70 ILCS 2105/ River Conservancy Districts Act.

(70 ILCS 2105/1) (from Ch. 42, par. 383)

Sec. 1. Whenever the unified control of a lake or of a river system or a portion thereof shall be deemed conducive to the prevention of stream pollution development, conservation and protection of water supply, preservation of water levels, control or prevention of floods, reclamation of wet and overflowed lands, development of irrigation, conservation of soil, provision of domestic, industrial or public water supplies, collection and disposal of sewage and other public liquid wastes, provision of forests, wildlife areas, parks and recreational facilities, and to the promotion of the public health, comfort and convenience the same may be organized as a conservancy district under this Act in the manner following:

One per cent or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed district, and, with respect to petitions filed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990, one percent of the legal voters resident in each county in which the proposed district is situated, may petition the circuit court for the county which contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed district, whether such proposed territory shall be organized as a conservancy district under this Act, which petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a general description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed district and the name of such proposed district. The description need not be given by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions, but it shall be sufficient if a generally accurate description is given of the territory to be organized as a district. Such territory need not be contiguous, provided that it be so situated that the public health, safety, convenience or welfare will be promoted by the organization as a single district of the territory described.

Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which such petition is filed as aforesaid it shall be the duty of the court to consider the boundaries of any such proposed conservancy district, whether the same shall be those stated in the petition or otherwise. The decision of the court is appealable as in other civil cases.

The court shall by order fix a time and place for a hearing on the petition not less than 60 days after the date of such order. Notice shall be given by the court to whom the petition is addressed of the time and place where such commissioners shall meet for such hearing by a publication inserted once in one or more daily or weekly papers published within the proposed conservancy district, or if no daily or weekly newspaper is published within such proposed conservancy district, then by posting such notice, at least 10 copies, in such proposed district at least 20 days before such meeting, in conspicuous public places as far separated from each other as consistently possible.

At such hearing all persons in such proposed conservancy district shall have an opportunity to be heard, touching upon the location and boundaries of such proposed district and to make suggestions regarding the same, and the court, after hearing statements, evidence and suggestions, shall fix and determine the limits and boundaries of such proposed district, and for that purpose and to that extent, may alter and amend such petition. After such determination by the court, the same shall be incorporated in an order which shall be entered of record in the circuit court or courts of the counties situate in the proposed district and the court shall also by the order provide for the holding of a referendum as herein provided.

Upon the entering of such order the court shall certify the question of organization and establishment of the proposed conservancy district as determined by the court to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, notice of the referendum shall specify the purpose of the referendum and contain a description of such proposed district. The clerk of the court shall send notice of the referendum to the county board of each county in which the proposed district is situated.

Each legal voter resident within such proposed conservancy district shall have the right to cast a ballot at such election. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Shall a Conservancy District

be organized, with authority to levy

an annual tax at a maximum rate of YES

... % (maximum rate authorized under

Section 17 of the River Conservancy -----------------------

Districts Act) of the value of all

taxable property within the limits of NO

the District as equalized or assessed

by the Department of Revenue?

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The ballots cast on the question in each county shall be returned and canvassed by the county clerk of the county in which the same are cast and such county clerks respectively shall file with the county clerk of the county, in which the petition is filed, a true copy of the return and canvass of the votes cast in each of said counties and thereupon the county clerk of the county in which such petition is filed shall canvass the entire vote cast in the election from the returns furnished by such respective county clerks and shall ascertain the result of such referendum and certify the same to the court. The court shall cause a statement of the results of such referendum to be entered of record in the court. If a majority of the votes cast at such election upon the question shall be in favor of the organization of the proposed conservancy district such proposed district shall thenceforth be deemed an organized conservancy district under this Act and a municipal corporation with the powers and duties herein conferred and bearing the name set forth in the petition.

(Source: P.A. 86-1307.)

(70 ILCS 2105/2) (from Ch. 42, par. 384)

Sec. 2. All courts in this State shall take judicial notice of the existence of all conservancy districts organized under this Act.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/3) (from Ch. 42, par. 385)

Sec. 3. Additional territory may be added to any conservancy district as provided for in this Act in the manner following:

One per cent or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed addition to such conservancy district, in each county in which the proposed addition is situated, may petition the circuit court for the county in which the original petition for the formation of said conservancy district was filed, to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed additional territory whether such proposed additional territory shall become a part of any conservancy district organized under this Act and whether such additional territory shall assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such conservancy district. Such petition shall be addressed to the court of the county in which the original petition for organization was filed, shall contain a generally accurate description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed addition, and, if desired, a new name of the expanded district.

Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which the original petition for the formation of such conservancy district was filed it shall be the duty of the court to consider, fix and determine the boundaries of any such proposed additional territory, whether the same shall be those stated in the petition or otherwise and a decision of the court shall be reviewable as in other civil cases.

A date shall be fixed and notice shall be given by the court of the county in which such petition is filed of the time and place where such hearing shall be held in the manner described in Section 1 of this Act. The conduct of the meeting, and the power of the court to fix and alter the boundaries of the proposed addition shall be carried out in the manner described in Section 1 of this Act, as nearly as may be. The court shall certify the question to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

For joining the Conservancy

District and assuming a

proportionate share of bonded

indebtedness.

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Against joining Conservancy

District and assuming a

proportionate share of bonded

indebtedness.

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If a majority of the votes cast upon the question of becoming a part of any conservancy district shall be in favor of becoming a part of such conservancy district and if the board of trustees of said conservancy district accept the proposed additional territory by ordinance annexing the same, the court shall enter an appropriate order of record in the court and such additional territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such conservancy district and shall be subject to all the benefits, responsibilities and obligations of said conservancy district as herein set forth.

Any such additional territory may also be annexed to such conservancy district upon petition addressed to the court for the county in which the original petition for organization of the district was filed, signed by a majority of the owners of lands constituting such territory sought to be annexed, who shall have arrived at lawful age and who represent a majority in area of such territory, which said petition shall contain a generally accurate description of the boundaries of such territory sought to be annexed, and shall set forth the willingness of the petitioners of such territory to assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such conservancy district.

Upon the filing of such petition and notice of and hearing the decision upon the same by the court, all as herein before provided in Section 1 of this Act with reference to notice, hearing and decision upon the petition for the original organization of such district, such court shall enter an order containing its findings and decision as to the boundaries of the territory to be annexed; and thereupon if the board of trustees of such conservancy district shall pass an ordinance annexing the territory described in such order to said conservancy district, the court shall enter an appropriate order finding that the territory is so annexed and such additional territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such conservancy district and shall be subject to all the benefits, responsibilities and obligations of said conservancy district as herein set forth.

(Source: P.A. 101-476, eff. 8-23-19.)

(70 ILCS 2105/4a) (from Ch. 42, par. 386a)

Sec. 4a. Every conservancy district so established shall be governed by a board of trustees. In the statement finding the results of the election to be favorable to the establishment of the district, the circuit court shall determine and name each municipality within the district having 5,000 or more population according to the last preceding federal census.

(1) In case there is one or more municipalities having a population of 5,000 or more within the district, the trustees shall be appointed as follows:

(a) In districts organized prior to July 1, 1961, where there is only one such municipality, 3 trustees shall be appointed from such municipality, and one trustee shall be appointed from the area within the district outside of such municipality, and one trustee shall be appointed at large. In districts organized on and after July 1, 1961, where there is only one such municipality one trustee shall be appointed from such municipality, and one trustee shall be appointed from each county in the district, except that where the district is wholly contained within a single county, one trustee shall be appointed from that county and one additional trustee shall be appointed from the municipality, and, in any case, 2 trustees shall be appointed at large. A trustee appointed from a county in the district shall be appointed from the area outside any such municipality. If the district is located wholly within the corporate limits of such municipality, 3 of the trustees of the district shall be appointed from such municipality, and 2 trustees shall be appointed at large. In a district wholly contained within a single county of between 60,500 and 70,000 population and having no more than one municipality of 5,000 or more population, regardless of the date of organization, 3 trustees shall be appointed from that municipality, 2 trustees shall be appointed from the district outside that municipality, and 2 trustees shall be appointed at large. No more than 2 appointments by each appointing authority may be from the same political party.

In the case of the Saline Valley Conservancy District, in addition to the other trustees as provided in this subsection (a), the mayor of each municipality with a population of 2,000 to 4,999 that purchases water from the District may appoint one member to the Board of Trustees beginning July 1, 2023 for a 5-year term, and the member shall serve until the trustee's successor is appointed and qualified or the municipality no longer purchases water from the District. A vacancy shall be filled by the mayor of the municipality for the remainder of the term.

(b) Where there are 2 or more such municipalities, one trustee shall be appointed from each such municipality, one trustee shall be appointed from each county in the district for each 50,000 population or part thereof within the district in such county according to the last preceding federal census, and 2 trustees shall be appointed at large. A trustee appointed from a county in the district shall be appointed from the area outside any such municipality. If the district is located wholly within the corporate limits of such municipalities, 2 trustees shall be appointed from the one of such municipalities having the largest population, and one trustee shall be appointed from each of the other such municipalities, and 2 trustees shall be appointed at large.

(c) Trustees representing the area within the district located outside of any municipality having 5,000 or more population and trustees appointed at large when the district is wholly contained within a single county shall be appointed by the presiding officer of the county board with the advice and consent of the county board and any trustee representing the area within any such municipality shall be appointed by its presiding officer. If however the district is located in more than one county, any trustee representing the area within a district located outside of any municipality having 5,000 or more population and any trustee at large shall be appointed by a majority vote of the presiding officers of the county boards of the counties which encompass any part of the district, except that no such appointment shall affect the term of any trustee in office on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1977. Any trustee representing the area within any such municipality shall be appointed by its presiding officer.

(d) A trustee representing the area within any such municipality shall reside within its corporate limits. A trustee representing the area within the district and located outside of any such municipality shall reside within such area. A trustee appointed at large may reside either within or without any such municipality but must reside within the territory of the district. Should any trustee cease to reside within that part of the territory he represents, then his office shall be deemed vacated, and shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the term as hereinafter provided.

(2) In case there are no municipalities having a population of 5,000 or more within such district located wholly within a single county, the statement required by Section 1 shall include such finding, and in such case the Board shall consist of 5 trustees who shall be appointed at large by the presiding officer of the county board with the advice and consent of the county board. If however the district is located in more than one county, the trustees at large shall be appointed by a majority vote of the presiding officers of the county boards of the counties which encompass any portion of the district, but any trustee in office on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1977 shall be permitted to serve out the remainder of his term. Each such trustee shall reside within the district and shall continue to reside therein.

(3) All initial appointments of trustees shall be made within 60 days after the determination of the result of the election. Each appointment shall be in writing and shall be filed and made a matter of record in the office of the county clerk wherein the organization proceedings were filed. A trustee shall qualify within 10 days after appointment by acceptance and the taking of the constitutional oath of office, both to be in writing and similarly filed for record in the office of such county clerk. Members initially appointed to the board of trustees of such district shall serve from date of appointment for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years and shall draw lots to determine the periods for which they each shall serve. In case there are more than 5 trustees, lots shall be drawn so that 5 trustees shall serve initial terms of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years and the other trustees shall serve terms of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years as the number of trustees shall require and the drawing of lots shall determine. The successors of all such initial members of the board of trustees of a river conservancy district shall serve for terms of 5 years, all such appointments and appointments to fill vacancies shall be made in like manner as in the case of the initial trustees. A trustee having been duly appointed shall continue to serve after the expiration of his term until his successor has been appointed. Each trustee initially appointed in accordance with this amendatory Act of 1995 shall serve a term of 3 or 5 years as determined by lot.

(4) Should a municipality which is wholly within a district attain, or should such a municipality be established, having a population of 5,000 or more after the entry of the statement by the circuit court, the presiding officer of such municipality may petition the circuit court of the county in which such municipality lies for an order finding and determining the population of such municipality and, if it is found and determined upon the hearing of such petition that the population of such municipality is 5,000 or more, the board of trustees of such district as previously established shall be increased by one trustee who shall reside within the corporate limits of such municipality and shall be appointed by its presiding officer. The initial trustee so appointed shall serve for a term of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years, as may be determined by lot, and his successors shall be similarly appointed and shall serve for terms of 5 years. All provisions of this Section applicable to trustees representing municipal areas shall apply to any such trustee, including paragraph 5.

(5) Should the foregoing provisions respecting the appointment of trustees representing the area within any municipality of 5,000 or more population be invalid when applied to any situation, then as to such situation any such provision shall be deemed to be excised from this Act, and the trustee whose appointment is thus affected shall be appointed at large by the presiding officer of the county board with the advice and consent of the county board except if the district embraces more than one county in which case the trustees shall be appointed at large by a majority vote of the presiding officers of the county boards of the counties which encompass any portion of the district.

(6) In the case of a board representing a district that embraces Franklin and Jefferson counties, a trustee may be removed for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office by the appropriate appointing presiding officer or officers, without the advice and consent of the corporate authorities, by filing a written order of removal with the appropriate county or municipal clerk or clerks.

(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in the case of a board representing a district that embraces Franklin and Jefferson counties, the terms of all trustees shall end on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. Beginning on that date, the board shall consist of 7 trustees. The 7 trustees initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall be appointed in the same manner as otherwise provided in this Section by the appropriate appointing authority and shall serve the following terms, as determined by lot: (i) 2 trustees shall serve until July 1, 2006; (ii) 2 trustees shall serve until July 1, 2007; (iii) one trustee shall serve until July 1, 2008; (iv) one trustee shall serve until July 1, 2009; and (v) one trustee shall serve until July 1, 2010. Upon expiration of the terms of the trustees initially appointed under this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, their respective successors shall be appointed for terms of 5 years, beginning on July 1 of the year in which the previous term expires and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. After the appointment of the trustees initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the number of trustees on the board may be increased in accordance with subsection (4).

(Source: P.A. 103-79, eff. 6-9-23.)

(70 ILCS 2105/4b) (from Ch. 42, par. 386b)

Sec. 4b. Each of the trustees shall enter into bond with security to be approved by the appointing authority in such sum as the appointing authority may determine.

A majority of the board of trustees shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day. No trustee or employee of such district shall be directly or indirectly interested financially in any contract work or business or the sale of any article, the expense, price or consideration of which is paid by said district; nor in the purchase of any real estate or other property belonging to the district, or which shall be sold for taxes or assessments or by virtue of legal process at the suit of said district: Provided that nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the appointment or selection of any person as trustee or employee whose only interest in said district is as an owner of real estate in said conservancy district or of contributing to the payment of taxes levied by said district.

(Source: P.A. 77-681.)

(70 ILCS 2105/5) (from Ch. 42, par. 387)

Sec. 5. Whenever a vacancy in said board of trustees occurs, either by death, resignation, refusal to qualify or for any other reason, the appropriate appointing authority may fill such vacancy by appointment; and such person, so appointed shall qualify for office in the manner hereinbefore stated and shall thereupon assume the duties of the office for the unexpired term to which such person was appointed.

(Source: P.A. 77-681.)

(70 ILCS 2105/6) (from Ch. 42, par. 388)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-926)

Sec. 6. The board of trustees shall exercise all of the powers and control the affairs and property of the district. The board at their first meeting in May of each year shall elect one of their number as president, one of their number as vice-president and one of their number as secretary. The board may appoint an engineer who may be an individual, co-partnership or corporation, an attorney, an executive vice-president, a manager, a treasurer, and other engineers, attorneys, agents, clerks and assistants for the district who shall hold office during the pleasure of the board and who shall give such bond as the board may require. The board may prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of all the officers and employees of the district. A member of the board may not receive more than $3,000 per annum. The board may pass all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations.

(Source: P.A. 79-1454.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-926)

Sec. 6. The board of trustees shall exercise all of the powers and control the affairs and property of the district. The board at their first meeting in May of each year shall elect one of their number as president, one of their number as vice-president and one of their number as secretary. The board may appoint an engineer who may be an individual, co-partnership or corporation, an attorney, an executive vice-president, a manager, a treasurer, and other engineers, attorneys, agents, clerks and assistants for the district who shall hold office during the pleasure of the board and who shall give such bond as the board may require. The board may prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of all the officers and employees of the district. A member of the board may not receive more than $6,000 per annum. At the Board's discretion, the Board may adjust the compensation amounts for inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor and rounded to the nearest $100. The Board members shall also be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in performing the member's duties under this Act. The board may pass all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations.

(Source: P.A. 103-926, eff. 1-1-25.)

(70 ILCS 2105/7) (from Ch. 42, par. 389)

Sec. 7. All ordinances imposing any penalty or making any appropriations shall within one month after they are passed, be published at least once in a newspaper published in said district, or if no such newspaper of general circulation is published therein, by posting copies of the same in ten public places in the district; and no such ordinance shall take effect until ten days after it is so published, and all other ordinances and resolutions shall take effect from and after their passage unless otherwise provided therein.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/8) (from Ch. 42, par. 390)

Sec. 8. All ordinances, orders, and resolutions and the date of publication thereof, may be proven by the certificate of the secretary under the seal of the corporation and when printed in book or pamphlet form and purporting to be published by the board of trustees, such book or pamphlet shall be received as evidence of the passage and legal publication of such ordinances, orders and resolutions as of the dates mentioned in such book or pamphlet, in all courts and places without further proof.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/9b) (from Ch. 42, par. 392a)

Sec. 9b. The board of trustees of any conservancy district shall in addition to the other powers and duties by this Act conferred and imposed have the following powers and duties:

(a) In order to effect the protection, reclamation or irrigation of the land and other property in the district, and to accomplish all other purposes of the district, the board of trustees is authorized and empowered to clean out, straighten, widen, alter, deepen or change the course or terminus of any ditch, drain, sewer, river, water course, pond, lake, creek or natural stream in or out of the district; to fill up any abandoned or altered ditch, drain, sewer, river, water course, pond, lake, creek or natural stream, and to concentrate, divert or divide the flow of water in or out of the district; to construct and maintain main and lateral ditches, sewers, canals, levees, dikes, dams, sluices, revetments, reservoirs, holding basins, floodways, pumping stations and siphons, and any other works and improvements deemed necessary to construct, preserve, operate or maintain the works in or out of the district; to construct or enlarge or cause to be constructed or enlarged any and all bridges that may be needed in or out of the district; to construct or elevate roadways and streets; to construct any and all of the works and improvements across, through or over any public highway, canal, railroad right of way, track, grade, fill or cut, in or out of the district; to remove or change the location of any fence, building, railroad, canal, or other improvements in or out of the district; and shall have the right to hold, encumber, control, to acquire by donation, purchase or condemnation, to construct, own, lease, use and sell real and personal property, including the transfer of real property by gift to the State of Illinois, and any easement, riparian right, railroad right of way, canal, cemetery, sluice, reservoir, holding basin, mill dam, water power, wharf or franchise in or out of the district for right of way, holding basin or for any necessary purpose, or for material to be used in constructing and maintaining the works and improvements, to replat or subdivide land, open new roads, streets and alleys, or change the course of an existing one.

Nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to authorize, nor shall the board have the right or authority to furnish water power or electricity for public or private use or otherwise, except only for the operation of the works and instrumentalities of the District; nor shall the board have any power to sell, or otherwise dispose of the waters so collected and impounded except only as otherwise herein permitted.

(b) The board shall have the power and it shall be its duty to supervise, regulate and control the flow within the boundaries of the District of the waters of any river, stream or water course over and through any and all dams and other obstructions, if any, now or hereafter existing or constructed in, upon or along any such river, stream or water course; provided however, that nothing in this paragraph contained shall empower any conservancy district to abridge or in any manner curtail any vested water power rights or other rights.

(c) The board shall have the power and it shall be its duty to construct and efficiently maintain a fish-way or fish-ways through or over any and all dams or other obstructions to the flow of any river, stream or water course within the boundaries of the District, which shall be so constructed and maintained as to permit the free passage of fish over such dam or dams or other obstructions.

(d) The board shall have the power, if it shall find it conducive to the public health, comfort or convenience to acquire sufficient lands contiguous to its reservoir or reservoirs for the establishment of recreational grounds and the right to permit such reservoir or reservoirs to be used for recreational purposes and to construct on such grounds a building or buildings and other improvements for such recreational purposes; provided however, that nothing in this paragraph contained shall in any way interfere with the drainage or other use of such reservoir or reservoirs for the purpose of controlling, regulating and augmenting the flow of rivers, streams or water courses of the District.

(e) In the event that any power or powers, authority or authorities given or granted in any paragraph or section of this Act shall be held to be void, such holding or holdings shall not be construed to in any manner affect the validity of any other part or portion of this Act or this Act in its entirety.

(Source: P.A. 86-129.)

(70 ILCS 2105/10a) (from Ch. 42, par. 393)

Sec. 10a. Such conservancy district may acquire by purchase, condemnation or otherwise any and all real and personal property, right of way and privileges whether within or without its corporate limits that may be required for its corporate purposes; and in case any district formed hereunder shall be unable to agree with any person or party upon the terms and amounts for which it may desire to acquire or purchase any such property, it may proceed to acquire the same in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Act.

Whenever the board of trustees of any conservancy district shall pass an ordinance for the making of any improvement which such district is authorized to make, the making of which will require that private property should be taken or damaged, such district may cause compensation therefor to be ascertained, and may condemn and acquire possession thereof in the same manner as nearly as may be as is provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act: Provided, however, that proceedings to ascertain the compensation to be paid for taking or damaging private property shall in all cases be instituted in the county where the property sought to be taken or damaged is situated; and, provided, that all damages to property whether determined by agreement or by final judgment of court shall be paid, prior to the payment of any other debt or obligation.

When in making any improvements which any district is authorized by this Act to make, it shall be necessary to enter upon and take possession of any public property or properties held for public use, the board of trustees of such district shall have the power to and may acquire the necessary right of way over any other property held for public use in the same manner as is herein provided for acquiring private property, and may enter upon and use the same for the purposes aforesaid: Provided, the public use thereof shall not be unnecessarily interrupted or interfered with, and that the same shall be restored to its former usefulness as soon as possible.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 2105/10b)

Sec. 10b. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 2105/11) (from Ch. 42, par. 394)

Sec. 11. (1) The board of trustees of a conservancy district incorporated under this Act may acquire, by gift, purchase or lease, land or any of the facilities enumerated below, and may construct, develop, operate, extend and improve such facilities:

(a) Dams and reservoirs for water storage, water wells, water purification works, pumping stations, conduits, pipe lines, regulating works and all appurtenances required for the production and delivery of adequate and pure water to incorporated cities and villages, corporations and persons in unincorporated areas within or without the borders of the conservancy district. The board is empowered and legally obligated to build, operate and maintain such water facilities, to adopt and enforce ordinances for the protection of water sources, and to sell water to the incorporated cities and villages and the corporations and persons in unincorporated areas by meter measurements and at rates that will at least defray all fixed, maintenance and operating expenses.

(b) Sewage treatment plants, collector, interceptor, and outlet sewers, force mains, conduits, lateral sewers and extensions, pumping stations, ejector stations, and all other appurtenances, extensions, or improvements necessary or useful and convenient for the sanitary collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage and industrial wastes. The board may prohibit and disconnect storm water drains and outlets where necessary to relieve existing sanitary sewers of storm water loads in order to assure the efficient and sanitary collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage and industrial wastes. The board is empowered and legally obligated to establish rates and charges for the services of any such sewerage facilities that at least defray all fixed, maintenance, and operating expenses.

(c) Lodges, cottages, trailer courts, and camping grounds, marinas and related facilities for the accommodation and servicing of boats, tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, skating rinks, skeet ranges, playgrounds, stables, bridle paths, and athletic fields, picnic grounds and parking areas, convention and entertainment centers, and other related buildings and facilities for the accommodation and recreation of persons visiting the reservoirs owned by the district or from which it is drawing a supply of water. Any such facilities, when acquired, may be leased by the board to a responsible person, firm, or corporation for operation over a period not longer than 20 years from the date of the lease, or the board may lease, for a period not longer than 50 years from the date of the lease, land to a responsible person, firm, or corporation for development for any of the foregoing recreational purposes and may grant to such person, firm or corporation the right, at the option of the person, firm or corporation, to extend the lease for a period not longer than 50 years from the expiration of the original lease. If the board determines to operate any such recreational facilities, it shall establish for the revenue-producing facilities rates and charges which at least defray all fixed, maintenance, and operating expenses.

(2) The board of trustees of the Rend Lake Conservancy District may acquire, by gift, purchase or lease, land or facilities specified below, and may construct, develop, operate, extend and improve such facilities:

Industrial projects consisting of one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research or commercial enterprise and any other improvements necessary or convenient thereto. Any such facilities, when acquired, may be leased for operation for a period not longer than 20 years after the date of the commencement of the lease, or the board may lease, for a period not longer than 50 years after the date of the commencement of the lease, land to a responsible person, firm or corporation for development of any of the foregoing industrial projects and may grant to such person, firm or corporation the right, at the option of the person, firm or corporation, to extend the lease for a period not longer than 50 years from the date of expiration of the original lease. If the board decides to operate any such industrial projects, it shall establish for the revenue producing facilities rates and charges which will at least defray all fixed, maintenance, and operating expenses. However, nothing in this amendatory Act of 1983 shall permit the Rend Lake Conservancy District to acquire, purchase, lease, construct, develop, operate or extend a facility for the purpose of mining coal.

(3) For the purpose of developing, operating, or financing the cost of any such facilities under subsection (1) or (2), the authorized board may combine into one system any 2 or more such facilities and may use or pledge the revenues derived from one to pay for the other.

Further, for such purposes, the authorized board shall have the express power to execute a note or notes and to execute a mortgage or trust deed to secure the payment of such notes; such trust deed or mortgage shall cover real estate, or some part thereof, or personal property owned by the District and the lien of the mortgage shall apply to the real estate or personal property so mortgaged by the District, and the proceeds of the note or notes may be used for the purposes set forth in this Section.

For purposes of this Section, the authorized board shall not execute notes bearing a rate of interest that exceeds the rate permitted in "An Act to authorize public corporations to issue bonds, other evidences of indebtedness and tax anticipation warrants subject to interest rate limitations set forth therein", approved May 26, 1970, as now or hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 83-785.)

(70 ILCS 2105/11.1) (from Ch. 42, par. 394.1)

Sec. 11.1. Whenever real estate is to be sold under the authority of this Act, the procedure shall be as follows:

(1) Notice of such proposed sale, giving time, place and terms thereof, and an invitation for bids shall be published for 3 consecutive weeks prior to the date of the sale in a newspaper of general circulation published in the conservancy district or, if no such newspaper is published in the district, then in a newspaper having general circulation in each county within which a portion of the district lies. In any event, and without regard to whether the real estate to be sold is located inside or outside of the boundaries of the district, the notice and invitation shall be published in a newspaper published in the county where the real estate is situated and, if the real estate lies in more than one county, the publication shall be in a newspaper published in each such county.

(2) On the day of the sale, the board of trustees shall proceed to sell the property to the highest bidder. If the board deems the bids to be inadequate, it may reject such bids, but notice and an invitation for bids must be published for a subsequent sale of the same property in the manner prescribed for any other sale of real estate.

(3) If any natural person or persons from whom the land was acquired are still surviving and bid on the real estate, the real estate shall be sold to such person or persons if the bid submitted is equal to the highest acceptable bid otherwise received.

(Source: P.A. 80-371.)

(70 ILCS 2105/11.5)

Sec. 11.5. Public development projects.

(a) The board of trustees of a river conservancy district located in one or more counties may enter into lease agreements for the development of projects that are intended to enhance economic development, create jobs, and increase tourism (i) when the aggregate unemployment rate, as determined by the United States Department of Labor, for the county or counties served by the district exceeded 12% during any month of the first quarter of 1993 and (ii) in the case of a river conservancy district serving a county that is contiguous with 2 or more counties, when the aggregate unemployment rate for those contiguous counties exceeded 18% during any month of the first quarter of 1993. These projects include tourism development projects including, but not limited to, resorts, motels, and other related service and tourism development, built by private developers under the conditions set forth in this Section.

(b) The board of trustees of a river conservancy district may enter into future agreements for the transfer of certain lands between a State agency or agencies and a river conservancy district when (i) a basic agreement providing for the transfer of certain lands was entered into on or before January 1, 1993, between a State agency or agencies and a river conservancy district meeting the unemployment guidelines set forth in this Section and (ii) a river conservancy district obtains the land from a State agency or agencies for the purposes of economic development or job creation projects.

(c) A board of trustees authorized to enter into lease agreements under the requirements of subsection (a) may lease land to a responsible person, firm, or corporation for a period not longer than 50 years for development as authorized in this Section and grant the person, firm, or corporation the option to extend the lease for subsequent periods not longer than 50 years.

(d) A board of trustees authorized to enter into lease agreements under the requirements of subsection (a) shall take appropriate steps to insure that, within 5 years after the board enters into a lease agreement, (i) at least 50% of the land for the proposed development is available and developed for public use, and (ii) at least 50% of the buildings constructed for the proposed development are available for public use.

(Source: P.A. 88-472.)

(70 ILCS 2105/12a) (from Ch. 42, par. 395a)

Sec. 12a. The board of trustees shall have the power to provide and adopt a corporate seal for the district.

(Source: Laws 1931, p. 530.)

(70 ILCS 2105/13) (from Ch. 42, par. 396)

Sec. 13. All the rights and property of said district in the waters and water courses of said district and in their uses as herein specified, shall be exercised and used in such manner as to promote the welfare of said district and the inhabitants thereof, and to promote the safest, most economical and reasonable use of the waters thereof, and to pay the cost of the construction and maintenance of improvements in so far as practicable.

(Source: Laws 1931, p. 530.)

(70 ILCS 2105/14) (from Ch. 42, par. 397)

Sec. 14. Any conservancy district organized under this Act may borrow money for corporate purposes and may issue bonds therefor, but shall not become indebted in any manner, or for any purpose, to an amount in the aggregate to exceed 5% of the valuation of taxable property therein to be ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness. Whenever the board of trustees of such district desires to issue bonds hereunder they shall certify the question to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. The result of the election shall be entered upon the records of the district. If it shall appear that a majority of the voters voting on the question shall have voted in favor of the issue of the bonds, the board of trustees shall order and direct the execution of the bonds for and on behalf of the district. All bonds issued hereunder shall mature in not exceeding 20 annual installments. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Proposition to issue bonds for YES

district to the amount of.... dollars -----------------------

for the purpose of.... NO

--------------------------------------------------------------

(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

(70 ILCS 2105/15) (from Ch. 42, par. 398)

Sec. 15. At the time of or before incurring any indebtedness, the board of trustees shall provide for the collection of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof as the same shall fall due, and at least within twenty years from the time of contracting same.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/15.1) (from Ch. 42, par. 398.1)

Sec. 15.1. Any river conservancy district organized under this Act for the purpose of carrying out the powers conferred by Section 11 of this Act may borrow money and as evidence thereof may issue bonds, payable solely from revenue derived from the facilities authorized to be constructed, purchased, or acquired by Section 11 of this Act. These bonds may be issued in such amounts as may be necessary to provide sufficient funds to pay all costs of acquiring the land for any such facility or constructing such facility or both, including engineering, legal and other expenses, together with interest on the bonds to a date 6 months subsequent to the estimated date of completion.

Whenever the trustees determine to acquire land for any of the purposes enumerated in Section 11 of this Act and to issue bonds under this section for the payment of the cost thereof, the board of trustees shall adopt an ordinance describing in a general way the contemplated project and refer to the preliminary plans and engineering reports therefor. These preliminary plans and engineering reports shall be filed with the secretary of the board of trustees and shall be open for inspection by the public.

This ordinance shall set out the estimated cost of the project, fix the amount of revenue bonds to be issued, the maturity or maturities thereof, the interest rate, which shall not exceed the rate permitted in the Bond Authorization Act, payable annually or semi-annually, and all details in connection with the bonds. The ordinance shall provide that the entire revenue from the facilities to be constructed or acquired with the proceeds of the sale of said bonds shall be set aside as collected and deposited in a separate fund, and a sufficient amount thereof shall be used solely in paying the cost of maintenance and operation of such improvement or facility, in providing an adequate depreciation fund, and in paying the principal of and the interest on said bonds, as they mature. The ordinance may also provide for the issuance of additional bonds for the completion of the improvement or facility on a parity with the bonds originally issued thereunder. The ordinance shall provide that the conservancy district will operate such improvement or facility continuously and that it will fix and maintain rates or charges for service from or use of the facilities constructed or acquired at all times sufficient to pay promptly the cost of maintenance and operation of the facilities so constructed or acquired, to provide an adequate depreciation fund, to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds authorized by the ordinance, and to maintain a proper reserve fund. The ordinance shall empower the conservancy district to make such covenants with respect to setting aside the income and revenue to be derived from the operation of the facilities as may be deemed advisable to assure prompt payment of the bonds and interest thereon as they mature.

After this ordinance has been adopted, it shall be published in the same manner and form as is required for other ordinances of the district.

The publication of the ordinance shall include a notice of (1) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the question of the adoption of the ordinance be submitted to the electors of the district; (2) the time in which such petition must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum. The secretary of the board shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one.

If no petition is filed with the secretary of the board as provided in this section within 30 days after the publication or posting of this ordinance, the ordinance shall be in effect after the expiration of this 30 day period. If within the 30 day period a petition is filed with the secretary of the board signed by voters of the district numbering 10% or more of the registered voters in the conservancy district asking that the question of acquiring land for the conservancy district or constructing or acquiring the facilities described in the ordinance and the issuance of the specified bonds be submitted to the electors thereof, the board of trustees shall certify the question to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law.

If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of the project, and in favor of the issuance of the specified bonds, the ordinance shall be in effect. But if a majority of the votes cast on the question are against the project and the issuance of the bonds, the ordinance shall not become effective. If the ordinance becomes effective it shall be recorded in the recorder's office in the county or counties in which the property is located.

Bonds issued under this section are negotiable instruments, and shall be executed by the president and by the secretary of the board of trustees. In case any officer whose signature appears on the bonds or coupons ceases to hold office before the bonds are delivered, his signature, nevertheless shall be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as though he had remained in office until the bonds were delivered.

(Source: P.A. 87-767.)

(70 ILCS 2105/15.2) (from Ch. 42, par. 398.2)

Sec. 15.2. Bonds issued under Section 15.1 shall be payable solely from the revenue derived from the operation of the land or facilities for which the bonds were issued. These bonds shall not in any event constitute an indebtedness of the conservancy district, within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation. Each bond shall plainly state on its face that it has been issued under the provisions of Section 15.1 and 15.2 of this Act and that it does not constitute an indebtedness of the conservancy district within any constitutional or statutory limitation.

These bonds shall be sold in such manner and upon such terms as the board of trustees shall determine. If the bonds are issued to bear interest at the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, they shall be sold for not less than par and accrued interest. If the bonds are issued to bear interest at a rate of less than the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, the minimum price at which they may be sold shall be such that the interest cost to the municipality of the proceeds of the bonds shall not exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, computed to maturity, according to the standard table of bond values.

With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.

(Source: P.A. 86-4.)

(70 ILCS 2105/15.3) (from Ch. 42, par. 398.3)

Sec. 15.3. Whenever revenue bonds are issued under Section 15.1 of this Act, all revenue derived from the operation of the specified land or facilities shall be set aside as collected and shall be deposited in a separate fund designated as the "Revenue Bond Fund" of the conservancy district. This fund shall be used only in paying the cost of operation and maintenance of the facility, in providing an adequate depreciation fund, and in paying the principal of and interest upon the revenue bonds issued under Section 15.1.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 647.)

(70 ILCS 2105/15.4) (from Ch. 42, par. 398.4)

Sec. 15.4. Any holder of a bond issued under Section 15.1 or of any coupon representing interest accrued thereon, may, in any civil action, compel the performance of the duties of the officials of the conservancy district set forth in Sections 15.1 through 15.3 of this Act.

If there is a default in the payment of the principal of or interest upon any of these bonds, any court having jurisdiction in any proper action may appoint a receiver to administer the land and facilities on behalf of the conservancy district with power to charge and collect fees to provide sufficient revenue for the payment of the operating expenses and for the payment of such bonds and interest thereon and to apply the income and revenue in conformity with Sections 15.1 through 15.4 and the ordinance providing for the issuance of these bonds.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 647.)

(70 ILCS 2105/15.5) (from Ch. 42, par. 398.5)

Sec. 15.5. Whenever any land or facilities financed by the issuance of bonds under Section 15.1 is combined with any other land or facilities to be financed by the issuance of bonds under Section 15.1, and there are outstanding unpaid obligations previously issued which are payable solely from the revenue derived from the operation of the land or facilities to finance which the bonds were issued, the unpaid obligations may be refunded by the issuance and exchange therefor of revenue bonds with the consent of the respective holders of the unpaid obligations if such obligations are not by their terms then callable for redemption in advance of their stated maturities. Whenever any such outstanding unpaid obligations are refunded, the unpaid obligations shall be surrendered and exchanged for revenue bonds of a total principal amount which shall not be more but may be less than the principal amount of the obligations exchanged and the interest thereon to the date of exchange.

(Source: P.A. 76-720.)

(70 ILCS 2105/15.6) (from Ch. 42, par. 398.6)

Sec. 15.6. Nothing in this Act shall in any way limit the powers conferred upon river conservancy districts under the Industrial Building Revenue Bond Act.

(Source: P.A. 85-293.)

(70 ILCS 2105/16) (from Ch. 42, par. 399)

Sec. 16. All contracts for work other than professional services, to be done by such conservancy district, the expense of which will exceed $10,000, shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder therefor upon not less than thirty days' public notice of the terms and conditions upon which the contract is to be let, having been given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation published in said district, and the said board shall have the power and authority to reject any and all bids, and readvertise.

And in all other respects such contract shall be entered into and the performance thereof controlled by the provisions of an Act entitled "An Act concerning local improvements," approved June 14, 1897, in force July 1, 1897, and amendments thereto as nearly as may be; provided, that contracts may be let for making proper and suitable connections between the mains and outlets of the respective sewers in said district, with any conduits, main pipe or pipes that may be constructed by such conservancy district.

(Source: P.A. 101-241, eff. 8-9-19.)

(70 ILCS 2105/16.1) (from Ch. 42, par. 399.1)

Sec. 16.1. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty-fourth General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 84-731.)

(70 ILCS 2105/17) (from Ch. 42, par. 400)

Sec. 17. The board of trustees annually may levy and collect taxes for corporate purposes upon property within the territorial limits of such conservancy district, the aggregate amount of which for each year shall not exceed .083% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of the taxable property within the corporate limits. Such annual tax levy may be increased to .75% in any district having a population of less than 25,000, and to .375% in any district having 25,000 inhabitants or more, when such increased tax has been authorized by the legal voters of such district at a referendum in accordance with the general election law.

The right to levy such additional tax, authorized by the legal voters of the District, may at any time after one or more tax levies be terminated by a majority vote of the electors of such district at a referendum. Upon the petition of 10% of registered voters of the district, it shall be the duty of the trustees of any such district to certify the proposition to terminate such additional taxing power to the proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law.

The board shall cause the amount required to be raised by taxation in each year to be certified to the county clerks in each county within such district on or before the second Tuesday in August, as provided in the General Revenue Law of Illinois. All taxes so levied and certified shall be collected and enforced in the same manner and by the same officers as State and county taxes, and shall be paid over by the officer or officers collecting the same to the treasurer of the conservancy district in the manner and at the time provided by the General Revenue Law of Illinois.

The treasurer shall, when the moneys of the district are deposited with any bank or savings and loan association, require such bank or savings and loan association to pay the same rates of interest for such moneys deposited as such bank or savings and loan association is accustomed to pay depositors under like circumstances in the usual course of its business. All interest so paid shall be placed in the general fund of the district, to be used as other moneys belonging to such district raised by general taxation.

No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 83-541.)

(70 ILCS 2105/18) (from Ch. 42, par. 401)

Sec. 18. Every such conservancy district is authorized to construct, maintain, alter and extend its sewers, pipelines, channels, ditches and drains along, upon, under and across any highway, street, alley or public ground in the State as a proper use of highways, but so as not to incommode the public use thereof, and the right and authority are hereby granted to any such district to construct, maintain and operate any conduits, mainpipe or pipes, wholly or partially submerged, buried, or otherwise, in, upon and along any of the lands owned by said State and under any of the public waters therein; Provided, that the extent and location of the lands and waters so to be used and appropriated shall be approved by the Governor of said State of Illinois, upon application duly made to him asking for such approval: And provided further, that the rights, permission and authority hereby granted shall be subject to all public rights of commerce and navigation, and to the authority of the United States in behalf of such public rights and also to the right of said State of Illinois to regulate and control fishing in said public waters.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/19) (from Ch. 42, par. 402)

Sec. 19. Whenever there shall be located within the bounds of any such conservancy district incorporated under the provisions of this Act, any United States military post, reservation or station, or any naval station, the board of trustees of said district are hereby authorized to enter into contracts or agreements with the appropriate authorities of the United States, permitting either party to the contract to connect with and use any conduits, channels, pipes and to use any other structures or work installed by the other party to the contract.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/20) (from Ch. 42, par. 403)

Sec. 20. The board of trustees of any such conservancy district shall have power and authority and it shall be their legal obligation and duty to prevent the pollution of any waters from which a water supply may be obtained by any city, incorporated town, individual or village within said district, provided that the authority of the Pollution Control Board of the State of Illinois or its successor as may be fixed by law shall not be superseded and said board of trustees shall have the right and power to appoint and support a sufficient police force, the members of which may have and exercise police powers for the purposes of this Act only over the territory within such conservancy district, and over the territory outside of said district included within a radius of fifteen miles from the intake of any such water supply in any such waters, for the purpose of preventing the pollution of said waters and any interference with any of the property of such conservancy district; but such police officers when acting within the limits of any such city, town or village, shall act in aid of the regular police force thereof, and shall then be subject to the direction of its chief of police, city or village marshals, or other head thereof; provided, that in so doing, they shall not be prevented or hindered from executing the orders and authority of said board of trustees of such conservancy district.

(Source: P.A. 76-2439.)

(70 ILCS 2105/21) (from Ch. 42, par. 404)

Sec. 21. (a) The board of trustees of any conservancy district incorporated under this Act shall have the power to build and construct and to defray the costs and expenses of the construction of drains, sewers, or laterals, septic tanks and other works for the disposal of sewage, water pipes, streets and roads, or local shore improvements, together with other necessary adjuncts thereto, including pumps and pumping stations and also may construct dams, deepen or improve the channel, bed, banks or shore or shores or any part thereof of any stream, water course or other body of water in such district, and acquire both real and personal property, in the execution or in furtherance of the powers granted to such conservancy district, by special assessment or by general taxation, or by special service area taxation if authorized as provided under this Section, as they by ordinance shall prescribe. The board of trustees of any conservancy district shall have power to contract with any sanitary district now or hereafter organized or with any municipality having sewage disposal works for the disposal of any sewage within the conservancy district. It shall constitute no objection to any special assessment that the improvement for which the same is levied is partly outside the limits of such conservancy district, but no special assessments shall be levied upon property situated outside of such conservancy district, and in no case shall any property be assessed more than it will be benefited by the improvement for which the assessment is levied.

(b) The proceedings for making, levying, collecting and enforcing of any special assessment levied hereunder, the letting of contracts, performance of the work and all other matters pertaining to the construction and making of the improvement shall be the same as nearly as may be as is prescribed in Article 5 of the "Illinois Drainage Code", approved June 29, 1955, as heretofore and hereafter amended. Whenever in said Article the word "Commissioner" is used, the same shall apply to the board of trustees constituted by this Act.

(c) The proceedings for making, levying, collecting and enforcement of any special service area taxation levied hereunder shall be the same as nearly as may be as is prescribed in "An Act to provide the manner of levying or imposing taxes for the provision of special services to areas with the boundaries of home rule units and non-home rule municipalities and counties", approved September 21, 1973, as now or hereafter amended. Whenever in such Act the words "municipality" or "county" or "municipal clerk" or "county clerk" are used, with the exception of the provisions of Section 10 providing for the extension of the tax by the county clerk, the same shall be construed in relation to the board of trustees constituted by this Act, and the words applying to the municipality or county in that Act shall be held to apply to the district created under this Act and its officers, and the words "municipal clerk" or "county clerk" shall be held to apply to the secretary of the district created under this Act.

However, no special service area taxation shall be imposed hereunder unless a petition has been filed with the board of trustees by either the owners of a majority of the acreage or a majority of the owners of the acreage of the conservancy district which lies in the proposed special service area. The petition shall be accompanied by a description of the proposed special service area, an explanation of the proposed program, and a notation of the proposed tax rate. The board of trustees of the district shall publish the petition and certify the results.

(Source: P.A. 81-862.)

(70 ILCS 2105/22) (from Ch. 42, par. 405)

Sec. 22. When any special assessment is made under this Act, the ordinance, authorizing such assessment may provide that the entire assessment and each individual assessment be divided into annual installments, not more than twenty in number. In all cases such division shall be made so that all installments shall be equal in amount, except that all fractional amounts shall be added to the first installment so as to leave the remaining installments of the aggregate equal in amount. The said several installments shall bear interest at the rate of not to exceed six per cent per annum; both principal and interest shall be payable, collected and enforced as they shall become due in the manner provided for the levy, payment, collection and enforcement of such assessment and interest, as provided in Article 5 of the "Illinois Drainage Code", approved June 29, 1955, as heretofore and hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 81-862.)

(70 ILCS 2105/23) (from Ch. 42, par. 406)

Sec. 23. Whenever any ordinance providing for any improvement shall in pursuance of authority conferred in this Act provide for payment for same, either in whole or in part, by special assessment, said board of trustees may issue bonds to anticipate the collection of the second and succeeding installments of said assessments payable only out of such assessment when collected and bearing interest at the same rate as provided upon the installments of such assessment. Said bonds shall be issued and subject to call and retirement in the same manner as provided in Article 6 of the "Illinois Drainage Code", approved June 29, 1955, as heretofore and hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 81-862.)

(70 ILCS 2105/24) (from Ch. 42, par. 407)

Sec. 24. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of any conservancy district organized under this Act to proceed diligently to the fulfillment of all the purposes and objects of this Act subject to the proper use and disposition of available funds.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/25) (from Ch. 42, par. 408)

Sec. 25. Before any work is commenced under the provisions of this Act the plans therefor shall be submitted to, and approved by the Department of Transportation and by the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of Illinois or its successor as may be fixed by law.

(Source: P.A. 81-840.)

(70 ILCS 2105/25.5)

Sec. 25.5. Rend Lake; audits. The Auditor General of the State of Illinois must conduct a financial audit, management audit, and program audit of the Rend Lake Conservancy District and file a certified copy of the report of the audits with the Governor and with the Legislative Audit Commission.

The Rend Lake Conservancy District must reimburse the Auditor General for the cost of the audits.

Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this Section.

(Source: P.A. 93-275, eff. 7-22-03.)

(70 ILCS 2105/26) (from Ch. 42, par. 409)

Sec. 26. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of any conservancy district organized under this Act to proceed diligently and without delay to prevent pollution of any stream or any other body of water within the confines of such conservancy district and to proceed at once to diligently cause any and all parties, persons, firms and corporations to cease any and all pollution of any such streams or body of water within such district; provided that the authority of the Pollution Control Board of the State of Illinois or its successor as may be fixed by law shall not be superseded.

(Source: P.A. 76-2439.)

(70 ILCS 2105/26a) (from Ch. 42, par. 409a)

Sec. 26a. In the execution of the powers herein granted and the duties vested in the Board of Trustees of districts organized under this Act, such districts may cooperate and enter into agreements with the proper agencies of the United States Government, Municipal Corporations of this State, political subdivisions and persons and associations, for the formulation of plans, and for the construction of any and all improvements for the control of destructive floods, and for the conservation, regulation, development and utilization of water, waterways and water resources, or other purposes of this Act. Such agreements may assign to the several cooperating agencies particular projects or portions of projects for the purposes herein stated and may provide for joint understandings for said purposes and for contribution to execute any works agreed upon with any other of the above mentioned agencies in the State of Illinois to carry out the provisions of the Act.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 933.)

(70 ILCS 2105/26b) (from Ch. 42, par. 409b)

Sec. 26b. A river conservancy district organized under this Act may be dissolved in the following manner:

Its board of trustees shall adopt an ordinance finding and determining that all outstanding debts and obligations have been discharged or assumed by another public agency and that the public interest does not require continuation of the district. The publication of the ordinance shall be accompanied by a notice of (1) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting the question of dissolving the district to be submitted to the electors; (2) the time in which such petition must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum. The district secretary shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one.

Unless a petition shall be filed with the board within 30 days after such publication containing the signatures of a number of electors residing in the district equal to 10% or more of the registered voters in the district requesting that the question of the dissolution of the district be submitted to an election, the district shall be deemed to be dissolved at the expiration of the 30 day period. If such a petition is filed, the question of the dissolution of the district shall be certified to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the electors of the district at an election in accordance with the general election law. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Shall the ........... YES

River Conservancy District -------------------------

be dissolved?" NO

--------------------------------------------------------------

The result of the election shall be entered upon the corporate records of the district. If a majority of the ballots cast on the question are marked "yes" the district shall be dissolved. But if a majority of the ballots on the question are marked "no", the corporate authorities shall proceed with the affairs of the district as though the dissolution ordinance had never been adopted, and, in such case, the question shall not again be considered for a period of one year. When the business and affairs of any such district have been closed up after dissolution, such fact shall be certified by the board of trustees to the county clerk and recorder of the county or counties in which the district was situated and to the Secretary of State. All assets of the district remaining after the closing up of business affairs and the retiring of all debts and obligations shall be paid to the corporate fund of the township in which such district was situated. If such district was situated in 2 or more townships, the assets shall be divided on a pro rata basis between the corporate fund of each township according to the value, as equalized and assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property in each township situated within the boundaries of such district.

(Source: P.A. 87-767.)

(70 ILCS 2105/27) (from Ch. 42, par. 410)

Sec. 27. Nothing in this Act contained shall apply to or be construed in any manner to affect the property, real, personal or mixed and wherever situated, or the channels, drains, ditches and outlets and adjuncts and additions thereto and their use, operation and maintenance and the right to the flow of water therein for sewage dilution, or affect the jurisdiction, rights, powers, duties and obligations of any existing sanitary district or any sanitary district or any city or village which now has a population of one million or more within its territorial limits.

(Source: Laws 1925, p. 346.)

(70 ILCS 2105/28) (from Ch. 42, par. 410a)

Sec. 28. Short title). This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "River Conservancy Districts Act".

(Source: P.A. 79-1454.)