Post by momof3 on May 14, 2007 11:26:51 GMT -6
Editorial in today's Sun
Senate needs to get to vote on District 204's quick take
(http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/opinions/384039,6_4_NA14_EDITORIAL_S1.article)
May 14, 2007
Though it may seem strange to put it in these terms, if Indian Prairie School District 204 is going to have its new high school anytime soon, the Illinois Senate needs to get off the dime.
For some time now, the district has been pushing the state to pass quick-take legislation so it can force the sale of the Brach-Brodie land for the new high school more quickly and efficiently than it can if it must go through the standard condemnation process.
The difference is that the condemnation trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 17. Even if the trial goes smoothly, the district still stands to lose the 2007 construction season.
Conversely, if the state grants quick-take authority, the district can condemn the land quickly, start construction, and settle the cost of the land later.
In terms of always rising construction costs, if the district does not get to start soon and take advantage of the 2007 construction season, the new high school will cost an estimated $8 million to $10 million more.
A negative on quick-take is said to be that the district will have to pay whatever the jury decides and won't be able to turn the purchase down if the price is too high. However, there is an upper limit constraint to that equal to the highest valuation that the judge will accept, and incoming board President Mark Metzger, a longtime school board member, says there is no such thing as a "runaway jury" in a condemnation case.
We think Metzger's judgment is sound; the district needs quick-take in this case, and the state ought to move on it.
The quick-take legislation has passed the House, but it is bottled up in the Senate's rules committee.
From a cost-of-construction standpoint alone, the legislation is too important to District 204 residents to waste away in committee.
At the very least it deserves an up or down vote in the full Senate.
We would urge the members of the rules committee, especially area senators on both sides of the aisle, to make getting this legislation before the full Senate a top priority.
District 204 needs and deserves a vote on this bill, and we urge committee members to move it on out.
Senate needs to get to vote on District 204's quick take
(http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/opinions/384039,6_4_NA14_EDITORIAL_S1.article)
May 14, 2007
Though it may seem strange to put it in these terms, if Indian Prairie School District 204 is going to have its new high school anytime soon, the Illinois Senate needs to get off the dime.
For some time now, the district has been pushing the state to pass quick-take legislation so it can force the sale of the Brach-Brodie land for the new high school more quickly and efficiently than it can if it must go through the standard condemnation process.
The difference is that the condemnation trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 17. Even if the trial goes smoothly, the district still stands to lose the 2007 construction season.
Conversely, if the state grants quick-take authority, the district can condemn the land quickly, start construction, and settle the cost of the land later.
In terms of always rising construction costs, if the district does not get to start soon and take advantage of the 2007 construction season, the new high school will cost an estimated $8 million to $10 million more.
A negative on quick-take is said to be that the district will have to pay whatever the jury decides and won't be able to turn the purchase down if the price is too high. However, there is an upper limit constraint to that equal to the highest valuation that the judge will accept, and incoming board President Mark Metzger, a longtime school board member, says there is no such thing as a "runaway jury" in a condemnation case.
We think Metzger's judgment is sound; the district needs quick-take in this case, and the state ought to move on it.
The quick-take legislation has passed the House, but it is bottled up in the Senate's rules committee.
From a cost-of-construction standpoint alone, the legislation is too important to District 204 residents to waste away in committee.
At the very least it deserves an up or down vote in the full Senate.
We would urge the members of the rules committee, especially area senators on both sides of the aisle, to make getting this legislation before the full Senate a top priority.
District 204 needs and deserves a vote on this bill, and we urge committee members to move it on out.