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Harrisburg still expecting IDOT jobs despite panel's rejection

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 11:42 PM CDT

HARRISBURG - Despite a unanimous rejection from a panel of Illinois lawmakers Tuesday, Southern Illinois officials are still counting on the transfer of Illinois Department of Transportation jobs from Springfield.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability voted 12-0 recommending against the move after listening to more than six hours of testimony. But Tracy Wyatt, director of the Southeastern Illinois College Foundation in Harrisburg, said he is 99 percent sure the transfer will happen.

"We have not heard anything that is contrary to the belief that this is still going to happen," Wyatt said.

The SIC Foundation is selling 32,000 square feet of a 67,000-square-foot facility to the department to house the jobs. Wyatt said the 140 jobs expected to move will have a major positive effect on the area and are badly needed.

"I believe it will have a tremendous impact on the area, not only economically, but psychologically," Wyatt said.

Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said he will continue to push for the transfer as long as he can.

"I don't care if it's just one job, I'm going to fight for them," Phelps said.

Phelps said the commission that rejected the transfer is an advisory committee and does not directly affect the move.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is still standing by the move, which is planned sometime in the next fiscal year beginning in July of 2009.

Phelps and Wyatt said they were not surprised by the rejection because the commission was made up of lawmakers from central and northern Illinois.

Springfield-area lawmakers, civic and business leaders and union leaders continue to oppose the move.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 represents many of the workers affected by the proposed move. The union in a statement issued Wednesday called on the governor to reconsider, and it said it is exploring all options, including legal action.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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