Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1958 [PAGE 440]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1957]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

437

USE OF WRIGHT FARMS BY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION (15) The Board of Trustees has authorized the transfer of eighty acres of Wright F a r m No. 7 in DeKalb County, which is part of the H a r r y G. Wright and Harriette A. Wright Endowment, from operation as an income-producing farm to the Agricultural Experiment Station for use as the Northern Illinois Experiment Station Field, replacing land formerly leased and no longer available for this purpose. Residents of DeKalb County have contributed funds, totaling $31,070, for improvements on this field, such as construction of buildings, fences, and for purchase of equipment. It is the desire of the Agricultural Experiment Station staff that the entire one hundred sixty acres of this farm be eventually transferred from farm operations to experiment field operations as the needs of the Department of Agronomy require it. In 1952, twenty acres were so transferred, making one hundred acres now being used as an experiment field. On recommendation of the Dean of the College of Agriculture and the Director of the Experiment Station and the Vice-President and Comptroller, I request confirmation of this transfer, and I further recommend that ( a ) the Board authorize the transfer of the remaining sixty acres of Wright Farm No. 7 at such times and in such parcels as the experimental program requires; (b) whenever the land is no longer needed as an experimental field it be transferred to farm operations for the benefit of the Endowment. The land involved is the north half of the southwest quarter of Section 23, Township 39 North, Range 3 East of the 3rd Principal Meridian in DeKalb County. The use of this land as an experimental field is consistent with the late Senator Wright's bequest of his estate to the University that it be used "for the purpose of promoting agricultural education and for founding scholarships, but nevertheless the use made of the devise and bequest hereunder shall rest in the sole discretion and judgment of said Board of Trustees."

On motion of Mrs. Holt, these recommendations were approved.

LEASE OF QUARTERS IN LA SALLE HOTEL FOR ILLINI CENTER (16) The Vice-President and Comptroller recommends renewal of the lease of the present quarters in the LaSalle Hotel for the Illini Center for a period of two years from July 1, 1957, at an annual rental of $7,800, which is the present rate. There are approximately 2,900 square feet of space in this area, so that the rental is $2.66 per square foot. The management of the Hotel has indicated willingness to continue the lease for an additional two years at this rental. I concur.

On motion of Mr. Johnston, this recommendation was approved.

CONTRACT WITH CONSULTING ENGINEERING SERVICE (17) The Director of the Physical Plant and the Vice-President and Comptroller recommend a contract with Consulting Engineering Service, Champaign, for engineering services on heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and electrical work for University improvement and maintenance jobs which, because of the small amount of work to be done, do not justify separate contracts for each. In the past this type of contract has been very useful to the Physical Plant Department to supplement the work of its engineers, and it is more economical than increasing the permanent staff. The partners and most of the technical staff of the Consulting Engineering Service are graduates of the University, and the firm has indicated its interest in continuing doing University work on the following terms: Services of principals in the firm to be paid for at the rate of $6.50 per hour. Services of other personnel to be paid at their regular hourly wage rates. Services performed on overtime basis to be paid for at the regular hourly rates unless such overtime work is specifically requested by the University and the rates are agreed upon in advance. Payments shall be on a monthly invoice basis; before any payment is made the University may audit or otherwise verify the invoice. The fee for services on any specific project shall not exceed $2,500. The contract may be terminated by the University at any time on written notice.