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Board responds to “doors” outrage

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Illinois

* From a press release…

“The decision to renovate the west wing of the Capitol was part of the Illinois Jobs Now! program approved by the General Assembly and the governor in 2009.

While much attention is given to the finishes that restore the building back to its original period of significance, that focus represents a mere fraction of the work being done to restore the Capitol. This renovation was primarily about life safety and making the necessary infrastructure changes needed to stabilize the building for future generations.

The Office of the Architect of the Capitol worked with this Board and Capital Development Board to ensure that all procedural requirements were followed and the fiscal limits of the plan were respected. As a result, we will have a safer and more accessible building that will stand the test of time while appropriately reflecting the greatness of the state.

The Board will continue to ensure that we uphold these standards, review our policies and preserve this national historic landmark on behalf of its occupants, visitors and Illinois taxpayers.”

Office of the Architect of the Capitol Board:
Tim Anderson
Brad Bolin
Scott Kaiser
Tim Mapes

Those signatories are the two House clerks and Senate secretaries, representing both parties. Mapes, of course, is also House Speaker Michael Madigan’s chief of staff.

Needless to say, it’s highly doubtful that any of the four would sign on to this statement without an OK from above.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 9:53 am

Comments

Good on them.

Does the CDB want to weigh in?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 9:57 am
Is this the entire Board calling the shots? So which one represents the Governor?

Comment by Anon2 Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 9:59 am
Highly doubtful is a huge understatement.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:03 am
Glad that they released this.

This is about 4 years too late, and the fact the building is trying to be upgraded for today, but also trying to keep its original look and design, well that costs.

Again, anyone want my ‘65 Corvette with the 2009 Honda doors?

Let me know …

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:04 am
“Again, anyone want my ‘65 Corvette with the 2009 Honda doors?”

Glad you can afford a ‘65 Corvette, Willy. I hear they are very expensive, as most people cannot afford them. Especially in this economy.

Comment by Mike Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:19 am
Can you imagine what the Capital Complex would like if the buildings were being built in today’s political climate? Probably have cookie cutter Stratton Blds. everywhere.

Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:19 am
- Good on them. -

For what? Passing the buck to CDB?

Look, CDB releases the funds if the paperwork is in order, as required.

The OAC is supposed to manage the project.

As mentioned previously, I’m not for or against the doors, but Madigan’s claim that an itemized quote wasn’t available strikes me as very odd.

I’m all for historic preservation, but what were the options? I understand that artisan craftwork ain’t cheap, but did anyone question any items on the budget?

I’m not jumping on the public outrage, but that doesn’t mean I think capital projects don’t need oversight.

If Mapes and company want CDB to provide this oversight, then dissolve the OAC and put the architect under CDB control.

Otherwise, show the public the numbers and explain the options.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:19 am
Illinois Jobs Now! (???) Wasn’t that Tom Swiss’ battle cry in that 2012 Democratic primary?

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:21 am
You can have a lot of good reasons to spend a whole lot of money on a preservation project. It doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to spend that money on that preservation project at a time when the state is screaming that it is broke.

Comment by Aldyth Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:36 am
it is easy to get “outraged” over the copper clad doors. they are shiny, after all. keep in mind they are historically accurate reproductions, expected to last a hundred years. amortize that.

meanwhile, something that deserves real outrage is being neglected. over the last year, 13 people have been indicted for embezzling $16 MILLION in state grant funds. where is the management, oversight, and scrutiny there? what was the public purpose of these grants? how much political favoritism was involved. you can guess the answers, but if this much can be discovered, how much more is lurking in the paperwork? real outrage requires real digging and investigation. someone should put quinn and lavin on the spot to answer for this. the GA should review the whole grant system. it is not shiny, but it is needed.

Comment by langhorne Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:43 am
- Mike -,

Let’s be honest, how much do you think I paid for the ‘65 Vette with the 2009 Honda Doors?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:45 am
Watch out Tom Cross, if your House clerk signed off on these doors, Bob Grogran might have a new talking point.

Comment by Bill White Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:50 am
“stand the test of time while appropriately reflecting the greatness of the state.”

Maybe the Capitol should be moved to a vacant WalMart…no offense to WalMart

Comment by Spidad60 Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:52 am
So, what’s the plan for the planned Illinois Supreme Court’s restoration/renovation? Who is providing oversight on that one. Let’s get that straight before it starts. A real and timely chance for profiles in courage.

Comment by Anon2 Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:53 am
Historic old buildings like the Capitol are expensive to fix up - that’s all there is to it. Granted, it makes for great confab at the coffee shop, but really… The four guys signing are all governmental pros; and the CDB grants contracts in accordance with the purchasing act. What the users want in the project - especially in historic renovations - the user gets. What does the Historic Preservation Agency say? Or are they still around? zzzzzzzzz

Comment by in absential Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:55 am
===Bob Grogran might have a new talking point===

And he’ll make that known with what money?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:56 am
FWIW, I also believe this “controversy” is a whole lot of nothing coming from people eager to stir up controversy. Yes, maybe the doors are “too expensive” however this should also be 100 year or 150 year project

And, I don’t buy the hyperbolic hysteria coming from places like the Illinois Policy Institute and the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board that Illinois is on the verge of bankruptcy.

All that said, with Tim Anderson, Brad Bolin, Scott Kaiser and Tim Mapes signing off on the project, there is enough blame to share amongst everyone.

Comment by Bill White Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:56 am
@Rick Miller

IMHO, Cross will defeat Grogan and in turn Frerichs will defeat Cross. However, a Grogan speed bump does help Frerichs.

Comment by Bill White Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:58 am
@Rich, sorry!

Oh, how do we petition for a preview function?

Comment by Bill White Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:58 am
My last comment - unless provoked - regarding my biggest pet peeve, the maidens on the Grand Staircase. The following is from a very good website about the Capitol:

“Illinois Statehouse architect Alfred Piquenard was contracted to build the Iowa Capitol in 1870. During an 1874 inspection of the Illinois construction, Iowa Governor Cyrus Clay and his Statehouse Commissioners were quite impressed and opted to use many of the novel features of the Illinois Capitol. They returned to Iowa with two beautiful statues designed for the Grand Staircase by Piquenard, because the scantily clad ladies were deemed inappropriate by the more prudish Illinois Statehouse Commissioners.

This information is from an article by Dr. Wayne C. Temple in the Capitol Centennial Paper.”
http://www.ilstatehouse.com/2nd_floor.htm

There are comparison pictures as well.

Prudish reason or not our capitol was built without the maidens. That was unique to us. While we can’t do anything about Iowa copying design elements of our building, now we have copied a feature in Iowa’s capitol.

The dastardly deed has been done, but we all know this will not mean much in the lives of Illinoisans. I’ll just sigh whenever I see what I believe to be a few misspent dollars.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:08 am
If we ask Iowa for our statues back, does that make us Indiana givers?

Comment by Spidad60 Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:18 am
This is the perfect foil for everyone. It’s our local “bridge to nowhere”. Everyone can criticize the state for spending on doors. No one has to defend it. The doors are installed. Years from now people will admire the beauty of them. But for now, in 118 house races and 59 senate races, everyone can be aghast! It’s a vintage building. Unfortunately it needs vintage doors that meet new standards for ADA. Much ado…

Comment by A guy... Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:46 am
=== But for now, in 118 house races and 19 senate races (not 59) everyone can be aghast! ===

Of course, of those 19 state senate races only 2 were closer than 60/40 in 2012 (36 & 48),

And, of those 118 IL House races only 20 races were closer than 60/40 in 2012

Which means this issue also won’t affect who wins and loses in November 2014.

Mere sound and fury, signifying nothing . . .

Comment by Bill White Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:53 am
I leave springfield commenting to those of you who know/live/work/breathe/sleep/dream that game, but I will say that the danger for democrats with this is that this is something simple that people who don’t follow politics can understand and if used effectively could become damaging.

No one really understood blago. the rest of the stuff down there is foreign, wonkish + tiresome, but this people can get + tie to a larger narrative.

In the past I’ve given springfield a pass on stuff-the spending on planes issue, other stuff, because it’s part of government and sorry you need to do that to function. I’m also not against spending on the buildings. But this is sticky.

Comment by Shore Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:03 pm
=== If we ask Iowa for our statues back, does that make us Indiana givers? ===

I don’t know. Alaska.

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:09 pm
===…only 20 races…===

That’s quite a few, 20. If you think running 20 races is easy, call Jim Durkin. If it were single digits, then that would have my attention.

As for the Senate, if the SGOP can get 2… that would be a start, and with a new Head running the Politcal Crew …we will see how they all fare.

We will know soon enough the Tier One targets, and given who is up against who, and the local flavor meshing with the state overtones, and with the Statewides running this time… too early to dismiss “only 20″ or “just 2″ yet …

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:43 pm
Charlie Wheeler just hit the nail right on the head. Why is the press giving this story so much attention but virtually ignoring the claims Ty Fahner made about calling the credit rating firms?

Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:57 pm
In absentia, you might want to look into whether any of this project was subject to the procurement code… It wasn’t. That’s the reason OAC held the contract. They’re exempt.

Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:33 pm
What % of projects in Illinois ever come in under or at budget?

The mentality seems to be that we must spend every last dollar we have been allocated, rather than doing the best job possible at the best price possible.

Crazy.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:39 pm
OW’s analogy is a good one, but not quite accurate.

A door for a 1965 Corvette is actually available as a pre-manufactured replica replacement part. If it were not, as was the case with the historic bronze doors, it would be far more expensive to create from scratch, and enormously more than patching in a 2009 Honda door. I am sure anyone who owns and appreciates that fabulous car, a historic symbol of American greatness, would still make the right choice.

And the Architect and his Board made the right choices as well. The Capitol is a symbol of American democracy. Like the American flag, the building and what it represents has great value and importance. They should dismiss the silly political furor created by the anti-government/anti-tax zealots, for nothing will please them short of burning the Capitol building to the ground and moving government to the HQ of the Commercial Club.

Comment by cod Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:44 pm
Dirty Red, it’s nice to see Charlie put the wood to Ty on his bond machinations while serving as the state bond counsel.

When you can get Charlie to reflect on his 40 years under the Dome and be blown away enough to use adjectives like “unbelievable,” “amazing” and “breath-taking perfidy,” you can’t wonder how this wasn’t a big story, our host’s site excepted.

Charlie takes Quinn to the woodshed, too, for the salary veto.

http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/archives/2013/08/ends.html

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:53 pm
OW, 60/40 is a wide screen.

A 55/45 screen is 7 races (3 R incumbents and 4 D incumbents) and only 1 D and 1 R won by less than 51%.

Big changes are very unlikely. IMHO.

Comment by Bill White Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:06 pm
Welp,

I guess candidate recruitment, local issues, who heads the top of the ticket this time, money, GOTV, and a change of the House Leadership, and a change in the Political Operations by Commander Galloway.. and an off-year election … guess that don’t mean too much … IMHO.

I guess Durkin and Commander Galloway should pack it up, becuase, just based on the numbers, and the numbers alone … its a waste.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:45 pm
Rich, how about you close out this week with a tune from the Doors?

Comment by too obvious Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:52 pm
I wondered when the doors issue would face the Doors.

Squeezy doesn’t need any doors,he just needs a hole to slither into.

Comment by East Central Illinois Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 3:07 pm
Well, that’s just great, - cod -, thanks for telling me now!

I got a ‘65 Vette with 2009 Honda doors.

I could sell it to Dwight Kay ….

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 3:32 pm
==Charlie Wheeler just hit the nail right on the head. Why is the press giving this story so much attention but virtually ignoring the claims Ty Fahner made about calling the credit rating firms?==

Why would the rollers in the media want to take on their big business buddies? The state architect isn’t providing too much capital for media firms, advertising for newscasts, or access and quotes to reporters.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 4:14 pm
===Rich, how about you close out this week with a tune from the Doors? ===

It’ll be a little more obscure than that, but appropriate if you pay attention.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 4:24 pm