State Representative Dan Swanson spoke about Senate Bill 2976 after a House floor debate about the need for funding for State Historic Sites across Illinois. This bill would create a State Historic Preservation Board to advise the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on how to assist, protect, conserve, and manage recognized state historic sites, such as Bishop Hill. The bill was approved and is headed to the Governor.
“In my area, it used to be part of my district, we have Bishop Hill that was just listed on the Most Endangered Historic Sites in Illinois, and Carl Sandburg Birthplace in Galesburg is in great disrepair,” Swanson said. “I’ve had both (Department of Natural Resources) Director (Colleen) Callahan, I’ve also had the Lieutenant Governor out to look at the sites, but we sure need some funding for those sites, and I would hope that if this legislation passed that this board will have the authority to help guide funding to the needed sites.”