farm and home bureau. It is not certain that all will accept, but it appears likely that many, if not all, will do so. Approval of the memorandum is requested so that negotiations with the farm bureaus can proceed, to be effective as of September 1, 1955, and thus provide funds which can be used for a portion of the farm advisers' salaries in a manner which will meet the requirements of the U.S.D.A. The form has been approved by the Legal Counsel and the Comptroller. Since it is uniform for all counties, except as to amount, it is proposed that the Director of the Extension Service be given authority to execute individual contracts for the Board. I concur in these recommendations and request approval and authority to proceed accordingly.

On motion of Mr. Herrick, these recommendations were approved and the Director of the Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Fxonomics was authorized to execute individual contracts in the name of the Board of Trustees. A copy of the revised "Memorandum of Understanding" has been filed with the Secretary of the Board for record.

P U R C H A S E O F P R O P E R T Y AT 5 0 3 S O U T H W R I G H T S T R E E T , CHAMPAIGN (13) The Director of the Physical Plant and the Comptroller recommend the purchase of the property at 503 South Wright Street, Champaign, which is the only remaining property not now owned by the University in the block bounded by Springfield Avenue on the north, Wright Street on the east, Healey Street on the south, and Sixth Street on the west. The entire block will be needed for future expansion of the campus. Permanent buildings now in this area are the Vivarium, Water Resources Building, and the Firemen's Training Tower. The property at 503 South Wright Street consists of a lot 66 feet by 99 feet and a two-story frame house with attached garage. There are six apartments in the house — one in the basement, two on the first floor, and three on the second floor. It is proposed to use this house for additional office space for the research staff of the Department of Civil Engineering. The Department now has office space in the adjoining house at 501 South Wright Street, but this is not adequate for good working conditions. If the property at 503 South Wright Street is purchased, the house should be repaired and completely rewired. It will then be usable for several years to come as plans for the construction of buildings in this block do not contemplate immediate need for this particular lot. The property can be purchased for $25,300 or $3.87 per square foot. This is higher than the appraised price of $22,500, but the property is presently producing a gross income of $300 a month, and the owner is unwilling to sell for less. His previous asking price was $26,000. The cost of repairs and rewiring is estimated at $6,000 so that the total cost °t acquiring this property and making it usable for University purposes is $31,300. I recommend that this property be acquired, that an appropriation of $31,300 t>c made from the General Reserve Fund for its purchase and repairs, and that we Comptroller and the Secretary of the Board be authorized to execute the necessary documents.

On motion of Mr. Bissell, the purchase of this property at the price recommended was authorized and an appropriation of $31,300 was