SJ0064 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0064 LRB095 12469 WGH 37615 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly wishes to ensure that the State of Illinois encourages economic development opportunities for citizens in all parts of the State; and

WHEREAS, The Toney Watkins Company has proposed to develop an economic development project that, if realized, will provide substantial economic benefit to the State of Illinois and Perry County, Illinois in particular; and

WHEREAS, Said project requires the transfer of certain land currently managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to the Toney Watkins Company in exchange for a property of equivalent condition, size, and use; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that development opportunities expected to be facilitated by the exchange proposed by the Toney Watkins Company between it and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will result in a minimum private investment of $100,000,000 and approximately 2,500 jobs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly requests that the Department of Natural Resources meet with representatives of the Toney Watkins Company and its designees to explore the possibility of executing a conveyance of property within Perry County, Illinois to the Toney Watkins Company in consideration of an exchange of property of substantially equivalent condition and use for certain economic development purposes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That any legislative action required for the transfer of property proposed for this project shall be contingent upon the Director of Natural Resources making a finding that the properties involved in any proposed exchange be of equal value, size, and attributes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, if legislative authorization is granted for such a property transfer, conveyance negotiations shall not be initiated by the Director of Natural Resources or the Director's designee until: (i) the Department of Natural Resources is in receipt of a bond in the amount of 10% of the appraised value of the property to be conveyed and (ii) the submission of completed applications for any and all assistance being sought from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Finance Authority, and any other federal, State, or local government agencies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That conveyance of the agreed upon property shall be contingent upon the State of Illinois and the Toney Watkins Company entering into a contract under which the Toney Watkins Company agrees to pay a sum of money to the State of Illinois and perform certain activities regarding the remediation and restoration of the property to be transferred to the State of Illinois.