Rep. Brady: Rauner’s ISU tour secured much needed campus repairs

Posted on September 7, 2018

 

Illinois State University
State government is freeing up about $5.2 million to make emergency repairs to three buildings on the Illinois State University campus. (WJBC File Photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Local leaders went to the top to secure millions of state government dollars for emergency repairs to three Illinois State University buildings.

Bloomington State Rep. Dan Brady said Gov. Bruce Rauner personally saw desperate needs at the College of Fine Arts Complex during a June visit to ISU.

“Classrooms that have been moved, duct tape, plastic, buckets when rain falls, and the list goes on. I think that had a very, very strong impact,” Brady said referring to Rauner’s campus tour.

The state comptroller now has authority to release approximately $3 million in funding for emergency work at the Fine Arts complex and $2.2 million for new roofs at the Ropp Agriculture Building and Turner Hall.

Brady said it’s always difficult to prioritize projects among the nine public universities in the state.

“The priorities in where you place that is always a struggle from the standpoint of how you come to an agreement on trying to get the dollars released to the most needy projects,” said Brady.

The money allocated to ISU is separate from a larger $62 million project to modernize and rebuild the Fine Arts complex.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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