(55 ILCS 90/15) (from Ch. 34, par. 8015)

Sec. 15. Establishment of economic development project areas; Notice.

(a) The corporate authorities of a county shall by ordinance propose the establishment of an economic development project area and fix a time and place for a public hearing.

(b) Notice of the public hearing shall be given by publication and mailing. Notice by publication shall be given by publication at least twice, the first publication to be not more than 30 nor less than 10 days before the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the taxing districts having property in the proposed economic development project area. Notice by mailing shall be given by depositing the notice together with a copy of the proposed economic development plan in the United States mails by certified mail addressed to the person or persons in whose name the general taxes for the last preceding year were paid on each lot, block, tract, or parcel of land lying within the economic development project area. The notice shall be mailed not less than 10 days before the date set for the public hearing. If taxes for the last preceding year were not paid, the notice shall also be sent to the persons last listed on the tax rolls within the preceding 3 years as the owners of the property.

(c) The notices issued under this Section shall include the following:

(1) The time and place of the public hearing.

(2) The boundaries of the proposed economic development project area by legal description and by street location where possible.

(3) A notification that all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing.

(4) An invitation for any person to submit alternative proposals or bids for any proposed conveyance, lease, mortgage, or other disposition of land within the proposed economic development project area.

(5) A description of the economic development plan or economic development project for the proposed economic development project area if a plan or project is the subject matter of the hearing.

(6) Other matters the county deems appropriate.

(d) Not less than 30 days before the date set for the hearing, the county shall give notice by mail as provided in this Section to all taxing districts that have taxable property included in the economic development project area. In addition to the other requirements of this Section, the notice shall include the following:

(1) An invitation, to a representative designated by the taxing district, to serve as a member of a joint review board and to attend a meeting of the joint review board to be held not less than 15 days before the public hearing for the purpose of reviewing the proposed economic development plan.

(2) Information as to the time, date, and place of the meeting of the joint review board.

(3) A statement that the joint review board is invited to submit any oral or written comments on the proposed economic development project at or before the public hearing and the name, address, and telephone number of the person designated by the county to receive comments before the public hearing.

(4) A copy of the proposed economic development plan if the economic development plan is the subject of the public hearing.

(Source: P.A. 87-1.)