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Rauner wants to merge IHPA with IDNR

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* From page 280 of the governor’s budget book…

The fiscal year 2018 budget also recommends the Historic Preservation Agency (HPA) merge with DNR to consolidate the administration of state historic sites and monuments within one agency. By positioning HPA administration within DNR, core competencies will be centralized. The merger, which includes $9.2 million in new appropriation authority for DNR, is anticipated to result in $3.2 million in savings and ensure the continued collection and preservation of state historic resources.

Hat tip: Capitol Outdoors.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:35 am

Comments

Weren’t they together before at one time?

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:39 am
The executive agencies function like an accordion. Ten or fifteen years from now someone will propose making an agency department its own agency. A half a generation later someone will propose combining them again. It’s just part of the cycle, the only constant are the transition costs.

Comment by The Captain Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:43 am
Years ago, many state historic sites (Dickson Mounds, IL State Museum, etc.) were under the old Department of Energy and Natural Resources. ENR was split, with parts going to the then-new DNR (which started out as the Department of Conservation) and other agencies. If I remember correctly, HPA was a separate agency, even at that time.

Comment by Silent Budgeteer Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:49 am
Yes RNUG…and made their own under Thompson because of the Dana Thomas house when the former Director of Conservation didn’t want to buy and renovate it.

Comment by Captain Illini Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:51 am
Yeah, back in the Department of Conservation Days I believe.

Quinn proposed the merger for FY ‘10.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:52 am
Sounds like a reasonable and logical proposal. Can anyone see any negative to come from it?

Comment by SoIll Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:56 am
It was supposed to be incorporated into DCEO. But I guess that went the way of the dodo

Comment by Rogue Roni Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:56 am
Correct, this is not a new idea. IHPA is a tiny agency but pushed back hard against the consolidation under Quinn (and won).

Comment by FIREDup! Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:56 am
I was under the impression that Blago wanted to do this in the past. To find out, I Googled a bit and found this:

http://www.sj-r.com/x1374609200/Letters-to-the-Editor-Sept-22

Letters to the editor from 2008. The names are different today, but wow was it like deja vu in reverse all over again.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 9:56 am
Historic Sites were a division in the Department of Conservation. In 1985 or so, Governor Thompson split that Division off and with some other units (State Historical Library, etc), created IHPA with then DOC Director Dave Kenney in charge. Kenney had said some things Thompson didn’t appreciate and creating a new agency was Thompsons version of handing him a soft landing, versus outright firing.

Functionally it didn’t make much sense. Many Historic Sites have natural resources as well as typically park facilities (picnic, even camping). Any State Parks have historic and especially archeological resources.

I’m surprised it’s taken this long. Probably something to do with the Lincoln Museum and Library.

Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:02 am
Why not throw in IEPA for good measure?

Comment by Team America Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:04 am
I don’t remember now, which governor separated them. It was either last part of Thompson or during Edgar. It was always a fight over money and HPA was always getting the short end. Separated so HPA could have their own budget.

There was meetings/committee in Springfield not long ago planning to bring the two back together. It was decided against. By then Blago had no use for DNR anyway. I would imagine all the meetings and committee reports are still hanging around down there buried somewhere.

Comment by Cindy Lou Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:10 am
I was with IHPA when it appeared the agency would be merged with DNR. At the staff level we were pretty far down the road before the deal blew up.

I’ve got to dispute the “savings” and “core competencies” of the new proposed merger. IHPA is so seriously underfunded that there aren’t enough staff to effectively care for the resources, let alone provide programs. Yes, IHPA and IDOC can share some maintenance costs in areas where state historic sites and state parks are near each other, and they can consolidate human resources, and purchasing, so there are some savings. But “the continued collection and preservation of state historic resources” is a joke because they are not adequately being preserved now. Ask Lincoln’s New Salem about “deferred maintenance” on the log buildings.

And if the director of DNR is head of the combined agency, I don’t expect IHPA to fare any better. DNR Director Rosenthal has publicly stated that his job is to do what Governor Rauner wants him to do. Rosenthal put up no resistance–in fact he was all too eager to help–when Rauner closed the State Museums. All of the veteran scientists and program managers lost their jobs as a result. Who needs a director that doesn’t stand up for the agency he supposedly manages?

Comment by Wednesday morning Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:18 am
Quinn attempted to do it

Comment by Bill Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:28 am
I would also throw the Illinois Arts Council into the merger as well. Perhaps a “Department of Natural, Historical and Cultural Resources.”

Comment by Leatherneck Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:28 am
IDNR did such a great job with a local site - why not give them even more responsibility to enhance the quality of our precious resources.

http://carlylelake.com/closure-of-south-shore-state-park/

Comment by illini Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:34 am
Sort of a moot point when both agencies are horrifically underfunded to perform their duties.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:36 am
I’m not convinced that true savings will happen with consolidation. The problem is not duplication of effort, the problem is that these agencies are too politicized. Bring in qualified professionals to run things and both of these agencies just might work better. Nearby states like Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota have excellent state-run historical agencies. Why can’t we?

Comment by Steve Rogers Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 10:52 am
Good, we need more of this.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 11:09 am
Don’t see a lot of similarities in focus here.

So, if ‘merger’ is done, will the $3.2 million savings cover raunner’s hiring munger and her cronies? Just asking.

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 11:12 am
Well…along the same lines of the theory that Betsy DeVos was nominated to become Secretary of Education in an effort to actually get rid of the Department of Education perhaps the thought here is that Director Rosenthal is not worried about his future. Normally the pushback comes from people/officials who need or want to continue a department or program. Director Rosenthal is an easy-going enough guy that he is likely to be fine with this and ride off into the sunset if it happens (or if the Governor asks him to step aside). The same likely could not be said if/when this proposal comes up in the future (at the state and federal level).

Comment by Curl of the Burl Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 11:22 am
Sorry. In tough times, HPA shouldnt exist.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 11:27 am
Next up Water Resources goes back over to IDOT ?

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 11:33 am
==In tough times, HPA shouldnt exist==

At all? Someone has to oversee historic sites.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 11:34 am
Dem. I might have been a little strong on that statement. But everybody, i mean everybody has to give up.more yhan a LITTLE bit. K-12. Higher ed.LGDF.social services.AFSCME. you name it.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 11:45 am
HPA has a mandate re certain structures and districts and review processes and connections to National matters, so it’s not just about state owned structures.

would be ok to merge IF things did not get lost in the fine mission of hunters etc. one could ask if those activities are necessary? we can maintain lands, but do we really need hunting? I’m for it, but just to throw the argument the other way. the cultural mission should not just be for one thing.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 12:27 pm
I would not be in favor of merging these two agencies because it does a disservice to important historical and cultural resources in the state. Preservation and historical administration professionals have slowly been eliminated from IHPA. The logic for the merger is based on treating the sites as tourist attractions, which they may of course be. But if they are not properly managed and preserved, they will not be around very long. Citizens and our collective heritage deserve much better.

Comment by morningstar Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 12:48 pm
Blue dog–I get what you mean. Still, everybody giving up something isn’t what is happening. And it’s not what is going to happen. The governor has made it clear through his actions that the state’s most vulnerable citizens–not his excited job creators and rich friends–will continue to bear the brunt of cuts. State managed parks and historic sites are free (although there are “suggested donations”), making them available to all citizens regardless of race, class, and income. The governor demonstrated through his gratuitous closing of the State Museums that he doesn’t care who falls victim to his actions. What if he wants to send IHPA to DNR just so his Yes Man Rosenthal can oversee their shutdowns?

Comment by Wednesday morning Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 1:07 pm
Well DNR does already oversee more historical sites than HPA anyways…

Comment by The Machine Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 1:14 pm
IHPA serves a vital function. They are responsible for enforcing the various State and Federal Historical Preservation and Antiquity Acts. While I may not always agree with their decisions, in my profession, I am duty bound to respect them.

I have always thought that IDNR and IHPA was a natural fit.

Now if both agencies can be adequately funded to provide the services that are desperately needed.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 1:37 pm
I think the merger proposal makes sense, given the budgetary constraints facing the state. And I agree with others that HPA should have adequate professional staff to provide guidance on how to manage our historical and cultural resources, regardless of whether it is kept separate or merged with DNR.

I would also consider Team America’s suggestion about merging IEPA with DNR, especially if there is space at the DNR building on the state fairgrounds. Other states have combined natural resource and environmental protection departments that seem to work ok. Heck, I would also mix in the recycling, energy and environmental assistance programs that are withering away at DCEO.

Comment by Going nuclear Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 1:58 pm
How about merging the State Library, State Museum and Historical Preservation?

Comment by LIberty Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 2:19 pm
If the agencies get truly integrated it should work. If they’re under the same director but the different divisions don’t talk to each other (like state parks and the state museum) it’s not an improvement. IHPA has been decimated by cuts… no, that’s not right, decimated means 10 percent reduction. They’ve lost around two-thirds of their staffing in the Historic Sites Division. They’ve simply lost the ability to operate many of their sites.

Comment by IllinoisHistory Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 2:22 pm
Perhaps moving Historic Sites to DNR to be run as part of the State Parks division might make sense, but not the whole agency. Move the state historic library to the Secretary of State to be run alongside the State Library. Move Historic Preservation to DCEO. Move education programs to the State Board of Ed and get rid of anything else I didn’t mention. Not sure what to do with the Abe museum.

Comment by say no to big government Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 2:45 pm
WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THIS NEEDS TO HAND HIM A BUDGET AND TELL HIM …COME ON!

Comment by flea Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 2:48 pm
Blue Dog: Seems to me encouraging people from outside Illinois to come here and leave their money behind is *exactly* the kind of thing we should be doing. What better way to raise revenue without raising taxes is there than to have someone else pay them?

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 3:28 pm
Skeptic. I would trade the DCEO/edge for HPA any day, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. In light of that some things gotta give.

Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Feb 16, 17 @ 3:52 pm