HJ0081 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0081 LRB095 14645 GRL 40560 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois barns are witnesses to the role of agriculture in our State's image and its economy and serve as scenic landmarks for residents and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS, Historic barns and agricultural structures across rural Illinois symbolize important Illinois values of heritage, hard work, productivity, and closeness to the land and community with the people who built them; and

WHEREAS, Historic barns uphold the historic rural qualities of the State's landscape, along with providing a picturesque atmosphere for the State's citizens and visitors to enjoy; and

WHEREAS, These structures provide insight into our distinctive agricultural history and heritage, as well as a visual description of rural life, both past and present, in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Local historic preservation and community organizations in at least 10 counties across Illinois highlight local barns with organized or self-guided barn tours, the first of which began in Greene County in 1984 and has continued every September since as part of Greene County Days; and

WHEREAS, One private Illinois barn preservation organization, the Illinois Barn Alliance, released a statewide survey in August, 2005, and found that residents in 46 Illinois counties have conducted barn surveys, organized barn tours, or engaged in other activities that directly promote historic barns; and

WHEREAS, While historic barns are cherished by so many Illinois residents and visitors, many barns can no longer produce the necessary income to prevent damage by decay or demolition, or the barns become threatened when the surrounding land is removed from active agricultural use; and

WHEREAS, Many states, including Iowa, Wisconsin, New York, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire enacted legislation creating barn preservation and restoration programs to assist barn owners with their efforts to preserve these cultural and architectural treasures for the enjoyment and economic benefit of this and future generations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and any other public entities as the DCEO deems necessary, shall conduct a study of (i) current historic barn restoration and preservation efforts and needs in Illinois, (ii) the benefits that a historic barn restoration and preservation program in Illinois could have on tourism and other economic development activities in rural areas, and (iii) programs and incentives in place in other states to promote historic barn restoration and preservation; the DCEO shall report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2008; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in conducting its study the DCEO shall also consult with the Illinois Barn Alliance, Landmarks Illinois, and any other private local historical, preservation, and community organizations engaged in promoting and preserving historic barns in their communities or counties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to the Director of Agriculture, to the Director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, and to the Director of the Illinois Department of Transportation.