HR1297 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1297 LRB095 21365 LCT 50616 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Transportation's traffic safety division is in what is known as the IDOT Annex, near IDOT's main headquarters, the State-owned Hanley Building, on Dirksen Parkway; and

WHEREAS, IDOT rents the Annex, next door to the Hanley Building; IDOT pays $25.32 per square foot annually as rent, a total of more than $1.7 million; and

WHEREAS, The current lease took effect in 2002 and expired in July 2007; the lease cost was $1.66 million in fiscal 2007 and $1.72 million in fiscal 2008, which ends June 30; and

WHEREAS, At least seven buildings in Springfield could house the 150 people whose jobs the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to move to southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Rental costs for at least some of the Springfield options would be dramatically lower than what the State pays now; and

WHEREAS, IDOT officials say saving money is one reason they plan to move the nearly 150 jobs; and

WHEREAS, The City of Springfield has already lost 2,200 State employees in the downtown area in recent years; if Springfield could, by any chance, get some of those back, it would be a boost to not only the entire city's economy, but to the downtown area in particular; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Department of Transportation will need to conduct a detailed analysis and public hearings before relocating the 150 Division of Traffic Safety employees to southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Benton is considered the leading candidate for the new location, but Benton Mayor Gary Kraft said last week that no structure in his city could house 150 new workers; and

WHEREAS, Covering moving expenses of displaced employees, as promised by IDOT, could cost $2,500 to $4,100 per household; and

WHEREAS, The numbers are rough estimates but underscore that the expense of moving the division would offset the savings IDOT expects from canceling a $1.7 million lease at the current facility; and

WHEREAS, A new State law, signed by Governor Blagojevich, directs State government to give preference "whenever operationally appropriate and economically feasible" to locating facilities "in historic properties and in buildings located within government recognized historic districts or central business districts designated as such by a local or regional planning agency"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor to keep the Division of Traffic Safety of the Department of Transportation in Springfield; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Governor.