Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 226]

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1947]

U N I V E R S I T Y OF I L L I N O I S

225

31, 1946. A further sum of $1,662,891.04 was encumbered. Releases by the Governor to that date total $7,817,077. Present conditions make it impossible to expend these funds for the projects for which they were appropriated prior to September 30, 1947, when the unexpended balances will lapse unless reappropriated. W i t h the exception of the appropriation of $38,000 for the telephone extension service, which will be expended in full by the end of the present biennium, and the appropriation of $140,000 for the purchase of student housing, which will not be used, all of the appropriations are needed for their original purposes and should be kept available. Bids have recently been taken on some of the projects and bids will be taken within the next few months on others, but few if any can be completed and paid for by September 30, 1947. It is necessary that the funds be reappropriated before the contracts are executed. Hence, it is recommended that the Board authorize a request to the present General Assembly for the reappropriation of balances existing on June 30, 1047, in the several projects remaining uncompleted at that time. T h e estimated maximum total of reappropriation which may be required is $15,626,500 (see Schedule A, page 226). The rate of progress on the various construction projects during the coming biennium will be determined by the amount of labor and material available and the delivery dates on material required. Under present conditions if all projects are initiated at approximately the same time all will proceed at a very slow rate. Certain projects must be completed by September, 1948, if the University is to meets its commitments to maintain the present student enrollment. In view of these facts, it is necessary to establish a priority with respect to the schedule of construction of all University projects, both those included in present appropriations and those being requested for the coming biennium. I have conferred with the University officers concerned and submit a schedule of priorities which I recommend be adopted (see Schedule B, page 227). It is noted that all projects are classified under three headings: A A A — Construction to begin as soon as possible with the expectation that they will be ready for use in the fall of 1948 or earlier. A A — Construction to begin only as soon as such construction will not interfere with progress of A A A projects. A — Construction to begin to the extent that funds become available and at such time as they will not interfere with the progress of either A A A or A A projects. It is doubtful that any of these A projects can be completed during the coming biennium. The necessity of such priority of construction applies only to UrbanaChampaign. Conditions in Chicago do not require such classification, and all construction projects there may proceed as rapidly as plans are completed and funds made available. It is understood that architectural and engineering work will proceed on all projects as rapidly as possible, but bids will not be taken until construction conditions permit. The completion date of all projects will be determined primarily on the availability of brick masons and the delivery of structural steel. Accordingly, it is recommended that orders for steel on AAA projects be placed as rapidly as possible, in advance of the taking of bids for construction of the buildings. With respect to any contracts and orders executed, it should be recognized that the same situation will exist as was faced with the women's residence hall, namely, that construction may have to be started before sufficient funds are made available to complete the project. In order to complete A A A projects in the time indicated, all other local competition must be eliminated in so far as possible. Accordingly, it is recommended that the Natural Resources Board be requested to defer construction of the three buildings for which funds have been appropriated to them, for approximately one year, in consideration of the University's critical needs for completing certain classroom buildings to provide for instruction of veteran students. O n m o t i o n of M r . D a v i s , t h e s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w e r e a p p r o v e d and adopted, and priorities w e r e established as recommended.