SPRINGFIELD - While some 100 Illinois Department of Transportation employees on Wednesday picketed and protested Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to ship their jobs downstate, his own office has yet to start an official search for a new home for the workers in Southern Illinois.

Unless the state already owns property in the region, it is the Department of Central Management Services' role to seek out bids for a new building.

That doesn't appear to be the case. The state Web site, which publishes all state contracts let for bid does not include a contract for DOT office space in Southern Illinois.

"All relevant procedures will be followed if applicable," DOT spokesman Brian Williamsen said in an e-mail.

When asked if the state already owns a building along the Interstate 57 corridor south of I-64, Williamsen said, "I am not aware of this."

Since very little has officially been done to execute the move, state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, wonders if it is very likely at all.

"It appears that this decision to move people was made on a whim," said Bomke, who is opposed to moving the employees out of his district. "That there is no plan is a good indication that this was not based on any long-term planning."

Since Blagojevich's decision was made public, the approximately 110 employees who could be forced to relocate or find new jobs have been adamant in their opposition.

On Wednesday, a contingent of DOT employees and their families protested Blagojevich's initiative to spur the downstate economy by relocating their jobs.

"We're definitely taking it to heart. It's threatening our jobs, it's threatening our families and it's threatening the community of Springfield," office associate John Paris said. "This move just makes no sense whatsoever."

Democratic state Sen. Gary Forby's hometown of Benton has frequently been mentioned as most likely of all the communities where the office could land.

Nearly one month ago, Blagojevich told reporters he had "just about" decided on the division of traffic safety's new office site.

Days earlier, DOT Secretary Milton Sees announced the move would happen "in the coming months."

"You would assume they would have had a plan at that point," Bomke said.

The next step in the relocation process will include two public hearings on the matter. They have yet to be scheduled but likely will be held between July and the end of August.

Kartikay Mehrotra can be reached at kartikay.mehrotra@lee.net or 789-0865.