URBANA — The Scott M. Bennett Administrative Center was officially dedicated to the late senator Wednesday afternoon. A Champaign County Board committee held a public dedication ceremony at the building, formerly the County Plaza, where family, friends and colleagues of Bennett discussed his legacy and life of service.
“The outpouring of support has been overwhelming in the best way possible, and I will never be able to really express what it’s meant to us,” said Bennett’s wife, Stacy Bennett, in a speech at the dedication.
The Bennett Administrative Center was purchased by Champaign County in 2022 and underwent renovations from 2023 until earlier this year when county administrators began to move their offices into the building.
It now houses over 200 county employees from various offices including the County Board, Planning and Zoning Department and the Champaign County Sheriff.
Champaign County Board Chair Jennifer Locke said the new building and location will be a benefit to everyone who uses it, including constituents.
“It’s nice working in a new, beautiful building that didn’t used to be a middle school, which is what Brookens was,” she said. “This is convenient to everybody. Almost everybody’s in the same place, it’s easy to navigate — we’re really happy here.”
As of last week, all offices had been moved into the building, and most services are fully operational.
Locke also reflected on the near-unanimous vote to name the county administration’s new home after Bennett.
“It was a no-brainer,” she said. “Scott gave us so much, and we wanted to name it after him.”
Bennett was known by many for his work as both a politician and prosecutor, and his personality made a strong impact on those who knew him.
That much was clear as speakers recalled his values and sense of humor in heartfelt tributes.
State’s Attorney Julia Rietz became emotional when she discussed her time working with him at the Champaign County Courthouse.
“Now I sit in my office right on the corner of the courthouse, and every day I get to look out and see my friend’s name on the building across the street,” she said. “And I talk to him, and I ask him, ‘What should I do?’ And I have a little laugh.”
Rob Bennett said the dedication to his brother will serve as a reminder of what public servants are capable of.
“You can really make a big difference in a lot of people’s lives in your community in a very short period of time,” he said. “If you’ve got the right heart for it, and Scott definitely had the right heart for it.”
Several other public officials were in attendance, including State Sen. Paul Faraci, who spoke at the event.
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs was also due to speak, but a small crowd of protesters negotiated with Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams to prevent him from participating.
Jessica Yasin, an Urbana resident and a member of CU Muslim Action Committee, said they were there to protest Frerichs’ investment of millions of Illinois dollars in Israel bonds, but that they would put their signs away if he did not speak.
“We are not going to leave him alone until he divests our money as Illinois constituents,” she said.
Frerichs announced an additional $10 million investment in Israel bonds earlier this year, making a current total of $95 million invested — less than 1% of Illinois’ total multi-billion dollar investment portfolio.
He ultimately did not speak at the event, but after sudden thunderstorms forced attendees inside, some protesters brought their signs with them and approached him after speeches had been given.
Rietz spoke with several protesters after the event and called their actions “inappropriate.”