Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois Republican legislative delegation has once again successfully ushered legislation through the Illinois House and Senate. State Representative Patrick Windhorst, State Senator Dale Fowler, Senator Terri Bryant, and State Representative Dave Severin have garnered unanimous support for House Bill 1672. This legislation will permit the Department of Military Affairs to transfer the property and building known as the Armory Building in West Frankfort when it becomes vacant and relocates to Marion.

Windhorst noted that such bills have frequently been signed into law as the Department of Defense and the Department of Military Affairs consolidate local armories, leaving cities to manage abandoned properties. "With this legislation, the City of West Frankfort will acquire the armory and be able to make the best use of the property, potentially as a civic center," he said.

State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton), who had previously worked on this issue during his tenure as the 117th district State Representative, joined Windhorst as a chief co-sponsor on the measure. He expressed gratitude towards his colleagues for recognizing the need for this legislation and congratulated West Frankfort for their successful lobbying efforts.

State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), Chief Sponsor of the legislation in the Illinois Senate, echoed these sentiments. He stated that by bringing this legislation before lawmakers, they hoped to breathe new life into this facility and empower West Frankfort to make great use of it.

State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), who represents northern portions of Franklin County, was also a supporter of this measure in the Senate. She remarked that this unanimous passage marks a significant step forward for West Frankfort.

West Frankfort Mayor Tim Arview expressed satisfaction with the bill's passage. He noted that acquiring the National Guard Armory presents an opportunity to enhance city infrastructure and bolster service capabilities for residents.

House Bill 1672 passed unanimously in both houses: first in the House on April 15th, and then in the Senate one month later on May 15th. The bill now awaits Governor JB Pritzker's consideration.