07-17-2007, 02:18 PM
Some state facilities in disrepair, documents show
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/...967944.txt
Monday, July 16, 2007
By Kurt Erickson
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/...967944.txt
Monday, July 16, 2007
By Kurt Erickson
Quote:SPRINGFIELD -- While Illinois lawmakers and Gov. Rod Blagojevich haggle over a spending plan for the coming year, documents show some state facilities are literally falling apart.
From leaky roofs to broken air conditioning systems, state documents show that bureaucrats are spending millions of dollars to try and stay one step ahead of the deterioration.
Nowhere is that more evident than at the Illinois Department of Corrections, which has a network of sprawling prison complexes in every corner of the state.
At Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, for example, documents show a leaky roof installed 19 years ago has resulted in at least two cells being left unusable after it rains. Officials say it could get worse, eventually affecting the gymnasium, a computer room and several other key offices.
"If not repaired, this building may soon become unusable for its current functions," Warden Gregory Firkus wrote in a letter requesting $329,150 in emergency funds to fix the problems.
At Shawnee Correctional Center in Johnson County, officials said there are numerous fire code violations that have cost taxpayers $667,800 to fix in recent months.
Among the problems are damaged doors in the prison's dietary unit.
"These doors are in extreme disrepair and in some cases are unable to be open or closed," wrote Warden Jay Merchant.
The crumbling of the state's buildings comes as lawmakers have been unable to agree on a construction spending plan for four years.
In his budget address in March, the governor called on lawmakers to approve a $4.5 billion construction program. It would include spending on new construction projects, such as roads and bridges, as well as money to maintain existing state facilities.
But lawmakers have resisted Blagojevich's prior efforts to get a construction budget approved, saying the state doesn't have enough money to pay for the program.
Under one scenario being discussed this week, lawmakers would use money generated by an expansion of gambling to pay for construction projects.
State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, said the state must pay attention to the upkeep of existing state buildings.
"It's in our best interest to make sure our buildings are kept properly maintained because, if you don't, you have to spend money on an emergency basis, which is usually more expensive," Rutherford said.
In the meantime, state buildings continue to fall into disrepair.
At the state's main office building in Chicago, officials estimate the cost to repair a fire-control pump at $150,000. Without the emergency repair, the safety of the occupants of the building, as well as important state records, is in question.
Records show roof problems at the minimum-security lock-up in Vienna have cost more than $2.4 million to fix. Without the work, officials said the interior of ten buildings was in jeopardy.
State universities and community colleges put the cost of needed maintenance on campuses across the state at $2.8 billion, up from about $1.6 billion five years ago.
Northern Illinois University has spent nearly $486,000 in recent months on emergency repairs. The roof on the Neptune West residence hall was so leaky that several dorm rooms had to be closed. Road surfaces on the campus also had to be repaired to make sure emergency vehicles could reach at least two dormitories.
Southern Illinois University says it needs nearly $400 million to upgrade facilities at its Carbondale campus. At Illinois State University that figure is over $250 million. Eastern Illinois University says it needs $120 million to upgrade facilities, while the tab at Western Illinois University is $105 million.