university of illinois - UIHistories Project

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 Farm No. 7 in DeKalb County, which is part of the Harry 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.