Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1950 [PAGE 363]

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360

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May

21

O n m o t i o n of M r . F o r n o f , t h i s p u r c h a s e w a s a u t h o r i z e d a n d t h e appropriation was made, by the following vote: A y e , M r . Fornof, M r . H e r r i c k , M r s . Holt, M r . Livingston, M r . M c L a u g h l i n , M r . Nickell, M r s . W a t k i n s , M r . Williamson; no, n o n e ; absent, M r . H i c k m a n , Dr. Meyer, M r . Stevenson. PURCHASE OF PROPERTY AT SIXTH A N D J O H N STREETS IN CHAMPAIGN ( 3 ) The Building Program Committee has recommended expansion of the UrbanaChampaign campus in the areas immediately surrounding the central part of the campus. A property in this area at the corner of Sixth and John Streets has become available. It is described as "the north half of the west half of Block 13 in the James Wright Addition of the City of Champaign" and contains approximately 175 feet frontage on East John Street and 168 feet on South Sixth Street, a total area of 29,400 square feet. It was appraised recently by independent appraisers at $80,000. It includes a large, though quite old, two-story house, which can be used immediately for administrative offices or rehousing of the Speech Clinic, and the property is very desirable for future expansion of the campus. The owners have offered the property to the University for $80,000 with an initial payment of $23,500 on July I, 1049, $28,250 on July 1, 1950, and the final payment of $28,250 on June 30, 1951, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent on the unpaid balance. The University would also have the right of prepayment in full at any time after January 1, 1950. The Provost, the Comptroller, and the Director of the Physical Plant Department recommend that the purchase be made under the above terms. I concur and request an appropriation of $24,000 to cover the initial payment due July I, 1949, and incidental expenses. O n m o t i o n of M r . F o r n o f , t h i s p u r c h a s e w a s a u t h o r i z e d a n d t h e appropriation was made, by the following vote: Aye, M r . Fornof, M r . Herrick, Mrs. Holt, Mr. Livingston, Mr. McLaughlin, M r s . Watkins, M r . Williamson; no, M r . Nickell; absent, M r . H i c k m a n , D r . Meyer, M r . Stevenson. M r . N i c k e l l s t a t e d in e x p l a n a t i o n o f h i s n e g a t i v e v o t e , t h a t h e d i d n o t a p p r o v e of p a y i n g i n t e r e s t o n d e f e r r e d p a y m e n t s . APPROPRIATIONS FOR BUILDINGS A N D OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, 1 9 4 9 - 1 9 5 1 ( 4 ) In revising the University's building program for 1949-1951, to reduce the total appropriation from the $63,065,000 requested by the University to the $21,000,000 total ($15,400,000 for the Chicago Professional Colleges; $5,600,000 for the "Urbana-Champaign campus) recommended by the Governor in his biennial budget submitted to the 66th General Assembly, certain adjustments will be necessary. The problems arising out of this limitation of funds were discussed with the Governor at the Board of Trustees meeting held in Springfield on April 21, 1949. Attention was called to the difficulties resulting from absence of funds for safety improvements and other necessary building remodeling. A problem of equal seriousness at Urbana-Champaign is a critical power shortage. Increased power plant capacity is necessary to meet additional demands resulting from completion of new buildings during the 1947-1949 biennium, the two major buildings to be constructed during 1949-1951, plus the increase in power demand resulting from normal growth of the University. The University now has three 3,000 lew. generators in the Abbott Power Plant and an old 500 lew. generator, which can be used in a limited way in case of an emergency, in the old power plant. It is necessary periodically to take one generator out of service for overhauling, so that the present firm electric capacity is 6,500 kw. The maximum coincident demand at present is 5,800 kw., and by September 1, 1949, it will be at least 7,900 kw. When the buildings to be constructed during 1949-1951 are "on the line" it is estimated that the maximum coincident demand will be 10,150 kw.