Relocation of state Public Aid office to east Rockford irks Ald. Ann Thompson-Kelly and Mayor Larry Morrissey - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

By Isaac Guerrero

Posted Oct. 12, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Updated at 12:12 AM

ROCKFORD — A $6.6 million state lease awarded to Rockford's largest developer has upset the mayor and a west-side alderman because it would move Public Aid services from west Rockford to the northeast side — miles from where many recipients live.

The Illinois Procurement Policy Board took no action last week on a complaint filed by Mayor Larry Morrissey and a building owner regarding the pending relocation of the Department of Human Services Family Community Resource Center and related offices from West Avon and Auburn streets to the old K's Merchandise shopping center, 175 Executive Parkway.

READ THE FULL TEXT OF PETRO'S COMPLAINTS HERE AND HERE. READ MORRISSEY'S LETTER HERE.

The turn of events effectively means that a five-year state lease with a five-year renewal option recently awarded to First Midwest Group will stand. Illinois DHS clients will have to travel to the new location after the lease on 1111 N. Avon St. expires July 28. More than 120 people who work in those offices will move to the new site, which will serve as a larger, more modern regional resource center for poor individuals and families who live in Winnebago and Boone counties and parts of DeKalb and McHenry counties.

DHS serves more than 10,000 people at Avon Street. State offices are closed today, and officials could not be reached to say how many clients served in Rockford live on the west side.

First Midwest Group did not submit the lowest bid for the state lease, but the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, which manages real estate services for state government offices, determined that northeast Rockford was preferable based on other factors, including location and building amenities.

The only other bidder was Nerino Petro, a Rockford lawyer whose family is the landlord for DHS and related state offices at Auburn and Avon streets. Petro's bid was $2.8 million lower than First Midwest's. Even when utility, janitorial and other costs are considered, Petro's bid is still significantly less.

'How upset I am'

Moving Public Aid services miles from where many west Rockford clients live will create a hardship, said Ald. Ann Thompson-Kelly, who represents the 7th Ward. Additionally, the exodus of more than 100 workers will hurt restaurants, gas stations and other businesses those employees patronize along the Auburn Street corridor.

“I can't tell you how upset I am,” she said. “We have been working so hard to improve that Auburn corridor. We've installed new sidewalks, we're working with the businessmen, we're working on a new development proposal for Central (Avenue) and Auburn. And now this happens? This will kill the corridor. ... Why would you move these offices miles from the west side where most of these clients live?"

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