SR0075 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0075 LRB101 09323 ALS 54419 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Tinley Park Mental Health Center was constructed in 1958; it occupies 213 acres and is adjacent to the 62 acres of property vacated by the Howe Development Center; and

WHEREAS, The facility was decertified by the federal government in 2009; and

WHEREAS, The 61-year-old facility stopped admissions on June 16, 2012, and patients were discharged into local hospitals and treatment providers; and

WHEREAS, The Tinley Park Mental Health Center property has remained unoccupied for the past seven years and poses safety and environmental risks to local residents of Tinley Park; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Tinley Park has conducted their own private study, at the expense of taxpayers, to investigate the environmental risks associated with the Tinley Park Mental Health Center; and

WHEREAS, The Results of the Village of Tinley Park's studies have estimated an environmental clean up cost of $12,400,000.00; and

WHEREAS, The Tinley Park Mental Health Center costs the state approximately $500,000.00 a year for maintenance and unduly burdens the taxpayers of the State of Illinois, including the residents of Tinley Park and the surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Tinley Park has taken requested proposals from qualified developers across the nation in order to properly develop the Tinley Park Mental Health Center; and

WHEREAS, The residents and developers deserve to know the estimated value of the property and the costs that are associated with the purchase and development of the property; and

WHEREAS, The residents of Tinley Park deserve to have the property developed and should not be responsible for the costs associated with the environmental clean up from an outdated state property; and

WHEREAS, Over the past four years, members of the Illinois General Assembly have requested that the previous Governor and his administration proceed with the resolution of the environmental issues associated with the Tinley Park Mental Health Center so the surplus property could be sold; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Illinois General Assembly have also requested that the Department of Central Management Services conduct three independent appraisals on the property, which is required by Illinois State law; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Governor JB Pritzker and the Director of the Department of Central Management Services to conduct the three independent appraisals required by State law in order to further the sale of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Governor JB Pritzker and the Director of the Department of Central Management Services.