Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1958 [PAGE 1221]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April iy

The Board took up consideration of the following reports and recommendations from the President of the University.

ACQUISITION O F LAND IN W I L L COUNTY FOR AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION (33) T h e Agronomy Department of the Agricultural Experiment Station has for more than fifty years conducted field research studies on soil and crop management practices at several locations throughout Illinois. Facilities for such work are located in each of the major geographic and soil areas of the state. Because the northeastern Illinois soil area has not been adequately studied, it is desired to establish a field research facility in that area for more intensive research. Certain lands near Elwood, in Will County, formerly controlled by the United States Department of Defense and now under the control of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, have been declared surplus. The Department of Agronomy has been informed that some of this land may be acquired by the University for research work under the provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. An appraised value of the property will be established at time of transfer to the University. Each year thereafter the book value of the property will be reduced five per cent so that clear title to the property will pass to the University at the end of twenty years of use. T h e only costs incident to the transfer will be the appraisal and legal fees involved in the transaction. If at any time during the twenty-year period the University desires to abandon the research program but wishes to use the land for other purposes it may purchase the same at the remaining book value. This was reported to the Committee on Buildings and Grounds in July, 1957, and the Department of Agronomy was authorized to file an application for the acquisition of 160 acres of this property. It is now necessary that the Board of Trustees adopt a formal resolution in support of the application. T h e University will also be required to provide the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare with a fair-value appraisal made by a local real estate office, such appraisal to be based on the normal use of the property. The Department of Agronomy has made arrangements for the appraisal. T h e Department of Agronomy, in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, has heretofore initiated experimental work on soil and water management and on erosion control on a tract of approximately 200 acres near Elwood, Illinois. This tract, which is part of the Joliet Arsenal property, has been made available for research purposes through a revokable permit from the Department of Defense which permit expires in 1964. Because of this type of tenure the Department of Agronomy has been reluctant to initiate long-time studies or to make capital improvements on the area. If the University is successful in acquiring the 160 acres of surplus land, the Agricultural Experiment Station will consolidate its agronomic research in the northeastern Illinois area in this new location. The tract for which application has been filed has a modern house which can be used by a resident manager. I recommend adoption of the following resolution and that the Secretary of the Board be authorized to execute the required certificate. Resolution WHEREAS, certain real property located in the County of Will, State of Illinois, owned by the United States and more particularly described as follows: Approximately 160 acres in Will County, Illinois, consisting of the E Y/i ot the S W VA of Sec. 12, R. 34 N., T. 9 E. of the 3rd P . M . ; and the W lA of the S E VA of Sec. 12, R. 34 N., T. 9 E. of the 3rd P.M.; and including a twostory, farm type dwelling with basement, known as Building 343, has been declared surplus and is subject to disposal for educational purposes by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto; and WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois needs said property and can utilize the same for educational purposes in accordance with the requirements of said Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;