ISU looks to buy land for farm expansion

Posted on December 11, 2018

 

ISU Board of Trustees
Illinois State University’s Board of Trustees, meeting in special session Saturday, will decide whether to buy 80 acres of northern McLean County farmland to expand the university’s farm. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Illinois State University governing board will decide later this week whether to buy 80 acres of land to expand the university’s farm in northern McLean County.

University staff is proposing the school buy the Mifflin farm in rural Chenoa for $810,000. The land is adjacent to the northern border of the University’s farm. The University plans to add to its farming operations and agricultural research.

The proposed land purchase is part of $6.7 million in spending on various projects, including $3,013,000 for emergency mechanical, plumbing, and infrastructure repairs for the Center for Visual Arts, Centennial East, and Centennial West.

Staffers recommend the Board of Trustees approve new roofs for Turner Hall, the Science Lab, and Ropp Agriculture buildings at a cost of $2.253 million.

Braden Auditorium would receive acoustical upgrades and a paint job at a cost of $625,000. The university said the auditorium hasn’t been painted in 20 years.

Trustees are scheduled to meet Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Nelson Smith Building near Redbird Arena.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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