Metro Lakeland - History

History

Arthur E. Press, director of the Bureau of Business Research at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, started studying the concept developing Jackson, Williamson, Franklin and Perry counties as a single metropolitan complex in 1963. At the time, the four-county region would contain a population of 119,000.

He outlined his plan to the West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner on 18 February 1966. He explained the theory behind his idea was the "micro-multiplex" in which "small socio-economic units cooperate for general economic opportunities of the entire area." To work, Presll called for a common tax base, common sewage system, joint police and fire protection as well as a common telephone system. New roads would need to be created including an inner and outer belt. Zoning as well would need to be added and new recreational lands placed between the towns.

By April 1966, other SIU professors had chimed in support of the project. Fremont Shull Jr., chairman of the management department argued, "There is a great deal of community isolation and fragmentation in Southern Illinois, which is simply not good business. The entire region must begin to look at itself as a megalopolis. The future economic health of the area depends on it.

By mid July Prell told area business leaders that Herrin was the "hub of Metro-Lakeland" which he had dubbed to then contain 140,000 residents. Herrin, he said, had the best chance at becoming the strongest downtown business district in Southern Illinois. He even proposed a land clearance program in the central business district so a shopping mall be built in the 100 blocks of East and West Cherry Street and 200 block of North Park Avenue in Herrin that was then, and still is, the alignment for Illinois Route 148.

On 6 December 1967, Prell took the proposal before the Illinois Commission on Economic Development, chaired by Sen. Arthur Gottschalk, R-Flossmoor, who called it, "a very exciting concept". Prell told the commission the merger of the four counties would create the 151st largest metropolitan area in the United States. "let's start the first totally new city in the Midwest and create a showplace for the entire country." Prell admitted the project would require substantial spending and major governmental reorganization. Supporters testifying on behalf of the proposal included Geoffrey Hughes, executive director of Southern Illinois Incorporated. He claimed that for 20 years SII had been "proclaiming that this part of Illinois is a dispersed large city with nearly a quarter million people experiencing the same common problems and seeking area-wide cures and solutions." Oren Drew, chairman of the Southern Illinois Recreation Council, an early regional tourism promotional council, called for additional state and federal assistance, "as well as private development of our recreational assets." Other persons testifying included Robert Feigenbaum of DuQuoin, Illinois-based Turco Manufacturing Co., Allen Y. Baker, chairman of the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission; Russell Davis of the Southern Illinois Bankers Association; James Gillooly, project coordinator for the 14-county Shawnee Resource Conversation and Development Project; African-American leader Robert Stalls of Carbondale; Carl Taylor of the Southern Illinois Business Agents Council representing labor and John Rendleman, SIU vice president for business affairs. Other than Carbondale Mayor David Keene who welcomed the commission to his city, tellingly, no other local elected official was mentioned as testifying in favor of the merger.

Later that month Prell continued his push for consolidation of school districts, boards and public health units. Long-distance calls between communities within Metro Lakeland would be eliminated. "Utilities would have to reconstruct their concept of the area. How many of you would tolerate a long-distance toll within the city of Springfield."

On 26 January 1968, Prell and the regional newspaper, the Southern Illinoisan, released a map showing exactly what territory they proposed to merge. The Oregon-shaped area would include 873 square miles (2,260 km2) and about 131,000 people formed out of 21 townships and road districts, 48 municipalities and other taxing bodies. Major cities inside would be Carbondale, Murphysboro, Herrin, Marion, Benton, West Frankfort, DuQuoin and "probably Pinckneyville." In the article Prell outlined a multi-step approach to the eventual consolidation.

In none of the stories presented by the paper, did their reporters ask any elected mayors their opinions of the plan. Not surprisingly, nothing more is found in the pages of the paper over the next decade except a reference to Prell's idea in a 1970 column written, not surprisingly, by another SIU faculty member.