(70 ILCS 1801/30)

Sec. 30. Acquisition of property. The District has the power to acquire and accept by purchase, lease, gift, grant, or otherwise any property and rights useful for its purposes and to provide for the development of channels, ports, harbors, airports, airfields, terminals, port facilities, and terminal facilities adequate to serve the needs of commerce within the District. The District may acquire real or personal property or any rights therein in the manner, as near as may be, as is provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act; except that no rights or property of any kind or character now or hereafter owned, leased, controlled, or operated and used by, or necessary for the actual operations of, any common carrier engaged in interstate commerce, or of any other public utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission, shall be taken or appropriated by the District without first obtaining the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Section of this Act, the District shall have full power and authority to lease any or all of its facilities for operation and maintenance to any person for a length of time and upon terms as the District shall deem necessary.

Also, the District may lease to others for any period of time, not to exceed 99 years, upon terms as its Board may determine, any of its real property, rights-of-way, or privileges, or any interest therein, or any part thereof, for industrial, manufacturing, commercial, or harbor purposes, which is in the opinion of the Port District Board no longer required for its primary purposes in the development of port and harbor facilities for the use of public transportation, or which may not be immediately needed for such purposes, but where such leases will in the opinion of the Port District Board aid and promote such purposes, and in conjunction with such leases, the District may grant rights-of-way and privileges across the property of the District, which rights-of-way and privileges may be assignable and irrevocable during the term of any such lease and may include the right to enter upon the property of the District to do such things as may be necessary for the enjoyment of such leases, rights-of-way, and privileges, and such leases may contain conditions and retain such interest therein as may be deemed for the best interest of the District by the Board.

Also, the District shall have the right to grant easements and permits for the use of any real property, rights-of-way, or privileges which in the opinion of the Board will not interfere with the use thereof by the District for its primary purposes and such easements and permits may contain such conditions and retain such interest therein as may be deemed for the best interest of the District by the Board.

With respect to any and all leases, easements, rights-of-way, privileges, and permits made or granted by the Board, the Board may agree upon and collect the rentals, charges, and fees that may be deemed for the best interest of the District. Such rentals, charges, and fees shall be used to defray the reasonable expenses of the District and to pay the principal of and interest on any revenue bonds issued by the District.

(Source: P.A. 96-1015, eff. 7-8-10.)